Up through the years several Norwegians have tried to copy the successful talk show-formula known from U.S. television, and most often with barely OK results. Popular Norwegian tv-host Dan Børge Akerø dominated the small screen with his "Lørdan" in the late 1980's. During the 90's veteran comedian Rolv Wesenlund's "Wesenstund" was a highly popular attempt aimed towards an older audience, while cult-superstar-comedians Bård Tufte Johansen and Harald Eia made a smash hit with their "Åpen post", an ingenious mix between brilliant comedy sketches and talk show, obviously inspired by American Conan O'Brien's "Late Night".
When Thomas Giertsen, the most successful norwegian stand-up-comedian at the time, announced he was going to host his own talk show a sure hit was in the making. "I kveld med Thomas Giertsen" (Tonight with T.Giertsen) was another Conan O'Brien-copy. In stead of Conan's sidekick Andy Richter (or Bård Tufte Johansen's Harald Eia in "Åpen post") Thomas relied on actor and brother-in-law Jon Øigarden, as well as a brilliant fifth wheel on the wagon: Espen Eckbo, who would interrupt the show from his small booth backstage (the latter was by then almost as well-known as Giertsen and in time he would rise to become even more popular being voted "Norway's TV-name of the year").
The three men all did a great job, especially Øigarden and Eckbo who at times outshone Giertsen with their unique talent, and the show offered some of the biggest stars in Scandinavia alongside some hysterically funny moments. Among the more memorable one's: when Eckbo's character 'Waldemar Hoff' performed with the band on his Yahama keyboard or when Eckbo at one time reported from his booth all red in the face, looking like a psychotic, until when he tried to open a bottle of Coke you realized he was sitting upside down. One of Øigarden's many great moments included the time when he during president Bill Clinton's visit to Oslo, ran out of the studio and into Oslo's main street where he managed to p*** of several Secret Service-agents!
Now that's entertainment :)
When Thomas Giertsen, the most successful norwegian stand-up-comedian at the time, announced he was going to host his own talk show a sure hit was in the making. "I kveld med Thomas Giertsen" (Tonight with T.Giertsen) was another Conan O'Brien-copy. In stead of Conan's sidekick Andy Richter (or Bård Tufte Johansen's Harald Eia in "Åpen post") Thomas relied on actor and brother-in-law Jon Øigarden, as well as a brilliant fifth wheel on the wagon: Espen Eckbo, who would interrupt the show from his small booth backstage (the latter was by then almost as well-known as Giertsen and in time he would rise to become even more popular being voted "Norway's TV-name of the year").
The three men all did a great job, especially Øigarden and Eckbo who at times outshone Giertsen with their unique talent, and the show offered some of the biggest stars in Scandinavia alongside some hysterically funny moments. Among the more memorable one's: when Eckbo's character 'Waldemar Hoff' performed with the band on his Yahama keyboard or when Eckbo at one time reported from his booth all red in the face, looking like a psychotic, until when he tried to open a bottle of Coke you realized he was sitting upside down. One of Øigarden's many great moments included the time when he during president Bill Clinton's visit to Oslo, ran out of the studio and into Oslo's main street where he managed to p*** of several Secret Service-agents!
Now that's entertainment :)
