Humberto, this is for you
Things are not going well for Humberto. Well, Humberto himself might be doing fantastic and smooth and exactly how he wants it, but his show is a troubled child. Last year he was the king of late night, now his RTL Late Night is desperately hanging in the lower regions of the Viewing Figures Top 25. One hand clinging to the lifebuoy, the other waving wildly in the hope of being seen by someone who will come to save him.
Humberto. I have been a guest on his show a few times and it was a blast. The setting, the team, but especially Humberto himself. He was charming, informed, and when I met him months later in a completely different setting, he immediately knew who I was. Impressive. I was also impressed when I attended the book presentation of Elle van Rijn. She wrote the book Overnight Millionaire, about a boy who lived on the street and suddenly turned out to be a millionaire. She and the boy had been guests on Humberto's show and as a thank you, he attended the presentation. While the subject itself had already been recorded. You might think Humberto would move on to the next topic, but no. He made time for this.
Everyone in the TV industry praised him for his energy and dedication and he seemed invincible. But for the past six months, the compliments and shoulder pats have stopped. The show hasn't changed significantly. The setting is the same. So why do the viewers still stay away?
Nice Humberto, I think this is the reason. If you are on TV every day, people know you. You are our friend. We fall asleep with you, we talk about you. Moreover, you ask, for which we thank you, your guests about what moves them, drives them, makes them happy or sad. If something is going on in your own life, I think you should occasionally share that with your audience. Give an interview. Once. With a journalist you trust who promises to let you read everything from the headline to the intro and streamers and everything in between. Or if you are not ready for that, ask for a little understanding. Everyone with a touch of life experience understands that after so many years of marriage, you suddenly have an Irma in your bedroom. And I mean the hurricane. It leaves a trail of misery, then you cry it out and move on. Maybe like it used to be. Maybe in a new form. But I really think that if you let your guard down and trade your smile for a frown, your viewers will feel taken seriously by you again. Accusatory fingers will suddenly be replaced by a shoulder to rest your head on. And before you know it, you’ll be shining again in the top 5. I bet a bottle of champagne on it with you.
