The most ordinary television I have ever seen

I watch Boxing Stars. So, that confession is out already, see it as my little pleasure. By the way, it comes from the fact that I myself occasionally take a kickboxing class. I still find it enjoyable to see how the average influencer-ex-top athlete-presenter-model hits the other on the nose.

Episode one was amusing, but the spectacle was lacking. I was impressed by Jessie Jazz though, who dealt out hard and took hits without complaining. And of course Taeke Taekema, who turns out to be the other half of Airen Mylene. Look, you learn something new. So far, on to episode two, where I settled in last night.

Ruben Nicolai provided the entertainment, Tijl Beckand, together with Maxime Hartman, provided commentary, and Michella Kox gave it a twist that makes you cover your mouth with your hands. And only shouts very loudly ‘no, no, no’. I start at the beginning. Juvat, you know, about the best dancer in the Netherlands, defeated Rick Brandsteder. Who took this loss very sportively, hats off. Then ex-cyclist Michael Boogerd got into a fight with a small smart influencer, whose name I will look up in a moment. Blood was flying around and the advantage was for the nearly twenty years older Michael. I have never seen an ex-wife cheer so hard for her ex-husband, which I could appreciate. And then came the ‘main event’: Michella Kox who was going to fight with arch-rival Amanda Balk. It was about something she said eight years ago, let's just keep it on old grievances.

I have rarely seen something so cringeworthy on the screen. Amanda remained calm, didn't let herself get worked up, and was seriously planning to plant some deadly punches in Michella. Michella tried to pull Amanda's head off her body, did this for about 75 seconds, and then literally threw in the towel. Gloves off, protection off, trainer who was completely embarrassed, CIGARETTE a si-ga-ret, that can't be edited out of live television. Now she is whining about a chest muscle, which prevented her from training and blah blah blah and more blah blah blah. I almost felt sorry for Amanda, who seemed really eager for rounds two and three. In short: cringeworthy, vicarious embarrassment, too vulgar for words, rare television.

The program is not a hit, as Tussen Kunst en Kitsch had 1.5 million viewers while Boxing Stars had to make do with 259,000. Speaking of a knock-out.

Image: RTL