Hey Johnny,
There you were, with your own talk show. I've seen a few people raise an eyebrow when they heard that you (“Jóhnny de Mol? Seriously?”) were going to host a daily talk show. Because what do you have (I quote, huh) that others don’t have?
Well, I have an answer for that. Natural charm and ease, for example. You calmly showed some pictures from your father's wedding that took place exactly the week before (“Very convenient timing just before you start presenting a daily program. Has that man never made TV or something?”) to add that the photos should never have been shown publicly and to add a nonchalant “Too late, sorry, dad.”.
Humor is also high on the list of qualities that a number of other talk show hosts lack. “I’m glad my father kept his promise not to have a second child. As an only child, I find that much nicer. And as an heir.” That’s just funny. Luckily, there’s also a bit of self-deprecation (“I haven’t always been the ideal son-in-law either”), considering the turbulent developments in your private life that you are still in the middle of and where the judge still has to make a ruling.
Modesty.
So, I’m treating him to a hard return. Because where other presenters, whether self-elected or thought up by a broadcasting director, enjoy less fame than the local school principal and immediately hang their first name on the facade, you don’t choose that. You have to ‘own’ that, as my daughter would say. In other words, deserve it. And while your name recognition undoubtedly touches that of our queen, you choose to name your program HLF8. Unpretentious, just like your outfit by the way. And you’re not ashamed of your little belly either.
Knowing what you are good and less good at.
So there was music, there was a bar, and there was a bit of a ruckus. Corona was almost non-existent and as much as I know that you must also mourn what happened with MH17, you decided not to jump through the same hoop as all the other programs. And however well-intentioned Khalid Kasem's conversation with the father of one of the victims was, it made my shoes bulge, my toes were so curled up from it.
HLF8 was a cocktail (I wanted to say ‘marriage’ but find cocktail fits you better) of the Top 2000 café, VI without grunting, let’s say: F1 café and a splash of Beste Zangers.
From a reliable source, I know how tough and all-encompassing a daily is (also for your girl, because never eating together again, never putting the kids to bed), but I hope you stay. And then you can change that somewhat dry HLF8 to Here’s… Johnny in a year’s time.
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Image Johnny: William Rutten
