Balko
Encyclopedia
Balko is a German
prime time
television series broadcast on the private TV channel RTL
. It is a police detective story
with comical twists featuring two inspectors of the Dortmund
police, Balko (played by Jochen Horst
until episode 49, then by Bruno Eyron) and his colleague Klaus Krapp (Ludger Pistor
). Balko's main characteristics are his coolness and his consistently laid-back appearance, whereas “Krappi” is a typical mama’s boy
and very clumsy. The series started in 1995 and has won several television awards.
It was not until September 2005 that the show returned to the screen - in its original time slot. However, ratings were insufficient which eventually led to RTL’s announcement of the definite cessation of the series. Some of the episodes that had already been shot were aired (unannounced) late at night whereas the very last episodes have still not been shown.
Balko was the first German crime-comedy series (a similar but Austria
n show titled "Kottan Ermittelt" had already been broadcast by the German TV channel ZDF
in the 1980s). The crime cases were known for their bizarre aspects and biting social criticism. One of the series' running gags was the secrecy surrounding Balko's first name (similar to MacGyver
, Quincy
or Columbo). Another running gag was that Krappi's mother never actually appeared in any episode, although she was mentioned in almost every single one. Viewers were made to believe that she appeared in one episode but in the end this woman turned out to be Krapp's aunt Elsbett.
Genuinely unique for a German TV show was the way in which Eyron took over Horst's role: In an assassination attempt, Balko gets wounded so badly that his face has to be remodeled surgically.
Balko, the main character of the series, is an easygoing and friendly police officer not always sticking to working rules. He is a conscientious objector
and holds no high school diploma. Most of the time he is surrounded by incompetent colleagues he cannot rely on in cases of emergency. Balko originally comes from Wetter, a small village in the Ennepe Ruhr district, near Dortmund. His parents still live there. So far his Christian name has not been mentioned in any episode.
Kriminalhauptkommissar Klaus Krapp
Krapp, also called "Krappi", is a thoroughly honest public servant. He is never dressed improperly, is always up to date in his profession and well-educated. He graduated from a German high school
(Abitur
) and is a reserve officer
of the Bundeswehr
. Despite his many skills, in the domestic area as well as many others, he has no luck with women. His attempts to score with the opposite sex are legendary but have mostly been a failure. Krapp seems to cling to his mother, who is mentioned repeatedly and lives in Dortmund-Huckarde, though she never appears in person.
Kriminaloberrätin Katharina Jäger
After a series of changes in the leadership of the homicide division (during the first years the part of the chief executive was played by Dieter Pfaff as well as for a short time by Horst A. Fechner and Arthur Brauss), Kriminaloberrätin Katharina Jäger (played by Sabine Vitua) became Balko's boss from 1998 to 2000. After her death caused by assassination with a sabotaged car, which was originally directed at Balko, Wittek became the new chief detective.
Polizeikommissar/Polizeiobermeister/Erster Kriminalhauptkommissar Hans "Quittek" Wittek
Kriminalhauptkommissar Wittek, called "Quittek", was a patrolman until he is promoted to be Erster Polizeihauptkommissar and head of the homicide division of Dortmund by skipping five ranks. The reason for this is his marriage with the daughter of the Polizeipräsident. He is very simple-minded and often messes up inspections but because of his lack of competence he also always gives his investigators plenty of leeway.
Polizeiobermeister Marek
Polizeiobermeister Marek is the ultimate simple-minded patrolman, assigned to the Dortmund homicide division. His first name has never been mentioned in any episode.
Polizeiobermeister Schafranek
Polizeiobermeister Schafranek is a clumsy, not particularly clever, but very likable patrolman who was assigned to the homicide division after Wittek's promotion. His first name also remains unknown. Schafranek is Marek's best friend.
Kriminalrat Holtmann
When Wittek retired, Kriminalrat Holtmann became his successor and was appointed chief of the homicide division for the last seven episodes. He was clearly stricter than his predecessor, kept a tighter rein and appeared to be a very competent detective.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
television series broadcast on the private TV channel RTL
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
. It is a police detective story
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
with comical twists featuring two inspectors of the Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
police, Balko (played by Jochen Horst
Jochen Horst
Jochen Horst is a German/English Film, TV and Theater actor.Jochen Horst finished at the state College in Graz, Austria, the Music Academy of Performing Arts with "summa cum laud" in 1986...
until episode 49, then by Bruno Eyron) and his colleague Klaus Krapp (Ludger Pistor
Ludger Pistor
Ludger Pistor is a German actor.Pistor was born in Herten. He has had roles in numerous German-language and English-language films including the Academy Award-winning Schindler's List...
). Balko's main characteristics are his coolness and his consistently laid-back appearance, whereas “Krappi” is a typical mama’s boy
Mother's boy
Mother's boy, also mummy's boy or mama's boy, is a term for a man who is excessively attached to his mother at an age when men are expected to be independent...
and very clumsy. The series started in 1995 and has won several television awards.
Chronology
The series has been successful for many years, yet after weekly time slots became rarer and the number of TV premiers decreased due to RTL's restructuring from 2002 onwards, the series lost many of its regular viewers. After shooting ended in November 2003, Balko-actor Bruno Eyron announced his withdrawal from the show while Ludger Pistor said he was willing to continue.It was not until September 2005 that the show returned to the screen - in its original time slot. However, ratings were insufficient which eventually led to RTL’s announcement of the definite cessation of the series. Some of the episodes that had already been shot were aired (unannounced) late at night whereas the very last episodes have still not been shown.
Balko was the first German crime-comedy series (a similar but Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n show titled "Kottan Ermittelt" had already been broadcast by the German TV channel ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
in the 1980s). The crime cases were known for their bizarre aspects and biting social criticism. One of the series' running gags was the secrecy surrounding Balko's first name (similar to MacGyver
MacGyver
MacGyver is an American action-adventure television series created by Lee David Zlotoff. Henry Winkler and John Rich were the executive producers. The show ran for seven seasons on ABC in the United States and various other networks abroad from 1985 to 1992. The series was filmed in Los Angeles...
, Quincy
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E., also called Quincy, is a United States television series from Universal Studios that aired from October 3, 1976, to September 5, 1983, on NBC...
or Columbo). Another running gag was that Krappi's mother never actually appeared in any episode, although she was mentioned in almost every single one. Viewers were made to believe that she appeared in one episode but in the end this woman turned out to be Krapp's aunt Elsbett.
Genuinely unique for a German TV show was the way in which Eyron took over Horst's role: In an assassination attempt, Balko gets wounded so badly that his face has to be remodeled surgically.
Characters
Kriminalhauptkommissar BalkoBalko, the main character of the series, is an easygoing and friendly police officer not always sticking to working rules. He is a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
and holds no high school diploma. Most of the time he is surrounded by incompetent colleagues he cannot rely on in cases of emergency. Balko originally comes from Wetter, a small village in the Ennepe Ruhr district, near Dortmund. His parents still live there. So far his Christian name has not been mentioned in any episode.
Kriminalhauptkommissar Klaus Krapp
Krapp, also called "Krappi", is a thoroughly honest public servant. He is never dressed improperly, is always up to date in his profession and well-educated. He graduated from a German high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
) and is a reserve officer
Military reserve
A military reserve, tactical reserve, or strategic reserve is a group of military personnel or units which are initially not committed to a battle by their commander so that they are available to address unforeseen situations or exploit suddenly developing...
of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
. Despite his many skills, in the domestic area as well as many others, he has no luck with women. His attempts to score with the opposite sex are legendary but have mostly been a failure. Krapp seems to cling to his mother, who is mentioned repeatedly and lives in Dortmund-Huckarde, though she never appears in person.
Kriminaloberrätin Katharina Jäger
After a series of changes in the leadership of the homicide division (during the first years the part of the chief executive was played by Dieter Pfaff as well as for a short time by Horst A. Fechner and Arthur Brauss), Kriminaloberrätin Katharina Jäger (played by Sabine Vitua) became Balko's boss from 1998 to 2000. After her death caused by assassination with a sabotaged car, which was originally directed at Balko, Wittek became the new chief detective.
Polizeikommissar/Polizeiobermeister/Erster Kriminalhauptkommissar Hans "Quittek" Wittek
Kriminalhauptkommissar Wittek, called "Quittek", was a patrolman until he is promoted to be Erster Polizeihauptkommissar and head of the homicide division of Dortmund by skipping five ranks. The reason for this is his marriage with the daughter of the Polizeipräsident. He is very simple-minded and often messes up inspections but because of his lack of competence he also always gives his investigators plenty of leeway.
Polizeiobermeister Marek
Polizeiobermeister Marek is the ultimate simple-minded patrolman, assigned to the Dortmund homicide division. His first name has never been mentioned in any episode.
Polizeiobermeister Schafranek
Polizeiobermeister Schafranek is a clumsy, not particularly clever, but very likable patrolman who was assigned to the homicide division after Wittek's promotion. His first name also remains unknown. Schafranek is Marek's best friend.
Kriminalrat Holtmann
When Wittek retired, Kriminalrat Holtmann became his successor and was appointed chief of the homicide division for the last seven episodes. He was clearly stricter than his predecessor, kept a tighter rein and appeared to be a very competent detective.