Project X
Projekt X is an Austrian cabaret group that has existed since 1994 , consisting of Clemens Haipl , Herbert Knötzl and Gerald Votava . She oscillates between precise character and social studies and anarcho-humor, caricaturing strange conditions and phenomena as well as Austrian peculiarities.
history
The three “main project managers” appeared for the first time in 1994 in the youth program Montevideo on ORF television together with Oliver Baier . Gerald Votava took on the role of assistant "Mr. Ralf", Clemens Haipl was a guest as a garbage can and Herbert Knötzl was responsible for numerous appearances in various roles in the Montevideo contributions. They became known through the midnight "discussion rounds", as they sometimes emphasize "primitive", on ORF. Since the founding of the ORF radio station FM4 , aimed at a young, alternative target group, in 1995, 'Project X' has been an integral part of the Thursday night program. In addition, the group can be seen again and again in performances all over Austria. In one episode in 2001, a fan was appointed "computer project manager" who programmed the website www.projekt-x.at, which is no longer in operation, in order to provide fans of the cabaret group with an online platform.
In 2010 Gerald Votava ended his work on 'Project X', the two remaining have been supported occasionally by "guest project managers" since then.
From 2010 Herbert Knötzl could be seen as musician Richard Klein in the late-night talk show Willkommen Österreich . In this role he was also nominated for the Austrian preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 .
Style and concept
They describe themselves as the main project leader and take on the roles of fictional people and objects as well as real personalities in their radio and television appearances, which are often designed as discussion groups . With cabaret performances, skits and idiosyncratic cover versions of well-known pieces of music are added to the discussion rounds . The troupe's trademark is the combination of realistic and grotesque elements. Popular is the parody of certain situations - with preference to be Austria predominant speech patterns and jargons of media (talk shows, discussion programs, interviews) and everyday life (eg relationships, work world.) Very realistic and detailed imitated, often the same here popular Austrian celebrities to Such as Barbara Stöckl or Otto Schenk are used as well as an often grotesque, inconsistent, hair-raising setting.
For example, the depicted celebrity appears in a fictional, bizarre role that doesn't fit him at all (e.g. Jazz Gitti as a US presidential candidate), different genres and (im) levels of meaning are combined with one another, e.g. B. Easy-TV as part of a television comedy bar from 1999 - the parody of a television program in the style of a detective report, in which those affected are always fairy-tale characters, but who behave completely humanly and everyday and are confronted with social reality, but at the same time maintain absurd things, e.g. B. collect toothpicks from celebrities, or are dealt with completely absurd things in an adventurous discussion group in a factual, serious tone. Particularly curious were the two episodes with the unofficial title “Entenbemalung”, in which the same discussion group chatted twice about the same topic with partly the same wording, which caused violent laughter from the protagonists live on the air. Frequent laughter by the protagonists became a trademark of the show. In another concept, they recreate everyday scenes. There were several episodes that played at a sausage stand. The owner of the sausage stand Votava was always the same, but there were different guests in each episode such as B. Ilse Puck or extraterrestrials present.
Activity on the radio
There is always a panel discussion on their weekly radio broadcast on FM4. This is loosened up by one to three pieces of music, meanwhile mostly corresponding to the audio image of FM4. Initially, only songs by the Swedish pop group ABBA were played, with well-known interpreters of German pop music in between. These pieces are often presented as works by one of the discussion group members. A Projekt X show always ends with the words "Sleep well and have a sweet dream - of pickles".
In addition, Clemens Haipl, partly with Martin Puntigam , has regular short sketches under various titles on FM4. Gerald Votava is also a moderator at FM4. Project X synchronized the finale of the first season of the ORF broadcasts Taxi Orange and Starmania live on the radio, with each protagonist always taking on different roles. Herbert Knötzl can currently be admired in the role of Richard Klein as the Song Contest Jury. He can also be seen as the son of the family in guest appearances on the television program "Die liebe Familie NG".
Awards
- 1998 Romy
- 2001 Salzburg bull