Sketch History - DVD

Content: Forget everything you learned in history class. Because the truth is, it was all very different. The ten-part first season of Sketch History reveals what the Knights of the Round Table were really discussing, how the search for an inn for Joseph and the heavily pregnant Mary actually happened, and what the real reason was for mutinying on the Bounty. The series also reveals what an internship in the Middle Ages was like - for example with an executioner - and where you can find Klaus Kinski's ancestors throughout history. In addition, the series clears up prejudices about supposedly so hard-drinking Vikings, exposes Goebbels as a failed joke teller and finally reveals how it came to US President Kennedy said his legendary phrase Ich bin ein Berliner.

With Bastian Pastewka as the delightfully ironic narrative voice, this turbulent history lesson bounces jauntily through different eras. Max Giermann (Switch Reloaded), Antoine Monot Jr. (Ein Fall für Zwei), Carsten Strauch (Götter wie wir), Matthias Matschke (Pastewka) or Isabell Polak (Böse Mädchen) slip into the most diverse roles and reveal a great versatility. A highlight is Max Giermann, who is simply wonderful as Caesar in Klaus Kinski manner, but also as a pimply intern.

As is so often the case with sketch comedy series, not every gag ignites. Some scenes are relatively weak and lack the vicious bite that makes other moments so funny. Also, the fact that some gags are constantly repeated contributes to the fact that the later episodes don't seem quite as funny as just the great first episode. But all in all, the successful sketches outweigh the bad ones, which can ignite due to the good actors, the witty scripts and the sometimes quite profound humor. In addition, the series is to note that the actors with a lot of fun and the creators behind the scenes with a lot of passion and attention to detail in the matter. Despite a few hangs and weaknesses, all of this leaves an all-around positive overall impression, for which there is a very clear "absolutely worth seeing" in the end. This makes history lessons a lot of fun!

Picture + Sound: Picture and sound of the DVD are on a good level for a TV comedy series. The picture is clean, the colors coherent and the sharpness absolutely satisfactory. And the sound, mixed in stereo, is also perfectly adequate for a sitcom. Of course, this is no audiovisual revelation, but it serves its purpose in every respect. And for this there is then also a clear: Good!

Extras: As a bonus, there are 6 minutes of sometimes more, sometimes less amusing outtakes to see on the first disc. In addition, the DVD comes with a booklet with information about the actors.

Conclusion: Sketch History is an amusing history lesson that gives viewers a whole new look at major historical events. If you've ever wanted to know how the Mutiny on the Bounty really went down, or where Klaus Kinski's ancestors were cavorting all over the place, this is the place for you. The double DVD presents all ten episodes of the first season in good picture and sound quality. The six-minute bonus material is quite amusing, but nothing more. Overall, there is for this DVD a clear: Recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp