Ingrid Steeger actually wanted to become a commercial artist.
Foto: imago/United Archives/kpa
»What did Caesar say in Egypt? Klimbim! / What are all the freaks singing? Klimbim!« This is how comedy began in Germany, in 1974 with the opening song for the new television show »Klimbim« on WDR. The refrain is legendary: “Klimbim is our life / And if it’s not there / Then I’ll make a slit in my dress / And think it’s wonderful!”, sung by Ingrid Steeger, who with “Klimbim”, a new mix of Sitcom and number revue, became famous. Anarchy, sex and silliness, presented by the regularly crazy “Klimbim” nuclear family, had never existed before in the Federal Republic of Germany, which had barely survived the student revolution and which is still talking about Goethe, Schiller, Ludwig Erhard and Black Forest cake.
This was thought up by the innovative TV producer Michael Pfleghar, inspired by the sketch show by US comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. “Klimbim” was awarded the Grimme Prize, which was considered strange at the time. Afterwards, Steeger was seen together with Iris Berben in the “Klimbim” spin-off “Two Heavenly Daughters,” where they played two dancers who found an airline – with only one ancient airplane that the cook from the airport café (Klaus Dahlen) had to try , to control. Steeger never got rid of these roles. She advertised chocolate candies (“Rollo – my favorite role”) and aftershave (“Sometimes I’m really sad that I’m not a man because there are so many nice things that are only for men – for example Old Spice after shave «).
Born in Berlin in 1947, she actually wanted to become a commercial artist. She once explained that she just got on TV through “Klimbim”. When she died on December 22nd in Bad Hersfeld at the age of 76, it was the top news item on the Berlin radio stations.
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