#uu cast

How was your show-dream wedding? Lars: It was a real highlight, having been able to shoot this wedding to this extent. We had everything: location, equipment, flowers, we couldn’t ahve had more. All in all it was a real storybook wedding with the right mixture of kitsch and coolness.

Timothy: We noticed that this wedding has gotten a particularly huge attention. The whole team was really in it. When you ask me, you can see that on the screen. For me, it was a really exhausting and intense week, but I’m proud of the result.

25 years of “Unter Uns”: How do you explain the success of the show? Lars: People, who started with episode one, are still watching, because characters are starting to grow on you and the stories are diveres and attract new viewers. You can watch your show favorites turn into an adult.

Timothy: True. We show three, sometimes four generations, family is a big part of it. There aren’t any multi millionaires or royals, but many different characters with their heart in the right place in the Schillerallee.

A lot of huge emotions? Lars: That’s bound to happen with such an event. When everything’s decorated and you play a wedding in a castle, my heart jumps a little.

Timothy: Same. Ringo doesn’t really weep easily otherwise, but for this occasion I’ve allowed him to cry one or two happy tears.

Lars: You’ve cried your eyes out.

Timothy: (laughs) True, but so did you!

You had a very extravagant outdoor shooting, what was special about it? Timothy: We had an alpaca, that was a first for me on set. And another thing that was new, was, that we were shooting at night.

Lars: Yes, our shooting place, a castle, wasn’t available to us indefinitely. Meaning, the already elaborate story had to be shot until deadline. A huge effort, that we as a team managed to pull off very well.

Lars, was your partner Dominik jealous, when you “married” another man? Lars: No, my partner can separate private and business very well... Also Dominik knows that he’s the one for me!

Was he there? Lars: No, sadly Dominik had to work - otherwise we could certainly arrange it.

How would you marry privately? Lars: Dominik and I have actually talked about it before and wish to marry in a small setting in Cape Town, on the beach, that would be nice... Other details stay secret until then...

Did you ever think, that #Ringsy would be so popular amongst fans? Lars: In fact, we couldn’t have possibly imagine the popularity of the story in our dreams. But it shows, that the topic homosexuality on TV is more relevant than ever, and also important for the viewer.

Timothy: I was totally surprised what kind of momentum this has gained. By now, I totally celebrate this and it’s ultimate proof for me that the chemistry between Lars and me is just right.

From which countries do you get fan mail and what do they write you? Timothy: I had an almost surreal experience I had some time back in Toronto. A young girl from Mexico talked to me, she was there on vacation too. I immediately posted an Insta-story with her, otherwise no one would’ve believed me.

Lars: In times of social media it’s a lot easier to connect with fans from all of the world, and it’s a lot more personal. We get messages from all of the world, and fans even go that far to subtitle our episode in English, so that more people can cheer on us.

What experiences have you had with your homosexual TV-partnership? Lars: The sexual reorientation of Easy brought new facets and possibilites to give Easy more exciting stories. Viewers had to adapt to it, but by now yo couldn’t imagine Easy without Ringo by his side.

Timothy: I can only say, that feedback isn’t mainly, but almost exlusively positive. I’d also like to pass the praise on to our authors, because they have a clear vision for #Ringsy and only serve clichés where it really fits.

So you don’t encounter disapproval? Timothy: We do. But mostly it’s about homosexual partnerships in general. I clearly distinguish that in two categories of critiques: The first one judges my performance as an actor. If an actor doesn’t buy my character’s love for another man, then I take that seriously and question it. But then there’s a second category, where it’s about the principle. Such viewers dislike homosexual couples in general, whether that be in “Unter Uns”, in “Modern Family”, or in the “Tagesschau”. I don’t take that seriously, because it has nothing to do with me then.

Lars: You said that beautifully; I have nothing more to add.

Is it important, to show the story of two men who love each other, on TV? Timothy: I’d like to answer that very specifically. I get a significant number of letters from young people. Who despite Social Media, take the time to write down their life story. Who tell me, that they’ve struggled for years because of their sexual orientation. And then they write, that Ringo’s story is similar to their own, and that they totally felt what Ringo felt with his coming out. So yes, I think it’s important.

Lars: Many people are still uninformed about this topic. Especially in an environment where same-sex love is a taboo issue, a daily soap can only provide more tolerance.

Have you experienced homophobia yourself? Timothy: When people talk to me about my character, they often say: He’s gay. That’s rarely meant pejorative. Much more interesting is, that my character is actually bisexual, but that doesn’t seem to stick with people. Otherwise, I’d like to pass the question on to Lars.