In de Gloria ("In the Glory") was a 2000–01 Belgian TV sketch comedy show, directed by Jan Eelen and produced by the company Woestijnvis. It was a mockumentary series which satirized reality television and human interest shows, especially the way regular people are exploited by media.[1]

In de gloria
In de Gloria DVD box cover
GenreSketch show, Mockumentary, Satire, Tragicomedy
Created byJan Eelen
Directed byJan Eelen
Country of originBelgium
Original languageDutch
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20
Production
ProducerWoestijnvis
Running time25 minutes
Production companyWoestijnvis
Original release
NetworkVRT
Release11 February 2000 (2000-02-11) –
28 April 2001 (2001-04-28)

The show ran on the Belgian public TV channel Canvas for two seasons of 10 episodes each. In Flanders itself, the series continues to enjoy significant popularity and critical praise, with several sketches having gained classic status. Despite the local popularity, the show has never been exported.[2][3]

Concept

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In de Gloria is a mockumentary in sketch show format. Every episode consists of a series of sketches that are mostly improvised around a central idea. The tone is tragicomical. Eelen based some of the spoof targets on pre-existing TV formats, including some shows of his own company, Woestijnvis. In an interview, Eelen said he was inspired by the Dutch mockumentaries of Van Kooten en De Bie and Arjan Ederveen's 30 minuten.[4]

Cast

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Cast of In De Gloria. From left to right: Lucas Van den Eynde, Wim Opbrouck, Tom Van Dyck and Frank Focketyn (first row), Sien Eggers, An Miller and Tania Van der Sanden
  • Sien Eggers
  • Frank Focketyn
  • Kris Focketyn as Jos Vermaelen from Vermaelen projects
  • An Miller
  • Wim Opbrouck
  • Lucas Van den Eynde
  • Tania Van der Sanden
  • Tom Van Dyck

Status

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In de Gloria has been lauded by TV critics ever since it first aired. In 2002, it received the Prijs van de Vlaamse Radio-en Televisiekritiek for "Best TV Show".[5] It's also popular with viewers. All seasons are available on DVD.

Internet notoriety

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The sketch "Boemerang" (Boomerang) from the very first episode of In de gloria gained notoriety on YouTube. It features the host of a talk show interviewing victims of medical failures. One of the victims speaks in a squeaky voice due to a failed tonsillectomy. The host tries to suppress his laughter, to no avail. Eventually, another victim talks to the host in a deep voice causing him to burst out laughing.

The full sketch shows the TV host in a supposed archive TV show (hence the title Boemerang) looking back on the infamous moment that got him fired in the past. All people in the footage are actors.[citation needed] The show's host, Erik Hartman, is played by Tom Van Dyck; his two guests Valère and Marijke are portrayed by Lucas Van den Eynde and An Miller.[6]

It quickly became an Internet meme among foreigners who mistook it for being real.[citation needed] In September 2006, the YouTube clip was even shown during The Tonight Show with Jay Leno[7] and Star Channel news, with both hosts announcing it as being real.[citation needed]

Parts of the Boemerang sketch were also featured in an Argentinian television advertisement for Quilmes beer, titled Risas (laughs), where Hartman is seen laughing.[8][better source needed]

References

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  1. ^ "In de gloria". 9 May 2017.
  2. ^ "In de Gloria: 15 jaar tv-geschiedenis in 10 sketches". 11 February 2015.
  3. ^ "In de Gloria: 9 details die ons door het dak deden gaan". 13 February 2015.
  4. ^ "INTERVIEW. Regisseur Jan Eelen en acteur Tom van Dyck over "In de Gloria II". 22 February 2001.
  5. ^ "In de gloria". 9 May 2017.
  6. ^ "In De Gloria | TV Maze". www.tvmaze.com. 27 April 2001. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022.
  7. ^ Article about the Boemerang clip being shown on Jay Leno Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch)
  8. ^ Publicidad Cerveza Quilmes, Risas (2008). YouTube. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
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