Der Tatortreiniger

Found this on MHZ a couple of years ago and was immediately enamored with it. Laugh out loud surprise moments are my favorites here, those times when out of nowhere, something absurd will happen, often something shocking or even terrible, but within the context of the plot, truly funny (the show gives us permission to laugh at these absurd moments, despite the often tragic circumstances preceding them). When that happens, I'm glad the show is subtitled so I don't miss the dialogue that's occurring when I'm laughing. I really started to appreciate it after about 3 or 4 episodes, at which point I realized that one is really a little morality play. But its morality is not foist upon you, Instead, it draws you in, dipping its toe into the human condition with humor, and along the way invites the viewer to do the same. The shows often end abruptly, but the result is that the 'moral' center of the episode sticks with you. It brings you to the point where you really start thinking about the particular topic of the day, and then it leaves you there. I.e., It doesn't finish the thinking for you. It explores some often compelling moral and philosophical issues, and the diversity of human beings, with humor and, importantly, compassion. That balance makes it and its stories accessible and not "preachy". I hope MHZ shows more recent episodes (the last 2 I watched were from 2014) because I'm really curious to see how the show evolves.

I have only seen three episodes so far (thank you MHz International Mystery channel, and also Comcast for carrying it!), but I can tell you right now that this show totally, absolutely, brilliantly, rocks.

Crime Scene Cleaner is one of the funniest things I have ever watched. EVER. Bjarne Mädel, who plays our "hero" is brilliant. The writing, even as translated into English, is hysterically funny. The show is simply jaw-dropping, mind-numbing, amazing. It is surreal, bizarre, somewhat existential and laugh-out-loud-at-your-TV funny.

It's about a man (Heiko 'Schotty' Schotte) whose job it is to clean up the horrid leftovers after a terrible crime has taken place -- for example the leavings of a murder or a suicide. His motto is "My work starts where others pass in horror," (which can be interpreted in several ways). During the course of his job he meets, let us say, some extremely strange people.... a sweet old lady obsessed with her sofa (who maybe isn't as sweet as she seems), a grumpy writer whose dead aunt didn't help his writer's block, and a charming, dedicated, prostitute.

Schotty is a decent bloke. A sort of Everyman. He's kind and honest. He turns on the TV to watch soccer at one crime scene (but feels bad when his boss catches him at it), and at another crime scene when offered a bribe, he turns it down. He's likable, kind of cute, and goodhearted.

I am told Crime Scene Cleaner is incredibly popular in Germany. I am not surprised. It is really fun to watch. The episodes are less than 30 minutes and they go by so fast, you're left wishing for more. (Incidentally, don't turn it off before the credits end).

There are a lot of in-jokes to be found here -- for example, Schotty's ringtone is the theme for Germany's (if not the planet's) longest running crime series ("Tatort"). Characters show up from other German crime shows and make fun of themselves.

The writers are not adverse to making political statements of the progressive kind. The shrewd adeptness of these proclamations just adds to the brilliance of the show.

Der Tatortreiniger is perfect. Simply perfect. Watch it if you can.

And MHz Worldview International Mystery -- thank you so much for all you do! Please show as many Crime Scene Cleaner episodes as possible!

I won't spoil it. But this series is a light hearted black comedy from start to finish with the most amazing and baffling series finale I've ever seen. The series runs for 7 seasons, but it only totals 31 episodes with an ave running time of 30 mins each. So easy binge watching right here. While the episodes are not connected to each other, you do want to pay attention to every detail as it will all come down in the last episode. Bjarne Mädel (that goofy gangster from "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)") is at his prime. It mostly depicts (northern) German dry humor (which does exists) and sure is the go-to series you want to know and brag about at the next party.

Bjarne Mädel displays his acting abilities once again, yet this time he'S not playing a man child like he did in Strommberg. This time he's the every-man with a rather unusual job. He's the one who get's paid for cleaning up crime scenes. However it ain't the cleaning that's entertaining , it's the people with whom he gotta deal while cleaning up. Nazis,Vegans,Murderer,Reality TV Stars,Shaman Priests, just to name a few. The jokes are sometimes on him, and sometimes on the person that he encounters. Right now "Crime Scene Cleaner"(or Der Tatortreiniger" in German)is one of the few good German productions on television. other memorable German TV shows are:"Circus Haligali" and "Walulis Sieht fern"

I'm usually a bit put off by philosophy in the guise of comedy, or most movies for that matter (e.g., that god-awful one from Germany years ago, about angels descending into taverns to bloviate to customers). But "Crime Scene Cleaner" does it adroitly and, IMHO, hilariously.

What puzzles me, however, are the two scathing negatives from German posters. I admit I don't know Mr. Madel's previous roles so I can't say whether he just cuts and pastes his performances here. But to say that CSC "sucks" in comparison to what's on American TV is a gobsmacker. If the poster could direct me to the U.S. sitcom that's crisply dialogued and nicely played by the supporting actors, and which is pitched as high, I'll watch it in a trice!