“Giovanni Zarrella Show” again without Florian Silbereisen: This is what ZDF says

Since 2021, Giovanni Zarrella has been welcoming the elite of the pop music industry to his ZDF show. Only Florian Silbereisen has not yet been a guest. The broadcaster has now commented on this.

Semino Rossi, Howard Carpendale, Matthias Reim: The guest list for the next “Giovanni Zarrella Show” promises top-class stars from the pop music industry. But two names are missing. Once again. Neither Florian Silbereisen nor Thomas Anders will appear in the show, which was recorded in Offenburg in May but is only now being broadcast on ZDF.

The decision does not seem to be ZDF's. When asked by t-online, a station spokeswoman explained: “Of course, Florian Silbereisen and Thomas Anders are regularly invited to the show. Unfortunately, Florian Silbereisen has not yet been able to appear, but we will keep trying.” Thomas Anders, on the other hand, has already been a guest on Giovanni Zarrella's show, but not in a regular edition, but in the show that was dedicated to Roland Kaiser for the 50th anniversary.

But why does Florian Silbereisen stay away from Giovanni Zarrella's shows? The two have been considered competitors since 2021. The “Traumschiff” captain has been hosting the so-called Feste shows on ARD for 20 years. In 2019, the former Bro'Sis singer was a guest on one of his shows for the first time – and from then on he was a regular on Florian Silbereisen's shows. In 2020, for example, he took part in almost all shows.

He also appeared in 2021 – on the “Schlagerchampions”. But then it was over. Because just a few months after his last appearance, the 46-year-old got his own hit show on ZDF. In September 2021, the Italian flickered across the screens for the first time with the “Giovanni Zarrella Show”. Stars such as Kerstin Ott, Nino de Angelo and Maite Kelly appeared at his debut, and 3.81 million viewers tuned in at the time.

Since then, Giovanni Zarrella has been celebrating success with his show. In 2022, the presenter was awarded the German Television Prize in the category “Best Moderation / Individual Achievement in Entertainment”, and a year later he received the trophy in the category “Best Entertainment Show”. He was also surprised with a Bambi last year.

Florian Silbereisen's shows are being overshadowed and there are fewer of them. In recent years, ARD has always shown six shows, but in 2024 there will be only five. Only four shows are planned for 2025 and 2026, as the MDR Broadcasting Council decided a few days ago. Giovanni Zarrella, on the other hand, is becoming more and more present in the ZDF program.

In addition, the presenter always secures special shows such as Andrea Berg's 30th stage anniversary or Roland Kaiser's 50th anniversary. Shows that Florian Silbereisen would otherwise have taken over. In 2019, the ex of Helene Fischer Roland Kaiser surprised everyone with a show. Five years later, the “Joana” interpreter Giovanni Zarrella hosted his anniversary edition.

Giovanni Zarrella couldn't be more successful with his format. But having his own hit show on ZDF for the presenter probably means no appearances on ARD's festival shows. He hasn't appeared on the shows for more than three years. But he would if he could. “I used to be a guest on his shows. Even if he were to invite me to his show again, I'd go,” he said recently in an interview with t-online and emphasized: “We have absolutely no problem with each other.”

Florian Silbereisen once told the “Bild” newspaper: “The pop star became a pop star in a very short time. I am delighted that an artist we have supported so much has had such great success so quickly.” However, the “Traumschiff” captain already found these words of praise in 2020 – before Giovanni Zarrella flickered across the screens with his first show and celebrated success.

And why doesn't Thomas Anders appear on Giovanni Zarrella's show? Perhaps out of loyalty to Florian Silbereisen. The ex-Modern Talking star and the “Traumschiff” captain released their first single together in 2018, “Siegesagt doch sie liebt mich”. Since then, the two have been on stage together again and again.