Kopspijkers: Difference between revisions

{{refimprove|date=July 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

 

Humorous in style, the show was particularly noted for its satirical sketches. Until 2001 it was 'normal' cabaret, but in September 2001 (which happened to be the week of the [[9/11 terrorist attacks]]) the show started with imitations of famous people. These were much like those featured in the British TV programme ''[[Spitting Image]]'', but used real actors. Political leaders like [[Jan Peter Balkenende]], [[Wouter Bos]] and [[Gerrit Zalm]] were frequently impersonated. At first only Dutch people were impersonated, later also foreign celebrities (including [[Tony Blair]], [[Nelson Mandela]], [[John Kerry]] and [[Viktor Yushchenko]]) were impersonated. In recent episodes even historical characters, like [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], [[Anne Frank]], [[Plato]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] were imitated. ''Kopspijkers'' was amongst the most viewed programmes in the Netherlands. At the start of the [[Iraq War]] one of their sketches "[[BZN]] in Baghdad", went [[viral video|viral]] on the internet in the English-speaking world, and included BZN impersonators [[chroma-key]]ed into newsreel footage of combat and the [[Firdos Square statue destruction|toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue]]