“I couldn’t watch the ceremony live, because here in Australia we are busy shooting the new season of Down the road“, says Dieter Coppens. “But between takes I took a sip of water and suddenly saw the many messages on my mobile phone: we have won an Emmy.”
Restaurant misunderstanding was the only Belgian TV program nominated. Yet Coppens did not expect the win. “I am of course happy, because we were in our category non-scripted entertainment the only ones with a socially relevant program. The other nominated programs were all game shows.”
READ ALSO. VRT1 program ‘Restaurant Misverstand’ wins International Emmy Award: “Award for courage of participants and informal caregivers”
“That social relevance in programs is certainly important to me,” says Coppens. “We always try to find them, but with the necessary humor. To be clear: I never laugh at people, but we must be able to add the necessary lightness. That’s why I think those programs work so well.”
That unique combination of empathy and lightheartedness is Dieter Coppens’ secret weapon. He remains very modest himself. “It is mainly the people themselves, the informal caregivers and the team that I have to thank for this award. They are central. I am happy that I can bring their stories to light.”
Where does the statue go?
Coppens does not know exactly what the consequences of that Emmy will be. “There was already a season of it Restaurant misunderstanding in the Netherlands, so taking over there is no longer necessary. But it is certainly true that other foreign channels will pay attention to the program. And it deserves that.”
The location of the statue has also yet to be determined, according to Coppens. “Who gets to take the statue home? That belongs to the production team. It will get a nice place at the production house.”
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Or Coppens Seppe Nobels, his companion and the chef Restaurant misunderstandinghave you heard? “No, but he’s probably resting now. They will have partyed extensively there in New York after the entire ceremony. We will catch up on that party together when we are back in Belgium. But tonight I’m celebrating here too, together with the team Down the road. The recordings here in Australia are over after a month, tomorrow we fly back home. So tonight, with our Emmy, it’s a double celebration. ”
New in the list
There will soon be another program that joins the list of Down the road in Restaurant misunderstanding fits. “We had recordings for that at the beginning of this year. It’s about young people and mental well-being. I am already really looking forward to showing their beautiful stories to Flanders,” says Coppens.
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