Rediscovering “Was Bin Ich?” - How a Classic German TV Show Reveals the Lost Art of Intelligent Entertainment

In recent weeks, I have been revisiting old episodes of the German television classic “Was bin ich?” (“What Am I?”). As a child and teenager, I used to watch the show regularly. Back then, I found it somewhat old-fashioned, even a little slow but the guessing game itself was exciting enough to keep me engaged.

Watching it today, decades later, feels like discovering an entirely different program.

For non-German readers, “Was bin ich?” was a long-running panel show in which a group of well-known personalities had to guess a guest’s profession by asking yes-or-no questions. Hosted by Robert Lembke, the format was simple, calm, and rooted in conversation rather than spectacle. There were no flashing lights, no dramatic sound effects, no humiliating stunts - just wit, logic, and respectful curiosity.

As a child, I mainly saw the surface: a somewhat dated set, formal clothing, and a tone that felt more like a school lesson than entertainment. Today, I recognize something far more remarkable. The show now appears to me as one of the earliest examples of genuinely high-quality programming in German television: intelligent, dignified, and culturally meaningful.

What strikes me most is the authenticity of the people involved. The panelists did not feel like media constructs or exaggerated TV personas. They were real individuals with intellect, humor, and a quiet sense of self-confidence. Their charm was not manufactured; it emerged naturally from conversation, mutual respect, and understated wit.

Robert Lembke’s hosting style deserves special recognition. He guided the show with dry humor, elegance, and restraint - never dominating, never ridiculing guests, and never forcing attention onto himself. His presence conveyed trust, intelligence, and a subtle warmth that is rare in modern broadcasting.

Another powerful aspect of the program lies in its respect for ordinary professions. Most guests were not celebrities but everyday people: craftsmen, technicians, specialists, workers, and professionals from all walks of life. Their work was treated with dignity and genuine interest. In a quiet way, the show celebrated the value of labor, knowledge, and social contribution, something that feels almost radical by today’s standards.

Most striking of all is how the program relied on intelligence rather than noise. The entertainment came from thinking, deduction, wordplay, and social grace, not from conflict, sensationalism, or embarrassment. In a media landscape increasingly driven by volume and provocation, “Was bin ich?” now feels like evidence that television once believed in the audience’s intelligence.

My changed perception is not merely nostalgia. It reflects my own growth - a shift from youthful impatience toward an appreciation of subtlety, restraint, and cultural depth. What once felt slow now feels refined. What once seemed outdated now appears timeless.

Rewatching “Was bin ich?” has become more than a trip down memory lane. It has turned into a quiet meditation on how television, public discourse, and cultural standards have evolved  and, in some respects, what we may have lost along the way.