Banijay ties with ZDF alum Stephan Denzer for new comedy label

Stephan Denzer

Banijay has launched a new label with the former editorial director for comedy at German broadcaster ZDF.

Cologne-based Good Humor is being launched by MD and exec producer Stephan Denzer, alongside Banijay Germany CEO, Marcus Wolter.

The label will focus on humorous fiction formats, including comedy series and sitcoms, as well as sketch shows.

Denzer had most recently been head of German theatre Mainzer Kleinkunstbühne Unterhaus and before that headed cabaret and comedy at ZDF. During a decade-long stint, he created the Heute Show, Neues Aus Der Anstalt and the Sketch History.

He was also behind comedy fiction formats such as  Merz Gegen Merz, Nix Festes and Ellerbeck. Prior to that, Denzer had a remit across all comedy formats on ZDFneo and 3Sat.

Wolter said: “Stephan Denzer has decisively shaped the comedy successes of ZDF for over 15 years. Standing for quality, he certainly knows his way around sitcoms and comedy series. With his creativity and experience, we believe Good Humor will be a resounding success in Germany and look forward to the new partnership.”

Denzer added: “With the backing of Banijay, we want to create formats with relevance, originality and a lot of love, in order to perhaps bring a little more lightness and laughter to the world and hope to find partners who share this vision.”