In Bochum, he first became known to a wider audience in Germany around 1996 as a regular cast member of the comedy show Die Wochenshow (engl.: The Weekly Show), essentially a mock news program. His trademarks included quirky, off-beat characters such as Fruity sex talk show host Brisko Schneider and Ottmar Zittlau, an unemployed, sweatsuit-wearing dimwit.