People Like You and Me (1996)

"People like You and Me" was the first television series from the city of Essen, which took up typical stories from the respective districts of Essen. From the rich doctor with marital problems to the grandson whose Nazi grandfather did not like his foreign girlfriend to the student shared apartment at the University of Essen. In 1996, the series shows the Ruhr metropolis of Essen as the location of the action. There were rumours, that the series had served as a pioneer for later productions. The director Philipp Hebestreit came from Essen and so did the actors. In 2001, he showed to Grundy UFA footage of his series at their request and they were thrilled and wanted to film something like that. Less than ten years later, the broadcaster RTL took up the concept and also shot a series that took place in Essen "Alles was zählt". Ironically, the creator of "People Like You and Me" was invited to the casting for the leading role of Dr. Oliver Sommer in "Alles was zählt" in the winter of 2006 in Babelsberg to Grundy Ufa. The "Passion" Christmas special on 25.12.22 also played in Essen.