RTL Samstag Nacht was a comedy show, which ran from 6 November 1993 to 23 May 1998 on the German TV network RTL. RTL Samstag Nacht was the first major comedy show in German television, created after the example of the long-running American show Saturday Night Live and broadcast late on Saturday night. It helped comedy in German television to a breakthrough and was a model for several later comedy shows. Karl Ranseier was a recurring character featured in fake news reports telling about his death at the end of each episode. The name Karl Ranseier has become a catchphrase in Germany that has led to its own joke category of Ranseiers which are in widespread usage outside of the comedy origin.

Von 1993 bis 1998 definierte das „RTL Samstag Nacht“-Dreamteam um Wigald Boning, Olli Dittrich, Esther Schweins, Mirco Nontschew, Stefan Jürgens, Tanja Schumann, Tommy Krappweis und Mark Weigel die deutsche Comedy völlig neu. Hier entstanden „Kentucky schreit f*cken“, „Zwei Stühle, eine Meinung“ und „Die Doofen“, hier feierten Komiker wie Rüdiger Hoffmann oder Helge Schneider ihre ganz großen Auftritte. Deutsche und internationale Musik-Top-Acts gaben sich die Klinke in die Hand...