Liebling Kreuzberg

Liebling Kreuzberg
Created by	Jurek Becker
Starring	Manfred Krug, Corinna Genest, Anja Franke
Country of origin	Germany
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	58
Production
Running time	45 min
Release
Original network	SFB, WDR, NDR
Original release	1986 – 1998

Liebling Kreuzberg was a television series on ARD, which was first aired in five seasons with a total of 58 episodes from 1986 to 1998.

The scripts of seasons one through three and five were written by Jurek Becker, who tailor-made the role of idiosyncratic Berlin Kreuzberg attorney Robert Liebling for his friend Manfred Krug, the fourth season was written by Ulrich Plenzdorf. The series was directed by Heinz Schirk (first season), Werner Masten (second to fourth season) and Vera Loebner (fifth season). It was produced by SFB, NDR and WDR. The music of the first season was composed by Hans-Martin Majewski, in the later seasons by Klaus Doldinger.

Content and Characters

The eponymous main character, Robert Liebling (born June 12, 1939) is an attorney and notary, who has his office in Berlin's Kreuzberg district. In the first four seasons he has a three-day beard, wears a hat, drives a motorcycle (a Honda first, then a BMW) and convertibles (4th season, a Mercedes-Benz W124 series, season 5, a Mercedes-Benz W111), smokes cigar and consumes götterspeise in large amounts, which his secretaries Paula (Corinna Genest) and Senta (Anja Franke) always have to keep in stock. Sometimes Liebling has several girlfriends simultaneously, which often leads to trouble. While he does these things quite easily, he reacted with jealousy when one of his liaisons moved into the vicinity of infidelity.

As a matter of principle, Liebling only takes cases that interest him. In the first episode of the 1st Season, he explains that he has sold a real estate business inherited from his father and is now, in his capacity as a notary, documenting any resulting sales contracts. This secures him a degree of financial independence, so that he can afford to avoid work if possible. Much rather he goes for a walk during the day along the river Spree or sleeps in his office. Much of the remaining work he delegates to his associates. In the first three seasons, this is Michael Kausch in the role of Dr. Giselmund Arnold, later Jenny Gröllmann as Isolde Isenthal "Issi" and finally Stefan Reck as Dr. Bruno Pelzer. They are often idealistic, while at the same time more conventional and serve as antagonists of pragmatic, but unconventional Liebling. Most funny dialogues in the series result from this contrast. However, the contrast is often only a seeming one, because Liebling—although a cynic—has also idealistic traits.

The individual episodes usually deal with minor disputes, which often confront the layman with unexpected legal facts. In the parallel storyline favorite girlfriends are a supporting subject. In the early episodes, the relationships change most rapidly, while the suspense in later episodes is generated by the professional or personal background of the women. In the 2nd and 3rd Season it is the attorney Rosemarie Monk (Diana Körner), in the 4th Season Lena Lewandowsky (Isa Jank), in the 5th Season the married Lola Kornhaus (Monika Woytowicz) and finally Miriam Breslauer (Johanna Liebeneiner). Another important role in the private setting of the story is his chaotic and chronically broke daughter Sarah Liebling (Roswitha Schreiner), who in the final season—initially in secret—is the girlfriend of Dr. Bruno Pelzer.

Other actors

1. Paula Fink: Corinna Genest (Season 1–3, 5)
2. Senta Kurzweg: Anja Franke (Season 1–5)
3. Gieselmund Arnold: Michael Kausch Season (1–3)
4. Bruno Pelzer: Stefan Reck (Season 5)
5. Rosemarie Monk: Diana Körner (Season 2–4)
6. Isolde Isenthal: Jenny Gröllmann (Season 4)
7. clerk Mr Wittlich: Friedrich-Karl Praetorius (Season 2)
8. Robertchen Liebling (Liebling's grand-son): Adrian Schröck (Season 4–5)
9. Erika Liebling (Liebling's last wife): Brigitte Grothum (Season 1)
10. Bob (Sarah Liebling's friend beginning 5th season): Jochen Schroeder (Season 5)
11. Dr. Klinda (Client of Mrs Isenthal): Joachim Kemmer (Season 4)
12. Mother of Robert Liebling: Karin Hardt (Season 2)
13. Mohrenhaupt (Public prosecutor in season 3–4): Hans Nitschke
14. Lola Kornhaus (Liebling's girlfriend in season 5): Monika Woytowicz
15. Miriam Breslauer (Liebling's last girlfriend in season 5): Johanna Liebeneiner
16. Barbara Isenthal (Dougther of Mrs Isenthal): Liesa Schober (Season 4)
17. lawyer Wolter (Friend of Liebling): Peter Schiff (Season 1–5)
18. Willi Gumpert/Willi Rodegast (Client which is in some episodes): Rolf Zacher (Season 2–4)

Seasons

1. 1985/1986
2. 1987/1988
3. 1989/1990
4. 1993/1994
5. 1997/1998

Episode List

1st season Der neue Mann Ein dringender Fall Der Beschützer Doppeleinsatz Kleine Fische Der Retter 2nd season Taschenpfändung Glück kommt, Glück geht Die Staatsanwältin Der Besuch Die Abkassierer Teilerfolg Zweimal Entlassung Hausbesuche Das eigene Geld Rom und zurück Alles auf Bewährung Die Fehler der anderen Ehrengericht	3rd season Ein Bruch nach dem anderen Blumen für den Rechtsanwalt Selbsthilfe Ausnahmsweise umsonst Die Freiheit der Kunst Anwälte unter sich Die Tochter der Freundin des Vaters Jede Menge Abschied 4th season Einmal Anwalt – immer Anwalt Berlin ist ein Dorf Rote Ohren Lernet, ihr Richter auf Erden Des Menschen Wille Speckkartoffeln mit Pflaumen Widerstand und so weiter Spatz in der Hand Wer schmeißt denn da mit Lehm Kein bißchen schwanger Ein bißchen Gewalt Ladendiebstahl lohnt sich Weiche Landung	5th season Lieblings neues Glück Unter uns Machos Der Verbieter Wissen ist Macht Der Bauch eines Richters Schmerzensgeld Ausländersachen Paradies mit Folgen Eine nette Intrige Der Krawattenmann Die Sache Anja Clemens Paula, komm wieder Besorgte Väter Teure Zeugen Der Killer Hirngespinste Schwer verdientes Geld Der einzige Ehrliche

External links

• Liebling Kreuzberg at the Internet Movie Database