Picture Palace | Film   Brotherly Love in LA

The Kaulitz brothers have already worn many hats. The next chapter is “Kaulitz & Kaulitz”. In this Netflix production, it’s all about the Kaulitz brothers themselves, but it’s in the carefully crafted presentation that their true strength lies.

Reflexively condemning reality TV as mindless entertainment and trash is a thing of the past. Too many well-produced formats—like The Masked Singer, The Big Baking (Das große Backen), and The Traitors—have provided quality entertainment in recent years. There’s also a growing recognition that there doesn’t have to be anything "guilty" about a "guilty pleasure," especially when all you’re looking for is a little escape from reality in front of the screen. Even the biggest critics now respect the Kardashian-Jenner family for the empire they built by opening their doors to television cameras.

New Market, New Series

And now, another family has decided to let a reality show follow their day-to-day lives. Kaulitz & Kaulitz is the latest chapter in the ongoing reinvention of twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz. Nearly 20 years have passed since their single Durch den Monsun dropped, propelling the Magdeburg band Tokio Hotel to overnight fame and eventually leading the brothers to move to Los Angeles as teenagers. These days, however, it's less about the music keeping the Kaulitz brothers in the spotlight—even if their sixth album briefly made the German Top Ten in 2022. Instead, they’re now primarily full-time celebrities, bouncing from one TV show to another, like The Voice of Germany or Who’s Stealing My Show?, doing fast food ads, and hosting a fairly popular podcast called Kaulitz Hills.

Insides from Heidi Klum

It only makes sense to take their self-marketing a step further with their own series. The recently released Netflix show Kaulitz & Kaulitz is the next logical step for the Kaulitz brothers and, in a way, is a visual version of the podcast where Bill and Tom have already shared glimpses of their lives. The concept of the show is simple: In 2023, after five long months on tour, Bill and Tom return to their adopted home in California and let cameras follow them around for a while. Of course, the supposedly unfiltered authenticity has its limits: While Bill lets them film in his (rather charming) hillside home, Tom doesn’t allow filming in his house. Tom’s wife, Heidi Klum, along with their mother, personal assistant, and various friends occasionally appear on camera to comment on events.

Drama Between LA and Munich

When they’re not dealing with puppy emergencies (bee sting alert!), the brothers are busy with all kinds of things. They go on shopping trips, visit a dermatologist for a skin cancer check, and Bill takes his much-needed driving test for his U.S. license. Celebrations are also a regular feature, whether it’s the 34th birthday in Joshua Tree National Park or Oktoberfest. Clearing out a jam-packed storage unit provides a perfect opportunity to revisit the past with plenty of memorabilia.

It’s no secret that many of these events feel staged just for the show. No one should watch Kaulitz & Kaulitz expecting an authentic, unfiltered glimpse of life without self-promotion. Shows like this aren’t meant to dive into psychological depths when they could instead include scenic drives through L.A. or searching for the next party outfit.

Self-Promotion with a Wink

Yet, the show and its two stars bring a warmth and sincerity rarely found in reality TV. There’s an ease in the way Bill’s queerness is discussed without being put on display, and it’s refreshing to see the genuine closeness between the brothers, even in moments of conflict. And if people praise the Kardashians for their business acumen, they should be just as impressed by how the Kaulitz twins manage to simultaneously exploit and grow their fame, all while providing a bit of meta-commentary on the side.

November 2024