Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten

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Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (Good Times, Bad Times) is the name of a popular German soap opera which was first broadcast in May 1992.

In 1990, the first commercial channel in the Netherlands, RTL 4 had a spectacular ratings success with its soap Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden, a remake of the Australian soap-opera The Restless Years. Like in this Dutch version, the storyline was ported to fit German surroundings and to adapt to the decade that lay between the Australian show and the first episode. The first 230 episodes were taken from the Australian script, but heavily rewritten; since spring 1993 the scripts are original material written in Germany.

Today, the only thing it shares with the Dutch version is the fan-base's abbreviation of the show title to the first four letters of each word. In Germany, the show is referred to as GZSZ, while in the Netherlands everyone knows what you're talking about when you say GTST. Both titles, as can be easily guessed, mean exactly the same.

Since its launch on May 11th, 1992, Germany's first daily soap has always been a hit for the RTL network. For over 14 years now, the show has been number one in its timeslot at 7.40 pm with 4.5 million viewers in average. In 2002 the show reached its peak with over 7 million viewers. Set in Berlin, Germany's capital city, the show is about a group of people who try to find their way in life.

Former stars of the soap include Jeanette Biedermann and Yvonne Catterfeld who have both launched a successful career in the music business.

Short facts: Network: RTL, weekdays at 7.40 pm, 30 minutes, 3500+ episodes, 2 commercial breaks, 20 contract cast members, location shoots in South Africa (1998), Fuerteventura (2002), Vienna (2004), London (2005)