German public broadcaster ZDF shifted its Monday evening schedule on November 2, 2024, replacing the planned crime drama Der Geier – Blut und Zweifel with the comedy Familie Bundschuh – Bundschuh vs. Bundschuh following the death of legendary film producer Regina Ziegler.
Ziegler, widely celebrated as the grande dame of the German film and television industry and the country’s first female film producer, died unexpectedly in Berlin on Sunday morning, November 1, at the age of 82. The sudden loss prompted immediate programming changes across networks to honor a career spanning more than five decades and encompassing over 500 productions.
How Regina Ziegler Shaped German Television and Cinema
Ziegler built a pioneering career that broke barriers for women in European filmmaking. Over a career lasting more than 50 years, she founded her own production company—making her the first woman in Germany to do so—and garnered prestigious accolades including the German Film Award, the Grimme-Preis, and an International Emmy.
Her extensive portfolio features major television hits such as the ARD series Weissensee, Kommissarin Heller, and the widely popular ZDF comedy series Familie Bundschuh. Just three weeks prior to her death, Ziegler appeared alongside writer Jenny Erpenbeck and director Volker Schlöndorff at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the film adaptation of the novel Heimsuchung – Eine Jahrhundertgeschichte won the Frankfurt Book Fair prize for best adaptation of 2026.
ZDF Schedule Adjustments and Late-Night Screenings
To commemorate Ziegler’s monumental contributions, ZDF scheduled the comedy Familie Bundschuh – Bundschuh vs. Bundschuh—starring Andrea Sawatzki and Axel Milberg—in the 20:15 timeslot originally reserved for Der Geier – Blut und Zweifel. In the episode, characters Gundula and Gerald Bundschuh run against each other for the local mayoral seat.
Later in the evening, heading into Tuesday, November 3, at 0:15, the network broadcasted an early work from Ziegler’s portfolio: the 1980 feature film Fabian, based on Erich Kästner’s novel. Wolf Gremm directed the film, and Ziegler was married to Gremm from 1977 until his death in 2015, with the couple collaborating frequently throughout their careers.
Zdf announced plans to air additional reruns of Ziegler productions throughout the week, including Die Holzbaronin, Kommissarin Heller, and Heimsuchung – Eine Jahrhundertgeschichte. Reflecting on her remarkable output shortly before turning 80 in 2024, Ziegler told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur that she looked back on her career with joy and wonder, adding that many more wonderful projects awaited realization.
