Lenßen & Partner was a German scripted reality crime procedural and legal drama that was produced by Constantin Entertainment GmbH and aired on Sat. 1. It ran from 2003 to 2009^[1] in the station's early evening program. The series was filmed in and around Munich.

From 5 March 2012, the series ran as Lenßen and was completely recast except for the titular character Ingo Lenßen and was filmed in Essen.^[2][3] The first episode was a crossover with Richter Alexander Hold, a German courtroom show. The series was – based on bad ratings – cancelled on 27 April 2012 and the last episode aired on 25 May 2012.^[4]

Plot and concept

The series centers around lawyer Ingo Lenßen and his team of private investigators who work on behalf of Lenßen's clients. They mostly investigate crimes like extortion, kidnapping or fraud. Despite the show repeatedly noting that they present the work of private investigators, the characters often execute police duties such as crime scene investigation and arresting perpetrators. Characters – including the investigators themselves – often get captured and held hostage by the criminals they are investigating.

At the end of every episode the case is solved and the criminals face justice. Most episodes have self-contained plot lines and do not carry over to the next episodes.

All cases portrayed on the show are fictional, however the show tries to convince viewers that they are real, re-enacted criminal cases.

Some indications of this are the following:

• The coverage of the cases is reminiscent of shows such as America's Most Wanted, Crimewatch or their German inspiration Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst:
  • an off-camera announcer who gives the viewers facts and background information concerning the portrayed situation
  • overlays with time and place after a scene change
  • the addition of video feeds from security or hand-held cameras
  • shaky cam footage to accentuate spontaneous and authentic production
  • license plates and faces of passers-by are made unrecognizable
• The end of an episode always features the verdict of the court case.
• Most starring and recurring actors – including titular character Ingo Lenßen – are credited with their own names.

Cast

However, there have also been differing constellations of investigators.

In the episode airing on 26 May 2008, Sandra Nitka goes on maternity leave and returns on 1 September 2008.

When the show came back on air in 2012, two completely new teams were introduced who usually had alternating appearances in the episodes. However, they would occasionally appear together in an episode.

Notable guest actors include:

• Münchener Freiheit, band
• Holger Fach, football player and coach
• Axel Schulz, boxer
• Alexandra Rietz, Michael Naseband und Gerrit Grass, detectives from K11 – Kommissare im Einsatz.
• Palina Rojinski
• Alexander Hold

Crossovers

Lenßen & Partner can be considered a spin-off off the courtroom show Richter Alexander Hold, where Ingo Lenßen occasionally appeared as a defense attorney from 2001 to 2012.

There have been several crossover episodes with K11 – Kommissare im Einsatz, which aired directly after Lenßen & Partner:

• Lenßen & Partner season 4 episode 122: "Lenßen unter Mordverdacht" ("Lenßen suspected of murder")
• Lenßen & Partner season 6 episode 28: "Kommissar Naseband in Not" ("Detective Naseband in trouble")
• Lenßen & Partner season 7 episode 41: "Intrige gegen das Ermittlerteam" ("Intrigue against the investigative team")
• K11 – Kommissare im Einsatz season 6 episode 43: "Christian Storm unter Verdacht" ("Christian Storm under suspicion")

Reception

Movie

There has also been a television movie titled Lenßen – Der Film which aired on Sat. 1 on 8 January 2011.^[9] The movie features the cast of Lenßen & Partner investigating organ traders.

The movie had 2,8 million total viewers and received mostly bad reviews.

References

External links

• Lenßen & Partner at IMDb