Soundmixshow

Early days

Huisman, former drummer of 1970s band Lucifer and spin-off group Match, went on a tour in early 1980s with his Hitkrant Drive-In Show; this prototype-version of the Playback Show was a joint venture with weekly pop agazine Hitkrant in which he had a column. In 1983, Huisman brought the format on television during the summer-evening slot as Zomeravondshow by KRO. Contestants performed on a hit-or-miss basis.^{[citation needed]}

Breakthrough

In 1984, the name was changed to Playbackshow and contestants were now given full performance time. Shortly afterwards, Huisman decided to do a spin-off with real vocals, thus Soundmixshow was born with artists being judged by a jury of three professionals, notably Jacques d'Ancona [nl] and Barrie Stevens [nl]; the latter's "Vooral doorgaan!" (lit. 'Keep up the good work!') became a catchphrase.^{[citation needed]}

The Soundmixshow meant a breakthrough for several young Dutch artists, as it was a platform with a relative low threshold and a broad audience. It was first produced by Endemol for Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO) before moving to RTL 4 from 1990 until 2002.^{[4][unreliable source?]}

In the finals of 1988, Huisman asked viewers to phone a specific number for televoting. However, this caused such a big amount of phone calls, that the whole telephone grid was down for a while, and even the emergency services (police, ambulance, firefighters) were out of reach in some parts of the country.^[4]

Other spin-offs

From late 1980s until early 1990s, Huisman presented the Miniplaybackshow as a platform for children. A tie-in series titled Minisoundmixshow was announced,^[when?] but it never happened.^{[citation needed]} There was also a Seniorenplaybackshow with elder contestants, and the more successful Sterrensoundmixshow (Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes).^[2]

In 2002, the Soundmixshow was the platform for a debate between politicians just before the parliamental elections.^{[citation needed]} That same year, the format was discontinued in favor of Idols and other talent contests. Huisman reunited with former Soundmixshow-contestants on KRO's anniversary-programme in 2010. He used the backdrop whilst playing himself in a children's movie chronicling the events of two aspiring popstars. In 2014, Huisman appeared on the Showtime programme to revisit his time as presenter of Soundmixshow.^{[citation needed]}