# Hyvät herrat

Hyvät herrat (Dear Sirs) is a Finnish political satire series produced between 1990 and 1996. The series was shown in 1990–1992 on Kolmoskanava and in 1993–1996 on MTV3. Aarno Laitinen [fi] was the screenwriter of the series, with his assistant mainly Lasse Lehtinen under the pseudonyms Saara Lenso, Serita Numintio and Sole Sarana. For a few years, together with Laitinen and Lehtinen, Yleisradio's political editor Jarkko Juselius wrote the series. The director of the series was Pertti Melasniemi and the producer was Jarmo Porola. A total of 207 episodes were made in the series. In 1999, the 15-part continuation series Herrat nauraa was completed, which was a continuation of the original series.

## Overview

The main characters of the series are business advisor Johannes Paukku (Matti Tuominen [fi]), a sausage manufacturer who got rich with "Paukku's Run" and his son-in-law Raimo "Tollo" Koskivuo (Eero Melasniemi [fi]), a social democratic politician, whom Yleni promoted from MP to party secretary and minister during the series. In each episode, Paukku and Tollo organised a sauna evening and invited a political guest or other well-known public figure, with whom they tried to talk into favouring their own political projects, along with saunas, sowing and drinking. Sales advisor Paukku's role model was reportedly business leader and business organisation influencer Heikki Tavela [fi].
In order to get up-to-date political remarks, the week's episode was filmed in 1990 on Mondays and the program came out on TV the evening of the same day, which was why they read the same day's afternoon newspapers. From the spring of 1991, the day of recording was moved to Tuesday, until the end of the series. This gave the staff one day more time to make the series. The filming location for the series was the Park Hotel Käpylä in Käpylä, Helsinki, which has been operating under the name Finlandia Park Hotel Helsinki since February 2017.
The screenwriter Lasse Lehtinen has recalled that several well-known male actors were considered for the role of sales advisor Paukku, starting with Lasse Pöysti and Pentti Siimes. The requirement was that the actor to be chosen was absolutely sober. For this reason, according to Lehtinen, the task turned out to be difficult, because almost all the male actors who were free at the time had an alcohol problem. Director Pertti Melasniemi demanded and got Matti Tuominen as sales advisor Paukku. Lasse Lehtinen has considered Tuominen's choice to be successful, as he skillfully embraced the role of Paukku. When Tuominen was chosen, he was still relatively unknown to the general public, although he already had a long career as a theatre actor behind him. Tuominen's son, actor Sakari Tuominen, has said that in his private life, his father was more or less the complete opposite of Paukku, shy and modest in nature and rather a sidekick than the center of the group.
The characters of Hyvät herrat were well-characterised and its humour was often snarky. Sales advisor Paukku was a chauvinistic and whiny industrialist, Tollo, on the other hand, a sleazy political gambler. With the help of the characters, the "good brother network" of politics was caricatured, where decisions are plotted in cabinets and sauna evenings "behind the people's backs". In addition, Paukku and Tollo indulged in high life, drinking, and occasional side-jumping (the business advisor lived in Barcelona, and Mrs. Koskivuoka never appeared in the series either). In the episodes of the first year, the sauna guests' backs were washed by the sower Armi (Eila Pehkonen). The actor Pehkonen died in September 1991, and until the end of the program's life, she was replaced by Tyyne Hurskainen (Anja Pohjola [fi]), who commented on politics from her own perspective of a "revolutionary front-line". During the series, the sauna group was served "turpentine" by several waiters, first Pia (Sarina Röhr [fi]), then Timo (Mikko Roiha [fi]), whom Paukku called Håkan, and finally Dr. Samuel Livingstone Matabele (Billy Carson). Paukku treated the waiter characters with open disdain, which was meant to reflect prejudices against women, sexual minorities, immigrants and animal activists. However, according to the director Melasniemi, Paukku was always the one who misbehaved, got picked on and was laughed at in the end.

## Guests

In each episode of the series, a Finnish politician or other public figure appeared as himself. Although Paukku and Tollo could put their guests behind their backs and in front of them cheaply, there were always enough guests for the show, because they got media publicity and the opportunity to present their own thoughts on a popular television show. This is how real politics and the satire of the screenwriters were mixed in Hyvät herrat. Paukku's sauna was visited by the highest leadership of the kingdom, including ministers. According to Lasse Lehtinen, who wrote the program, the politicians actually competed to be included in the program, and only a few, such as Paavo Väyrynen, refused the invitation.
The Prime Minister Esko Aho participated in the making of the series and appeared in the filming, but at the last drop he refused to air the episode. The Russian diplomat Viktor Vladimirov, on the other hand, had promised to join Hyvät herrat, but cancelled his arrival a day before filming. Vladimirov was replaced at short notice by writer and politician Jörn Donner.
President of Finland Mauno Koivisto was supposed to join an episode of Hyvät herrat to play volleyball with Tollo for the Sikariporras team. The day before the shooting, there were government negotiations, and in order to mix fact and fiction, Pertti Melasniemi sent Tollo with the film crew to the location to comment on the government negotiations. When the afternoon papers reported the next day that Tollo participated in the formation of the government, the Office of the President of Finland was informed that the president wanted to transfer his participation to Hyvät herrat. Melasniemi interpreted that Koivisto would never be seen in the series.
According to Tapani Ruokanen, the author of President Martti Ahtisaari's biography, in 1992 and 1993 Hyvät herrat helped pave the way for Ahtisaari to become the President of the Republic. Ahtisaari's name as a possible future presidential candidate came up in an episode of Hyvät herrat that was shown at the beginning of September 1992. A couple of weeks later, Aarno Laitinen wrote a column in Iltalehti with the title "Could it be Martti Ahtisaari?" Lasse Lehtinen was on bad terms with SDP's long-term chairman and four-time prime minister, Kalevi Sorsa, and wanted to prevent Sorsa from becoming a presidential candidate. The later chairman of the SDP, Eero Heinäluoma, said in Ahtisaari's biography: "The essential thing was that Lasse Lehtinen, a propagandist who was even more skilled than Göbbels, set out to push Ahtisaari for the presidency, systematically and using the entire media. He influenced through his fellow journalists in all media”.

### Partial list of guests

* Sauli Niinistö
* Tarja Halonen
* Martti Ahtisaari
* Elisabeth Rehn
* Matti Vanhanen
* Juha "Junnu" Vainio
* Ben Zyskowicz
* Jörn Donner
* Ilkka Kanerva
* Pirkko K. Koskinen
* Sanelma Vuorre
* Tuovi Allén
* Hannele Luukkainen
* Kerttu Törnqvist
* Leif Salmén
* Leena Harkimo
* Eero Paloheimo
* Riitta Suominen
* Ruben Stiller
* Spede Pasanen

## Impact

Hyvät herrat was a popular show throughout its lifetime: for example, the episode broadcast on 6 April 1993 drew 1.4 million viewers. The series made its main star, the sales advisor Paukku, a cult figure, and this echoed in almost every episode from the cry "Personnel, turpentine!" (Henkilökunta, tärpättiä!) came the flying phrase. At the same time, the visit of high-ranking politicians in the program, which often cultivates dark humor, also aroused indignation. In the mid-1990s, the current affairs program Mediapeli, shown on MTV3, organized a studio discussion and a viewer survey on the topic "Is it appropriate for ministers to visit the Hyvät herrat show?". The illustration used was the post-May Day episode of Hyvät herrat, where Paukku and Tollo wake up from a drinking hole wearing May Day masks.
Season 1 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 1 | Raha saa palkkansa | Jukka Keitele | 15 January 1990 |
| 2 | Tittelit pois | Riitta Suominen | 22 January 1990 |
| 3 | Oma koti turhan kallis | Arja Alho | 29 January 1990 |
| 4 | Kolmossivun tyttö | Heikki Tavela | 5 February 1990 |
| 5 | Kallis kansliapäällikkö | Bror Wahlroos | 12 February 1990 |
| 6 | Kirje rajan takaa | Leif Salmén | 19 February 1990 |
| 7 | Paukku ja Leppänen | Urpo Leppänen | 26 February 1990 |
| 8 | Karjala takaisin! | Johannes Virolainen | 5 March 1990 |
| 9 | | | 12 March 1990 |
| 10 | Oma pää ja pääoma | Esko Seppänen | 19 March 1990 |
| 11 | Muistamaton neuvos | Lasse Lehtinen | 26 March 1990 |
| 12 | Paljon onnea vaan | Juha Vainio | 2 April 1990 |
| 13 | | | 9 April 1990 |
| 14 | | | 23 April 1990 |
| 15 | Mustaa valkoisella | | 7 May 1990 |
Season 2 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 16 | Turun muikku | Ari Valjakka | 15 October 1990 |
| 17 | Nautaa rajalle | Pekka Ruotsalainen | 22 October 1990 |
| 18 | | Erja Tikka | 29 October 1990 |
| 19 | Kumin käryä | | 5 November 1990 |
| 20 | | Pekka Vennamo | 12 November 1990 |
| 21 | Pappia kyydissä | Heikki Riihijärvi | 19 November 1990 |
| 22 | Melkein ministeri | Pekka Kivelä | 26 November 1990 |
| 23 | | | 3 December 1990 |
| 24 | | | 10 December 1990 |
| 25 | Paukkuryssiä | Rita Tainola | 17 December 1990 |
| 26 | | | 29 January 1991 |
| 27 | | | 5 February 1991 |
| 28 | Rauha ja solidaarisuus | Jukka Kuikka | 12 February 1991 |
| 29 | | | 19 February 1991 |
| 30 | | Matti Louekoski | 26 February 1991 |
| 31 | | | 5 March 1991 |
| 32 | | | 12 March 1991 |
| 33 | | | 19 March 1991 |
| 34 | | | 26 March 1991 |
| 35 | Makkaraesirippu | Ben Zyskowicz | 9 April 1991 |
| 36 | Mooses ja Demostenes | Arto Tuominen | 16 April 1991 |
| 37 | Paukku ja pamppu | Sulo Aittoniemi | 23 April 1991 |
| 38 | Makkarapankki | Ulf Sundqvist | 30 April 1991 |
| 39 | Pallo hallussa | Anssi Rauramo | 7 May 1991 |
Season 3 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 40 | Ann yks silakk | Elisabeth Rehn | 1 October 1991 |
| 41 | | | 8 October 1991 |
| 42 | | | 15 October 1991 |
| 43 | | | 22 October 1991 |
| 44 | | | 29 October 1991 |
| 45 | | | 5 November 1991 |
| 46 | | | 12 November 1991 |
| 47 | Ei tippapullo tapa | Ilkka Kanerva | 19 November 1991 |
| 48 | Taistojen teillä | Matti Viialainen | 26 November 1991 |
| 49 | Kauhea Kankkunen | Juha Kankkunen | 3 December 1991 |
| 50 | Dynamiittia!! | Eero Paloheimo | 10 December 1991 |
| 51 | En etsi valtaa | Kirsti Paakkanen | 17 December 1991 |
| 52 | Kuollut kukko | Jörn Donner | 4 January 1992 |
| 53 | Poliisin tuttu | | 11 February 1992 |
| 54 | Innostunut sonni | | 18 February 1992 |
| 55 | Varkauspäivä | Hannele Luukkanen | 25 February 1992 |
| 56 | Lakkokenraalit | Risto Kuisma | 3 March 1992 |
| 57 | Tiede ja kunnia | Eino Tunkelo | 10 March 1992 |
| 58 | Valoa kansalle | Pentti Sierilä | 17 March 1992 |
| 59 | Peräänanattomat | | 24 March 1992 |
| 60 | Sairas kansa | | 31 March 1992 |
| 61 | Pekkaspäivä | Tarja Tenkula | 7 April 1992 |
| 62 | On sovittu | | 14 April 1992 |
| 63 | Tuhlaajapojat | Raimo Ilaskivi | 28 April 1992 |
| 64 | Jokeri hihassa | Teemu Selänne Hjallis Harkimo | 5 May 1992 |
| 65 | Valkoinen metsästäjä | Peter Fryckman | 12 May 1992 |
| 66 | Tasavallan miehet | Arvo Salo | 19 May 1992 |
| 67 | Hullujen huone | Claes Andersson | 26 May 1992 |
Season 4 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 68 | Loistelohta | Jukka Ojaranta | 1 September 1992 |
| 69 | Meedio | Terho Pursiainen | 8 September 1992 |
| 70 | Kolme muskettisoturia | Raimo Vistbacka | 15 September 1992 |
| 71 | Työstä ja taistelusta | Mikko Laaksonen | 22 September 1992 |
| 72 | Mein Kampf | Renny Harlin | 29 September 1992 |
| 73 | Carlssonin kiusaus | Jorma Ojaharju | 6 October 1992 |
| 74 | Leijonaketju hyökkää | Seppo Lindblom | 13 October 1992 |
| 75 | Käytös kymmenen | Sanelma Vuorre | 20 October 1992 |
| 76 | Tasavallan ruorimiehet | Kimmo Sasi | 27 October 1992 |
| 77 | Miehen kääntöpuoli | Liisa Kulhia | 3 November 1992 |
| 78 | Kaasua, Kauppaneuvos Paukku | Pirjo-Riitta Antvuori | 10 November 1992 |
| 79 | Miesten turvakoti | Ilkka Taipale | 17 November 1992 |
| 80 | | | 24 November 1992 |
| 81 | Itsenäisyyden varjossa | Georg C. Ehrnrooth | 1 December 1992 |
| 82 | Porsaita äidin | | 8 December 1992 |
| 83 | Sponsorisopimus | Riitta Suominen | 5 January 1993 |
| 84 | Joustavin hampain | Paavo Lipponen | 12 January 1993 |
| 85 | Työhönottohaastattelu | Olli Rehn | 19 January 1993 |
| 86 | Rakastan elämää | Jutta Zilliacus | 26 January 1993 |
| 87 | Suuri lehtijako | Markku Laukkanen | 2 February 1993 |
| 88 | Tappajahauki | Seppo Sarlund | 9 February 1993 |
| 89 | Kauhun tasapaino | Jaakko Laakso | 16 February 1993 |
| 90 | Vahakabinetti | Tarja Kautto | 23 February 1993 |
| 91 | | | 2 March 1993 |
| 92 | | | 9 March 1993 |
| 93 | Samma på svenska | Ole Norrback | 16 March 1993 |
| 94 | Yltiöheterö | Paavo Nikula | 23 March 1993 |
| 95 | Vettä ja leipää | | 30 March 1993 |
| 96 | Saamamies | Kike Elomaa | 6 April 1993 |
| 97 | Pakettiratkaisu | | 20 April 1993 |
| 98 | Taivaan täydeltä | Heikki Nikunen | 27 April 1993 |
| 99 | Vapaa Lappi | Esko-Juhani Tennilä | 4 May 1993 |
| 100 | Supersunnuntai | Antti Kalliomäki | 11 May 1993 |
| 101 | Turskan puolesta | Minna Karhunen | 18 May 1993 |
| 102 | Eväsreppu | Tuovi Allén | 25 May 1993 |
Season 5 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 103 | Musta Pekka | | 31 August 1993 |
| 104 | | | 7 September 1993 |
| 105 | Hiomaton timantti | Anne Murto | 14 September 1993 |
| 106 | Ydinkysymys | Martti Tiuri Matti Putkonen | 21 September 1993 |
| 107 | Ekoismi | | 28 September 1993 |
| 108 | Kitkan viisas | Pauli Saapunki | 5 October 1993 |
| 109 | Kunnianmies | Lasse Virén | 12 October 1993 |
| 110 | Rantarosvot | Kari Häkämies | 19 October 1993 |
| 111 | Lähivaikuttaja | | 26 October 1993 |
| 112 | Kyläpäälliköt | Aaro Heikkilä | 2 November 1993 |
| 113 | Työn sankarit | Juha Mieto | 9 November 1993 |
| 114 | Euromannekiini | Laila Snellman | 16 November 1993 |
| 115 | Isänmaa vaarassa | | 23 November 1993 |
| 116 | Karelia-Express | Pekka Karhuvaara | 30 November 1993 |
| 117 | Vihreä akkavalta | Jaakko Pöyry | 7 December 1993 |
| 118 | Sanaton mutiainen | Lasse Kanerva | 14 December 1993 |
| 119 | Työmiehen tietolaari | | 11 January 1994 |
| 120 | Lullan och Bullan | Tuulikki Ukkola | 18 January 1994 |
| 121 | Sylttytehdas | Sauli Niinistö | 25 January 1994 |
| 122 | | | 1 February 1994 |
| 123 | Sananvapauden tunarit | Uma Aaltonen | 8 February 1994 |
| 124 | | Kirsi Piha | 15 February 1994 |
| 125 | | | 22 February 1994 |
| 126 | | | 1 March 1994 |
| 127 | | | 8 March 1994 |
| 128 | Jäätä särkemään | | 15 March 1994 |
| 129 | Rehellinen konna | Volvo Markkanen | 22 March 1994 |
| 130 | Koirakoulu | Pentti Matikainen | 29 March 1994 |
| 131 | Karjala takaisin | Rauno Meriö | 12 April 1994 |
| 132 | Paavo ja Paavo | Seppo Pelttari | 19 April 1994 |
| 133 | Laastaria, laastaria | Peter Nygård | 26 April 1994 |
| 134 | Painista runoon | Pertti Ukkola | 3 May 1994 |
| 135 | Aatosta jaloa | Eino Grön | 10 May 1994 |
| 136 | Hellät varpaat | Curt Lindström | 17 May 1994 |
| 137 | Vihreä n**keri | Pekka Haavisto | 24 May 1994 |
Season 6 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 138 | Kaatuneiden muistopäivä | Veltto Virtanen | 30 August 1994 |
| 139 | Yks paskan maku | Kauko Juhantalo | 6 September 1994 |
| 140 | Malja Euroopalle | Rolf Kullberg | 13 September 1994 |
| 141 | Ryssän kätyri | Georg Paile | 20 September 1994 |
| 142 | Anekauppaneuvos | Tapani Ruokanen | 27 September 1994 |
| 143 | Likivihreät | Heidi Hautala | 4 October 1994 |
| 144 | Bryssä hyökkää | Erkki Liikanen | 11 October 1994 |
| 145 | Opin sauna | Olli-Pekka Heinonen | 18 October 1994 |
| 146 | Turun tauti | Mikko Rönnholm | 25 October 1994 |
| 147 | Maamiehen tietolaari | Heikki A. Ollila | 1 November 1994 |
| 148 | Miesten turvakoti | Sinikka Hurskainen | 8 November 1994 |
| 149 | | | 15 November 1994 |
| 150 | Muodollisesti pätevä | Anne Sällylä | 22 November 1994 |
| 151 | Nuori vesipeto | | 29 November 1994 |
| 152 | Varjovastaanotto | Heikki Sarmanto Matti Oiling | 6 December 1994 |
| 153 | Köyhien joulu | Niilo Tarvajärvi | 13 December 1994 |
| 154 | Hei, me sukelletaan | Jari Komulainen | 17 January 1995 |
| 155 | | | 24 January 1995 |
| 156 | | | 31 January 1995 |
| 157 | | | 7 February 1995 |
| 158 | | | 14 February 1995 |
| 159 | Paragondemari | Tarja Halonen | 21 February 1995 |
| 160 | Vaalilöylyt | Anneli Taina | 28 February 1995 |
| 161 | | | 7 March 1995 |
| 162 | | | 14 March 1995 |
| 163 | Käärme paratiisissa | Ruben Stiller | 21 March 1995 |
| 164 | Asfalttikepulainen | Matti Vanhanen | 28 March 1995 |
| 165 | Mäntsälä mielessäin | Timo T. A. Mikkonen | 4 April 1995 |
| 166 | Melkein ministeri | | 11 April 1995 |
| 167 | | Tuija Brax | 25 April 1995 |
| 168 | | | 2 May 1995 |
| 169 | Uusi poliittinen kulttuuri | Outi Ojala | 9 May 1995 |
| 170 | Lapuan vireä | Tapio Korjus | 16 May 1995 |
| 171 | Viimeinen demari | Aimo Kairamo Tom Warelius | 23 May 1995 |
| 172 | Aatosta jaloa | Liisa Hyssälä | 30 May 1995 |
Season 7 :
| Number | Name | Guest(s) | Airdate |
| 173 | Iso vihree | | 29 August 1995 |
| 174 | Ylämaan kunkku | | 5 September 1995 |
| 175 | Hyvä kysymys | | 12 September 1995 |
| 176 | Jhallikeisari | | 19 September 1995 |
| 177 | Tohtorikopla | | 26 September 1995 |
| 178 | Elokuvaa suurempaa | Spede Pasanen | 3 October 1995 |
| 179 | | | 10 October 1995 |
| 180 | Missitohtori | | 17 October 1995 |
| 181 | | | 24 October 1995 |
| 182 | | | 31 October 1995 |
| 183 | | | 7 November 1995 |
| 184 | | | 14 November 1995 |
| 185 | | | 21 November 1995 |
| 186 | Hojo, hojo | Heikki Turunen | 28 November 1995 |
| 187 | Formuakauppa | | 5 December 1995 |
| 188 | Sikaenergiaa | | 12 December 1995 |
| 189 | Toverikauppa | Pekka Korinen | 9 January 1996 |
| 190 | Tervemenoa | | 16 January 1996 |
| 191 | Nuoret kotkat | | 23 January 1996 |
| 192 | SULi kuuhun | | 30 January 1996 |
| 193 | Leivätön pöytä | | 6 February 1996 |
| 194 | Sissimajuri | | 13 February 1996 |
| 195 | Routaporsas | | 20 February 1996 |
| 196 | Silkkiä ja puoteja | | 27 February 1996 |
| 197 | Oi noita taikureita | | 5 March 1996 |
| 198 | Shakki ja nakki | | 12 March 1996 |
| 199 | Ei EU-nukkeja! | | 19 March 1996 |
| 200 | Paljon onnea vaan | | 26 March 1996 |
| 201 | Helise maa! | | 2 April 1996 |
| 202 | Havuja, perkele | | 16 April 1996 |
| 203 | N**kerijatsia | Jyrki Kangas Ted Curson Reiska Laine | 23 April 1996 |
| 204 | Kuninkaallinen vappu | | 30 April 1996 |
| 205 | Viherkossu | | 7 May 1996 |
| 206 | Kala nimeltään Vanda | Pekka Kejonen | 14 May 1996 |
| 207 | Laulu Katupoikien | | 21 May 1996 |

## Sequels

In 1999, a short sequel was made to the series called Herrat nauraa.
In the winter of 2006–2007, MTV3 aired a new series, Donna Paukku, in which Johannes Paukku's illegitimate daughter arrives in Finland and begins to sauna guests with the help of Tollo and Tyyne. Of the actors of the old series, only Anja Pohjola, who played Tyyne Hurskainen, was involved. Aarno Laitinen opted out of the Donna Paukku series, but he could not prevent it from being done under the copyright law.

## Reruns

The episodes of the series in the first years were repeated on the Sunday morning after the premiere. Episodes of the series were rerun in the summer of 1998.[ During the 2006 presidential elections, three episodes of the fifth season were repeated, which were visited by presidential candidates Matti Vanhanen, Tarja Halonen and Sauli Niinistö. In addition, in the summer of 2006, MTV3 aired eight selected episodes from 1990 to 1992 as a wish list.

## Title theme

The theme music of the series and other synthesizer music in the program was made by Jussi Halme. At the beginning of the episodes from 1994 to 1996, a computer-generated animation by Seppo Välimäki was used as its intro.

## Cast

In the main roles
* Matti Tuominen as trade advisor Johannes Paukku
* Eero Melasniemi as Member of Parliament/Party Secretary/Minister of Chancellery Raimo "Tollo" Koskivuo
* Eila Pehkonen as sower Armi (1990–1991)
* Anja Pohjola as sower Tyyne Hurskainen (1991–1996, 1999)
* Sarina Röhr as bartender Pia (1990–1991)
* Mikko Roiha as bartender Timo/Håkan (1992–1993)
* Billy Carson as South African-born bartender Dr. Samuel Livingstone Matabele (1993–1996)

## Cameo roles

Sales advisor Paukku made a cameo role in Ere Kokkonen's movie Vääpeli Körmy - taisteluni. In the film, when negotiations are underway to end the war between Finland and Sweden, the commander of the Swedish army is softened up by taking him to Paukku's sauna.

## Homages

The sauna facilities at Park Hotel Käpylä are named after the series characters Paukku, Tollo and Tyyne.