Television personality Valdis Pelsh disclosed that legendary singer Alla Pugacheva once dodged his phone request because she feared becoming a target of his notorious prank show Rozygrysh. The host had contacted Pugacheva about posing for a collector's photography catalog, but the artist offered absurd excuses about being stuck at her country house despite spending months there. Producer Philip Kirkorov later revealed the Prima Donna suspected an elaborate setup and deliberately feigned confusion to avoid potential humiliation on the provocative program that aired through 2012.
Pelsh acknowledged that certain pranks backfired with audiences, particularly an episode targeting beloved nature presenter Nikolai Drozdov that prompted viewer outrage. The showman confessed he avoided becoming a prank victim himself by exploiting producer greed, warning them he would immediately expose any scheme against him. His familiarity with production tactics gave him near-certain odds of detecting manipulation attempts.
Pelsh acknowledged that certain pranks backfired with audiences, particularly an episode targeting beloved nature presenter Nikolai Drozdov that prompted viewer outrage. The showman confessed he avoided becoming a prank victim himself by exploiting producer greed, warning them he would immediately expose any scheme against him. His familiarity with production tactics gave him near-certain odds of detecting manipulation attempts.
