What the star TV presenter of the 1990s had to pay for fame and popularity

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The most popular and affordable source of entertainment in the 1990s was television. However, even here everything did not turn out according to the scenario familiar to Soviet citizens. The strict announcers in closed suits were replaced by young presenters who were not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions or appear in the frame in a sweater and jeans. New names were heard: Vlad Listyev, Urmas Ott, Sergey Suponev and many others. What did they have to pay for their success?

Urmas Ott

He appeared on central television during the perestroika era and quickly gained popularity. It was considered bad form to skip at least one episode of the program "Television acquaintance", which was hosted by Urmas Ott. He also invited the most famous and popular artists to his broadcasts. And during the broadcast, he could ask his guests the most provocative questions with an intelligent air.

He could ask Alla Pugacheva about his stormy personal life, and he tried to confuse Joseph Kobzon with the question of his connections with the capital's mafia. His program could even be called "yellow", if not for the personality of the presenter. Urmas Ott, it seems, knew all the secrets of celebrities, he provoked the stars to be frank, but at the same time he never stooped to the street level.

He himself made his life as closed as he could. In the 1990s, his program was closed, and the presenter filmed it only in Estonia. He didn’t grumble, he didn’t complain, he only worked harder and harder. Perhaps it was the lack of rest that provoked Urmas Ott's first heart attack in 1998. And in 1999 he was attacked by unknown persons with the aim of robbery. The presenter received 9 stab wounds. Then his life hung in the balance, but he coped.

But I could not cope with another misfortune. Nor could I share it with anyone. In 2006, Urmas Ott was diagnosed with a ruthless diagnosis of leukemia. For two years he bravely fought with the disease and worked at the same time. After a successful bone marrow transplant, you could relax and enjoy your life. However, a week after the operation, Urmas Ott died of a heart attack. His ashes, according to the will, were scattered over the Baltic Sea.

Vladislav Listyev

He was one of the most popular presenters of the post-perestroika era. His programs invariably gained high ratings, and Vladislav Listyev himself was considered almost a national hero.

He sincerely loved television and is ready to do everything to change it for the better. Hardly anyone could have expected such a tragic end to his life. In the 1990s, television was going through hard times. Almost anyone who was willing to pay for the airtime could get on the air. And a lot of money was spinning there.

When Vladislav Listyev was appointed to the post of ORT general director, he immediately announced his intention to deal with the cash flows coming from advertising. And in fact, he declared a moratorium on the display of any advertising on April 1, 1995. On March 1, 1995, he was killed. The general opinion about the reasons for the death of the famous journalist and presenter was expressed by Alla Borisovna Pugacheva, who arrived at Listyev's house the next day after the murder: “It is clear that this is due to his appointment to this post, it is clear that it is connected with finances!"

Lydia Ivanova

She came to the program "Theme" at the invitation of Vladislav Listyev. Many viewers then wondered how the clever and intelligent Listyev could bring this rather peculiar and eccentric personality into the program he created. Few people knew that Lidiya Mikhailovna worked at first as a pioneer leader, later was a university teacher, and after defending her Ph. D. thesis she held the post of dean of the faculty of social professions.

Lydia Ivanova very quickly became popular and loved to shock the audience. She wore incredible hats, wrapped herself in a dozen scarves and was the center of attention wherever she was. She loved her bohemian life, she enjoyed delicious food, strong drinks and the attention of men.

Her second husband was Andrei Pravin, whom she met during one of her programs. He was 40 years younger than her, but managed to convince the famous presenter of the sincerity of his feelings. And when she already completely trusted her husband, he simply left her. Lydia Mikhailovna was very upset about parting with her husband, and soon her old illness - diabetes mellitus - worsened.

According to friends of Lidia Ivanova, she categorically refused to limit herself. She loved fried potatoes, and did not disdain with a glass. And she said that it is better to drink blood for three years than to eat carrion for 300 years. Lydia Ivanova died in the hospital, where she was undergoing diabetes treatment.

Dana Borisova

For ten years since 1993, together with Alexander Ilyin, she hosted the program "Army Shop". A charming girl came to military units to show the life of soldiers from the inside. Naturally, the attitude towards the presenter was very favorable, and the army of her fans grew day by day.

Only by the admission of Dana Borisova herself, she always wanted to go to some other project. She was very burdened by the program that made her famous. Perhaps this was the reason that the TV presenter began to use prohibited substances. And later she admitted: even with men, she met for a lot of money. Today, the former star presenter does not broadcast, but regularly appears on television, talking about her life and attempts to quit using illegal substances.

Sergey Suponev

He was also invited to his team by Vlad Listyev at one time, although this fact cannot be called accidental. He began working on television as a loader, and grew to the junior editor of the children's editorial office.

But already in the early 1990s, he began to broadcast completely new children's programs for Soviet television: "King of the Hill", "Star Hour", "Call of the Jungle". Later he became the founder of the TV company "Class!"

A breakdown occurred in him when he realized that children's television had outgrown. Sergei Suponev seemed to be in a hurry to live. Friends say that he began to constantly fly somewhere at breakneck speed. Yachts, boats, motorcycles, cars replaced each other. He crashed while driving on the frozen Volga in a snowmobile. Sergei Suponev was only 39 years old.

Television presenters were not only recognized, they were expected to appear on the screens along with the TV programs that they aired. And sometimes they themselves became not just a visiting card, but also a talisman of their program. Many of them still work in television, they are still successful and famous.