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Television of Perestroika

The changes that occurred in the country undoubtedly affected the most influential media of the late USSR - television. Turning on the cherished TV screen after a day of work was a favorite pastime, especially since television during the period of perestroika was significantly different from the broadcasts of the stagnant era. It was a period of significant change when Soviet television gained the opportunity to become a platform for discussions on the issues and challenges of that era.

A significant event for Soviet television was the launch on October 2, 1987, of the weekly program "Vzglyad" (View), where young and relatively unknown journalists such as Vladislav Listyev, Alexander Lyubimov, Oleg Vakulovsky, and Dmitry Zakharov began discussing previously unthinkable topics. (It should be noted that the lineup of hosts changed and was not constant). "Vzglyad" was produced by the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, specifically the Youth Editorial Board of Central Television, and was initially positioned as a youth program. Therefore, within the framework of "Vzglyad," Western music videos were broadcast, making the program extremely popular with the Soviet audience at that time.

The behavior of the hosts themselves also differed from the traditional appearances of newsreaders on Central Television, who broadcasted "government messages" in a mentor-like tone. A group of young people dressed in everyday clothes openly discussed relatable problems in a live broadcast using a language that was more human and less official, often addressing issues that were previously concealed. Perhaps the format of such informal gatherings contributed to the feeling that the viewer was present within the program, making them feel at home. In essence, their television became nothing more than a door to the next room.

Not surprisingly, the program was a tremendous success, and being a journalist from "Vzglyad" bestowed a cult status upon its holder. In 1990, the television company "ViD" ("Vzglyad i Drugie" or "View and Others") was founded, which continued the production of the program. Later, in 1991, when the decision to suspend the program was made, a large rally was held in front of the Moscow hotel in support of openness and "Vzglyad." (On January 10, 1991, the first deputy chairman of the USSR State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company signed a decree to suspend the production and broadcasting of the program.)

The program "Prozhektor perestroiki" (Spotlight on Perestroika) provided a calmer coverage of the reforms taking place in the country. Essentially, the program was an addition to the "Vremya" (Time) program, focusing on politically neutral topics such as "shortage of drinking water" and others.

Of course, it is impossible to imagine the television of the late 80s without youth programs, especially since the Central Television of the USSR, as mentioned earlier, had the Main Editorial Office for Youth Programs. The most focused on youth issues were the programs "Marafon 15" (Marathon 15) and "Do 16 i starshe" (Up to 16 and Older)

"Marafon 15" was hosted by Sergey Suponev, who would later become the main host of children's shows in the 90s. Surprisingly, in the pre-internet era, this television program involved intensive interaction with the audience. In the very first episode, viewers were invited to fantasize about the program's opening sequence. The program consisted of 15 segments, each lasting exactly 3 minutes, hence the name "Marafon 15" (Marathon 15). Suponev ran between segments with a microphone quite intensively, so the word "marathon" in the program's title was so meaningful.

The second youth program, as mentioned before, was "Do 16 i starshe" (Up to 16 and Older). It did not have a strict timing for segments. One episode could consist of a single segment or several segments. The main topics of these youth programs were hobbies, delinquency, music, and others.

The starting platform for many previously unknown musicians was the program "Muzykalnyy ring" (Musical Ring), in which the charming Tamara Maksimova introduced new musicians to the wider audience and read letters responding to previous programs. Interestingly, the set design of the program resembled a boxing ring, and the participants approached the stage wearing boxing gloves. This program featured artists such as "Mashina vremeni" (Time Machine), the Beatles-inspired quartet "Sekret" (Secret), Alexander Rosenbaum, the band "Auktsion" (Auction), and many others.

After the performances, discussions ensued among the listeners, both among themselves and in the form of questions to the artists. Among the questions, there could easily be ones like "Do you contribute to the disappearance of infantilism?", "What can change as a result of your songs?", "Are you responsible for your listeners?", and so on.

Of course, it should be mentioned that during Perestroika foreign TV series appeared on Soviet television. The famous "Slave Isaura," shown in 1988 on the Central Television of the USSR, made millions of Soviet citizens learn the previously unfamiliar word "Fazenda," which later became a sarcastic term for summer cottages.

And at the end of 1991, it was time for another famous soap opera - "The Rich Also Cry." This series was originally filmed in 1979, but in this case, the time lag did not harm its popularity. Several episodes were initially aired on the Central Television as an experiment, and the series generated interest, leading to its continued broadcast until the autumn of 1992. The tradition of soap operas continued on post-perestroika television, and in 1993-1994, millions of Russian viewers became attached to Mexican telenovela "Simply María".