And the Winner is...
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One of the most glamorous events is undoubtedly the Viktor awards celebrations, otherwise known as Viktorji. This year the award ceremonies took place in the Gallusova dvorana (the Gallus Hall) in Cankarjev dom, also known as the home of culture, although Viktorji is less a cultural event than it is a parade of the famous or would-be famous. As in previous years there were almost as many empty seats in the hall as not, however, the celebrities who did decide to attend were treated to a show with a slightly unusual Russian flavour. The evening's hosts, Slovene actors Jernej Sugman and Janez Skof (dressed as Russians, of course), presented sixteen awards on behalf of the Viktor Academy and STOP magazine and these august institutions dished up a few surprises. For years, Studio City has led the way in delivering an eclectic blend of the latest in politics, popular culture and other areas of interest to those who have finally settled in after a long Monday at the office. However, just a few short weeks ago, one of the leading Slovenian tabloids reported that the programme was about to be axed because of its poor ratings. So it came as a bit of a surprise, not least of all to the show's pony-tailed frontman Marcel Stefancic jr, that he received a Viktor for being the best host of a news/current affairs programme. Maybe it will be enough to keep the show on the air for a bit longer, then again perhaps it was just the Academy's way of saying "thanks and goodbye". Another intriguing award was for the most popular TV personality; intriguing because all three nominees were male and, as almost everyone knows, the bulk of the truly popular shows are hosted by women. The winner of the award, Joze Cinc, is a young and rather extraordinary host from Prekmurje. He is well known for his strong accent, which many viewers can't even understand, as well as for terrorising his guests by mocking them, asking them extremely intimate questions or for just saying the first thing that comes into his mind. The show's audience can be easily divided into two groups: those who adore him and those who loathe him. Joze, who was taken completely by surprise by the Victor, says he is glad to be a person who rarely leaves his audience undecided or cold. Those who like his style should keep on watching and those who hate him should just find something else to watch and whinge about, as he is not about to change his style. On the other hand, the winner of the award for the best musical performer came as no surprise at all. The young and much written about, Neza Buh, better known as Neisha, now has a Viktor to keep her company. Her best-selling self-titled album Neisha is, according to her anyway, mainly her own work as she wrote most of the lyrics and arranged and wrote the music. However, some musicians may say that if you listen closely enough you can tell that she had a bit of help with the album, others may even suggest quite a bit. Regardless, fans of soul, pop and R & B music all agree that the statue went into the right hands. In the last couple of years, local radio and TV stations have witnessed an unbelievable explosion of pop music mixed with traditional Slovene tunes played on the accordion. The pioneers of this musical genre, Atomik Harmonik, are back in the news, albeit for the wrong reason. One of the singers, a young, busty blond bombshell named Spelca (not to be confused with the band's other young, busty blond bombshell named Spela), has decided to quit the band to follow other interests. Since the band is so popular, or perhaps because, unlike Spelca, they have no other interests, the remaining members have decided to continue performing and are now in search of a replacement for the lovely Spelca. Young, would-be starlets who would like to join the band have been invited to audition for the vacant spot. The tabloids are already speculating that the young, busty blonde bombshell, Danica Lovenjak, better known for her appearances on a late night, commercial TV programme that covers slightly erotic topics, is the firm favourite. She certainly has the looks, but does she have the lungs? It seems we will all have to wait just a bit longer. And the winner is...