Dmitry Guberniev and Natalya Popova became the hosts of the new show on TNT

We created the project “I Can Do Anything” dedicated to the reality show “Challenge”, where participants abandoned the usual gloss and gloss to compete for the main prize – 10 million rubles. With the support of Innopraktika, the owner of the idea for the show, the Gazprom-Media holding company and one of the largest banks in Russia, Gazprombank, we spoke with participants and experts to find out more about the project phenomenon. Read and find out how one of the main TV challenges of the year was created!

Natalya, Dmitry, what did you think about when you came across the idea for the show “Challenge”?

Natalia Popova: I saw the birth of the product, because we at Innopraktika, together with the Gazprom-Media holding, have been nurturing this idea for a long time, and the final look of our brainchild could no longer surprise me. It was important to me that we bring together the participants in duets, and not divide them into teams where the stars compete with the intellectuals.

Dmitry Guberniev: At first I was skeptical about the project, but only because I had to leave for a month. I am still a sportsman, and in August, despite our widespread dismissal, there was the All-Russian sports competition, which I had to lead. But I thought that in a way it was a challenge for me too: TNT became my fourth television channel, and it was also very interesting for me to work in tandem with Natasha. I was told she was not an easy girl, but we quickly became friends. I enjoyed interacting with a smart and beautiful woman who turned into a commentator before my eyes. In general, I like to watch people evolve and learn from them myself. For example, with Natalia’s light hand, I became addicted to chicory, replacing coffee with it in the name of health.

NP: By the way, when I was informed that Dima Guberniev would be my partner…

CEO: But they told me something else. They said: “Popova said she wouldn’t work with anyone but Guberniev.” Ah, so it turns out!

NP: Two candidates were nominated for me, and, of course, my choice was self-evident.

CEO: Yet, because the other does not shoot. Let’s be honest (laughs).

How did you work together?

NP: Dima is a true professional. The whole country knows him, with his voice people fall asleep and wake up. I was inferior to him both in the media and in the experience of commenting on events online.

CEO: Alright, don’t be shy. Two programs are unusual, then Natalya was chirping like a canary. And then, on the contrary, I put his techniques into use. When Natasha clicked eyeliners like nuts, while I was slowing down or learning the text in advance where I was lazy, relying on my talent and experience, an inner voice told me that I had to get together and catch up. But I’m not afraid to learn: for example, it was interesting for me to see how Natasha manages to do everything with an incredible workload.

NP: It’s mutual: I’m learning a lot from you and I’m satisfied with our tandem. By the way, after the “Challenge” we already do everything together. Even the chess tournament was commented on.

Were you lucky to get along like that, or was there a difficult moment?

CEO: I generally don’t like working in pairs, because it’s quite an intimate story: you have to treat your partner like a beloved woman. And I’m glad that Natalya became such in the frame: I felt like we spoke the same language and even seemed to breathe in unison. I stepped on my throat from the standpoint of ethereal selfishness, and everything was fine.

NP: Before Dima, I didn’t work in pairs at all, I took all the time on the air for myself. It really took us a program or two to figure out how to interact with each other. You know, Dima is called an uncomfortable partner…

CEO: Damn liars, don’t listen to anyone (laughs).

NP: And I didn’t want to! It was very comfortable for me to work with Dima. Yes, you have to know how to adapt, catch the general rhythm, but that didn’t pose any problem either.

How do you judge the resulting synergy of stars and intellectuals?

CEO: For me, the world of science has long been on the sidelines, and I’m glad I was able to learn a lot of new things. It was also interesting to see how the participants not only get used to each other, but also form collaborations – in love, in business. Or how, for example, celebrities – wealthy and influential people in their own way – are attracted to brains.

NP: I am glad that the participants meet after the show, communicate, make joint projects (Egor Ship, for example, plans to record a piece with the participation of violinist Matvey Blyumin). There were no uninteresting people at The Challenge – the intellectuals disproved the myth that they are boring, physically weak nerds, and the stars proved that they are not empty at all and have has an impressive reserve of knowledge, important human qualities.

CEO: It was nice to see that our celebrities aren’t shy about learning. We’ve seen how people split up, exposing their weaknesses, and here it was our young scientists who proved more resilient.

NP: Although, of course, everything happened. One of the intellectuals, for example, once in a crisis of feelings bit another participant (smile).

Natalya, is it easy to be a woman in business and science today?

NP: Rather not, after all, our society still has difficulty accepting women leaders – because of prejudices and certain stereotypes. But it’s all a question of courage, experience, development, recognition. Innopraktika is 10 years old this year, and it is clear that then, at the very beginning of my journey, it was much more difficult for me than now. The main thing is not to give up. And constantly learn, as Dima correctly noted.

Dmitry, what are your observations – which women are successful today?

CEO: In our classes on speaking technique and practicing public and on-air speaking (I’m still a famous teacher), the students and I raise this question. As for the beautiful textured girls, I note that they won’t be worth the price if they also show some involvement in the process. In my nearly 26-year television career, I’ve seen plenty of those looking to win everyone over with their glowing shell, but it’s always a dead end. I like motivated women. And on the example of Natalia, it is gratifying to see how a person, having reached certain heights, continues to reach for the stars. It can only delight.