The New Year TV Schedule Faces a Shakeup with Major Star Absences
The cultural spotlight this holiday season is shifting as pop icon Philip Kirkorov reportedly faces a television boycott during the New Year celebrations. The latest reports from Comsomolets of Moscow indicate that the prominent performer will not appear on air for the traditional year-end broadcasts for the first time in three decades. Television workers are scrambling to adjust pre-recorded material for the festive lineup, aiming to remove Kirkorov from planned appearances and performances.
Specifically, Kirkorov is not expected to join the finale episodes of popular projects and holiday specials, including the program known as Mask and the Blue Light celebration. In a broader reshaping of the broadcast, scenes featuring the artist are likely to be cut from an upcoming remake of the classic film Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession, with alternate performers slated to re-record those segments. Confirmed details point to a substantial re-editing effort to align the year-end lineup with the evolving programming strategy.
Beyond Kirkorov, other high-profile entertainers are reportedly stepping back from New Year broadcasts. Influencer Anastasia Ivleeva and singer Lolita Milyavskaya are also said to be sidelined from the holiday television slate, signaling a broader recalibration of on-air appearances during this peak season. Industry observers note that such shifts can ripple through advertising and promotional plans that were built around these artists’ participation.
Earlier in the year, changes affected brand partnerships tied to Ivleeva. A major telecommunications company reportedly pulled a campaign featuring the blogger and television host after strategic reviews of sponsorships and airtime allocations. The decision underscores how brand alignment and audience targeting can influence who appears in holiday programming as networks balance creative direction with commercial considerations. At the same time, public commentary around Milyavskaya has touched on wider conversations about entertainment personas and public reception, illustrating how celebrity reputations can influence network decisions during festive programming.