The host of the show Lets all go together, Nikolai Baskov, teased Sergei Lazarev, who leads the jury, about the jacket decorated with a microcircuit pattern. The moment happened during a broadcast that drew a wide audience in North America and beyond as fans follow the competition remotely from Canada and the United States.
After Zanbek Kulbatyrov delivered his performance, tension surfaced between Lazarev and Baskov over the contestant’s placement in the lineup. Lazarev, serving as the jury president, offered a critical assessment of the act, while the majority of the jury members appeared to be more favorable about Kulbatyrov’s effort. Lazarev noted that Kulbatyrov might have delivered an even stronger performance if certain elements were refined, contrasting with Baskov’s lighter, more playful tone about the performer being primarily a trumpet player and not a vocalist by trade.
“We’re seeking vocal presence here, not instrumentally focused performances”, Lazarev stated. “The aim is a flawless rendition that connects with the audience. It was solid, yet there is room for improvement.”
Baskov acknowledged the critique but turned the moment into humor, joking that the microcircuits on Lazarev’s jacket might short circuit. Lazarev countered by explaining that the jacket would not be an issue as long as it stayed dry, and he pointed to colleagues Denis Klyaver and Stas Kostyushkin from the duo Tea for Two, who were guests on the program, as a contrast to the outfit humor.
Earlier reports mentioned a separate comment from Khabib, who suggested that Baskov had not fulfilled a promise about providing an apartment, a claim Baskov had reportedly made in the past. This exchange added to the show’s lively atmosphere and highlighted the playful rivalry among the panelists while audiences in North America watched with interest.