In Italy, between 1987 and 1992, Colpo Grosso aired, a sexy quiz show hosted for the first years by Umberto Smaila, then by Maurizia Paradiso, Mssimo Guelfi and Gabriella Lunghi. Set in a casino, the show is known for the stripping of the contestants, who are girls next door. Many criticize it, but the show is a great success and reaches share peaks of more than 2 million viewers. It is not the first erotic program on Italian television, but it is the one that becomes a cult worldwide.
Colpo Grosso debuts on November 16, 1987, with Umberto Smaila as host, flanked by various figures such as wardrobe attendant Nadia Picciurro, croupier Barbara Iaschi, and money-changer Daniela Lodigiani. Set in a casino-style studio, contestants compete in games of roulette and betting, with the goal of undressing the “masqueraders” (four masked men and four masked women).
On September 5, 1988, the second season starts. Umberto Smaila is confirmed as host, joined by Linda Lorenzi and croupier Daniela Lodigiani. New features include a renewed cast, new sets, and the creation of the “strip-fiches,” girls representing professional figures with original names. Also introduced are the “Lucky Charms,” seven girls who symbolize auspicious elements. This season is the least known because it has hardly ever been repeated in the thousands of reruns that have occurred over the years. Perhaps the masters have been lost?
The third season aired from September 4, 1989 to June 1, 1990, with Umberto Smaila and Linda Lorenzi as hosts. One of the lucky charms girls from the previous season, Monique Sluyter, becomes assistant and Tiziana D’Arcangelo makes her debut as cashier. The casino-inspired games remain, but the jackpot is replaced by Eurofiches and trips abroad. The setting changes, becoming an airport waiting room, and the “strip-fiches” become European “flags.” The “Lucky Charms” are replaced by the Cin Cin Girls.
In season 4, which began on September 10, 1990, the set design is inspired by a cruise ship with Umberto Smaila as captain, flanked by cashier Amy Charles. The Cin Cin Girls are confirmed, and the rules change: contestants earn points instead of chips, which are used to visit European countries during the cruise, with each stop marked by the stripping of a Euro Girl (or Star of Europe). Whoever wins gets a trip around the world and can have Stars of Europe who have not stripped in previous games undress. In addition, a Superstar girl (a model or a girl who has previously appeared as a Flag Girl or Cin Cin Girl) strips. The Superstar is the only one who strips fully. Monique Sluyter and Natacha Velimirovic return to the cast, and during the final week of the season the Cin Cin Girls participate as contestants.
After four years, Umberto Smaila leaves hosting Colpo Grosso to devote himself to a musical about Fred Buscaglione. Maurizia Paradiso replaces him in season 5, joined by Gabriella Lunghi, with a new format featuring two female contestants. The tone becomes more lighthearted and erotic, but the formula is not as successful as hoped. In February 1992, Gabriella Lunghi and Massimo Guelfi take over as hosts, reintroducing male contestants. After more than 1,000 episodes, the show ends at the end of the ’91/’92 season.
We cover nude film and television and are obviously big fans of this show, which over time has been successfully exported abroad. The most famous version is Tutti Frutti, a German copy of Colpo Grosso hosted by Hugo Egon Balder, made in the same studios and with the same female cast as the Italian edition. In addition to this fact sheet, we have also produced several monographs dealing with EuroGirls, Cin Cin Girls, contestants, strippers, and more.
Colpo Grosso debuts on November 16, 1987, with Umberto Smaila as host, flanked by various figures such as wardrobe attendant Nadia Picciurro, croupier Barbara Iaschi, and money-changer Daniela Lodigiani. Set in a casino-style studio, contestants compete in games of roulette and betting, with the goal of undressing the “masqueraders” (four masked men and four masked women).
On September 5, 1988, the second season starts. Umberto Smaila is confirmed as host, joined by Linda Lorenzi and croupier Daniela Lodigiani. New features include a renewed cast, new sets, and the creation of the “strip-fiches,” girls representing professional figures with original names. Also introduced are the “Lucky Charms,” seven girls who symbolize auspicious elements. This season is the least known because it has hardly ever been repeated in the thousands of reruns that have occurred over the years. Perhaps the masters have been lost?
The third season aired from September 4, 1989 to June 1, 1990, with Umberto Smaila and Linda Lorenzi as hosts. One of the lucky charms girls from the previous season, Monique Sluyter, becomes assistant and Tiziana D’Arcangelo makes her debut as cashier. The casino-inspired games remain, but the jackpot is replaced by Eurofiches and trips abroad. The setting changes, becoming an airport waiting room, and the “strip-fiches” become European “flags.” The “Lucky Charms” are replaced by the Cin Cin Girls.
In season 4, which began on September 10, 1990, the set design is inspired by a cruise ship with Umberto Smaila as captain, flanked by cashier Amy Charles. The Cin Cin Girls are confirmed, and the rules change: contestants earn points instead of chips, which are used to visit European countries during the cruise, with each stop marked by the stripping of a Euro Girl (or Star of Europe). Whoever wins gets a trip around the world and can have Stars of Europe who have not stripped in previous games undress. In addition, a Superstar girl (a model or a girl who has previously appeared as a Flag Girl or Cin Cin Girl) strips. The Superstar is the only one who strips fully. Monique Sluyter and Natacha Velimirovic return to the cast, and during the final week of the season the Cin Cin Girls participate as contestants.
After four years, Umberto Smaila leaves hosting Colpo Grosso to devote himself to a musical about Fred Buscaglione. Maurizia Paradiso replaces him in season 5, joined by Gabriella Lunghi, with a new format featuring two female contestants. The tone becomes more lighthearted and erotic, but the formula is not as successful as hoped. In February 1992, Gabriella Lunghi and Massimo Guelfi take over as hosts, reintroducing male contestants. After more than 1,000 episodes, the show ends at the end of the ’91/’92 season.
We cover nude film and television and are obviously big fans of this show, which over time has been successfully exported abroad. The most famous version is Tutti Frutti, a German copy of Colpo Grosso hosted by Hugo Egon Balder, made in the same studios and with the same female cast as the Italian edition. In addition to this fact sheet, we have also produced several monographs dealing with EuroGirls, Cin Cin Girls, contestants, strippers, and more.
