Dancing with the Stars, what happened? Tognazzi-Lucarelli in vitriol, Mammucari on the jury and Banfi leaves

2023-11-05 12:27:06

Ricky Tognazzi against Selvaggia Lucarelli, Teo Mammucari aims for the role of judge, Lino Banfi announces his retirement. Perhaps. The third episode of Dancing with the Stars 2023 on Raiuno goes to the archives with a series of ‘cases’, including clashes, controversies, announcements and thrusts. Between tango and jazz, it is above all the events that occur off the dance floor that cause discussion. The hottest trend at the moment is the one that pits Ricky Tognazzi – with his wife Simona Izzo in the audience – against Selvaggia Lucarelli, the polemical judge par excellence.

Lucarelli against Tognazzi, new round

The clash takes place after the actor’s performance, a tango judged ‘limp’ by the jury and in particular by the journalist who a week ago was the protagonist of a poisonous back and forth with Simona Izzo. “I don’t see too much motivation, tonight you seem weak, limp. In the clips there’s always Simona, it seems to me you suffer from Stockholm syndrome. You’re in love with your jailer, we respect that. It seems like everything slides over you”, says Lucarelli.

“I don’t respond to your provocations if we have to argue live… I don’t like fights in public, you say unpleasant things that have little to do with dancing. I don’t feel like answering you in kind, use the paddle at your discretion on the dancers. The rest is not up to you. Did Simona say unpleasant things? You said them first, you were the one who attacked”, says the competitor, who tries – without success – to maintain a certain distance.

Lucarelli insists: “You should cut the umbilical cords…”. At this point, Tognazzi casts off her moorings: “But think about your strings… Do you really want to piss me off? I give it my all throughout the week. I work my butt off during the week… You’re a professional provocateur, what is your job? Do you want to piss me off? You succeeded…”, he says before commenting on his wife, who intervenes with a few vitriolic words: “There is no Stockholm syndrome. There are people who have received many complaints and perhaps they should be careful…”.

Mammucari and the threat to Selvaggia Lucarelli

Teo Mammucari performs a jazz, prologue to the new duel with Selvaggia Lucarelli. “You did a lot of show but you danced little. A lot of jokes but little substance”, the judge’s words. “If you remove Lucarelli from here, who will I argue with?”, replies the competitor. “People at home need lightness. I know how to do it, let me do it. On the dance floor I do the best I can, I train. I’m not a phenomenon when I dance, but I train to become one. Living rooms work when you laugh… In your opinion, Selvaggia, if professionals danced, would you be a juror? No… This is a show”, says the showman. “My victory is not to triumph here, it’s to take your place and next year we will gain 3 points more share…”.

Is Lino Banfi leaving?

In the queue, comes the freezing shower. Lino Banfi, 87 years old, throws in the towel and announces his retirement. “What could I get more than what I got in 3 episodes? Tonight I’m leaving with a bang, like Greta Garbo. I want to leave space for those who deserve more than me, I can’t do it. They’re stronger than me”, says the the actor after the performance. At the end of the episode, he reiterates: “Big Ben said stop and if I could I would give my votes to Giovanna Lambertucci. I am the oldest and I could be Antonio Caprarica’s father…”, says Banfi reiterating his intention to leave the competition. “Let’s freeze everything here. Let’s keep Lino’s speech open, we will try to convince him not to leave”, comments Milly Carlucci, hoping to convince the actor to change his mind.