Fofocalizando
Fofocalizando is a Brazilian variety television program primarily focused on celebrities, gossip, and entertainment. Originally produced and broadcast by SBT, the show features celebrity news, interviews, curiosities, and behind-the-scenes content from television, music, film, and the internet. It is currently presented by Gabriel Cartolano, Cariúcha, Thayse Teixeira, Matheus Baldi, and Gaby Cabrini.
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History
''Fofocando'': First phase and transition to ''Fofocalizando'' (2016–2020)
Fofocando premiered on August 1, 2016, at 2:15 PM. The debut episode featured actress Larissa Manoela, who shared details about the future of the twin characters she played in the telenovela Cúmplices de um Resgate. The show's panel included Leão Lobo and Mamma Bruschetta, alongside a mysterious figure with a paper bag over his head, later revealed to be Gabriel Cartolano, a former TV Fama producer from RedeTV!. On August 25, a morning rerun at 7 AM briefly replaced part of the children's program Carrossel Animado, though this ended by September 12. The show expanded to 1:45 PM on September 26, 2016, with Mara Maravilha joining as host, while journalist Leo Dias began contributing live commentary from Rio de Janeiro. Frequent schedule changes followed: by November 2016, it shifted to 1:15 PM, then 8 AM in January 2017, and finally settled at 2:45 PM later that month, rebranding as Fofocalizando. The revamped version phased out the "Homem do Saco" character, added new commentators like Décio Piccinini, and introduced reporter Everton "Fofoquito" Di Souza. Despite lineup adjustments — including Lívia Andrade's permanent role and Mara Maravilha’s 2018 departure — ratings declined. On May 7, 2020, Silvio Santos abruptly canceled the show due to poor performance against competitors like Hora da Venenosa and Sessão da Tarde. A short-lived replacement, Triturando, was scrapped within a month.Second phase (2021-present)
Fofocalizando returned on February 8, 2021, after a Big Brother Brasil debate sparked renewed interest. Reverting to its original format, it featured Chris Flores, Flor Fernandez, and Gabriela Cabrini. Controversies arose in 2022, including Ana Paula Renault's dismissal over backstage conflicts and Matheus Baldi's exit following backlash for his coverage of Klara Castanho's adoption case. Leo Dias rejoined in March 2023, shifting Flor Fernandez to field reporting. Chris Flores departed in October 2023, leaving Dias, Cabrini, and Cartolano as main hosts. In 2024, reality star Cariúcha was added to the cast after positive audience feedback, while production cuts affected reporters Kallyna Sabino and Roberta Miguel. Since October 28, 2024, the show airs at 3:30 PM, swapping timeslots with the Mexican telenovela Mi camino es amarte.On July 16, 2025, amid rumors of Leo Dias' departure from SBT, the program announced an artificial intelligence presenter, which divided viewers' opinions.
Criticism and controversies
Upon its debut, Fofocando faced harsh criticism from both media critics and viewers. Ricardo Feltrin, a journalist from UOL, labeled the show as "soft" due to its heavy focus on SBT-related content and outdated celebrity news, arguing these factors contributed to its low ratings. In a follow-up article, UOL echoed these critiques, with online commentators dismissing the "Homem do Saco" gimmick as unnecessary. Columnist Flávio Ricco, however, speculated the masked figure was Gabriel Cartolano, a former TV Fama producer hired by Silvio Santos, while noting internal SBT concerns about the show's lack of substance. Odair Braz Jr. of R7 bluntly called the program "boring" and criticized its reliance on stale gossip, quipping, "Watching Mamma Bruschetta and Leão Lobo read old news isn't a recipe for success."The show clapped back the next day: Cartolano appeared on set — unmasked — to deny being the "Homem do Saco" and theatrically tuned a TV to rival Vídeo Show as a jab at Feltrin. Ricco fired back, alleging the role had been recast with Domingo Legal