Singer, choreographer and judge Paula Abdul in archive footage. (source: SITA/AP Evan Agostini)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
American star Paula Abdul jets into Slovakia for TV appearance
The 10th season of the popular Slovak TV talent show Let’s Dance premiered on TV Markíza last Sunday, March 2, with the established judging duo of Tatiana Drexler and Ján Ďurovčík returning, joined by actor Adam Bardy. The show brings performances, dazzling choreography, and Hollywood-style costumes to Slovak screens.
In the opening episode, viewers were in for a surprise as American singer, dancer, and choreographer Paula Abdul took a seat as the fourth judge. Known for her role on the US show American Idol, and for her pop stardom in the 1980s and 1990s, Abdul expressed her excitement: "I’m thrilled to be here. I can’t wait to see your incredible performances. The opening choreography was fantastic, and I’m so happy to be sitting here with you."
A life-changing moment for one fortunate ticket holder
A lucky punter from the Bratislava area bought a lottery ticket for €5.50 and is now half a million euros richer. (source: SME)
A lucky player in the Bratislava region hit a €500,000 jackpot in the Sunday, March 2, LOTO draw. The anonymous winner placed a random five-tip bet, including the Joker bonus game, for just €5.50.
According to TIPOS spokesperson Jana Pohorelská, the national lottery recorded the first-tier win in the second draw of the evening. This marks the fourth €500,000 win of the year.
The winner still has some way to go to match the biggest lottery success ever – a California man who in 2022 won more than $2 billion.
Natasha made a viral TikTok video about Slovakia
Natasha Grupta, known as @natooooooosh, has set an unusual goal: to explore every country in the world using Google Earth. In her video series, she randomly selects locations and ends the recording when she finds a place she considers "ugly."
In her latest video, Natasha explored Slovakia. In just 1 minute and 12 seconds, she clicked through various locations, from Veľká Lehota to a field in western Slovakia and the town of Hnúšťa. She ended her virtual tour after landing on a street in Nitra, where she spotted a bus stop and an electrical supply store, declaring it “ugly” before stopping the video.
Despite her critical approach, Natasha’s content also highlights the beauty of different places, including Slovakia, in other videos.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator for you to enjoy:
The imprint of a giant prehistoric animal was discovered behind a house in southern Slovakia, stunning palaeontologists.
The spouse of writer Jozef Gregor Tajovský was a woman ahead of her time. Hana Gregorová can lay claim to being the first Slovak feminist.
The restoration of Levice Castle park begins, bringing 19th-century charm back to life.
As a child, Vierka Šidová decorated her bedroom with fighter-jet stickers. Years later, she made her dream a reality.
Lacinka: “The best pancakes in Bratislava”. This eatery may be tiny, but with 50 sweet and savoury options on the menu, its pancakes pack a punch.
Meme of the week
Caption: Whenever you think that America is the land of unlimited opportunities, remember that this man became the minister of sport.
This meme by satirical collective Zomri, which appeared on their official Facebook page, features Rudolf Huliak, who was appointed Slovakia's Minister of Tourism and Sports on March 5, 2025, as part of a deal to keep the governing coalition afloat.
Huliak's appointment as minister has raised eyebrows due to his controversial background. In 2023 he was rejected by then-President Zuzana Čaputová for the position of environment minister because of his record of climate change denial and for advocating violence against environmentalists. When appointing him this week, President Pellegrini chose to overlook Huliak's comments calling for Slovakia to quit the EU and NATO.
You can send me your tips for good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. Thank you!
