ORa new episode is broadcast today at 2.00pm on Canale 5 Friends 25the talent show created and hosted by Maria De Filippi. And it will be the last one to air in 2025. And it will also be that of a first showdown: today, in fact, we are taking stock after three months of lessons, challenges and rankings. And inevitably also controversiesbecause the professors’ digs, often mutual, have never been lacking in recent weeks.
Friends 25previews of the December 21st episode, guests, challenges, ranking
Arisa arrives to judge the singing performances, also called to perform on stage: today she sings Cloudsreleased last October 17th. Jacopo Sol also comes to sing, presenting Gran finale, published on 12 December. Judging the dance challenges are two very different professionals: Garrison, historical face of the program, and Angelo Madonia, choreographer and “dance entrepreneur”: in the press release presenting the episode it is defined like this. The public actually knows him well as a master of Dancing with the stars. He was part of the cast of the Rai 1 variety show until the middle of last season.
Friends 25Who’s left in the race?
Last Thursday there was the last registration for 2025 and to date there are 19 students officially in the school. Eleven singers and eight dancers, who will continue their journey in 2026: for singing there are Caterina, Plasma, Riccardo and Valentina in Rudy Zerbi’s team. And again Angie, Lorenzo and Michele followed by Lorella Cuccarini. Finally, Elena, Flavia, Gard and Opi, who are in the team with Anna Pettinelli. On the dance front, Emiliano and Maria Rosaria remain in the competition for Alessandra Celentano, Alex, Anna, Giorgia, Paola and Pierpaolo with Veronica Peparini. And Alessio under the guidance of Emanuel Lo.
From left: Garrison, Angelo Madonia and Arisa (Mediaset)
The challenge of the episode: Gard saves himself
After the latest rankings, Gard and Angie are at risk for singing, while Paola and Giorgia are at risk for dancing. In the episode, however, only Gard takes up the challenge, judged by the journalist and music critic Tommaso Toma.
The singer performs his unreleased song and manages to win against the challenger Rodrigo, confirming his presence in the school. The next challenges are already set: Opi and Riccardo for singing, Anna and Giorgia for dancing.
Suspended shirt: the Flavia case
For Flavia the moment is particularly delicate: Anna Pettinelli calls her to the center of the studio and suggests suspending the shirtjudging her to be unsafe. As we read in the previews of SuperguidaTV the singer defends herself before performing. Although her performance definitely convinces the audience, Flavia has to leave the studio and the shirt is suspended.
Friends 25the ranking of the singing competition
The singing competition offers a lively ranking. Michele takes first place with With or without you. Second Valentina and third place tied for Angie, Caterina and Elena, with a heated clash between Rudy Zerbi and Anna Pettinelli over the votes assigned.
Plasma places fifth with Permanent Center of Gravity. Lorenzo and Opi finish in the last positions, with the latter destined for the challenge, while Riccardo closes the ranking. Performing with their unreleased songs this week are Lorenzo, Caterina and Elena.
…and that of the dance competition
The dance ranking sees Emiliano in first place. Pierpaolo second, Alex third, followed by Paola. Maria Rosaria is fifth and in the lower areas there are Alessio and Giorgia, also protagonists of a heated confrontation between Garrison and Emanuel Lo. In last place? There’s Anna.
Christmas greetings from the boys of Friends 25
In four days it will be Christmas: could the best wishes from the students of the most loved school on TV have been missing? Obviously not. It is no coincidence that the episode opens with singers performing a choral version of All I want for Christmas is youwhile the dancers accompany them with an ad hoc choreography.