Tutti Frutti was the German version of the Italian game show Colpo Grosso ("Big Score"). It was aired from 21 January 1990 through to 21 February 1993 on RTL plus for three seasons, totaling approximately 140 episodes. It was the first erotic TV show on German television and was also available to viewers across Europe as it was broadcast without encryption via the Astra satellite which could be received over a wide area and was popular with 'early adopter' satellite enthusiasts in the UK. The show caused substantial outrage at the time, as partial nudity was a central feature (the show featured scantily dressed and stripping women).
The show was innovative in broadcasting 3D effect film clips where the background was scrolled across the screen at a slower speed than dancers in the foreground, thereby giving the effect of depth on a 2D screen using the Pulfrich effect.
The host of the show was Hugo Egon Balder. There were also up to three co-hosts, depending on the season. These were:
Two contestants could win points during guessing game rounds, which were invested into removing various clothing items of a stripper. The contestants would call 'heiß' or 'kalt' (hot or cold) to make their guess. If the lady was almost entirely undressed, a so-called "Länderpunkt" (country point) was awarded (the term "Länderpunkt" is still widely associated with the show even today). The number of obtained "Länderpunkten" then determined the winnings, which could occasionally reach up to 5000 ECU coins. The studio band played throughout the program to create a loose atmosphere.
A significant portion of success of Tutti Frutti is attributed to the so-called “ballet Cin Cin” (in the original Italian, “ragazze cin cin”). This was a group of internationally well-known models, who were hired permanently to fill certain roles in the show. Each was representing a certain fruit and some are still known as this fruit. Former German “Playmates Of The Year” Stella Kobs and Elke Jeinsen filled this role, among others.