Italians finally got a local version of much hyped-reality television with ten people filmed 24 hours a day in a clapboard house in Cinecitt?–sexual activity in the house has given Italians the “gold medal” even if the performance was a quick one…”Big Brother” (Grande Fratello) has all the makings of a media circus. Competing in the 100-day king of the hill contest, are an engineer, a butcher, an aspiring beautician, an artist, a dad and several students. All are between the ages of 23-35.

The Latin lover myth lives on: Pietro got Cristina behind the couch for a love moment – away from hundreds of video cameras- in under a week in Italy’s voyeur contest “Grande Fratello.” This gives Italians the gold medal for sex in a hit format that has swept Europe. The Dutch participants took 35 days, Germans and Brits 21 days before a love spark in prime time.

The romp boosted low ratings and although the program confirms many stereotypes (6/10 members smoke, women do all the housework) the public, especially men, boycotted his behavior.
“If Pietro is supposed to represent young Italian men, I’m going to become Austrian and besides, his entire performance only lasted two minutes,” quips one man in the “Grande Fratello” forum. Other men said they were “embarrassed” and “ashamed” by his behavior. Pietro, a student from Frosinone whose favorite film is “Braveheart,” is already trying to seduce another contestant, Marina. An online poll of Corriere Della Sera readers voted to boot him from the show– because of his “love them & leave them” behavior. The first two of ten players will be ousted on Thursday. One of the major differences in the Italian version—the last person standing nabs a measly Lit. 250.000.000 (around $125,000 USD). Trying to recoup on a nearly $10 million investment producers are hoping it will be “spicy” enough to hold interest

Related resources:
www.grandefratello.com Forum, chat, live cameras, player profiles
www.corriere.it/speciali/grandefratello.shtml The full poll and all the surrounding chatter

49% Poly-sensualists
21% Indifferents
12% Fussy
9% Maniacal Hedonists
8% Sensory Impotents
The majority of Italians are on a quest for “well-being and pleasure through the communion of the five senses” when shopping, according to a study commissioned by cosmetics giant Palmolive which interviewed 2,001 Italians aged 14-79. This category of “poly-sensualists,” typified by 30-year-olds from Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, privileges smell over the other senses when making purchases. The next largest group, at only 21%, are the “indifferents” ?could be considered the parents of the majority at around 60 years old, residing in Sicily, Rome or Sardinia and more interested in quantity than quality. The extreme “hedonists” would be the 20-year-old grandkids, aggressive nightclubbers intent on being bombarded with sensory overload, like thumping music while driving. “(The findings) represent the democratization of pleasure,” comments Enrico Finzi, director of the research institute that conducted the 2001 study. “Well-being is widespread in Italy?otherwise the middle classes would not be allowed to concern themselves with the search for pleasure.”Related resources:www.misex.net/simpa.htmlHard to call high-tech blow-up doll Amanda, “hosting” Italy’s most famous sex fair, a communion of the senses, but the official site offers some tame dirty jokes for your Italian repetoire.

The cause is worthy (children in Afghanistan) the duets, a bit less.Follow the spectacle online which will see the trebling tenor sing with Tom Jones (Delilah), Morcheeba, Anastasia, Barry While and Italian talents Fiorella Mannoia & pop legend Patty Pravo. Starts at 8:45 p.m Italian time., but the “best of'” with audio clips will slated to be online by weeks end. (May 29, 2001)www.lucianopavarotti.it

Italian American mob saga “The Sopranos” met with unexpected approval by Italian audiences and critics. Despite debuting on a Tuesday after midnight, it pulled in around 1 million viewers, according to Auditel ratings reports. Critics universally praised the show –including Catholic newspaper Avvenire. “It’s worth watching, thanks to a screenplay that goes in depth and brings out the crisis of modern families and individuals,” wrote Mirella Poggialini.
The Sopranos sound remarkably restrained Italian–only older characters and some bit players use vague Neapolitan speak.** A far cry from the practice of "localizing" American sitcoms (notably "The Nanny" and "Rosanne") by turning characters into Italian Americans with thick Southern accents.
The mid-week slot at season’s end indicated lack of confidence, but Canale 5 will air the remaining 12 episodes (called "I Soprano") on Saturday nights. The program was not highly publicized, but owes the critical mass of viewers to a talked-about awards show, which swept ratings and ran over into the Soprano time slot. Network officials should’ve doubted less–the portrayal may rile Italian Americans, but the Mafia’s growing involvement in waste disposal is an everyday topic in the Italian press.?1999-2004 zoomata.com

Zoomata is the brainchild of a bilingualjournalist based in Italy who thinks out of the box. This brain is for hire.