FRIDAY'S ESPRESSO - 22nd September

The most followed newsletter about unscripted in the world

1. THE IRONIC SIDE OF AI

The brand-new comedy entertainment format Fake Show - Diffidate dalle Imitazioni (“beware of imitations”), produced by Endemol Shine Italy, part of Banijay Italy, and created together with Rai Radio Televisione Italiana SPA, premiered last Monday 18th September in primetime on the Italian public channel Rai2.

In each episode a number of celebrities - led by the Italian host and actor Max Giusti, together with the 2 impersonators Francesca Manzini and Claudio Lauretta (pic) - showcase their improv skills, impersonating characters, dialects, objects, sounds and even their fellow showbiz counterparts. Among the trials and games, “Fakenomenon” (original, out of the box imitations), “Fake news”, “Karacover” and many others.

The show also pretends using Artificial Intelligence - in an ironic and funny way - to create eccentric sketches, characters and set designs of other tv shows. AI is increasingly taking hold in recent formats (for example, Falso Amor -Deep Fake Love - on Netflix: see Friday’s Espresso, 21st July), but sometimes in a “cold” way and a bit as an end in itself. In this case what is remarkable is the correct balance between new and “classic” elements, putting technology at the service of the program and not vice versa.

2. FOOTBALL ITALIAN DREAM

Italy’s (again…) Serie A football league has announced a partnership with the streaming platform of MENA region Starzplay, alongside PureHealth and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, as they prepare to launch a collaborative football talent show titled The Italian Dream.

The format will focus on candidates from around the Middle East and North Africa in an effort to scout the next future football star , whilst boosting sports culture in the United Arab Emirates, who will host and produce the show. The partnership between the show’s producers and Serie A will see the winner given an opportunity to perform in the youth football Italian league.

Italian footballing legends will make appearances in the show in a mentorship role (for example, Francesco Totti, the former captain of the Roma football club - pic), aiding the candidates in taking their next step towards footballing stardom.

The right formula for sport-themed talent shows is not easy to find: languages are different and even viewers are often different (who loves sport doesn’t necessarily love talent shows). So let’s see how the results will be.

3. SURVIVING ON THE ISLAND WITH THE IN-LAWS

Its title is Ilhados Com a Sogra (“stranded with the mother-in -law”) and it is the first original reality on Netflix created in Brazil (produced by Mixer Films and hosted by actress and presenter Fernanda Souza - pic).

The format starts in a classical way: on a desert island, 6 anonymous couples, leaving behind their routine in the city, think they're entering a competition where they will work together to win a prize of 500,000 Brazilian reals (almost 100.000€). But then the game takes an unexpected turn, when an extra suitcase appears and they discover that actually, both sons- and daughters-in-law will be stuck with their mothers-in-law, their true partners in the competition.

A fun twist which gives a bit of fresh air to a genre using too often over-serious and dramatic tones…