Drive In (TV program)

Drive In is an Italian television variety show, created by Antonio Ricci. The show's six seasons were broadcast by Italia 1 from 1983 to 1989. It was referred as the most innovative and popular Italian television show of the 1980s.[1]

Drive In
Genre	Variety Sketch Comedy
Presented by	Gianfranco D'Angelo Ezio Greggio Enrico Beruschi
Country of origin	Italy
No. of seasons	6
Release
Original network	Italia 1
Picture format	Color
Original release	October 4, 1983 – April 17, 1988

History

The show revolutioned Italian TV conventions and languages, proposing a zany, sharp and fast humor, partly imported from the model of the Saturday Night Live.[1] It also proposed a new, different image of the women, more sensual and transgressive.[2] In reason of its high audience ratings, it has a key role in the success of Silvio Berlusconi's Fininvest (now Mediaset).[1][2]

The show launched the careers of several comedians (such as Ezio Greggio, Giorgio Faletti, Francesco Salvi) as well as of a number of showgirls (including Tinì Cansino and Lory Del Santo). It generated a series of imitation programs, several of them also created by the same Antonio Ricci.[3]

References

1. Aldo Grasso – Massimo Scaglioni, Enciclopedia della Televisione, Garzanti, Milano, 1996 – 2003, p.215
2. Sandra Puccini. Nude e crudi: femminile e maschile nell'Italia di oggi. Donzelli Editore, 2009. pp. 3–7.
3. Aldo Grasso. Radio e televisione: teorie, analisi, storie, esercizi. Vita e Pensiero, 2000. p. 182.

Further reading

• Joseph Baroni. Dizionario della Televisione. Raffaello Cortina Editore, pp. 139–142. ISBN 88-7078-972-1.