Striscia la Notizia and Le Veline
Thursday, March 10th, 2016
I have watched the TV show, Striscia la Notizia (The News Slithers) almost every time that I have come to Italy. The subtitle for the show is the La Voce dell’Invadenza (Voice of Intrusion). Usually I can’t really follow the dialog but it is clear that it’s a send-up of the news. It exposes all kinds of abuses. Just this week I particularly remember a part of the program was about a woman who was essentially approving driver’s licenses in exchange for cash – as I recall about 1200 euros. I’ve also seen others about hospitals or other public facilities that have been allowed to deteriorate and another where autos were able to skip a required inspection for a simple cash payment. Usually one of the “reporters†for the show, sometimes in outlandish attire interviews someone that is responsible for one form of corruption or another. This includes corrupt practices and swindles as well as politicians. They give awards – the Golden Tapir – I guess for some really over the top absurdity.
One character
                 Another character doing an interview
                                   The Golden Tapir award
One of the features of the show which they initiated in 1988 when the show started is the pair of “veline†at the start and close of the show. These are always “showgirls†who dress, um, attractively and do a well choreographed dance. There is always one blond and one brunette. They have a contest every summer to select the next pair of veline for the coming season. Kind of like the Miss America pageant with different talent requirements. Another feature of the show besides the eye candy is that they always have a puppy that comes sometime during the show and curls up in a little bed near the two hosts of the show. Cute.
And now….LE Â VELINE!!!
http://dai.ly/x38io25
