Simona Ventura Italian TV Icon
This lady is a star of Italian TV. Simona Ventura gets paid lots to do sophisticated stuff such as Isola Dei Famosi, the Italian version of fated UK reality show Celebrity Love Island.
Ventura pretty much sums up the outstanding quality contemporary Italian TV.
Here is a little video of Ms Ventura awash with her not so natural, apparently, assets while she entertains Italian TV audiences.
I suspect this video will suddenly become unavailable on YouTube, so catch it while you can. If you really must, that is:
Simona Ventura Sexy Car Wash (extended edition)
It’s a shame really that if Beppe Grillo’s current mad scheme comes to fruition and he manages to take over Berlusconi’s Mediaset, classic TV performances such as those put on by Simona Ventura, albeit on Italy’s public TV RAI channel, may cease to exist.
How sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no objection to seeing good looking women on TV, it’s just that there is not much else on the TV here.
By the way, I know someone who is learning Italian at the moment, Eva. I suggested that she watch Italian TV to develop her comprehension skills, but she did not sound over enthusiastic. She had already seen the TV in Italy and had not found it overly impressive…
Go for it Beppe!
I despised the constant addition of semi-nude women to every TV show for a long time. I complained to my neighbor once, “Why do even the quiz shows have these nearly naked dancing girls?” She pondered and said, “They need jobs, to0.”
I got used to it after a while. They are like flies walking on the screen, a bit irritating but not changing what’s on. In my case that is often Superquark, Passaggio Nordovest, Italia che Vai, Linea Verde, Linea Blu, Porta a Porta … no dancing girls! And then Montalbano, the single most successful show in Italian TV history. If you find fault with him I will say you are jealous.
It is neither the desert it is portrayed, nor as good as we deserve to get, but sometimes I watch the imports that are dubbed and broadcast and so loved by expats and I think, “Say what? This is supposed to be better? It is just closer to their culture.” I would rather see inconsequential dancing girls than people getting their heads blown off and car chases, frankly.
(I would not have been able to think of a dingle thing to say about la Ventura, so I am deeply envious that you did.)
Hi Judith,
Unlike you I’ve never got used to it, and as soon as I see the token babes, I tend to write off the program as being one to avoid. They are not even integrated with the shows well – it’s sorta ‘Now we gotta have the dancing babes. Where can we slot em in? Oh, I know pop them in there.’ If they related in some small way to the format of the show, that would be better.
While it’s true that these girls do need jobs, if this is all they can find, well…
Sounds as though you avoid telly with babes too!
I find Superquark OK, but a little superficial – not enough depth. Perhaps too popularist.
Porta a porta is not something I watch. I tend to feel that Vespa is a little too much of an open Berlusco supporter. AnnoZero is a better political talk show and is more balanced, although many Italian talk shows tend to end up as shouting matches with everyone trying to talk over the others.
As for Passaggio Nordovest and Italia che Vai, I don’t really know them, so I can’t comment.
Linea Verde and Linea Blu are a little bland and samey, but could be transformed into excellent programs for selling Italy. They really show off Italy, and do it well. And could work very well outside Italy too. They make you want to visit the places shown.
As for Montalbano, and as I have written before, Montalbano is Italian TV at its best and is an example of just what Italian TV can do when it wants. It is/was an excellent series. Well directed, great camera work, (no in your face tacky camera work) and very well acted too. And you get a feel for life down in Sicily – again it draws you towards Sicily. I don’t know of Montalbano is shown outside of Italy, but if it is not, it ought to be.
As for being envious about my finding something to say about Ventura, don’t be. I did not say much!
Have good weekend,
Alex
Hahahahahah Simona. You know I had to come over and talk about Simo.
OK, I love her. I really ahted her at first, when I saw her on Isola dei Famosi, because she obviously doesn’t understand that she doesn’t have to SHRIEK at them all the time in order to talk to them by video remote.
But – and you know what I’m going to say – then came X FACTOR. She looked gorgeous, I loved her enthusiasm for her contestants, and of course her and Morgan fighting was the best.
I find the semi-nudity on Italian television to be HILARIOUS, but that could be because I’m always watching with gay men. The thing I do find really cool, though, is that so many of the women who perform in the same way as Simona – what are they called, hostesses, emcees? – are older. Plastic surgery aside, at least they’re older. On the American television I’ve seen, everyone looks like they’re 16 years old.
SIMO!!!
Hi Miss Ex,
Simo certainly has quite a few fans here, this is true. She is regarded as something of a role model for young Italian women looking to get into the TV business here.
Simo does have quite a character too. I find her piecing voice a little hard to handle at times, but she is good at what she does, and looks good too.
Is she something of a gay icon too?
And yes, more mature, but very attractive women abound on TV here. Italy TV rarely has very young stars. 16 year olds are great for kids programs, but I did not know that US telly likes child presenters!
Have a good weekend,
Best,
Alex
Not so much child presenters, but in movies and on TV in general in America, you have to look 25 or you’re outta there. I’m exaggerating of course, but you really don’t see crow’s feet or women who look like they’ve lived outside of a hyperbaric chamber since the Thatcher Administration. I just like that so many of the women I see on TV in Italy have LIVED a little in their lives. The chippies are treated as chippies, and I’m OK with that. You want a bunch of hot girls in bikinis are your news show? Whatever dude. But give me my news from a real woman.
Simona is not a gay icon so much, but watching Italian TV with my gays is purely for the purposes of making catty comments. So, in that regard, Simona gives us much material to work with.
I agree with you about Bruno Vespa and the rest, Alex. We seem to have similar TV tastes.
You need to know, perhaps, that I only get raiuno and raidue, so of what there is those I like.
Montalbano has been translated into 9 languages and the dvds are sold worldwide– biggest thing that ever happened to Rai.
Porta a porta is on too late for me, but the times I have watched the program hasn’t been political. But that’s Bruno, warts and all.
@ MoR,
Yes, it looks as though we may well have similar tastes!
@ Judith,
I knew the books had been translated, but did not know about the DVDs – I’ll hunt them down on Amazon!
Great news – shows what can be done!
As for Mr Wasp – to me he comes across as being a bit too much of a Berlusco fan for my liking – RAIs Fede, just about. But I could be wrong…
Alex