Portobello (TV program)

Last updated
Portobello
Created by Enzo Tortora
Country of originItaly
Original languageItalian
No. of seasons7
Original release
Network Rai 2
Release1977 (1977) 
1987 (1987)

Portobello was an Italian Friday night variety show created and hosted by Enzo Tortora. It was broadcast on Rai 2 between 1977 and 1983 and again in 1987. A reboot hosted by Antonella Clerici was broadcast by Rai 1 in 2018.

Overview

The show debuted on Rai 2 on 27 May 1977. [1] The structure of the show revolved around various segments, the most notable of them being the presentation of new inventions, with inventors promoting and selling their patents. [2] Other segments included Cuori d'arancio, a dating segment where lonely hearts met in search of a soulmate that was an early forerunner of Canale 5 programs such as Agenzia matrimoniale and Uomini e donne, and Dove sei?, a segment about missing persons that anticipated the Rai 3 long-running show Chi l'ha visto?. [2]

Portobello was a massive success, with an audience reaching 25 million viewers. [2] It was suddendly interrupted because of the Tortora's conviction for drug trafficking and for being a member of the Camorra; following his full acquittal, it was reprised for a final season in 1987. [2] [3] In 2018, the show was remade in a retouched version hosted by Antonella Clerici; this version, broadcast on Saturday nights on Rai 1, was both a critical and audience failure. [4] [5]

References

  1. Zizzari, Stefania (22 June 2018). "Portobello: ecco com'era il mitico programma tv di Enzo Tortora". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Grasso, Aldo; Scaglioni, Massimo. "Portobello". Enciclopedia della Televisione. Garzanti, 1996 – 2003. p. 546. ISBN   881150466X.
  3. "Portobello: Ritoma Tortora". La Stampa . No. 49. 20 February 1987. p. 12.
  4. Castoro, Marco (5 November 2018). "Da Rischiatutto a Portobello: quando i remake fanno flop". Leggo (in Italian). Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  5. Duello, Gennaro Marco (26 March 2019). "Antonella Clerici su Portobello: "È stato un flop, ho fatto un errore"". Fanpage.it . Retrieved 18 July 2025.