Pubcaster's Rai premiered new original series in January along with many returning series. Canale 5 realeased only one drama: Fosca Innocenti season two.
Rai 1 launched the miniseries Il Nostro Generale on Monday 9 January. Based on true events in the 1970s, it tells the story of General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, played by Sergio Castellitto, who created a special anti-terrorist Unit and was sent to Sicily to stop the mafia organisation. The General Dalla Chiesa was killed in 1982. The first episode recorded 4mln viewers with an audience share of 19.9%.
Rai 1 launched a german coproduction, Black Out – Vite Sospese on Rai 1 on Monday 23 January. It is set in a luxury hotel in a small, exclusive ski resort but an avalanche cuts off the village from outside help, and with the electricity out, holiday-makers and villagers must come together. Secrets, hidden identities and the presence of a murderer are revealed, with everyone forced to put fears and prejudices aside and come together as a community. A coproduction between Rai Fiction and Èliseo Entertainment, with the participation of Viola Film, in collaboration with the Trentino Film Commission, produced by Luca Barbareschi. Starring Alessandro Prezioni in the main role, it debuted with 4.3mln viewers (20.3%) in the first episode and 3.8mln viewers (21.9%) in the second.
The Italian adaptation of French scripted series Dix pour cent aired in France by France 2 premiered with the title of Call My Agent - Italia (six episodes) on Friday 20 January with 2 episodes back to back. Produced by Palomar (Mediawan) and Sky Studios. The cast includes: Michele Di Mauro, Sara Drago, Maurizio Lastrico and Marzia Ubaldi and special guest stars like Paolo Sorrentino, Paola Cortellesi and Pierfrancesco Favino, Stefano Accorsi, Matilda De Angelis and Anna Ferzetti. The local adaptation is set in Rome inside the the agency CMA that manages the careers of some of the biggest Italian stars. In episode 2, Oscar winner Paolo Sorrentino announces a brilliant idea for the sequel of The Young Pope series as he wants to film The Lady Pope with Italian singer Ivana Spagna in the main role with Denzel Washington and Madonna as her mother. The Italian version of the series is written by Lisa Nur Sultan (Liar,) and directed by Luca Ribuoli (The Mafia only kills in Summer).
Some returning drama series debuted in January on Rai 1: season 2 of detective drama series Le Indagini di Lolita Lobosco (tr. The Investigations of Lolita Lobosco) launched on Sunday 8 January recorded big results, 6mln viewers (33.5%). Starring Luisa Ranieri in the main role with Lunetta Savino as well, the series is based on the Gabriella Genisi's novels and produced by Rai Fiction, Bibi Film Tv and Zocotoco; season 7 of drama Che Dio ci Aiuti on Thursday 12 January. The series starring Elena Sofia Ricci, Francesca Chillemi and Pierpaolo Spollon, produced by LuxVide (a Fremantle company), premiered with 5.6mln viewers (26.7%) in the first episode and 4.9mln viewers (30%) in the second. Rai 2, premiered the thriller drama series La Porta Rossa season 3 that achieved 1.5mln viewers (8%). Produced by Rai Fiction and Garbo Produzioni, starring Lino Guanciale and Gabriella Pession.
Rai 1 launched a german coproduction, Black Out – Vite Sospese on Rai 1 on Monday 23 January. It is set in a luxury hotel in a small, exclusive ski resort but an avalanche cuts off the village from outside help, and with the electricity out, holiday-makers and villagers must come together. Secrets, hidden identities and the presence of a murderer are revealed, with everyone forced to put fears and prejudices aside and come together as a community. A coproduction between Rai Fiction and Èliseo Entertainment, with the participation of Viola Film, in collaboration with the Trentino Film Commission, produced by Luca Barbareschi. Starring Alessandro Prezioni in the main role, it debuted with 4.3mln viewers (20.3%) in the first episode and 3.8mln viewers (21.9%) in the second.
The Italian adaptation of French scripted series Dix pour cent aired in France by France 2 premiered with the title of Call My Agent - Italia (six episodes) on Friday 20 January with 2 episodes back to back. Produced by Palomar (Mediawan) and Sky Studios. The cast includes: Michele Di Mauro, Sara Drago, Maurizio Lastrico and Marzia Ubaldi and special guest stars like Paolo Sorrentino, Paola Cortellesi and Pierfrancesco Favino, Stefano Accorsi, Matilda De Angelis and Anna Ferzetti. The local adaptation is set in Rome inside the the agency CMA that manages the careers of some of the biggest Italian stars. In episode 2, Oscar winner Paolo Sorrentino announces a brilliant idea for the sequel of The Young Pope series as he wants to film The Lady Pope with Italian singer Ivana Spagna in the main role with Denzel Washington and Madonna as her mother. The Italian version of the series is written by Lisa Nur Sultan (Liar,) and directed by Luca Ribuoli (The Mafia only kills in Summer).
Some returning drama series debuted in January on Rai 1: season 2 of detective drama series Le Indagini di Lolita Lobosco (tr. The Investigations of Lolita Lobosco) launched on Sunday 8 January recorded big results, 6mln viewers (33.5%). Starring Luisa Ranieri in the main role with Lunetta Savino as well, the series is based on the Gabriella Genisi's novels and produced by Rai Fiction, Bibi Film Tv and Zocotoco; season 7 of drama Che Dio ci Aiuti on Thursday 12 January. The series starring Elena Sofia Ricci, Francesca Chillemi and Pierpaolo Spollon, produced by LuxVide (a Fremantle company), premiered with 5.6mln viewers (26.7%) in the first episode and 4.9mln viewers (30%) in the second. Rai 2, premiered the thriller drama series La Porta Rossa season 3 that achieved 1.5mln viewers (8%). Produced by Rai Fiction and Garbo Produzioni, starring Lino Guanciale and Gabriella Pession.
On Canale 5 debuted season 2 of detective drama series Fosca Innocenti with Vanessa Incontrada on Friday 13 January. The four-part drama sees deputy commissioner Fosca Innocenti finally admitting her love for Cosimo (Francesco Arca) after 20 years of friendship and the two move in together. However, whilst Fosca is investigating the case of an apparently suicidal bride, a man from her past bursts back into her life. Produced by RTI and Banijay Studios Italy, it premiered with 2.5mln viewers (15.3%).
