2002 in Italian television

This is a list of Italian television-related events from 2002.

Events

• 4 December – Bruno Cuomo wins the first season of Operazione Trionfo.

Debuts

Rai

• L'eredità: A TV quiz based on the Argentine format El legado. As of 2023, with more than 5000 episodes, it is the longest-running television game show in Italy.

Television shows

Drama

• Resurrection, by the Taviani Brothers, with Silvia Rocca and Timothy Peach, based on Lev Tolstoj's novel; 2 episodes.
• Perlasca un eroe italiano ("An Italian hero") – by Alberto Negrin, with Luca Zingaretti in the title role, Amanda Sandrelli and Giuliana Lojodice, music by Ennio Morricone; 2 episodes.^[1]
• The apocalypse – by Raffaele Mertes, with Richard Harris (St. John the Evangelist), Vittoria Bevlvedere and Paolo Villaggio. The thirteenth and final chapter of LUV VIDE's Bible project.^[2]

• Maria Josè l'ultima regina ("The last queen") – by Carlo Lizzani, with Barbora Bobulova as title role and Alberto Molinari as Umberto II; 2 episodes.^[3]

Variety

• Il caso Scarfoglia ("The Scarfoglia affair") – satirical variety show by Corrado Guzzanti (protagonist and director) with Marco Marzocca and Caterina Guzzanti. A cynical TV journalist, assisted by a fanatic priest, investigates the vanishing of an average man. The simulated enquiry serves as a common thread for absurd inventions, such as fake newsreels about the landing of a fascist expedition on Mars (Guzzanti later adapted these sketches into a movie, Fascisti su Marte). ^[4]

Mediaset

• Grande Fratello (2000–present)

Networks and services

Launches

Network	Type	Launch date	Notes	Source
GAY.tv	Cable and satellite	13 May
DeeJay TV	Cable and satellite	10 June
ESPN Classic	Cable and satellite	July

Deaths

Date	Name	Age	Cinematic credibility
24 January	Nunzio Filogamo	99	Italian television & radio presenter, actor & singer
16 March	Carmelo Bene	64	Italian stage actor and director[5]

See also

• 2002 in Italy
• List of Italian films of 2002

References

1. "Perlasca - Un eroe italiano". RaiPlay (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-03-16.
2. "San Giovanni - L'apocalisse". RaiPlay (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-03-16.
3. "Maria José - L'ultima regina". RaiPlay (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-03-16.
4. "Il caso Scafroglia". RaiPlay (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-11-27.
5. "Carmelo Bene Talk Show". RaiPlay (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-03-18.