Ah, traveling abroad. At the risk of sounding like a poster child for the Office of Off-Campus Programs, I'll admit that I've already had a life-enriching experience in my first few days living and studying in Italy: watching the ridiculous but undoubtedly original Italian television show, "Amici" a cross between "American Idol," "So You Think you Can Dance?" and "America's Got Talent."
"Amici" opens as a menage of acrobats, hip-hop dancers and ballerina-stripper hybrids prance onto the stage with techno music blaring. The colorful cast of characters frolic about, creating a pattern of complex and overwhelming movement reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil.
Suddenly, a woman -- gracefully dressed, but with harsh, masculine features -- walks out to thunderous applause.
This host, Italian pop-icon Maria De Filippi, then introduces the panel of judges.
Rather than a simple threesome a la Randy, Paula and Simon, the "Amici" panel is comprised of at least 20 judges, including a gentleman gender-bendingly outfitted with a wig and purple jumpsuit to rival the Baroque period's best.
Essentially, the show is a talent competition dominated by singers, and for reasons I have yet to understand, it's one of the most popular television programs in Italy.
A few things are clear about "Amici." First, Italians love American pop music, especially Katy Perry. Second, Italian artists have no shame in covering songs written in English.
The language barrier makes for one of the more entertaining aspects of "Amici." Imagine the surrealism of watching, for instance, a fully costumed and staged scene from the musical "Fame" with characters performing with a thick Italian accent. Try to picture interpretive dances set to two different renditions of the Beatles's classic "Michelle," in which kookily costumed men and women prance on tiptoe around the singers.
If only American reality shows would take as many bold steps as "Amici." Watching the show's finale in a pub, I, a non-speaker of Italian, followed every moment with rapt eyes.
Then I had moment of clairvoyance.
The language of reality television is universal.
