12 remarkable moments that made Brazil pay more attention on TV

Can you imagine how different your life would be without television? Whether watching a soap opera (or several), watching the news of the day, football games, reality shows, among other programs, many Brazilians have different memories linked to the exhibitions provided by national channels. In its years of existence, TV was responsible for producing and/or showing scenes that thrilled, moved, surprised or were long awaited by the audience. Do you agree to remember them or even meet them, if you haven’t watched them?

O awesome.club selected some (of the many) moments that happened on television networks in the country and invites you to embark with us on this journey through time. Come on?

The authors of Brazilian teledramaturgy know well how to create expectations in the public. The soap opera Avenida Brasil was a hit with the audience and those who followed it couldn’t wait for the day when the villainous Carminha would be unmasked by her husband Tufão, in front of his family. On October 8, 2012, viewers finally got what they’ve been waiting for. The result was a show of performance by the actors involved in the scene! The defeat of one of the most beloved villains in the country broke an audience record, with 49 points on Ibope.

Still in the first month of 2000, the Rio Bossa Nova show, held on Ipanema beach, was transformed into a special in honor of the singer, poet and writer, Vinicius de Moraes. The presentation was on account of Carolina Ferraz and the program interspersed the presentations of artists interpreting Vinicius’ songs and images, stories and declarations of the honoree.

If you’ve ever followed a Brazilian team match, you may have already felt nervous about not getting out of the 0-0 draw. “listening” to his celebration, right? Now try to imagine a World Cup final dispute. In 1994, Brazil faced Italy, in the United States, and the game remained 0-0 in normal time and overtime. The result was due to the penalty shootout.

When the scoreboard signaled that the Brazilian team had scored three penalties and the Italian team only two, Galvão couldn’t contain his emotion and, hugging Pelé, shouted at the top of his lungs: “It’s over. It’s over. It’s tetra! It’s tetra! It’s tetra! Brazil is a four-time world champion in soccer”. The narrator has already said that when reviewing the scene he felt ashamed, but when emotion “speaks” louder, it is a little more difficult to be discreet, and the record has become a classic on national television.

If we say “Rap da Felicidade”, maybe you don’t recognize the song we’re referring to. But if it’s the line “I just want to be happy, walk peacefully in the favela where I was born. And to be able to be proud, and to be aware that the poor have their place”, do you know? In 2016, it was Alcione’s turn to perform the song at Criança Esperança. With her, mothers who paid tribute to their children took to the stage. The scene undoubtedly moved many Brazilians.

On August 5, 2016, most Brazilians gathered in front of the TV to watch the official opening of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The televised one was a beautiful and big party — the kind we know how to do well — portraying and representing elements of our history and culture. The event had the participation of artists such as Zeca Pagodinho, Marcelo D2, Daniel Jobim and Jorge Ben Jor. The celebration even had a replica of the 14 Bis!

The year-end special Amigos had been part of Brazilians’ lives since 1995 and had the presentation of three country duos: Chitãozinho and Xororó, Zezé di Camargo and Luciano and Leandro and Leonardo. The plan for the 1998 edition was ambitious: a presentation in Paris. However, a few days before we were downcast with the loss of singer Leandro.

In spite of everything, the others continued towards the “City of Love” to perform the promised show. The records were emotional, full of tributes, affection and welcome with the singer Leonardo who, in addition to composing the duo, was Leandro’s brother.

Driver Lewis Hamilton won the 2021 Brazilian GP (Grand Prix), in the city of São Paulo, and paid a beautiful tribute to the eternal Ayrton Senna. Despite being English, the Brazilian public cheered when they saw that Hamilton took another lap holding the Brazilian flag to celebrate his victory. He also lifted it when he took the podium.

Sunday program presenters, Fausto Silva (Faustão) and Augusto Liberato (Gugu), surprised their audiences when they participated in one of the biggest crossovers on Brazilian television. In 2003, a multinational managed to make both interact live, each appearing on the other’s program, for an advertising campaign. It is worth remembering that in the 1990s and 2000s, they competed for the audience of the time slot!

Faustão was responsible for welcoming Gugu, in his classic way of speaking that most Brazilians know: “We present Augusto Liberato, Gugu, straight from his Domingo Legal, putting his face on Domingão with his crew”. Contrary to what many believed, there was never enmity between the two, but a cordial relationship of mutual respect.

Brazilian television recorded two achievements by Receive Andrade at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The gymnast’s first medal, silver, was the result of four events — uneven bars, vault, floor and balance beam — which guaranteed her 57,298 points in the General Individual category. With an average of 15,083 points, she also won her second medal in the competition: gold in vault. Rebeca’s accomplishments were not only marked on the small screen, but also in the history of the sport: she was the first Brazilian gymnast to climb the podium in an Olympic competition, and she even did it twice!

It was probably with a little apprehension (or a lot) that Brazilians followed Renato Aragão’s feat in 1991 on their televisions. — by an internal staircase of the monument — the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which is 38 meters high, and went up to his right hand to kiss it.

The scene of Camila (Carolina Dieckmann) having her locks shaved off was a remarkable record of Brazilian television drama. Back in 2000 and with the song Love by Grace, by Lara Fabian, we follow the feeling not only of the character, but also of the interpreter, who surrendered to the moment. There was no trick, the actress’s hair was shaved for real. According to the broadcaster, from the airing of this scene until the final weeks of the soap opera, INCA registered 149 new registrations of bone marrow donors — what became known as the “Camila Effect”.

Ayrton Senna was a source of great pride for Brazilians when it comes to Formula 1. And despite having won several awards so far, it was only at the 1991 Brazilian GP that he achieved his first victory in his country. Senna fell asleep shortly before the race and the car was not in the best condition – in the last seven laps, he only had first and sixth gears, making his performance even more difficult. However, the effort paid off: he came in first and less than three seconds ahead of Riccardo Patrese.

After the victory, the car had to be towed and Senna needed help getting out of the vehicle, due to muscle pain. He still gathered strength and reached the podium carrying the Brazilian flag and made a little more effort to lift the trophy. The scene was beautiful and, although we can see the clear fatigue on his face, the record shows us his pride and has become a memorable part of Brazilian television.

Did you follow any of these moments on TV? What did we leave out that deserves to be remembered? Tell us in the comments!