Brazil with Michael Palin

Brazil with Michael Palin (2012)

EndedDocumentary showTravel

Brazil in the 21st century has become a global player. With a booming economy and massive social changes, there is a swagger to this once-sleeping giant, but what do we know of it apart from football and carnival? Michael Palin has travelled across most of the globe over the years, but never to Brazil. In this four-part series he crosses the country as big as a continent to find out what makes it tick.

Network
Scheduleevery Wednesday at 21:00 (60 min)

Last Episode

The Deep South
Season 1Episode 460 min

The Deep South

In the final episode of his travels through Brazil, Michael Palin finds many surprises as he encounters the rich diversity of the more European and Asian cultures that have created a new melting pot in the deep south of Brazil.

In the picture-perfect town of Parati, set amidst the Mata Atlantica, he meets up with Prince Joao de Braganza, heir to the defunct throne of Brazil. The prince argues that the arrival of the Portuguese court in Brazil, who escaped from Napoleon's occupation, did much to establish the institutions that have enabled Brazil's economy to flourish.

Michael joins Carolina Ferraz, star of a galaxy of telenovellas, the immensely popular Brazilian soap operas, on the backlot of her most recent TV success, where issues of poverty fuel the storylines alongside the racier love triangles.

Whilst taking to the skies of Sao Paolo to avoid the hundred-mile traffic jams with mega-rich king of waste disposal Wilson Quintela, Michael learns that there are millions to be made from garbage.

Travelling south to Blumenau and Pomerode, Michael finds German speakers - including model Priscilla Falaster, who dreams of becoming the next Giselle Bundchen - and tries his hand pulling steins from a mobile bierkeller. Bavarian schulplatte dancers and chance encounters with spiritualists including Marcello Paes Leme challenge his views on what makes a typical Brazilian.

Leaving the beauty and serenity of the Pantanal, Michael comes to his journey's end at the magnificent Iguazu falls, where he concludes that Brazil has much to offer the world as it takes its place as a new superpower.

Nov 14, 2012

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E04The Deep SouthNov 14, 2012
S01E03The Road to RioNov 7, 2012
S01E02Into AmazoniaOct 31, 2012
S01E01Out of AfricaOct 24, 2012
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did 'Brazil with Michael Palin' premiere?

'Brazil with Michael Palin' premiered on October 24, 2012.

What is the premise of 'Brazil with Michael Palin'?

'Brazil with Michael Palin' follows Michael Palin as he travels across Brazil, exploring the country's diverse regions, cultures, and people.

How many episodes are there in 'Brazil with Michael Palin'?

'Brazil with Michael Palin' consists of four episodes.

What regions of Brazil does Michael Palin explore in the show?

Michael Palin explores the northeast, south, Amazon, and central regions of Brazil in the show.

What is the highlight of the Northeast region of Brazil that is explored in 'Brazil with Michael Palin'?

The highlight of the Northeast region of Brazil that is explored in 'Brazil with Michael Palin' is the Carnival in Recife.

What famous Brazil landmark does Michael Palin visit in the show?

Michael Palin visits the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in the show.

What is the culture of the indigenous people that Michael Palin encounters in the Amazon region of Brazil?

The culture of the indigenous people that Michael Palin encounters in the Amazon region of Brazil involves living in harmony with nature and utilizing natural resources for their daily needs.

What traditional dance does Michael Palin learn while in Salvador, Brazil?

While in Salvador, Brazil, Michael Palin learns the samba de roda dance.

What is the name of the community that Michael Palin visits in the Amazon region of Brazil?

The community that Michael Palin visits in the Amazon region of Brazil is called Varzea Queimada.

What traditional Brazilian meal does Michael Palin try while in the Amazon region?

While in the Amazon region, Michael Palin tries the traditional Brazilian meal of piranha soup.

What is the name of the island that Michael Palin visits in the south region of Brazil?

The island that Michael Palin visits in the south region of Brazil is called Santa Catarina Island.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
America's Got Talent
Running

America's Got Talent

With the talent search open to acts of all ages, America's Got Talent has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country. The series is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars, all vying for their chance to win America's hearts and the $1 million prize.

GenreMusic
MasterChef
Running

MasterChef

Three celebrated food experts put the latest group of contestants through a series of challenging elimination rounds and turn one home cook into a culinary master.

GenreFood
Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service
Running

Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service

Restaurateurs who are looking for a quick fix or social media glow-up are in for the surprise of their lives when famed culinary titan Gordon Ramsay trades his signature chef knives for a state-of-the-art surveillance vehicle and cutting-edge spyware in FOX's all-new unscripted series, Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service. In a Gordon Ramsay series first, Chef Ramsay will venture into struggling restaurants under the cover of night. With the help of a secret source on the inside, he'll gather raw, unfiltered evidence and get a 360-degree view of the major issues facing each restaurant. This insider will not only remain a secret to the staff, but will also help Ramsay infiltrate the restaurant after-hours for a dramatic nighttime black light kitchen investigation that reveals more filth and grossness than ever before. By the time Ramsay reveals his identity, it will be too late for staff to cover up their culinary crimes. Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service will be his toughest assignment yet as he takes drastic measures to transform not only the restaurant but also the staff, because Gordon knows he can upgrade the menu and renovate the restaurant, but the most important change has to come from the people. Are the restaurant and staff willing to accept Gordon's mission, or are they too far gone to be saved?

GenreFood
Love Island
Running

Love Island

U.S. version of the British show Love Island where a group of singles come to stay in a villa for a few weeks and have to couple up with one another – those who fail to find a partner to couple up with risk being dumped from the island. Islanders are on the lookout for romance, but the road to love doesn't always run smoothly. Challenges abound with new Islander arrivals and dramatic twists as friendships and relationships form. In addition to choosing their partners wisely, Islanders must also win the hearts of viewers who have the opportunity to shape events on screen and ultimately crown one lucky couple the winner, who will then have the chance to walk away with both love and the cash prize.

GenreRomance
Kevin Costner's The West
Running

Kevin Costner's The West

Kevin Costner's The West takes viewers on an epic journey through the birth of the American West, examining the relentless competition for land, power, and identity that forged our nation's history. With legends born from figures such as Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea, to the clashes between lawmen and outlaws, the rise of cowboys and ranchers, the resilience of trailblazing women, and the fervor of fortune seekers and abolitionists, this series spans a century of pivotal events. By presenting these stories from diverse perspectives, the series illuminates both the indelible contributions of the pioneers who shaped the dream of the American West and the courageous resistance of Native American tribes who valiantly defended their ancestral land. 

The series highlights pivotal battles and iconic figures, from Chief Little Turtle's decisive victory over the U.S. Army, sparking General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's counteroffensive and the inexorable push westward, to the tenacious stands of the Blackfeet, Comanche, and Lakota Sioux tribes and by warriors like Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, as well as the storied vigilante Joaquin Murrieta. Blending powerful historical archive, striking visuals and insightful expert interviews with globally recognized historians, each episode highlights a crucial and often tragic chapter in the rich tapestry of the West.