Romano TV

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Romano TV (previously Manne TV) is a 12 episode sketch-show based around common stereotypes and misconceptions Finnish people have of the Gypsy minorities. It ran from 2. June to 18. August of 2007 on YLE.

The show was propelled by the excitable performances of Santeri Ahlgren and Eeki Mantere (who had already died in April as the show was filmed primarily in the spring) as well as through the support of popular Finnish musician Remu Aaltonen of Hurriganes (himself being a gypsy). The show's style is that of extreme low-budget sketch-show tradition of such sketch series like Pulttibois and Kummeli but possibly intentionally emphasised for comical effect. For this reason it is not uncommon for there being blooper-shots shown within the episode (rather than at the end as usual).

The show attracted great amounts of criticism when it first aired and up until 14th July the show was called Manne TV, until Yleisradio had the name changed to the more neutral Romano TV. Some groups found the use of the term Manne (a nick-name/insult which refers to gypsies) offensive and/or inapproapriate despite it's usage in the show was intended to be a tongue-in-cheek as possible. Despite the change in name the fake commercial bumpers and characters in the show still used the term and referred to the show as Manne TV even after the switch.

Despite the controversy the show also enjoyed a sleuth of popular guest stars.