Pippo Baudo

PIPPO BAUDO

Pippo Baudo

Born in Militello in Val di Catania 7 June 1936. Hosting one day before the session of degree he goes to Erice to present the beauty contest Miss Sicily and then set off at dawn, on a truck, lying between fruits and vegetables, and get Catania just in time. It's 1959: Pippo Baudo already knows that will not become a lawyer like his father. The following year, in fact, comes to Rome and presents Guide emigrants and first floor. The breakthrough came in '66 with Settevoci (initially had to be only six experimental bets, in Milan, at the studios of the Exhibition Centre), music program aired on Sunday afternoon. The transmission becomes his launching pad. In '68 the Catania presenter conducts his first edition of the Sanremo Festival: must be able to make us forget the suicide of Luigi Tenco, which took place on the Italian Riviera last year under mysterious circumstances.

He can. In '72 he leads the first Canzonissima with Loretta Goggi as partners and Marcello Marchesi and Dino Verde as authors. Then other programs: The Golden Arrow (1970), No Network (1974), Spaccaquindici (1975), A stroke of luck (1975), According to you (1977), Luna Park (1979).

Also an appearance in the theater: The hour of the imagination, in '72, with Sandra Mondaini in a reduction of Maurizio Costanzo. A constant presence, however, as on Sunday ladies: since 1979 - when it replaces Corrado - 85 (then again in '91).

But after the two-year period 1984-86 (5 Fantastic combination of honor and evening) switches to Fininvest as artistic director. The court of Berlusconi remains little. A year of reflection and then it's back to Rai: on the second network with a series of evenings of honor, on third with one out of a hundred. In '90 the return to Rai Uno with Grand Prix and then with Fantastico.

I expect another decade of success: in '91 Variety and Sunday in, in '92 double game, in '93 there was twice, in '94 Number One, all at home, and Luna Park, in '95 Poppies and ducks and the following year one thousand lire a month. But Pippo Baudo becomes especially the deus ex machina of the Sanremo Festival, which has already presented editions '68, '84, '85, '87 and from '92 to '96. In '94 he became the artistic director, the same position he held for Rai networks until May '96.

In '98 returns to Mediaset where he made a program about the history of Italian music (The song of the century) and some special nights (on fashion, on classical music). Then again return to the parent with a program on Rai Tre entitled Day after day Alvise Borghi directed by Maurizio Fusco.

In 2000, he hosts the program in the heart of the father, in honor of Al Bano. Later - at the end of 2000 - leads to great acclaim twentieth century-Day after day, a program where the facts and events of the twentieth century are revisited in the studio with witnesses and protagonists of exception. And from January 2001 is the creator and host of the show on Rai Uno Double Pass. In September 2001 leads a program on Rai Uno Padre Pio, entitled A Voice for Padre Pio.

It is chosen for conducting and the artistic direction of the Sanremo Festival in 2002.

THEY SAID

Pippo Baudo: It's 1960: arrived in Rome from Palermo, from typical guy with high hopes placed me in Teulada, in front of the RAI. I hope to catch an important leader and maybe, with the excuse to help him carry the bag to the car, I hope to get an audition. Two days after a date is fixed me. A judge is appointed Antonello Falqui and Dino Procacci. I perform as a playmaker and am judged suitable for smaller shows...