“It’s a real competition, every week one team loses and two players are eliminated.” The era of the do-gooder is over: you get bad grades at school, you lose yourself in life, in love (once you go away, a other times you are left over) and in sports. We can register 24 children for the 100 meter race and hope that they all reach the finish line together, that is wrong. I think it’s a good lesson for those who want to enter the world of music.” Gerry Scotti presents Io Canto Generation, the talent show in which 24 children (aged 10 to 15) are divided into six teams (led by six protagonists of Italian music such as Iva Zanicchi and Fausto Leali) compete against each other in an elimination competition. It starts on Thursday 16th in prime time on Canale 5.
Since the era of do-gooderism is over, tell me something bad about the Four Judges. Michelle Hunziker?
“But how do I do that? She’s like my sister, let’s say she’s too Swiss, but she knows it.
Orietta Berti?
“It’s like she’s my mother or my aunt.”
Al Bano?
“When he threw a birthday party for me in Cellino San Marco, he let off fireworks until half past midnight. The police came to investigate, we almost ended up in jail.”
Claudio Amendola?
“For the actors it is the Roman representation of what I am for the presenters.” He is always a sensible person.
“Friends”, “X Factor”, “The Voice Kids”… Aren’t there too many programs that focus on music?
“No, I don’t think it’s a saturated or inflated sector; The risks have been carefully assessed by our managers. It’s a title I’ve been doing for a few years now and I don’t wonder why it was neglected back then. “Our party aims to be a party for everyone who loves music, a program that covers all genres from Tenco to Lazza.”
Teo Mammucari left Mediaset saying he was not proposing anything new. This project may also seem like a nostalgia operation…
“Teo must have had his reasons and I won’t allow myself to pass judgment. All I’m saying is that I was just as surprised that Io Canto was neglected for ten years as I was not surprised when they brought it back to me. My first reaction? It was time”.
1983–2003: 40-year career. What do you expect?
“I told the company: You can choose between a beautiful gold watch – knowing full well that they would refuse (he adds with a laugh) – or the wheel of fortune.” For me it will be the opportunity to have a nice celebration during the Christmas holidays to celebrate on air.”
His “Free Fall” quiz suffers, partly because it has too many answers that make it bloated.
“It was an overused program, too often the best episodes were taken and re-shot. It is a formula that I have accepted and adopted during the difficulties of Covid. But I know that for my investor even 2.5 million viewers is a very interesting number.”
Is he a Mediaset soldier?
“I feel like a regular entertainment worker. I am the specialist they call to solve certain situations. If there is a fire, they look for someone who knows how to put it out; They don’t call me when they have to set fires. But I’m proud of it.
You are Uncle Gerry, Rai has Aunt Mara. Do you feel an affinity?
“I think that in this name – in addition to a strong dose of good nature and popularity that goes beyond popularity – there is also a strong carnal connotation.” We are round, generous, hugging uncles of Italy because we treat the viewers like our family or friends treat, we always have a smile on our faces and are confidential. To always remain feminine, I also find harmony with Antonella Clerici.”
A photo with Amadeus made one think that she might take a trip to Sanremo.
“It was a stupid thing between two stupid people, we caused more havoc than we should have, but it was just a game.”
Is television addictive? Aren’t you thinking about retirement?
“As long as I enjoy it, I try to resist, there are more boring views.”
He was a radio star and then ended up on TV…
“I was convinced that radio would be my life, Claudio Cecchetto believed in it and forced me to DeeJay Television, I was not so convinced.” On the radio I was in my own depths, protected, among my friends; Watching television was something different; at the beginning I suffered.
Then came the quiz.
«When Fatma Ruffini (Mediaset producer) suggested it to me, I was shocked, I was amazed and half offended: you have to do it early in the evening, she told me. I thought: but how? I just got back from the Festival Bar finale… Oh, she was right and now early evening has become my comfort zone.”