“In May 2001, we accompanied Maria to Milan because she had to host, together with Gerry Scotti, the “Telegatti” evening (in which, moreover, she would also receive the award for the best talk show of 2001: “There’s Posta Per Te ”). Unfortunately for everyone, that very evening, Alberto passed away: it was May 21, 2001. I remember Silvestri’s passing clearly, because it occurred on an important day. The production organized a bus to Milan for us staff: she wanted us next to her. I remember that, on that occasion, I saw dozens and dozens of faces from the world of entertainment, present – as per ceremonial – to collect the awards. There was, among others, a very young Gabriel Garko, beautiful in his black dress and with a platinum blonde bob cut; a very young and awkward Francesco Totti, who wore an amaranth-colored dress. Fate wanted Alberto to leave us that very evening. In order not to upset Maria, it was decided from Rome to communicate the news to her a few hours late, at the end of the recording of the show. I remember the silences at the dinner that followed the delivery of the Telegatto. After Alberto’s death, the “era” of Sabina Gregoretti began, who would soon become De Filippi’s right-hand woman. I remember a comment that Maurizio made about Sabina: “For me he is the best producer in Europe…”. Sabina – a woman of ideas – loved to experiment with content rather than with accounts and financial statements. It was she, for example, who created the new formula of “Men and Women”, which abandoned the guise of a talk show to become a dating show“.
Text taken from Children of Mary. Behind the scenes of TV’s most loved programmes. To sign the book “which no publisher has agreed to publish” And Vanessa Collini Sermoneta.
Children of Mary, who is the author Vanessa Collini Sermoneta
From 1993 to 2020 he worked very closely with Maria De Filippi. More precisely: after making her debut as a talking audience on Amici (at the time it was a generational talk show, not a talent show), in 1999 she began collaborating as editor and then author of popular programs such as Men and women, You’ve Got Mailthe aforementioned Friends, Temptation Island, Selfie – Things change, Wanting and flying, The Debutantes’ Ball, One two three Stable. She was also the curator of Men and Women Magazine.
The story taken from Children of Mary and proposed above concerns a crucial passage for the life, career and television of Maria De Filippi. That, while she is in Milan to record the awards ceremony of Telegattiin May 2001 she was informed of the death of Alberto Silvestrifather of the singer-songwriter Daniele and historic collaborator and author of her husband Maurizio Costanzo.
Up tomorrow TvBlog the interview with Vanessa Collini Sermoneta.
