Pippo Baudo, a name that represents an entire era of Italian television, will be celebrated on the occasion of his eighty-eighth birthday with a special on “Grandi della TV” on Rai Storia. This tribute will be broadcast on Sunday 9 June at 5.30pm and Monday 10 June at 10.10pm, hosted by Edoardo Camurri. Baudo, born Giuseppe Raimondo Vittorio Baudo into a family that was not familiar with the world of entertainment and who wanted him to be a lawyer, managed to build an extraordinary career in the Italian television scene.
With his father Giovanni he will agree two months to try his luck in Rome after graduating in law. He arrives at the graduation session brought by a fruit truck so as not to be late: after all he was presenting “Miss Sicilia” in Ragusa
After graduating in law, Pippo moved to Rome with the hope of making it in the entertainment world. His determination led him to get an audition with the directors Antonello Falqui and Lino Procacci, who immediately recognized his talent. His first great success came in 1966 with the program “Settevoci”, initially considered unsuitable for broadcast but which proved to be a launching pad for Baudo and became a great success for Rai.
A memorable career
Pippo Baudo’s career is full of memorable successes. “Domenica In”, which thanks to him became a popular television rotogravure, and “Fantastico”, an iconic program of the 80s, are just some of his contributions to Italian television. Baudo is known for having discovered and launched numerous talents, including Al Bano, Heather Parisi and Lorella Cuccarini, demonstrating an extraordinary eye for his talent.
Baudo also left an indelible mark on the Sanremo Festival, which he hosted for 13 editions starting from 1968, helping to transform it into the largest Italian musical show. His authoritative and charismatic presence made the festival an unmissable event for millions of Italians.
The tribute to Pippo Baudo on Rai Storia will not only be limited to telling his life and career, but will also include the revival of the first episode of “Fantastico 7” from 4 October 1986, allowing the public to relive one of the most iconic moments of the Italian television.
Baudo, with his thundering voice and his imposing stage presence, was able to win over the audience with his ability to be both friendly and authoritative, laughing and making people laugh, but also directing with firmness. His iconic phrase “I invented it” is not just a catchphrase, but reflects a great truth: Pippo Baudo truly invented a significant part of Italian television.
