Fiorello's 'La Mattinanza' on Rai2 and the surname that soars all the way to New York: what's the link with LaGuardia Airport?
If you've woken up with a smile on your face these past few mornings, you've probably been tuning into Rai2. Fiorello is back, and he's returned in the most explosive way possible: with “La Mattinanza”, a daily show that's literally revolutionising breakfast time for Italians. Forget meticulously planned podcasts or rigid running orders, here it's all off-the-cuff, with surprise guests, improbable phone calls and that controlled chaos that only the king of radio and TV can orchestrate.
The adventure kicked off on Rai2 just the other day, and there's already a distinct whiff of vindication in the air. Rumour has it that Rai1's morning slot is feeling a bit sore about it – and actually, while the main channel sticks to more traditional formulas, Fiorello is unleashing his band of mischief-makers on the other side. But don't call it a ratings war; it's simply the Fiorello mindset applied to the morning slot, the time of day he knows better than anyone. Every day brings fresh content, live performances and his unique way of pulling real life into the mix, the kind of thing only someone with thirty years in the business can pull off.
Talking of careers and names: did you know that Fiorello isn't just our Rosario? Across the pond in New York, there's LaGuardia Airport sharing the same surname. And yes, that's because Fiorello LaGuardia was one of the Big Apple's most beloved mayors, the man who gave his name to the airport and also to the legendary LaGuardia High School, the performing arts school that turned out talents like Jennifer Aniston and Al Pacino. Sure, there's no family tie between the Italian-American politician and our Sicilian showman, but whenever I hear the airport's name, I can't help but think: what if one day Rosario decided to do a show right from there? After all, with “La Mattinanza”, he's already taken off...
Here are three things that make “La Mattinanza” unmissable viewing (and that might also explain the whole “Fiorello!” thing with the exclamation mark):
- The gloriously script-free approach: Every episode is a gamble. Fiorello sits down, looks at the camera and just starts. The rest is pure improvisation, including surprise appearances from the crew and calls to random numbers.
- The instant transformations: He mimics politicians, singers and current personalities without needing masks or costumes. A single expression and the right voice are enough to spark hilarity.
- The knack for bringing street-level reality to TV: Passers-by interviewed from the window, rogue car park attendants turned pundits, grandparents sharing stories from a bygone era. It's the real, unfiltered Italy.
If you want to know what everyone will be chatting about at the coffee shop, tune into Rai2. Fiorello is back doing what he does best: keeping us company, making us laugh and reminding us that telly, when it's free to be itself, can still be a great spectacle. And who knows, maybe sooner or later he'll organise a live broadcast from LaGuardia Airport… perhaps titling the episode “Fiorello! Lands in New York”. That would be the proverbial icing on the cake of an already perfect morning.