Fiorello's 'La Mattinanza' on Rai2 and That Surname Flying All the Way to New York: What's the Link to 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, bizarre phone calls, and that controlled chaos that only the king of radio and TV can orchestrate.
The adventure kicked off on Rai2 recently, and there's already a whiff of vindication in the air. The rumour mill suggests Rai1's morning slot might be feeling a bit sour – and sure enough, while the main channel sticks to more traditional formats, Fiorello is unleashing his band of pranksters on the other side. But don't call it a ratings war; it's simply the Fiorello mindset applied to the morning slot, a time slot he knows better than anyone. Expect fresh content daily, live performances, and that unique way he has of pulling real life into the frame, the kind of thing only someone with a thirty-year career can pull off.
Speaking 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, because Fiorello LaGuardia was one of the Big Apple's most beloved mayors, the one who gave his name to the airport and also to the legendary LaGuardia High School, the performing arts school that churned 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 (and that might explain why "Fiorello!" is always written with an exclamation mark):
- The brilliantly script-less approach: Each episode is a gamble. Fiorello sits down, looks at the camera, and just starts. The rest is pure improvisation, including unexpected appearances from the crew and calls to random numbers.
- The instant transformations: He impersonates politicians, singers, and current celebrities without needing masks. A single expression and the right voice are enough to spark hilarity.
- The ability to bring real life to the screen: Passers-by interviewed from the window, rogue car park attendants turning into pundits, grandparents telling stories from a bygone era. It's the real, unfiltered Italy.
If you want to know what everyone will be chatting about, just tune into Rai2. Fiorello is back doing what he does best: keeping us company, making us laugh, and reminding us that TV, 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… maybe even titling the episode "Fiorello! Lands in New York." That would be the classic icing on the cake of an already perfect morning.