He wasn't just a presenter: he was television itself. Pippo Baudo passed away at 89, in a Roman hospital, leaving behind a void that feels like the end of an era. From Sicily to Sanremo, from Settevoci to Domenica In, he hosted thirteen festivals and dozens of programs that have become part of the collective imagination : his voice and his grace have accompanied Italians for over sixty years, becoming the soundtrack of family Sundays and great variety shows.
Born in Militello in Val di Catania on June 7, 1936, Pippo recounted his life and career in Ecco a voi . Una storia italiana, his 2018 autobiography. Three years later, the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic sealed his cultural legacy.
President Sergio Mattarella wanted to remember "the professionalism, culture, courtesy, and extraordinary ability to interpret the tastes and expectations of Italian television viewers."
For Renato Schifani, President of the Sicilian Region , "Pippo Baudo's passing marks the end of an era in Italian television. With his talent, elegance, and professionalism, he captivated entire generations of viewers, becoming an absolute benchmark for entertainment and popular culture. Sicily has lost one of its illustrious sons, who never forgot his roots and proudly carried the name of our island throughout Italy."
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also paid tribute to him: "Pippo Baudo, one of the greatest protagonists in the history of Italian television, has left us at the age of 89. His face and voice have accompanied entire generations, providing emotions, smiles, and unforgettable moments. Thank you for everything."
The chorus of the music, film, and television worlds is unanimous. Gianni Morandi wrote: "I am deeply saddened. Pippo Baudo has passed away. He kept all Italians company for 60 years and more. A maestro, a musician, a host, an extraordinary organizer of shows like the Sanremo Music Festival, Canzonissima, Fantastico... I, personally, owe him a lot. He helped me overcome my period of crisis in the early 1980s with his precious advice and by inviting me to his shows. Thank you, Pippo, for what you did for me and for your friendship. I will always love you."
Al Bano didn't mince his words: "He was everything to me. I have so many personal memories with him, I could say countless. I'm not dwelling on the Sanremo I won, but on my first. Beautiful and indelible memories. Pippo was simply everything to me, and I can never thank him enough for what he did."
And then there's Luciana Littizzetto, who called him "a wonderful activator of lightness. I kiss you again, Pippo, kind man. You opened up new avenues, you were generous, attentive, bold, and prudent. Thank you."
For Alessandro Gassmann, "With Pippo Baudo, the last presenter of that era, where grace and culture existed, has passed away. He passed through my family, and I think he will be remembered as an honest and humane person. Goodbye, Pippo."
From music to intimate memories : Jalisse emphasized the fundamental role he played in their career. "Thank you, Pippo, you were the first to believe in Jalisse in November 1995 when you chose us and the song Vivo at Sanremo Giovani. You believed in us so much that you advised us to finish the song with Alessandra's final high note, an absolute gem that only appears on TV and not on the album."
Sabrina Ferilli relied on a few clear words: "I owe a lot to this man. Thank you."
And then Giorgia, who had a very close relationship with Baudo: "Pippo, how can I write now to say goodbye, to express everything you were and will continue to be in my memory and heart? Photos and words won't be enough. I'm comforted by the fact that we shared these things right up until the end, with all the love we could muster. You created us; we're all sad today. To Tiziana, to your family, and to Dina, a big hug."
Among the most intense memories is that of Katia Ricciarelli, his partner of eighteen years and wife from 1986 to 2004. "I'm deeply shocked by this news. We no longer saw each other, but you can't forget 18 years together. I didn't believe it was true, given the many false rumors about his death. Regardless of what happened between us and how it ended, we married for love. And I've always said that Pippo was number one and an extraordinary person from a professional standpoint."
A complex, yet ever-present love: "Beyond our history, some things can be overcome, so much so that when we saw each other in Verona after a long time of not speaking, we hugged as if nothing had ever happened. This is what it means to be intelligent people. Let's say that today marks the end of another chapter in my life. And when the time comes, I hope to meet up with Pippo again for a laugh."
Baudo himself, long ago, said that "television without an audience doesn't exist." Today, that could be reversed: Italy without Pippo Baudo is hard to imagine. The memories, the applause, the songs he discovered and launched, the artists who owe their careers to him: it all comes together in one great collective farewell.
A king is gone, but his Sundays, his evenings, his wit, his grace remain. And the image of a man who made Italian television a great popular spectacle remains.
(Unioneonline/Fr. Me.)