Giancarlo Magalli returns to Cagliari: the occasion is the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented on Sunday (at 5 pm) at the Thotel on Via dei Giudicati, one year after the release of "Fantastici. Memories, Friendships, Encounters." The book, with a preface by Pippo Baudo, spans decades of television: from Alberto Sordi to Raffaella Carrà, from Corrado to Vianello, all the way to Fabrizio Frizzi. The Rai host will be on stage with Cagliari-born actor and impersonator Demo Mura.
His connection with the island has deep origins.
My grandparents on my mother's side are Sardinian, although they later lived in Rome: Caterina Lissia was from Calangianus and Angelo Angiolino from Maddalena. My grandfather was an engineer and also designed the Palau–Porto Torres railway. I also had long-lived great-grandparents: one of them had met Garibaldi. Sardinia is a second homeland.
Recovering after some recent ailments, you're now back in full swing. How are you?
My health has been troubled, but I'm finally back in action. Both as a man and as an artist, I'm feeling better. I'm showing up without hesitation. The rest my illness forced me to take has done me good: I've regained my attention and care, even when I'm out and about. I'm starting to do regular guest appearances again, like on "I fatti vostri." At "Volta buona," I'm doing the same. I work when I can and when I love to, without stress.
Sixty years of television are an important part of the country's history. How does it feel to think back to all the generations who watched your programs?
"I'm happy about that. They've seen me do so many things. Mothers and grandmothers knew me from "Pronto Raffaella." Then others from the dubbing of Disney's "Hercules." Those in their forties remember it well. Every generation has its own memories: from shows to movies, all the way to "The Pills."
"Fantastici" collects memories and encounters. What inspired you to write it?
Mondadori put "Magalli" in large print on the cover, but it's not an autobiography. These are stories and memories of people I worked with: Corrado, Baudo, Vianello, Mondaini, Sordi, Tognazzi, Manfredi. They weren't just colleagues, they were friends. My first meeting with Pippo was in '72, when I was an entertainer in the villages. I booked artists and shows. Then I started working as a presenter and we became colleagues. Then we worked together, and our friendship was strong and unforgettable.
