Antonio Ricci, the creator of Striscia la Notizia, never fails to entertain when he speaks. The television author is known for his blunt and knowledgeable remarks. He doesn’t hold back, not even when it comes to the company he has worked for years, Mediaset. Recently, there was a press conference to present the new season of the satirical news show on Canale Cinque, which will air on September 24th. The initial hosts for the show will be Alessandro Siani and Vanessa Incontrada.
Ricci commented on the revolution of sobriety and anti-trashiness that is taking place at Mediaset, a revolution that has been encouraged by the CEO, Pier Silvio Berlusconi. The author made some sharp comments, targeting not only the manager but also his partner Silvia Toffanin, Tina Cipollari, and Alfonso Signorini.
Half-jokingly, he stated:
“The cleanliness that is taking place at Mediaset is a contradiction for me coming from Pier Silvio Berlusconi. He has Silvia (Toffanin) by his side, who is elegant, beautiful, loved by her colleagues. We even had her host Striscia. But then he makes space for Tina Cipollari! There’s a correspondence about the dismissal of Tina, but it was quickly buried, even on the internet. There are also photos of Pier Silvio and Tina that Signorini has kept hidden (laughs).”
When it comes to Ricci, his words are always entertaining. He also targeted Claudio Baglioni, with whom Striscia la Notizia has been at odds for years. There is even a legal battle currently ongoing. The “father” of Striscia called the singer a “sad man” and a “half-priest”.
Ricci also talked about the summer TV controversy that led to Fabio Fazio leaving Rai to join Nove with his show Che Tempo Che Fa. On one hand, Ricci stated that given the way the state broadcaster treated Fazio, he was right to say goodbye. On the other hand, he described Fazio’s behavior after leaving Rai as an “Oscar-worthy victim performance”.
He also touched on the topic of Barbara d’Urso, inviting her to the first episode of Striscia la Notizia, but she had to decline the offer due to legal reasons regarding her contractual agreement with Mediaset. However, as of January, she will be free from any obligations to the company as her contract will expire. According to Ricci, it is then that ‘Barbarella’, as he calls her, will “spill the beans” and tell the whole story about the tumultuous break-up with the Cologno Monzese company.