Interview with Gene Gnocchi

“How my passion for making people laugh was born”

by Alessio Conforti

He belongs to old-school comedy but still today he entertains us with his unmistakable style. Gene Gnocchi, comedian, cabaret artist and presenter, talks about himself and his career to Jesolo Journal.

Gene, where does your passion for comedy come from?

From my family, which has always been very happy. My father used to be pleasantly crazy: in spite of six children and a wife, he bought an Alfa Romeo Duetto. This says it all.

So you inherited it…

I think it’s a genetic aspect. Then, over the years, I have read many humorous literary works, such as Flaiano. Later, I started writing monologues, and I realised that people had fun.

You, too, performed at the famous Zelig in Milan. What was it like then?

It was about the mid-80s. Those were great times. I remember the beginning, with Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo, Albanese, Vergassola, Mago Forest. The situation was very supportive, we were friends.

You worked with two protagonists of Italian television, such as Maurizio Costanzo and Raimondo Vianello. What do you remember about them?

Costanzo deeply trusted us: he gave us free rein. Vianello has the innate class of the greatest entertainers.

Speaking of protagonists. You also starred in a movie by Lina Wertmüller…

Lina was extremely talented. Few had the same ability to direct actors and cameras. She taught me a lot.

Tell me one thing: who was your point of reference?

From a professional point of view, I have always loved moony and surreal comedy, like Felice Andreasi, the first performances of Cochi and Renato, Paolo Villaggio, Enzo Jannacci and Jango Edwards.

You participated in many sports broadcasts, and you still write articles for the “Rompipallone” column in Gazzetta dello Sport. Football is a recurrent topic in your life…

Football is my life. I also played at good levels. They may say that I can’t sing, I’m not funny and I can’t present. But they can’t say that I don’t know how to play football and that I don’t understand it…

Are you ready to sign up with some sports club?

I signed with Parma, and I was about to play in Serie A…

How would you judge Italian football if you were asked to make a medical diagnosis?

I would say that the situation is not good, both from an economic and from a qualitative point of view. Then, if you watch the matches in Spain, Germany, England and France, you’ll see that it’s another world. However, in Italy, there are some exceptions, like Napoli.

You have presented many TV variety shows. How have they changed over the years?

They’ve changed very much. I presented “Quelli che il calcio” with Simona Ventura for eight years: initially, it focused entirely on football matches. Now it has become a variety show, also as a result of the fragmented schedule. Television has changed, because it all revolves around reality shows and social media reactions. There is little room for comedy in the strict sense.

What about satire?

It, too, has changed due to political correctness and media pillory on social networks. Now, before telling a joke, you must consider if you are hurting certain sensibilities.