The Teatro delle Vittorie, a venue that frequently witnessed his performances, will host the public viewing for Pippo Baudo, allowing fans to bid a final farewell to the beloved entertainer after his extraordinary sixty-year career. This tribute, organized by RAI leadership in agreement with his family, sets the viewing hours: Monday, August 18th, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (potentially extended to accommodate those in line), and Tuesday, August 19th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
RAI headquarters (Viale Mazzini) also announced the funeral will be held in Baudo’s cherished hometown of Militello Val di Catania on August 20th at 4:00 PM in the Church of Santa Maria della Stella.
The phrase “I invented it,” originally coined by Baudo himself, became a recurring tribute following his passing, echoing his immense influence. Baudo, who once quipped about failed acting ambitions (“I wanted to be an actor but I was hopeless, I lost the character”), quickly found his calling in the nascent medium of television. His versatility, character, and professionalism made him not only a creator of shows but also an unparalleled talent scout.
Comedian Beppe Grillo, discovered by Baudo in a 1970s Milan fringe theatre, affectionately joked: “Dear Pippo, now that you’re appearing before the Supreme Being, try not to say ‘I discovered him’.” Carlo Conti stated that with ‘Superpippo’s’ death, “a piece of history goes, but with the awareness that everything he taught us remains, as do all the talents, singers, and comedians he discovered.”
Numerous stars expressed gratitude for his mentorship, including Giorgia, Lorella Cuccarini, Simona Ventura, and Alba Parietti. Claudio Baglioni declared, “He discovered all of us.” Sabrina Ferilli emphasized his extraordinary impact: “We professionals in entertainment always owe a debt to those who give us great opportunities… But we mustn’t forget, indeed we must honor, those who call you when you’re nobody, part of an anonymous world. Baudo did that for me at Sanremo… He took me when I was nobody and gave me the chance to tread the stage – not just any stage, but Sanremo when it drew 30-40 million viewers. For me, Pippo has an extraordinary merit.”
Roberto Benigni praised Baudo for creating “prodigious moments of television spectacle, of wild joy and irrepressible happiness. Brilliant. A great professional. Thank you, dear Pippo.” Orietta Berti called him “A true pioneer and inventor of today’s TV,” recalling collaborations from the 1960s onwards.
Baudo’s musical passion spanned pop to opera. Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, propelled to fame by him on “Fantastico” in 1988, stated: “We artists and all of Italy owe him our deepest gratitude!”
Colleagues highlighted Baudo’s belief that a host’s true gift was intelligence and his remarkable ability to reinvent himself. “Having success isn’t easy but it can happen; maintaining it is the hard part,” he often said. Claudio Baglioni described him as “attentive, curious, passionate, hardworking, versatile, witty, cultured, meticulous. He was many things, far more than the many things he did.” Alba Parietti called him a “Master of all: tough, demanding, but capable of giving enormous opportunities.”
Maria De Filippi endorsed Enrico Mentana’s tribute placing Baudo among television’s giants: “Pippo Baudo with Mike [Bongiorno], Mina, Corrado, and Enzo Tortora – it’s easy today to say ‘a TV that’s gone’. For us who, first as viewers, knew and appreciated those giants of an era that has ended, but is unsurpassed, a void that fills with memories.” Baudo himself had carried Mike Bongiorno’s coffin, a gesture now echoed by many paying homage to Pippo.