Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Amadeus has found a way to bring previous hosts to Sanremo Giovani - as the professional jury. Among them legendary talent scout Pippo Baudo who has discovered more new talent than anyone in Italy during the 20 festivals he has hosted and acted as the artistic director.  He has discovered among others Al Bano, Eros Ramazzotti, Lorella Cuccarini, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli, Giorgia, Michelle Hunziker, Gianluca Grignani, Gigi D'Alessio and Anna Tatangelo and therefor there's a saying  "L'ho inventato io...." (I have invented him/her!) that refers to his talent. He gets company from Carlo Conti who also did a great job with his 3 consecutive festivals, Paolo Bonolis who would like to make Sanremo more Eurovisionlike and bring it out of tiny Teatro Ariston, Piero Chiambretti and Antonella Clerici, the godmother of Il Volo. So these five will decide who will get the tickets to the festival next February on December 19 in a show hosted by ever youthful Marco ...

The 70th Sanremo festival will take place in Teatro Ariston on February 4-8, 2020. That is all that is known from the meeting between RAI and the city of Sanremo officials earlier this month. Since Claudio Baglioni stepped down as the artistic director and the host of the past two very succesful editions no one seems to know who will be given this job, or will there be separate artistic director and host. Many names have been rumored, denied and dismissed as the possible artistic director from the return of Carlo Conti to Mina to Andrea Bocelli and lately Lucio Presta, while for the hosting job Amadeus and Alessandro Cattalan have been the most gossiped ones but Baglioni could also be an unlikely but possible last minute call to act as both again, or the eternal other choices Fabio Fazio or Paolo Bonolis. Bonolis however has often stated he would do it once Sanremo moves out of the tiny theater and he could make it a big scale show like Eurovision in some arena. Meanwhile Sanremo ...

The gossip mill of the possible host for the next Sanremo festival is summer's favorite topic and it's heating up ahead of the RAI's decision and announcement. After two years with Fabio Fazio and three with highly succesful Carlo Conti RAI needs something special to secure the newfound popularity of the festival.  In past days veteran hosts Fiorello and Amadeus have been named, as well as Fiorello's actor brother Beppe . Fazio was mentioned earlier but it seems now his new contract, even with the option for Sanremo included, will be just too busy for the 2018 edition. Paolo Bonolis has said apparently yes, but with conditons that won't be doable for the 2018 (and his schedule with the new show Music is also very tight): new venue, new modernized project altogether. MIKA has been in the air since the last notes of Occidentali's Karma echoed away in Teatro Ariston this spring, and despite him commenting he would never do it, his name is insistent: w...

Before we talk more about Francesco Gabbani's victory let's have a final look on the audience and shares. And it's a real boom: the fianl was watched in average by 12.022.000 viewers or 58,45 share, the second best ever! The one doing better is 2009 with Polo Bonolis and Luca laurenti hosting. The festival's five day average is 50,7% (Conti was hoping for a 45% to be happy), the best share since 2005, with an average of 10.848.000 viewers per night, with over 40 milion contacts.  Conti has also done better every year: 48,6% in 2015, 49,6% in 2016 and now 50,7% in 2017. Sadly he's not returning for 2018.... And to stop the bad mouthing and false rumours about his salary he donated his paycheck (after taxes) 100.000 euro to the earthquake victims. it's worth remembering also Maria De Filippi was borrowed from the enemy television empire Mediaset for free.

Paolo Bonolis is cooking up in a hurry the next Sanremo festival. His eternal TV partner Luca Laurenti will be there, too, which is good news. Last year's newcomer's winner Sonohra has said they will not participate, which is sad news. However, it seems almost sure that Real Rock will enter Teatro Ariston in the form of Afterhours ! Also Patty Pravo seems to be making yet another visit and so are Matia Bazar (who is their singer these days??). Lost , an Italian imitation of Tokyo Hotel is also given almost a sure thing, as well as reality show Amici winner Marco Carta (and many his fellow competitors are trying to make it throught to Proposte category!). Also 2006 winner Giuseppe Povia seems like returning as well as Pupo. Many names also in the hostess list (there should be a different hostess every night next to Bonolis): Wendy Windham, Angelina Jolie, Monica Bellucci, Carla Bruni Sarkozy and Luciana Littizzetto. I say: drop everybody and have La Littizzetto every night...

The city of Sanremo and RAI have negotiated another 3 years contract, so the festival of Italian song, better known simply as Sanremo will stay in the city and on RAIUNO. The 59th edition will be hosted by Paolo Bonolis who did the job already in 2005. He's one of the most popular Italian media persons, host and creator of many very succesful shows and game shows. Ironic, with a witty sense of humour he will guide us through the usual 5 nights and endless hours of bla bla bla with a couple of dozen songs in between. He's rumoured to get 1.000.000 euros for the job and RAI's budget is 9 million euros. Last year's winner was Gió di Tonno & Lola Ponce with Gianna Nannini penned Colpo di fulmine , that didn't set the charts or airways on fire. The new comers final was won by Sonohra, who have gone a long way, even across the borders.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rw9JR5bjnU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z67Ouk71LM8