Gabibbo
Encyclopedia
Gabibbo is an Italian
mascot
for the Mediaset
-controlled channel Canale 5
, created in 1990 by Antonio Ricci and operated by Gero Caldarelli. Gabibbo's main role has been in the programs Paperissima and Striscia la notizia
, but he has appeared in several other Canale 5 programs. He is normally a jovial character known for his ability to make wisecrack
s and his overall humble demeanor. He speaks Italian with a sort of a fake Genoese
accent, occasionally using Italianized Genoese words. In fact the word Gabibbo or Gabibbu ɡaˈbibbu belongs to the Genoese language
and it is used to indicate, in an ironic-depreciative way, an immigrant from southern or even central Italy (it probably originates from the Arab epithet habib
).
brought by Western Kentucky University
who claim that Gabibbo is an exact copy of their mascot, Big Red
. Western Kentucky claims it has a case because in an interview with Novella 2000, Ricci states that he created Gabibbo after seeing Western Kentucky's mascot, further adding that Gabibbo is in fact, "(an imported) Big Red".
Ricci claims he was joking in that interview, saying that he made the remark after Novella pointed out the similarities between Big Red and Gabibbo. He goes on to say that there are "100 different mascots who look like Gabibbo", not just Big Red, adding that the Sesame Street
mascots Cookie Monster
and Elmo
also look like Gabibbo. It should be noted, however, that Gabibbo's head is almost an exact copy of Big Red's (a fact repeated by The New York Times
' business
section, who quip that Gabibbo is simply a "better dressed" version of Big Red
) and that Big Red debuted in 1979, almost eleven years prior to Gabibbo.
On 12 December 2007 Gabibbo and Antonio Ricci were found to be innocent. News
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
for the Mediaset
Mediaset
Mediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
-controlled channel Canale 5
Canale 5
Canale 5 is an Italian private television network of Mediaset, the media branch of Fininvest. Canale 5 was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980, based on a local channel, TeleMilano 58, founded in 1978....
, created in 1990 by Antonio Ricci and operated by Gero Caldarelli. Gabibbo's main role has been in the programs Paperissima and Striscia la notizia
Striscia la notizia
Striscia la notizia is an Italian television program on the Mediaset-controlled Canale 5. Its name in Italian translates as "the news slithers", a probable parody of the slighting italian journalist, submitted to politicians and overwhelmed with shame...
, but he has appeared in several other Canale 5 programs. He is normally a jovial character known for his ability to make wisecrack
Wisecrack
Wisecrack is a 2005 stand-up comedy series from the LGBT television network Logo. The show was taped at the West Hollywood, California gay club The Abbey...
s and his overall humble demeanor. He speaks Italian with a sort of a fake Genoese
Genoese dialect
Genoese is a dialect of the Ligurian language, the one spoken in Genoa .Ligurian is listed by Ethnologue as a language in its own right, of the Romance branch, and not to be confused with the ancient Ligurian language...
accent, occasionally using Italianized Genoese words. In fact the word Gabibbo or Gabibbu ɡaˈbibbu belongs to the Genoese language
Genoese dialect
Genoese is a dialect of the Ligurian language, the one spoken in Genoa .Ligurian is listed by Ethnologue as a language in its own right, of the Romance branch, and not to be confused with the ancient Ligurian language...
and it is used to indicate, in an ironic-depreciative way, an immigrant from southern or even central Italy (it probably originates from the Arab epithet habib
Habib
Habib is an Arabic male name with the meaning "beloved", or "darling", it also appears as a surname. The name is popular in the Middle East, Africa, and France.-Given name:* Habib Beye , French-Senegalese footballer...
).
Controversy
Gabibbo has also earned recent negative press surrounding a lawsuitLawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
brought by Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
who claim that Gabibbo is an exact copy of their mascot, Big Red
Big Red (Western Kentucky University)
Big Red is the name given to Western Kentucky University's mascot, a red, furry blob created by WKU student Ralph Carey in 1979. Big Red is meant to symbolize the spirit of WKU students and alumni as well as the sports teams' nickname, the "Hilltoppers," a name chosen because the school's campus...
. Western Kentucky claims it has a case because in an interview with Novella 2000, Ricci states that he created Gabibbo after seeing Western Kentucky's mascot, further adding that Gabibbo is in fact, "(an imported) Big Red".
Ricci claims he was joking in that interview, saying that he made the remark after Novella pointed out the similarities between Big Red and Gabibbo. He goes on to say that there are "100 different mascots who look like Gabibbo", not just Big Red, adding that the Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
mascots Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster is a Muppet on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" . He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples,...
and Elmo
Elmo
Elmo is a Muppet character on the children's television show Sesame Street. He is a furry red monster and currently hosts the last full 15 minute segment on Sesame Street, Elmo's World, which is aimed at toddlers. His puppeteer, Kevin Clash, uses falsetto to produce his voice...
also look like Gabibbo. It should be noted, however, that Gabibbo's head is almost an exact copy of Big Red's (a fact repeated by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
section, who quip that Gabibbo is simply a "better dressed" version of Big Red
Big Red (Western Kentucky University)
Big Red is the name given to Western Kentucky University's mascot, a red, furry blob created by WKU student Ralph Carey in 1979. Big Red is meant to symbolize the spirit of WKU students and alumni as well as the sports teams' nickname, the "Hilltoppers," a name chosen because the school's campus...
) and that Big Red debuted in 1979, almost eleven years prior to Gabibbo.
On 12 December 2007 Gabibbo and Antonio Ricci were found to be innocent. News