Mike Bongiorno
Encyclopedia
Michael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno (bonˈdʒorno; May 26, 1924 – September 8, 2009), known as Mike Bongiorno, was an American
-born Italian
television host. He started his career on Italian TV
in the 1950s and was considered to be the most popular host
in Italy. He was also known by the nickname il Re del Quiz (The Quiz King), and the peculiarity of starting all his shows with his trademark greeting: Allegria! (Cheers!).
, but moved to Turin
(his mother's native city), when he was young. During World War II he abandoned his studies and joined a group of Italian partisan
s. He was captured and spent seven months in the San Vittore prison in Milan
and was then deported to a German concentration camp. He was liberated before the end of the war due to a prisoners of war exchange between the United States and Germany. He returned to New York and in 1946 started work at the radio headquarters of Il progresso italo-americano (The Italian-American progress) newspaper.
on the very first day of official public TV transmissions in Italy. From 1955 to 1959 he hosted the quiz show Lascia o raddoppia?
, the Italian version of USA's The $64,000 Question. This was the first successful quiz show on Italian TV, and became one of the most famous Italian TV programs ever.
Another successful program was Campanile Sera (Bell Tower Evening, 1959–1962), in which a southern Italian town and a northern one challenged each other with questions made to representatives of the two towns who were present in the studio and practical games played by citizens situated at the same towns.
In 1963 Umberto Eco
wrote an essay entitled Fenomenologia di Mike Bongiorno in which he used advanced academic theories to shed light on Mike Bongiorno and his way of communicating. Eco held that Mike Bongiorno was so good at portraying himself as no better than average in every respect, that 100% of his audience could feel good about themselves.
Beginning in 1963, he hosted the first of eleven editions of the Sanremo Festival. Then he hosted the quiz programs Caccia al numero (Number Hunting, 1962), La Fiera dei Sogni (Dream Fair, 1962–1965) and Giochi in Famiglia (Games in Family, 1966–1969). But the greatest success came with the quiz program Rischiatutto (1970–1974), an adapted Italian version of Jeopardy!
, with 20 to 30 million watchers every Thursday night, the highest audience in the history of Italian TV. Other programs hosted by Bongiorno were the news talk show Ieri e Oggi (Yesterday and Today, 1976) and the quiz programs Scommettiamo? (Wanna Bet?, 1976–1978), inspired by horse-racing, and a remake of Lascia o raddoppia? in 1979.
He moved to Tele Milano (now Canale 5
), one of the first Italian commercial TV channels owned by Mediaset
, the media company founded by Silvio Berlusconi
, to host I sogni nel cassetto (The dreams, literally "The dreams in the drawer", 1979–1980). After a brief return to RAI with the news-game Flash (1980–1982), he continued working for Mediaset quiz programmes Bis (1981–1990), Superflash (1982–1985), Pentathlon (1985–1987), Telemike (1987–1992), Tris (1990–1991), the math game Tutti per uno (All for one, 1992) and from 1989 to 2003 La ruota della fortuna (Wheel of Fortune
).
From 1991 to 2001 he hosted Bravo, Bravissimo, a festival featuring preteen musicians, dancers and singers from all over the world. He won 24 Telegatto
, the Italian TV prize.
Until 2005 he hosted Genius on Rete 4
, an afternoon quiz show aimed at 12 to 14 year-olds. In 2006 and 2007 he hosted the prime-time quiz show Il Migliore (The Best) on Rete 4
. More recently, he was also a guest of the second episode of the Gianfranco Funari's show Apocalypse Show on Rai Uno
. On December 13, 2007, Mike Bongiorno was awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa by IULM University of Milan
. On 26 March 2009 Bongiorno signed for SKY Italia
after Mediaset decided not to renew his contract, where he planned to host a new game show on SKY Uno called RiSKYtutto (a modern edition of his popular show Rischiatutto), which had been scheduled to air in the autumn of 2009.
, while leaving Metropole Hotel in Monte Carlo
after a short holiday with his wife Daniela.
His body laid in repose for a few days at the Triennale
in Milan before a state funeral was held in the Milan Cathedral on September 12, 2009. Many Italian TV stars such as Rosario Fiorello, Pippo Baudo, Fabio Fazio, Sandra Mondaini, Alba Parietti, Paola Barale, Carlo Conti, Gerry Scotti, Marco Columbro and several other entertainers attended the service which was held by bishop
Erminio De Scalzi.
Bongiorno was buried in the family tomb, at Dagnente Cemetery of Arona; however,
on January 25, 2011, the tomb was ransacked and his body, along with the coffin, was stolen.
by Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
, the last Crown Prince
of the former Kingdom of Italy
, and Head of the House of Savoy
.
On May 26, 2004, in occasion of his 80th birthday, he was appointed as Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
by the then Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
.
in Television, Film and Multimedia production from the IULM University of Milan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Italian
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...
television host. He started his career on Italian TV
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
in the 1950s and was considered to be the most popular host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
in Italy. He was also known by the nickname il Re del Quiz (The Quiz King), and the peculiarity of starting all his shows with his trademark greeting: Allegria! (Cheers!).
Early years
Bongiorno was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but moved to Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
(his mother's native city), when he was young. During World War II he abandoned his studies and joined a group of Italian partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
s. He was captured and spent seven months in the San Vittore prison in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and was then deported to a German concentration camp. He was liberated before the end of the war due to a prisoners of war exchange between the United States and Germany. He returned to New York and in 1946 started work at the radio headquarters of Il progresso italo-americano (The Italian-American progress) newspaper.
Career
Bongiorno returned to Italy in 1953. He appeared in the program Arrivi e partenze (Arrivals and Departures) on the TV channel RAIRAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
on the very first day of official public TV transmissions in Italy. From 1955 to 1959 he hosted the quiz show Lascia o raddoppia?
Lascia o raddoppia?
Lascia o raddoppia? was a game show that aired on Italian television from 1955-1959. It was considered the Italian version of The $64,000 Question....
, the Italian version of USA's The $64,000 Question. This was the first successful quiz show on Italian TV, and became one of the most famous Italian TV programs ever.
Another successful program was Campanile Sera (Bell Tower Evening, 1959–1962), in which a southern Italian town and a northern one challenged each other with questions made to representatives of the two towns who were present in the studio and practical games played by citizens situated at the same towns.
In 1963 Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco Knight Grand Cross is an Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, best known for his novel The Name of the Rose , an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory...
wrote an essay entitled Fenomenologia di Mike Bongiorno in which he used advanced academic theories to shed light on Mike Bongiorno and his way of communicating. Eco held that Mike Bongiorno was so good at portraying himself as no better than average in every respect, that 100% of his audience could feel good about themselves.
Beginning in 1963, he hosted the first of eleven editions of the Sanremo Festival. Then he hosted the quiz programs Caccia al numero (Number Hunting, 1962), La Fiera dei Sogni (Dream Fair, 1962–1965) and Giochi in Famiglia (Games in Family, 1966–1969). But the greatest success came with the quiz program Rischiatutto (1970–1974), an adapted Italian version of Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
, with 20 to 30 million watchers every Thursday night, the highest audience in the history of Italian TV. Other programs hosted by Bongiorno were the news talk show Ieri e Oggi (Yesterday and Today, 1976) and the quiz programs Scommettiamo? (Wanna Bet?, 1976–1978), inspired by horse-racing, and a remake of Lascia o raddoppia? in 1979.
He moved to Tele Milano (now 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....
), one of the first Italian commercial TV channels owned by 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...
, the media company founded by Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, to host I sogni nel cassetto (The dreams, literally "The dreams in the drawer", 1979–1980). After a brief return to RAI with the news-game Flash (1980–1982), he continued working for Mediaset quiz programmes Bis (1981–1990), Superflash (1982–1985), Pentathlon (1985–1987), Telemike (1987–1992), Tris (1990–1991), the math game Tutti per uno (All for one, 1992) and from 1989 to 2003 La ruota della fortuna (Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
).
From 1991 to 2001 he hosted Bravo, Bravissimo, a festival featuring preteen musicians, dancers and singers from all over the world. He won 24 Telegatto
Telegatto
Telegatto is an Italian television award first given out in 1971 following the contest "Gran Premio internazionale dello Spettacolo", sponsored by the weekly magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni and aired on Canale 5...
, the Italian TV prize.
Until 2005 he hosted Genius on Rete 4
Rete 4
Rete 4 is an Italian television station belonging to the Mediaset network. It is an Italian private commercial TV channel. Rete 4's main news programme is TG4, whose editor-in-chief is Emilio Fede since 1992.-TV Series:...
, an afternoon quiz show aimed at 12 to 14 year-olds. In 2006 and 2007 he hosted the prime-time quiz show Il Migliore (The Best) on Rete 4
Rete 4
Rete 4 is an Italian television station belonging to the Mediaset network. It is an Italian private commercial TV channel. Rete 4's main news programme is TG4, whose editor-in-chief is Emilio Fede since 1992.-TV Series:...
. More recently, he was also a guest of the second episode of the Gianfranco Funari's show Apocalypse Show on Rai Uno
Rai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
. On December 13, 2007, Mike Bongiorno was awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa by IULM University of Milan
IULM University of Milan
The IULM University - Milan is a university located in Milan, Italy. It was founded in 1968 and is organized in 4 Faculties.-History and Profile:“In educational processes the important thing is to know, to know how to be, and how and what to do”....
. On 26 March 2009 Bongiorno signed for SKY Italia
Sky Italia
Sky Italia S.r.l. is an Italian digital satellite television platform owned by News Corporation launched on 1 August 2003, when the former platforms TELE+ and Stream TV merged together...
after Mediaset decided not to renew his contract, where he planned to host a new game show on SKY Uno called RiSKYtutto (a modern edition of his popular show Rischiatutto), which had been scheduled to air in the autumn of 2009.
Death
On September 8, 2009, at the age of 85, Mike Bongiorno died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, while leaving Metropole Hotel in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
after a short holiday with his wife Daniela.
His body laid in repose for a few days at the Triennale
Triennale
La Triennale di Milano is a design museum and events venue in Milan, Italy, located inside the Palace of Art building, part of Parco Sempione, the park grounds adjacent to Castello Sforzesco. It hosts exhibitions and events which highlight contemporary Italian design, urban planning, architecture,...
in Milan before a state funeral was held in the Milan Cathedral on September 12, 2009. Many Italian TV stars such as Rosario Fiorello, Pippo Baudo, Fabio Fazio, Sandra Mondaini, Alba Parietti, Paola Barale, Carlo Conti, Gerry Scotti, Marco Columbro and several other entertainers attended the service which was held by bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Erminio De Scalzi.
Bongiorno was buried in the family tomb, at Dagnente Cemetery of Arona; however,
on January 25, 2011, the tomb was ransacked and his body, along with the coffin, was stolen.
Honours
In 1996 he was made a Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
by Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, formerly Crown Prince of Italy is the only son of the Umberto II, the last King of Italy. He is commonly known in Italy as Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia...
, the last Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of the former Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
, and Head of the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
.
On May 26, 2004, in occasion of his 80th birthday, he was appointed as Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
by the then Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
.
Honorary degree
In the fall of 2007, Bongiorno received an Honorary degreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in Television, Film and Multimedia production from the IULM University of Milan
IULM University of Milan
The IULM University - Milan is a university located in Milan, Italy. It was founded in 1968 and is organized in 4 Faculties.-History and Profile:“In educational processes the important thing is to know, to know how to be, and how and what to do”....
.
Awards
- 1984 TelegattoTelegattoTelegatto is an Italian television award first given out in 1971 following the contest "Gran Premio internazionale dello Spettacolo", sponsored by the weekly magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni and aired on Canale 5...
- Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5Canale 5Canale 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.... - 1985 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5
- 1986 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5
- 1987 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game show "Pentathlon" on Canale 5
- 1988 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5
- 1989 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5
- 1990 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5
- 1991 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5
- 1992 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della FortunaLa Ruota Della FortunaLa Ruota Della Fortuna is the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune. The show has run nonstop since 1989 on Rete 4 and Canale 5, and switched from a trilon to an electronic board in 1997, like the U.S. version...
", the Italian version of Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that... - 1993 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune
- 1994 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune
- 1995 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune
- 1996 Telegatto platinum, for a life-long career (for the 50-year career in television)
- 1997 Telegatto - Best Music Program, for hosting "Festival della canzone italianaFestival della canzone italianaThe Festival della canzone italiana di Sanremo is a popular Italian song contest, held annually in the city of Sanremo, in Italy, and consisting of a competition amongst previously unreleased songs...
" - 2003 Telegatto - What's on TV, for hosting "Grand Prix International TVTelegattoTelegatto is an Italian television award first given out in 1971 following the contest "Gran Premio internazionale dello Spettacolo", sponsored by the weekly magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni and aired on Canale 5...
" - 2006 Telegatto platinum, for a life-long career
- 2008 Premio Club Santa Chiara, for a life-long career
- 2011 Premio America of the Italy-USA FoundationItaly-USA FoundationItaly–USA Foundation was established to promote the friendship between Italians and Americans plus American culture in Italy. The foundation is a non-profit organization based in Rome, Italy...
in memory