(refiling with correct air date)(ANSA) - Rome, September 7 -
The new season opener of Ballaro' talk show may well star
Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni, sources close to the director said
Wednesday.
The sides are said to be in the process of working out a
deal for the multi-award-winning actor, comedian, screenwriter
and director to appear in an interview format at the heart of
the one and a half hour program.
If confirmed, this would be a coup for new host Massimo
Giannini, who replaces Giovanni Floris on the long-running
weekly talk show that has been on air on public broadcaster RAI
3 since 2002.
Floris quit after 12 years at the helm of the successful
show, "defecting" to private channel LA7, which reportedly more
than doubled his three-year RAI salary of 1.8 million euros.
Floris debuted in a new pre-evening news slot Tuesday while
Giannini makes his debut Tuesday September 16.
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