November 18, 1990, the first episode of Mai dire Gol. With more plays than Pressing

November 18, 1990 is Sunday and Serie A is being played. But for Italian football it is time to discover a new situation that, until then, did not exist. Because after Pressing, hosted by Marino Bartoletti and answered by Mediaset on Domenica Sportiva, aired for the first time Never say Goal. To frame the historical period, first in the rankings was the Sampdoria of the most beautiful couple in the world, the one formed by Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli. At the end of the season the Blucerchiati, coached by Vujadin Boskov, won the Scudetto (and the following year they reached the final of the Champions Cup).

Incredibly, the ratings were even higher than Pressingin a pre pay TV era, when the goal train was expected. Aldo Grasso’s first review on The Corriere della Serait was the second episode. Observing that the format even had more listeners than Pressing. Conducting it, now as then, was Gialappa’s Band, with Giorgio Gherarducci, Marco Santin and Carlo Taranto, with three off-field voices who commented on what was happening on the pitch, but who then made fun of them thanks to the presence of several comedians who would become, over the years, usual company for spectators, considering that many names have achieved great success.

These, among others, are the comedians with whom Gialappa’s has collaborated. Teo Teocoli, Gene Gnocchi, Marco Milano, Antonio Albanese, Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo, Marina Massironi, Simona Ventura, Bebo Storti, Claudio Lippi, Paolo Rossi, Riccardo Pangallo, Corrado Guzzanti, Francesco Paolantoni, Paolo Hendel, Walter Fontana, Daniele Luttazzi , Giobbe Covatta, Sabrina Ferilli, Serena Dandini, Claudia Gerini, Alessia Marcuzzi, Ellen Hidding, Manuela Arcuri, Claudio Bisio, Fabio De Luigi, Paola Cortellesi, Maurizio Crozza, Luciana Littizzetto, Ugo Dighero, Gioele Dix, Luca and Paolo, Gabriella Germani and Gennaro & Luis or Gennaro Curcio and Luigi Rota (two elderly gentlemen) and many others.