He was the Turin correspondent for the cult Rai TV program. Carlo Nesti: “A consummate professional.”

Cesare Castellotti, popular face of Rai TV, has passed away. He died today in Turin at the age of 86. He was one of Paolo Valenti’s “boys,” the captain of the 90° minuto team. The TV program, the “sister” of Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto, was launched in 1970. Castellotti from Turin, Marcello Giannini from Florence, Giorgio Bubba from Genoa, Luigi Necco from Naples, Tonino Carino from Ascoli, Gianni Vasino from Milan, and Ferruccio Gard from Verona.
Even today, many young people from that time refer to them as if they were the line-up of a team. Novantesimo was the most popular sports program. At 6:15 p.m. every Sunday, it attracted 10 million viewers. If it had such a large audience, as critic Aldo Grasso pointed out, it was precisely because it followed a strict script.
Cesare Castellotti from Turin was always frozen, playing the part of the imperturbable reporter. One year with a mustache, one year without. Tall, solid, with a baritone voice, he never lost his composure. He wore flashy checkered jackets, all buttons buttoned, and ties that were not always matching. He would say, “But I don’t think I was ever excessive. Apart from a few jackets, one in particular, made of velvet, with brown and yellow checks, which was a gift from the great tailor Litrico. He told me I was a showman. He explained that I needed something that would get me noticed.“

Toro heart—  Castellotti was very popular with his boss Valenti, who said: ”Cesare is perfect in the broadcasts.” Director Villy De Luca seemed perplexed: “He seems cold to me.” But Valenti had no doubts: “Listen to me, Castellotti is detached, and that is his great strength. He will never let on who he supports. He is not only the voice of Turin, but also a popular icon.” But who did Castellotti support? A few years ago, he revealed: “I’m from Pinerolo, I’ve never been a real fan, but my family’s heart was Granata.”

Teocoli’s imitation—  Carlo Nesti, another historic Turin journalist from Rai, remembers him this way: “Cesare was my boss for almost twenty years. A great and noble professional. At Rai in Turin, he was first editorial secretary and then head of the sports department, which consisted of Beppe Barletti, Franco Costa, Federico Calcagno, and me. He became Gianduia Vettorello in Teo Teocoli’s hilarious imitation on Mai dire gol. He loved golf, his true passion, more than soccer. And he adored Brazil, his promised land.”