Sbirulino 斯比魯利諾

Sbirulino is a clownish Italian television character played by Sandra Mondaini, based on the famous Scaramacai, in turn played by the showgirl Pinuccia Nava. The name probably derives from the Milanese word sbìrulo, which literally (both in the literal sense and in the figurative sense) means "crooked", "lopsided".

Sbirulino wears heavy makeup all over his face, a black bowler hat, a large checked grey jacket, a huge red and white checked bow in the collar, a pair of checked trousers and a pair of white gloves.

Sbirulino made his first TV appearance in an embryonic version on the evening of December 24, 1977, in the Saturday night variety show on Rete 1 Noi...No!, created and hosted by the Mondaini-Vianello duo. On that occasion, the little clown played by Mondaini, still without a name, was the protagonist of a ballet and some sketches in the company of other clowns, one of which was called Sbirulino, played by one of Sandra's two first dancers, Joel Galietti. Sbirulino's official television debut took place in the Rai show Io e la Befana, a variety show combined with the Lotteria Italia, created and hosted by the Mondaini-Vianello duo, broadcast on Sunday afternoons from October 1, 1978 to January 6, 1979 on Rete 1. The show saw Sbirulino in the role of Raimondo Vianello's friendly troublemaker as well as the protagonist of the preview theme song. During the program, musical guests were also given puppets in the form of the little clown. From March to July 1979, the character took part in the last edition of the radio show Gran varietà hosted by Gino Bramieri, in a column called Il Pesciaio, where he interviewed various artists in an ironic and amusing way, often and willingly non-existent in reality. Also in 1978, in the guise of Sbirulino, Sandra Mondaini published her first single of the same name, Sbirulino, whose eponymous song was written by Pino Calvi and Alberto Testa. Other singles followed, Spingio (1979) and Lo stellone (1981).

n the 1979-1980 season, Mondaini proposed the character in the 10-episode show Tre stanze e cucina, which aired on the first Rai channel from 25 November 1979 to 27 January 1980 within Domenica in. In 1980, the character, now much loved by children, also became the protagonist of a comic published in the weekly TV Junior and occasionally appeared as a guest in the pre-evening Sette e mezzo, hosted by Raimondo Vianello on Rete 1. In the same period, he was the testimonial for the advertising campaign for Hero jams on TV. In the 1981-1982 season, Sbirulino continued to animate Sunday afternoons on the first Rai channel, taking part in Domenica in alongside Pippo Baudo. Within the Sunday container, he was also the protagonist of the theme song for the program Fantastico Bis combined with the Lotteria Italia. In the same year, he made his film debut in the film of the same name directed by Flavio Mogherini.

In the autumn of 1982 the character reappeared alongside Tonino Micheluzzi, in the programme Il circo di Sbirulino, broadcast on the Fininvest networks for two editions: the first from 7 November to 26 December 1982 on Canale 5, the second for 13 episodes on Italia 1, starting from 8 April 1984.

In the 1987-1988 season, together with Enrica Bonaccorti, he hosted the show Ok Bimbi! (a children's version of the famous game show Ok, the price is right!), broadcast on Sunday afternoons on Canale 5 within the Sunday container La giostra. He recorded the theme song Quanto costa sognare for the program. In 1988, he starred alongside Raimondo Vianello in the advertising campaign in favor of AIRC. In the 1989-1990 and 1990-1991 seasons, he took part in the autumn Saturday night variety show Sabato al circo on Canale 5, hosted by Andrea Roncato and Gigi Sammarchi. From 1991 to 1993, Sbirulino joined the cast of Buona Domenica on Canale 5, in the two editions hosted by Marco Columbro and Lorella Cuccarini, performing some sketches and hosting telephone games for the little ones. In the 1994-1995 television season she took part in the Rete 4 container Buona giornata hosted by Patrizia Rossetti, editing a mail column dedicated to children, which turned out to be the character's last television commitment.

This is my friend Elena Facchin. This year, Elena comes to the Venice Carnevale as Sbirulino.

Elena's main peculiarity is her ability to identify with the characters she plays, to transform herself into them, making each shot a work capable of telling stories and evoking characters who have left their mark on the history of costume. This year the tribute went to the great Sandra Mondaini and her Sbirulino. 

When I asked Elena about the character of the costume, she explained the details to me.

She says, "Sbirulino was a character for children since 1978. He did many misfortunes!! like me!!" and "I really like the idea that you who don't know Sbirulino want to know him!! And immortalize him!!"

In any case, as beautiful as the photographs are, they will never be able to match the joy and emotion of experiencing Elena live.

And as usual, the portraits are just done on the busy streets of Venice and using natural lighting only...It is not an indoor photo studio, there is no artificial lighting, flash or reflectors...With my costumed friends, we just take our street portraiture to an all new level....