S1E235: Rebroadcast - Inside the Godfather: Gianni Russo’s Untold Stories from The Middle Ground

The Hollywood Godfather Podcast

GRI Entertainment

Society & Culture, Film Interviews, True Crime, Tv & Film

4.7 • 811 Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today’s episode of Middle Ground Radio, Tom and Russell Letizia sit down with Gianni Russo, the man the world knows as Carlo Rizzi from The Godfather. Russo opens up about life before Hollywood, surviving polio, his unexpected path to landing a role in one of the greatest films of all time, and the behind-the-scenes tensions that made his scenes unforgettable. Beyond The Godfather, he shares personal stories of Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Las Vegas nightlife, and his remarkable journey from street kid to actor, singer, author, and entrepreneur. This is Gianni Russo like you’ve never heard him before — raw, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	From the heart of Las Vegas, this is the middle ground.
0:06.3	Your destination for balanced conversations, real issues, and common sense solutions.
0:11.7	Hosted by Tom Letitia, the middle ground starts now.
0:17.9	Good morning, Las Vegas, and a happy Monday morning to you wherever you may be.
0:25.4	It's a beautiful day in Las Vegas, and we've got a great show for you today.
0:32.3	Yes, we certainly do.
0:34.2	We welcome back a true Hollywood original Gianni Russo, best known, to the world as Carlo Rizzi
0:43.6	in The Godfather. Gianni's story goes far beyond the screen from his early life in Little
0:51.2	Italy to his fascinating career as an actor, nightclub owner, singer,
0:57.1	and author, he's lived a life that reads like a movie script. He's rubbed shoulders with
1:04.6	legends, witnessed history up close, and built a reputation as a storyteller who pulls no punches.
1:13.5	We're excited to dive back in with Gianni and explore some of the new corners of his remarkable
1:21.1	journey. Good morning, Gianni Russo.
1:24.7	Good morning, my man. Thank you for having to be back. I love it.
1:28.0	Oh, it's so good to have you.
1:29.7	And you've got such colorful stories.
1:32.4	I just can't stop thinking of them.
1:34.3	Every time we've had you on the show once before, and it's just a great moment to be able to talk to a Hollywood legend and of course a Las Vegas legend as well.
1:46.1	Russell Letitia, you're here with us today as you are every day.
1:50.0	Why don't you kick it off with a question for Gianni Russo?
1:53.5	Good morning, Gianni, and welcome back.
1:56.4	Thank you for having me again.
	...

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