My fellow Dellaventuras of
the Internet, if you have found this page before December, 1997 (when Danny's
show was cancelled), you've already done too much.
This leitmotif which Danny Aiello often pronounced to keynote the series is
an essential definition of character: "You see, everything we are is everything we were,
and everything we were
is everything we will be.
That's the Dellaventura philosophy."
I know that you are
all eager to learn more about the Jim Richardson philosophy.
But for now . . .. And I say this with all due respect. Do yourself a favor.
Win a fight, fall in love, . . .. But whatever you do, always go home justified.
Before he became a great character actor, Danny Aiello was the bouncer
at New York City's premiere comedy club, The Improv.
Despite his tough guy image, in his movie work he clearly had mastered the lost art of "making love to the audience," often
coming off better than the film's slick but shallow Hollywood stars.
Aiello always
seemed for real.
We could almost read his mind as he considered, then acted. We didn't always have a clue what he was thinking, but sensed something was going on.
And we were ready to see his decision realized in action. It often came, swift and hard.
Aiello brings all his imaginative acting style from the movies, now expanded and improved for TV. The effect is at first low-key, then electrifying. Repeatedly.
And what does this have to do with stand-up comedy and keynote speaking?
The
over-voice narrative is one guy talking, a hero telling you his life philosophy
which tonight's show will illustrate by example,
example, example.
Coupled with many on-camera solo pieces (usually near the end of the show) from reciting T. S. Eliot to singing lounge room songs, accompanying himself on piano—all the variety-act talent that used to make great comics and speakers
can now be seen in this fine actor.
People in the business had been waiting a long time to find out what Aiello could really do. Now we know.
By the third episode of his break-out series on CBS-TV "Dellaventura,"
10/2/97, Bill Maher
had kidded the success of "Dellaventura" in passing on ABC-TV's "Politically
Incorrect" (industry insiders call the show "PI"; now
that you know this bit of trivia, step inside).
10/7/97, David Letterman on CBS-TV's "Late Show with David Letterman," devoted both a major section of his monologue and a running-gag parody to "Dellaventura." Never before has Letterman paid such early tribute to a new TV show.
By 10/8/97, Tom Snyder on CBS-TV's "Later," had also shown respect out of the chute in his opening remarks.
Before he became a great character actor, Danny Aiello was the bouncer 
In the opening credits, it's not for nothing that Aiello punches that big body bag so hard:
