From Uvil ZAJMI
Memorie.al / This is the rare story of Merkur Leka, the first Albanian to compete in one of the most prominent television shows of the time, on “Mediaset’s” Channel 5″, “La ruota della Fortuna”, which was directed by Maik Bonxhorno (Mike Bongiorno), one of the most famous moderators, presenters, a screen legend, not only in Italy and the world, but very well known in Albania as well. In an emotional confession today after 25 years, Leka returns to that participation.
Mercury tells us; from the idea, the request for competition and the surprise when a foreigner, a charming, intelligent boy from Albania, surprised the man of the famous “Alegria, Alegria”, with his answers. From the conversations behind the scenes with Bonxhorno, the knowledge he had about Albania, starting from his surname as ‘Mirdita’, which gained fame in the show “Rischia Tutto”, half a century ago, to Bashkim Kruja, a former high school friend in Italy .
“It was luck because he doesn’t shoot you often, even everyone had a dream to meet him and stay with the television personality of three generations, over 60 years on the screen, more than anyone else in the television world. Bonxorno was so popular and beloved. It was a surprise for me, think I was only 31 years old, not even two years in Italy, I still have the competition, the emotions, everything alive”, says Leka, being the first foreign winner, in “La ruota della fortuna”.
“A double challenge, not simply due to luck, but also a matter of knowledge and moreover in a foreign language, was not easy”, says Leka, today an administrator in a successful enterprise in the food industry in Tirana.
Leka, when you were in front of Bonxorno, what did you know about his life?
Michael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno, that was his full name and I learned this during my stay with him. With an American father and an Italian mother, he left New York as a child, he had lived deeply with great sadness, the separation of his parents. Then the arrival in Italy, the imprisonment, the passion for sports, as an athlete and the beginnings as a sports journalist. He was careful with me, because; “it reminds me of my childhood, emigration”, he told me.
In the autobiographical book, “La versione Mike”, he also talks about Albania…?!
As soon as they told him where I was from, he explained to me that he had heard about Albania from his uncle, a general during the war, who knew several countries quite well (especially Albania), about which he spoke with sympathy. Then he told me that in high school, he had known an Albanian friend, his name was Bashkim Kruja, whom he had not met again in the following years. Then I was also interested, but I could not get any information about this person.
What about Rischia Tutto?
There is talk about his famous show, “Riscchia Tutto”, since the 70s, it has been very popular in Albania. I was 9 years old, together with the tribe we watched it regularly. He also gained fame among us for his well-known expression, that; “there is a province in a country in the world that was related to his last name”.
Are you talking about the Albanian Mirdita?
When I reminded him, he told me that in one of the programs of “Riscchia Tutto”, he addressed a competitor, with a question in the field of geography, saying that; “in which country of the world is there a province that has my last name as its name”?
And what was the response?
The competitor in question was Masimo Inardi, a doctor, famous for the accuracy of his answers, many times winner, exceptional connoisseur of music. After thinking, he said that this area is called Mirdita and it is in Albania. I had the answer on paper, sure he couldn’t find it, and I was surprised by his answer, Mike showed me.
Back to “La ruota …”?
Bonxorno informed me that it was an American show, “The Wheel of Fortune”, that moderates in Italy had experimented with his proposal, his idea and Berlusconi’s support. He managed it, immediately after starting work at “Mediaset”. In the years ’92, ’93, ’94 and ’95, it was rated as the best for guinea pigs. Later, I read that it was the longest-running television show in Italy for quiches, from 1989, until 2003, when it closed, over three thousand transmissions, over 8 million viewers every evening, from 19:00- 20:00.
How much did you know about guinea pigs?
I grew up with “Rai’s” songs, on radio and television, as the Italian was important to us. Then the love for foreign languages from my father, a linguist and translator known in Albania, was an ever greater incentive and gave us a lot of knowledge.
An Albanian in “La ruota…”, have you ever thought about it, how did the idea come about?
Never before. Usually at home, in Bologna, every evening when I came home from work I watched “La ruota…”, since it started at 7:00. I found that a good part of the phrases, I found without the complete answer yet. This enticed me, tempted me to compete too.
And your request comes?
When Mike usually closed it, he invited the admirers to participate in “La ruiota…”. A request accompanied by a photo was enough. I sat down, wrote it and started editing, certainly not very seriously. After two months, I received the answer that I should appear at “Mediaset”, in “Cologno Monzese”, Milan, for selection.
And you’re in front of the jury?
It was October 1994. There was a notary, the one from the show, asking you questions about what information, knowledge you have in general, just to see your world. I was with 4-5 other young people. They didn’t tell you if you won or not. Only when I returned from Christmas, which I spent in Tirana, at home I find an envelope and the invitation to participate in the show.
The competition is coming, you are lucky…!
It was January, I was sleeping with my brother in Como and going to Milan. I was lucky that on the first day of the competition, I didn’t meet the greatest champion of “La Ruota..”, as it was a criterion, that after you had won five times, you were out of the competition. That day I had two girls by my side, students of Italian and Spanish. The time to answer after spinning the wheel and looking for the letter was only 5 seconds. I competed in three shows, on February 27, 28 and March 1, 1995.
The introduction, the first words, come to mind?
Approximately, when Bonxorno addressed the viewers with the words: “Gentlemen, as a competitor we have a charming foreign boy, he knows our Italian language, our expressions quite well. It is so true, that he manages to give results to almost all the phrases we have presented to him. A young man to be appreciated”.
Great emotion…?
A lot, especially when he said: “It’s called Merkur, a special name, never heard. Merkur Leka, where do you come from? I come from Tirana, Albania, and I have been in Italy for two years, where I also work. “Wednesday, a name of the gods,” I say.
And how do I proceed?
I remember that I expressed that; “I am interested in this fact, because there are many Albanians, perhaps millions, who have come to Italy, crossing the Adriatic Sea. How did you come?” I was a little more privileged, since I came with a worksheet, I answer.
At first I found myself reserved with those competitors and decided to at least make a good figure. I was surprised when Mike opened the telequiz as he said, “Then let’s start the race, it’s you Mercury.” After turning the wheel, first I chose the letter “S” like Savona, I reinforced it, then I continued with “L”, like Livorno, “N”, like Napoli, I had to find the complete connection of the expression; “Nell Tibet, villaggi di sherpa e mandrie di yak”.
Italians don’t have the letter “Sh”, which helped me and it was about the word “Sherpa”. After answering correctly, I was relieved and thought I might even win.
Any other special details?
Before the show there was a person, his name was Damiano, I don’t remember his last name. His job was to electrify the studio by showing Barsoleta, a character who created a happy, hot atmosphere before the program started. While Bonjorno used one as a small symbolic hammer, it was part of the show, to hit the contestant when he made a mistake, an action that was accompanied by the audience, with one; “ay, ay”, Bonxhorno’s well-known expression.
It is said that Bonxhorno, do I also remember your mother?!
He was unpredictable. In an instant, to change my emotional state, he says: “Wednesday, why don’t you say hello to your mother in Tirana”? “Yes,” I say with pleasure, “Mama, I greet you.” “What is this expression” – he asked me, because he himself had difficulties when pronouncing it? “‘Salute’ means ‘greeting'”, I explained, after which there was applause in the studio.
Remember one of the questions?
I remember a few, but I would single out; “Sono sette” (There are seven). “A wise expression, which you should also have in Albania”, Bonxhorno tells me. It was about the seven nights, the seven virtues, the seven colors and the seven wonders of the world.
And what has left you with a bitter taste?
All three competitors were left by one letter. It was my turn. A difficult long expression and I read it “dermatoglyph”, but mispronounced it, as it should; “dermatolgyf”. Only for that mistake, I did not win 7 million lire. The competitor behind me found it.
What about the one with Edith Piaf?
There was a phrase, with “voice or throat like a whistle”, that I couldn’t find.
The letter “A”, then “T”?
Every time I asked for the letter “A”, Bonxhorno intervened, “A, like Albania” – he clarified. Likewise for the letter “T”, he confirmed “T as Tirana”. He accompanied me and I had a strange feeling about these two letters, “A” and “T”, that I was constantly looking for, especially Tirana.
What were the accompanying “valets” of the show?
When I competed, it was Paola Barale, with whom Bonxhorno had been working for over 7 years, from 1989. After her, Antonela Elia, Mirian Trevisa were also companions at “La Rutoa…”, all beautiful, elegant, who they became famous afterwards. They were worn by Mike’s wife.
Did you tell me that you asked Barale for a kiss?
On the third day of the competition, at the end of the show, when she offered me a gift, I asked her to kiss her. Of course he did not refuse, as it was a normal ritual. But Bonxhorno, without hesitation, asks me: “But in Albania, would you kiss a girl like that?” Would there be jealousy? Do you have beautiful girls, more blondes or brunettes? “The brunettes dominate, of course there are also blondes,” I answered.
Bonjorno defines you as a champion of “La Ruota….”?
That’s how he rated me. He even added that; “As a young champion, I would certainly send this trophy to his Albania.” Then he asked me where I lived, was I engaged or not? I live, work and am free in Bologna, I tell him humorously.
Were you the first Albanian in such an Italian television competition?
It can too. The competition in “La ruota della fortuna” has been and remains special for me, not only as the first foreigner to win, of course the moments of excitement, but also the very friendly conversations behind the scenes with Bonxhorno, the staff, etc. Mike was a man of great culture, knowledgeable in many fields, very humane, every information he received he archived in his memory.
Did they follow you in the family?
Since the show was recorded a month before, I informed the family members, who were engaged in Tirana, led by the older brother, of course also the parents. It was broadcast at the end of February, in three days. But even in Italy, I was followed by friends, colleagues and relatives. I communicated with all of them after the end of the show.
How much did you win?
Of course, it was public. I won 10,800,000 lire. I remember that Bonxorno asked me, what is the name of the Albanian currency. “Lek”, I say. The dog is close to your last name, he tells me. Then continuing, he added: “What will you do with the money earned”?
Do you have any hidden pawns?
When I watched them later, the day the show was broadcast on TV, I was upset, because for mistakes, small inaccuracies in my answers, I lost about 30 million lire.
“La Ruota…” remains a beautiful adventure?
Of course, that’s how Bonxorno ended my competition, when he said that; “This beautiful adventure of our friend Mercury ends here.” From that show, I have saved some photos, a few film moments and three gold coins that they gave, one of which I gave to my granddaughter, Eda, and another to the family where I lived in Bologna. I exchanged the others for lire.
There is a curiosity: Like you in “La ruota…”, also Mateo Renci?
Even the former Italian Prime Minister, Mateo Renci, was a participant, even a winner in “La ruota..”, competing a year before me, in January 1994, when he was 19 years old and wanted to become a football referee. Unlike me, he earned 48 million lire.
Did you later meet the man of the famous “Alegria, Alegria?”
No never. Those three shows on “La ruota della fortuna” were the first and last with Mike Bonxorno. Memorie.al
