Lino Rulli

Lino Rulli

Rulli in 2011
Born (1971-10-26) October 26, 1971
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Residence New York City
Nationality Italian American
Education Bachelor of Arts
Master of Theology
Alma mater Saint John's University
Occupation Radio host
Author
Producer
Television host
Years active 1997–present
Website linorulli.com
Signature

Angelo Gino Armondo "Lino" Rulli[1] (born October 26, 1971) is an American radio host, author, producer, and former television host.[2] He is currently the host of The Catholic Guy radio show, which is aired on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM Radio, and Lino at Large, syndicated throughout North America. He was also the executive producer and host of the Emmy Award-winning television series, Generation Cross. In addition to his radio and television work, Rulli has released two books, both of which discuss Catholicism in a comedic tone through personal anecdotes.

Early life

Rulli was born on October 26, 1971 to an Italian American family in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[2][3] His was the only Catholic family on his block growing up,[4] and his father typically only attended Mass on Christmas and Easter.[5] His mother had two goals for him growing up: to teach him to speak French and to teach him the Catholic faith.[6] His two middle names were for his two grandfathers.[7] He has a cousin who became an archbishop in 2000.[8]

His mother Gina worked as a foreign language teacher at a local high school while his father Angelo worked as a probation officer during his early life.[9] When Rulli was 11, his father joined Circus Flora where he was assistant to his father's organ grinding.[3][5] The elder Rulli made the decision to make the career change after praying about it before the Eucharist in St. Peter's Basilica.[10] The son would go on to dress up as a monkey and dance while the father played the music.[10] On one occasion, they performed at the singer Prince's birthday party.[11] The father was a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion.[12]

Rulli's father taught him about the birds and the bees in the seventh grade when he "threw a book in my general direction, and said, 'Let me know if you have any questions.'"[13]

He is a graduate of the Catholic[14] Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, Minnesota.[15][16] He "lettered" in theater all four years.[17] In an attempt to be popular, he joined the wrestling team and played for varsity, but only because there was no one else in his weight class, and he was pinned in each of his matches.[16] Rulli would often pray to become popular in high school.[18] After being confirmed in the 8th grade, he no longer saw how the church fit into his life and so he quietly left the church.[19] From adolescence on, he aspired to a career in comedy.[20]

He went on to get a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and a Master of Theology Degree from Saint John's University.[21] It was in college that he began to get serious about his faith[14] whereas before he treated mass like going to the dentist, something to be done because those in authority decreed it.[22] He received the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time since his childhood during his freshman year,[14] and then did not again until seven years later in Rome.[23]

During his time in college, Rulli began to dabble in radio. In 1991, he hosted his first program on college radio station KJNB.[24] He speaks of the forgiveness he received from his parents after being arrested twice for being in possession of alcohol while underage as a metaphor for the forgiveness of God.[25]

Rulli went on to pursue a career in television, which would eventually evolve into his current radio and print endeavors.

Career

Early

In 1996, Rulli moved to the Bahamas to teach high school religion.[26] He chose the high crime neighborhood in which he lived because there was a Benedictine monastery attached to the school, and was discerning a vocation to become a monk.[27] He lived there for a few months, and at the end of his stay asked the prior his opinion on becoming a brother. "With the assurance of someone who didn't have to think twice," the prior told him no, that he was too immature, and that at 24 there was too much for him to do in the world.[28]

Rulli moved to Rome in January 1997[29] where he lived in Trastevere with a woman from France and a woman from Germany.[30]

Television

Rulli began his television career as a reporter for WCCO-TV, then later a commentator for KMSP-TV, both stations based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.[2] Rulli then began a solo project, Generation Cross, a television show he hosted and produced from 1998–2004.[3] The show was nationally syndicated on multiple Catholic media networks, including CatholicTV.[31] Rulli won two Emmy Awards for his work as program host.[3]

Generation Cross was designed to be a "Catholic TV show people would actually watch."[32] It featured Rulli rock climbing with priests, golfing with nuns, and generally learning about the Catholic faith while having fun.[32]

After Generation Cross, Rulli co-executive produced The Last Flagraiser, a CBS documentary honoring the World War II soldiers who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima, winning multiple awards including another Emmy.[2] In 2008, Rulli co-produced the film Champions of Faith in which devout Christian baseball players are interviewed.[33] In the mid-2000s, Rulli did freelance work for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.[34]

Rulli also makes frequent appearances on news channels, often discussing Catholic current events and other religious issues. Specifically, he has been featured on various CNN and Fox News Channel shows, including Piers Morgan Live and Fox News Live respectively.[35][36]

Radio

Rulli is currently the host of The Catholic Guy, a radio show aired weekdays on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. He also hosts "Lino at Large," a radio show sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops syndicated throughout North America. A previous iteration of Lino at Large was canceled in 2006 because the stations on which it ran catered to an audience of people over 55, and his show was geared towards young adults.[37] Shortly thereafter, he was recommended as a host on the Catholic Channel on Sirius.[37]

Rulli has also made appearances on Howard Stern's Sirius XM channels (Howard 100 and Howard 101), specifically The Jay Thomas Show and Howard 100 News.[38][39] Following immediate success of The Catholic Guy, twin cities Minneapolis and Saint Paul declared September 29 to be "Lino Rulli Day" (initiated in 2010).[40]

His three greatest radio influences were the hosts of a Minneapolis morning show from when he was a child, Garrison Kellor, and especially Stern.[41]

Print

In September 2011, Rulli released his first book, Sinner: The Catholic Guy's Funny, Feeble Attempt to Be a Faithful Catholic, in which he shares the joys and the struggles of trying to follow God in everyday circumstances.[42] Sinner was promoted on a variety of media facets, including CatholicTV, Fox News Channel, and Howard 100 News.[42] Two years later, he released his second book, Saint: Why I Should Be Canonized Right Away, in which he comedically discusses how he is bound for sainthood.[43]

Personal life

Rulli would frequently joke about his struggles in relationships on his radio show, even to the point of discussing his problems with a dating coach.[44] He confessed to having a fear of commitment.[45] On his radio show, Rulli would occasionally play "The Catholic Guy Dating Game" and got two girlfriends from it.[46]

After years of this recurring theme, Rulli announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Jill, in May 2015. They married at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 22, 2016.[47]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1998–2004 Generation Cross Host Emmy Award for Program Host (2001)[48]
Emmy Award for Program Host (2002)[49]
2005 The Last Flagraiser Producer Emmy Award for Best Documentary (2005)[50]
Scripps-Howard National Journalism Award (2005)[2][51]
Edward R. Murrow Award (2005)[2][51]
National Headliner Award - Documentary (2006)[52]
2008 Champions of Faith Producer

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 53.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 About Lino Rulli. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Heffron, Christopher (May 2008). "Lino Rulli: One 'Sirius' Catholic". St. Anthony Messenger. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 2.
  5. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 1.
  6. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 51.
  7. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 54.
  8. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 93.
  9. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 11.
  10. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 6.
  11. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 7.
  12. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 134.
  13. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 145.
  14. 1 2 3 Rulli 2011, p. 32.
  15. ↑ "Lino's Proclamation of Greatness". LinoRulli.net. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  16. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 154.
  17. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 148.
  18. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 149.
  19. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 83.
  20. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 15.
  21. ↑ http://www.tmgspeakers.com/Speakers/Rulli/
  22. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 35.
  23. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 34.
  24. ↑ Rull 2011, p. 27.
  25. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 30.
  26. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 43.
  27. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 44.
  28. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 45.
  29. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 107.
  30. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 108.
  31. ↑ "CatholicTV Schedule". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  32. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 173.
  33. ↑ "Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition"
  34. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 85.
  35. ↑ "Piers Morgan Tonight: Lino Rulli". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Lino Rulli and Jennifer Miller discuss the impending lawsuit filed against the Obama healthcare mandate - Fox News. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  37. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 138.
  38. ↑ ""The Catholic Guy" Podcast: Lino on the Jay Thomas Show to promote "Sinner"". Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  39. ↑ "Howard News 101 features Lino Rulli". CatholicGuyShow.com. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  40. ↑ Wiering, Maria (10 September 2010). "Hometown Glory: ‘The Catholic Guy’ Gets Day Named for Him in Twin Cities.". Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  41. ↑ Rulli 2011, pp. 132-135.
  42. 1 2 "Sinner: Press". AmericanCatholic.org. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  43. ↑ Saint. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "TCGS Podcast #56: Lino's personal dating coach Anthony Buono...and Lino's Mom!". Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  45. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 37.
  46. ↑ Rulli 2011, p. 141.
  47. ↑ "Catholic Guy Podcast #210: Lino got engaged!". Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  48. ↑ 2001 Upper Midwest Emmy Recipients
  49. ↑ 2002 Upper Midwest Emmy Recipients
  50. ↑ 2005 Upper Midwest Emmy Nominees
  51. 1 2 Rulli 2011, p. 140.
  52. ↑ "2006 National Headliner Awards - Broadcast Division". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
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