User:Gianluca1

Gianluca Rizza moved to Los Angeles in the early nineties, shortly thereafter he took over operations of Budd Friedman’s famous Improvisation Comedy Club and Café. After converting the restaurant into an Italian Trattoria, and generating higher revenue through theme night development as well as innovative marketing, he was asked to help open and book talent for other locations throughout the Unites States. In 1995, while at the Improv he developed and produced the first Comedy Show Syreamed Live on The Web. He also produced countless events and shows with comedy greats such as Drew Carey, Jay Leno, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Jerry Lewis, Hugh Heffner, Bette Midler, Milton Burle, Jimmy Fallon, Robert Evans and many others. One of the perks that came with this position was to travel to various comedy festivals both in Canada and the US and scout new talent. This is when both the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival run by HBO in Aspen, Colorado engaged Gianluca to produce some of their biggest live events.

Gianluca has made several appearances on TV, Radio, Newspapers and even a few Movies. He also befriended many famous actors, comedians and professional athletes who because of his reputation encouraged him to open a talent management company. After turning this startup into a successful company, he sold his interest to a larger agency and moved back to New York.

In 1999, he accepted an offer from Pino Luongo at the famed Le Madri Ristorante in New York City as VP of operations. Here he worked closely with celebrity chef Margherita Aloi and turned a struggling business around.

In the winter of 2000 the owners of the Tribeca landmark Restaurant F.illi Ponte approached him. Gianluca had been a frequent patron of F.illi Ponte since childhood and was eager to take over the operations of this restaurant.

While at F.illi Ponte Gianluca wore several hats; General Manager, Corporate Chef, Public Relations and Front man. In his time here he was invited to host events at the James Beard Foundation and has received praise from renowned food critics such as Ruth Reichl, Arthur Schwartz, John Mariani, Jay Waldman & Sheldon Landwher.

Recipient of numerous awards, and certifications, he has appeared on the Today Show, Good Day New York, and many other shows. The New York Times, Daily News, NY Post, LA Times, New York Magazine, Cigar Aficionado and many others have also interviewed him. In October of 2003 Gianluca was engaged by the Barilla Pasta Company as the spokesman and pitch man for their lines of lasagna and tortellini. This resulted in National and local television and radio appearances on ABC, CBS, FOX, WABC and WOR.

Gianluca was praised by the NYPD, NYFD & PAPD and received several awards of merit for providing shelter and serving over thousands of meals immediately after and for several months subsequent to the September 11 attacks. He has since organized many fundraisers for families of fallen Police Officers. Gianluca is actively involved in the ongoing effort to rebuild downtown New York. In the winter of 2004 he was asked to help open Palmeri Ristorante in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. The restaurant became an immediate success and has become a local favorite. While in Los Angeles Gianluca met the owner of the trendy Il Sole Ristorante. He was asked to consult and help with operations and cost cutting. He was able to turn the business around in three months. In 2005 Gianluca, joined a media consulting company. They have had a tremendous amount of success with it and are expanding the company at a very rapid pace. In their short time in business, they have landed accounts such as Schick and Forbes. Their media campaigns are among some of the most innovative in the country.

Gianluca is the owner of the National Lampoon Underground Comedy Clubs