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  • Comedy

Life with Luigi is a heartwarming American radio situation comedy series that aired on CBS Radio from September 21, 1948, to March 3, 1953. Created by Cy Howard, the show centers around Luigi Basco, a newly arrived Italian immigrant in Chicago, as he navigates life in his adopted country while attending night school classes with other immigrants. The cast includes J. Carrol Naish as Luigi, Hans Conried as Schultz, and Alan Reed as Pasquale, Luigi's friend and sponsor. Jody Gilbert plays Pasquale's daughter, Rosa, who is often schemed to be married to Luigi, and Mary Shipp stars as Miss Spaulding, their night school teacher. Each episode is framed by Luigi narrating a letter to his mother back in Italy.

Despite initially airing without a sponsor, the show was later sponsored by Wrigley's Gum from 1950 until its end in 1953. A live CBS Television version briefly aired in 1952, with the same cast reprising their radio roles, but was short-lived due to pressure from the Italian-American community. The show's sincere human-interest humor, relatable characters, and touching exploration of immigrant experiences deliver a timeless and endearing journey for listeners.