Matthew Cerrone

Video: Interview with Giuseppe Franco
By Matthew Cerrone - Aug 7, 2008 12:59 pm

Last week on MetsBlog, I wrote a post about having seen the infamous Giuseppe Franco in front of his Beverly Hills salon, while on vacation in California the previous week.

The next day, Giuseppe e-mailed me saying he had seen my post, he was flattered and so we struck up a phone call.

He told me he would be in New York City and at Shea Stadium for last night’s game.

So, yesterday, SNY.tv’s Ted Berg and I went to Shea Stadium to interview Dan Murphy, Eddie Kunz and Giuseppe.

First, I should note, this was the first time I had ever set foot on the field in Shea Stadium, which, for me, as a fan, was amazing.  Yes, I took time to stop in the dugout, sit on the bench, then walk up the steps, taking pause to lean on one knee like Davey Johnson used to do, before jogging up on to the field, which, I will admit, gave me goose-bumps.

Prior to the game, select fans, media, etc., are allowed to stand on the field, up against the backstop, behind a white, plastic fence, and watch the players take batting practice.

I spotted Giuseppe with his wife and friends standing along the fence watching David Wright and Ryan Church, among others, swinging from home plate. 

Giuseppe had his hair spiked, was wearing all black, a ton of tattoos, and he never once removed his sunglasses and – even with Wright and Church only a few feet away – he was clearly the most popular person on the field.  In fact, he was approached by not only fans, but also coaches and players for handshakes, autographs and pictures. 

For what it’s worth, he is a very nice guy, who is very humble, with a ton of energy, and, most importantly, he has a sense of humor when it comes to his ad for Procede.

Ted broke off to interview Heath Bell and Kunz, while I took a moment to speak with Dan Murphy, all of which I will post later in the day or tomorrow.

By the way, Murphy comes across as a serious dude.  He looks focused and means business, which I like.  He has a look in his eye that says, ‘I’m in the major leagues, and I’m not going back to the minors.’

Later, Ted and I were able to sit down with Giuseppe at his seats in the stands, where we talked about his move to Los Angeles, his salon, and, of course, his ad for Procede, which he doesn’t own – in fact, he doesn’t own anything about it.

To watch our interview with Giuseppe, click play below:

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59 Comments »

Comment by hbean
2008-08-07 13:02:19

Holy crap.

The random street shot was awesome, but this just brings it to a whole new level.

The man, the legend. Giuseppe Franco.

Now if he could only close games for us.

Comment by giuseppe franco_procede
2008-08-07 13:08:19

I’m shocked…Guiseppe is married to a woman! Sorry if I sound like I am stereotyping him, but he’s married–to a woman!

Nevertheless, if he is a cool guy, then I will accept him and that ridiculous commercial. LOL

Comment by ToastyJoe
2008-08-07 13:25:10

Wait….I thought YOU were Giuseppe.

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Comment by Dan
2008-08-08 19:57:08

“Go Mets Go”? This guy isn’t a Mets fan.

 
 
Comment by Gary Busey
2008-08-07 13:02:21

Wife?

Comment by laxstar03
2008-08-07 16:14:00

Wow, Matt you look so comfortable…

 
 
Comment by bkfitz
2008-08-07 13:02:49

Giuseppe Franco is a cool guy. On Daily News Live yesterday just before he was going to leave, he said he’d give any of the guys there a free bikini wax if they went to his salon in LA. Love to see Joe Benigno with a bikini wax.

Comment by Peter
2008-08-07 13:24:40

You’d love to see it?

That troubles me.

Comment by ToastyJoe
2008-08-07 13:25:51

I don’t think there’s enough wax in the world to get that job done.

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Comment by Joe Bacci
2008-08-07 15:23:00

he probably would start with a weed whacker!

 
 
Comment by bkfitz
2008-08-07 13:40:59

Just Benigno’s reaction.

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Comment by mrmet924
2008-08-07 13:06:13

Very cool Matt!

Is it really that cold in the Mets dugout, or is it just their at bats with runners on base?

 
Comment by bigchart333
2008-08-07 13:15:22

my girlfriend is the manager at a salon that was on a show on the friggin Style channel, where they switched hair sylists, with none other than Mr. Franco’s salon out in Cali.

So she made me watch the show cuz our friend Vinny was the guy to go over to Jersey…

and he seemed kinda cool, but man was he a ball buster. It mighta been for the cameras/show but still. HOWEVER, in his lil side interviews, he did seem like a down to earth cool guy, and u can tell, even though he is in Cali now, he’s east coast to the bone.

And i find myself saying in life, many times, when i disagree with something..saying “who has time for that nonsense?”

Comment by bigchart333
2008-08-07 13:20:16

–go over to Franco’s in cali i mean

 
 
Comment by ToastyJoe
2008-08-07 13:19:47

Matt, you never went on the field for banner day? I’m surprised.

 
Comment by cuervo
2008-08-07 13:23:10

dude.. Franco seems like he’s LIT!!

Comment by starz31
2008-08-07 15:42:10

or was lit all through the 80’s

 
 
Comment by LGNYM
2008-08-07 13:35:42

That is awesome! LOL you’ve really hit the big time now!

 
Comment by dykstraw II
2008-08-07 13:38:03

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

this is better than koufax in vero beach

 
Comment by gameball
2008-08-07 13:39:10

Well, that’s the apex right there, interviewing Giuseppe Franco in the stands at Shea. From here on, it’s all downhill for the cult of Giuseppe.

Comment by bkfitz
2008-08-07 13:42:21

The only thing that might top this is seeing Manny Ramirez get his hair done by Giuseppe Franco.

 
 
Comment by Santana57
2008-08-07 13:47:24

Go Mets Go!

- Giuseppe Franco

 
Comment by akleinb
2008-08-07 13:50:07

I’m an exiled Mets fan living in Boston with no access to SNY — so can somebody tell me who the heck Giuseppe Franco is? Less-than-blissfully ignorant…

Comment by bigchart333
2008-08-07 14:00:26

oh i can tell u. Giuseppe Franco is God.

Thats it. thats all u need to know

 
Comment by RayKnight v EricDavis
2008-08-07 14:08:29

HE’S Giuseppe Franco!

He doesn’t own anything ABOUT the company!!

Who has TIME for that nonsense??!!

HE KNOWS GARY BUSEY!!!!!!!

 
Comment by casey s.
2008-08-07 14:09:46

akleinb,

The commercial is on YouTube.com. It airs between EVERY inning and has for at least two years.

Comment by GeorgeThomas
2008-08-07 15:36:38

Actually, this is the first year it’s been on SNY. It just seems like 2 years.

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Comment by gomets6091
2008-08-07 14:14:11

I live in DC now and always wondered what the big deal was, but I’ve been house-sitting for my parents back in NY the past week, and now I get it. They literally play the commercial ALL the time. It’s unreal.

 
Comment by Gasface77
2008-08-07 14:37:09

You will be banished from metsblog forever for this comment. You will spend an eternity in procede purgatory.

Comment by akleinb
2008-08-07 14:58:57

I know, I’m going to have to quit my job and move back to NY. The exile is almost over…

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Comment by starz31
2008-08-07 15:44:41

I live in Boston too and I know all about this guy, but then I forgot they dont show commercials on MLBTV and I have extra innings, so thats the difference. (I never paid for it, im feeding off my friends former NHL package that COmcast never shut down…shhhhh)

 
Comment by akleinb
2008-08-07 16:19:03

Well I stupidly committed to DISH Network before they decided not to carry Extra Innings. Thank Gd for XM Radio. I’m just going to play the YouTube clip in between every half-inning from now on so I can feel like part of the group

 
 
 
 
Comment by stevengoo
2008-08-07 14:00:39

hes this salon owner in Beverly hills that is selling some hair product…

is it just me or is anyone else not able to hear the sound of the interview?

Comment by GeorgeThomas
2008-08-07 16:03:08

it’s just you.

 
 
Comment by the_other_matt
2008-08-07 14:11:48

I’m kinda done with Franco. My new favorite is the Screaming Big City Slider guy. He’s more versatile of an actor as he pitches many more products like Kaboom, etc…

Comment by NYMetsGrrl94
2008-08-07 14:39:59

billy mays! mighty putty!

Comment by Jova1931
2008-08-07 15:34:36

How about that cockeyed dude, that looks like a cracked out cartoon character selling those ShamWows?

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