This article appeared in Minnesota Monthly on Feb. 1, 2002

Minnesota's eligible singles are one impressive lot: savvy, smart, funny, articulate, and fascinating. Though a list could go on and on, we picked 18 special people you'd like to hear about, single or not, just because they're interesting people. They didn't volunteer-we sought them out and did a little sweet-talking. So if you are single and interested, know that these singles are also humble. Very humble. Drop us an e-mail and we'll forward it on to the eligible of your choice.

February 2002

Lino Rulli

Age: 30

Occupation: Television host of Metro Cable Channel 6 "Generation Cross"

Mothers of good Catholic girls everywhere: Your search is over. Lino Rulli is the one-that is, if your daughter is interested in traveling to Italy, eating good food, and being part of a loud, loving, extended family. And she should be Catholic. "She doesn't have to be. I mean, it's not a requirement, but if she's an Italian Catholic, that wouldn't be a bad thing," says Rulli, who has a cult following for his wacky and religious (yes, both) cable TV show. On any given episode, Rulli may go rock-climbing with a priest, swing dancing with a nun, or road-tripping across Europe, visiting cathedrals in France or the Vatican in Rome. "It's funny, it's not serious," he says of his show's mission. But if he isn't serious about religion, nonstop jokester Rulli is serious about love. "I'm ready to lock down," he says. "I'm looking for the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I'm ready to buy rings galore. A lot of people think it's fun to date. That's not fun. That's the opposite of fun!" Rulli wants a woman who knows what she stands for, and who is smart, funny, and cute. And it wouldn't hurt if she loved art. "I want somebody who is totally herself," he says.