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.

We did a little digging and found this article. On Friday's show, Lino's mom mentioned that she read about one girl that Lino was dating in the gossip column, and got confused on the last name (thinking it was "Nolastname.") The article she referenced was published in The Star Tribune on Oct. 24, 2000. Just as a time reference, this article took place before Lou's stardom on collegiate radio's The Stress Factor, and when phone answerer Christine was about 14 years old.

I'd give you the link, but you have to sign up for a reading subsciption. So read on.

A mistaken identity

The Emmy Award-winning Lino Rulli is not a priest, but viewers of his religiously themed TV work apparently expect him to assume the position in public. Lino, who won the best non-news host award at Saturday's first Emmy Awards of Minnesota, took home the prize for his work for St. Olaf Catholic Church's TV ministry on MCN Channel 6. His cable show - not to be confused with his "Soul Man" spiritual segments on WCCO-TV - is an off-beat, humanizing look at various aspects of the Catholic Church and sometimes its priests. Apparently, viewers expect more of that churchiness to rub off on the 20-something bachelor. The Emmys was the occasion for Lino's fourth date with Sarah Nolastname. Stunned by the win, Lino admits that he and Sarah might have over-celebrated the moment. They had also engaged in what Lino described as "flirting." Others might call it PDA. "I wouldn't do anything that scandalized," Lino said. "I believe in God and having fun." In his acceptance speech, Lino thanked God, natch, and admitted that if he'd known he was going to win he wouldn't have enjoyed the free bar so much. When the celebrations continued, Lino and Sarah were in a back corner of Club Ashe. "Somebody came up to me, and this is something I hear practically every weekend [and said] Now the Church Guy is out at a bar celebrating with his girl. They thought it was rather unchurch-like. I'm not a priest, so I can date." What about that cigarette? "Smoking is not a sin. I have like a pack a year," he said. "And I wasn't drinking to excess. I didn't throw up or anything. I'm a classy guy, aren't I?" Isn't that special?

Yes reporter person. It is indeed special.

Here's the clip of a caller named Jean from D.C. that apparently was having a bad day when she called the The Catholic Guy show, and pretty much took it out on Lino and the crew.

Jean, if you by any chance read this*, we'd love to hear from you. We're sure you had a reason for being irritated, so if you could give us those reasons, we'd love to hear it!



*Chances of Jean finding this blog are slim to none.