He was an aspiring vocalist in a rock band when he was younger, and also has a degree as a lawyer; however he was largely unsuccessful in both roles.

Gnocchi started enjoying success in the 1990s and now is mostly known for his role in Quelli che il calcio, a Raidue football-related TV show with Simona Ventura, usually aired on Sundays.

During the 2006–07 edition of Quelli che il calcio, Gnocchi challenged the entire world of football, asking for an opportunity to play five minutes in a Serie A match.

Many Italian football players encouraged this initiative, including Marcello Lippi and Alessandro Del Piero.

Four teams, Atalanta, Bologna (of Serie B), Siena, and Torino in fact offered a trial to the comedian.