torkelsenmagnus Reviews

Supervivientes: Perdidos en Honduras (2006– )

Forget all you know about Survivor - this isn't the one you know

[7/10 · 12 April 2024]

Well, this is a strange one if you're used to other versions of Survivor and just happen to speak Spanish. The story of Supervivientes goes like this - it first got tried out in 2000, but Telecinco thought the format was dull and needed to "be more Spanish" (read: have more petty arguments). Then they give it another shot the next year, let the format go to Antena 3, who completely overhaul it to play with celebrities, and it becomes a hit which Telecinco pinch back in 2006.

This isn't the Survivor you know. You need to keep at least one eye on Telecinco-friendly celebrity gossip to know what's going on. Oh - and celebrities get nominated to leave the island at Tribal Council, and are not automatically out of the game. Those who are voted out at Tribal get sent to the Limbo Beach, where they go up against the other residents in a public vote to stay. In other words, think more Big Brother in Honduras than Survivor.

Supervivientes, in terms of other formats, is Celebrity Big Brother + 1/2 of Survivor + a sprinkling of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. I also forgot to mention there's three episodes a week on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Jorge Javier Vázquez and Carlos Sobera - the midweek hosts - are brilliant on this and adapt well to live TV. Neither of them expect viewers to know all the latest gossip and will gladly fill you in (i.e. This year's series featured quite a petty saga from 2020 about a contestant walking into a salon run by another). In fact, this series has been one of the best of late - casting absolutely nailed it for once and got a great group of celebs.

In short, it's a good show, and the escapism is there, but with a bad group of contestants it can be a slog.

Gran hermano (2000– )

A victim of its own success

[3/10 · 9 April 2024]

When Spain first discovered "Gran Hermano" back in 2000, it was a fairly bog-standard show, the first gala got ok, if not spectacular, ratings. But then the series turned into something quite spectacular. We saw real life play out in front of the cameras, as if they weren't even there. We saw Mercedes Milà calm it all down and go around with a sense of both authority yet amicability too. And most of all - we decided the game: who won, who went out every couple of weeks. It might not have had the same status as Nasty Nick in the UK, for example, but Gran Hermano was a certified hit. The moment Ismael came out of the house as the winner remains the highest rated moment on Telecinco ever.

The 2001 series was fine, but just couldn't recapture the magic. And that's where it went wrong. 2002 dispensed with Mercedes Milá, the one who held it all together; and slowly it descended into the trashy TV we associate GH as causing.

Gran Hermano is a fun show: there's some genuinely lovely moments and we know who we want to win and don't. But soon GH spawned imitators, and it fell far short of the event television it was in 2000. Soon every programme on Telecinco seemed to be this 'reality' style show - "Supervivientes" (Spanish Survivor, which is more 'Gran Hermano on an island'), "La casa de tu vida" (Gran Hermano but the contestants build the house). It was no longer unique, and soon this icon of TV wasn't worth watching any longer.

The first series is on YouTube - that series is worth watching. But any others - if you've got better things to do, don't bother.

Crésus (2005– )

Impressive, if derivative

[7/10 · 23 December 2023]

Take every question-and-answer game show, add in a fantastic set and a witty CGI skeleton meant to represent the saying "riche comme Crésus" - i.e. Ridiculously rich as a wealthy ancient king? I'm in.

This is a format about playing quizzy minigames to try to find a general winner. And different formats swap out the minigames regularly. It reads as quite complicated but is explained well by Lagaf'. A fun part of this show is Crésus - ever the fashionista - particularly likes to turn up in fancy suits: turning up adorned in Euro signs or love hearts? Yesssss.

It came back eventually in 2010 in a slight reformat, but we secretly miss this skeletal monarch.

Million Dollar Password (2008–2009)

Looks even worse in 2023

[3/10 · 2 December 2023]

As someone who isn't from the US, this show is honestly one of the most American and most 2008 shows I have ever seen.

Password is a format which is light, humorous and comfortable, and doesn't need to be jazzed up into a million-dollar extravaganza. That is, sadly, what CBS got so wrong about this show. It's understandable why they wanted to do it, but it all felt like a failed experiment.

This version of the format got taken all over the world, complete with the darkened set, continuous boasting of the prize fund ("30 000 Euro Password"?) and was surprisingly successful. Putting aside the very American setup, that's why this version of Password was so much stronger: it's played for fun with lower stakes, and these versions lasted longer than the primetime spectaculars.

The brashness of Million Dollar Password might be good fun for Americans, but if it wanted to stand up outside of primetime or seem appealing internationally, it needed to tone the US trademarks down quite a lot.

Allá tú (2004– )

Jesús Vázquez remains the right pick for the show

[8/10 · 19 September 2023]

Jesús Vázquez is a presenter with a long career on Mediaset but with a sad taste for picking shows that really don't suit him. "Factor X" (The X Factor) just wasn't his thing and he seemed out of place on "La Voz" (The Voice). Even "Supervivientes" (Survivor) may not have suffered if he wasn't there.

So where did Vázquez rise to fame? On a little show that went out every weekday evening on Telecinco called "¡Allá tú!". Here, he was at his best: he's given the licence he needs to get to know the contestants and to talk to them. One person, one person only plays "Deal or No Deal"; and this is the person Vázquez makes us focus on. He makes the game seem speedy but still injecting small amounts of tension; a careful skill that many DOND hosts try, and fail, to do. Even if the set is a bit difficult to look at.

Come 2005 and it's got an energetic new theme tune ("Euros, euros, dúbidú; ¡si no los quieres allá tú!"). Vázquez, however, is no longer the king of evenings - Carlos Sobera has brought back Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The other side and is winning the timeslot. It got axed in 2008, by which time the novelty had sadly worn off.

But it remained popular. And when in 2021 Vázquez was asked, of all the shows he had presented on Mediaset, which he wanted to return, his wish was granted in the form of an "¡Allá tú!" reboot done fantastically two years later.

Over 20 years, the aesthetic of "¡Allá tú!" moved from 'bouncy' to 'slick', with much more tasteful graphics in the 2023 version. But, please Endemol, make it one player per episode.

The Traitors UK (2022– )

The best reality show out there

[9/10 · 13 June 2023]

This was one of those shows that was honestly completely compelling viewing. Twenty-two people from all walks of life meet in a Scottish castle to play a simple game with fair rules. It's a proper reality show: people who are simply themselves and don't try to be anything else; and the original three Traitors are a microcosm of the cast itself.

The first few episodes are slightly dull but after a few episodes the show becomes simply thrilling, for the dynamics between the contestants and who comes in through the door to breakfast? The simplest objects are the biggest stars. Not to mention Claudia, who reflects the mood of the moment perfectly. There couldn't be a better presenter for this format.

Everyone liked The Traitors because the drama was real: the side that won only had it in the last few minutes. Another series won't be nearly as thrilling as the first, and the producers need to be careful not to over-use their power, but 100% worth a watch.

El hormiguero (2006– )

The fact it's been going for 17 years says something

[7/10 · 14 May 2023]

El Hormiguero is a polarising show. From its beginnings on Cuatro in 2006, it's now pretty much a Spanish institution. Not bad for a show that was supposed to be a one-series Autumn filler in the Spanish graveyard slot.

Want to promote your product to 3 million Spaniards on Antena 3 and have fun whilst doing so? El Hormiguero is your answer.

This show kind of implicitly revolves around Pablo Motos. For one short hour punctuated by seemingly endless ad breaks, you're in the Motos world, but he's a presenter you either like or you don't. He keeps the show moving and his pace matches the show's, but he has received criticism over some comments where he hasn't really thought it through.

The main reason why El Hormiguero is successful is down to (a) Marrón, the amusing scientist/collaborator who makes every dance seem sexier than it needs to; and (b) its production values. Oh, and that Trancas and Barrancas are cute.

One of the most common complaints, except for Pablo himself, is that they've... kind of run out of things to invent. Which, in fairness, is forgivable when you've been going for 17 years. But Marrón still comes with the same bursts of energy as in 2006 (if the hairstyle's changed a bit!).

All in all, the original opening spiel on the show translates to "The Anthill is a place where whatever happens happens, we'll make you feel good." And you still feel like you haven't wasted an hour watching it. If only for Trancas and Barrancas (if they were funnier when Pablo had more time to interact with them instead of the day's celebrity). How they still put up with Motos is anyone's guess.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1998– )

A lesson in how to regain your sparkle

[8/10 · 14 May 2023]

When Millionaire first came on the scene in 1998, it was big, it was bold, it was something no-one had seen before. Stripped for two weeks bulldozing through ITV's schedule, the nation was gripped. Real people, with real decisions facing them.

Fast forward 10 years and it lost it a little. It could have gone off air any time between 2009 and 2014 and the public wouldn't have missed it too much. But, in 2018 - shock! It returned! This time with Jeremy Clarkson, of all people. Quite a surprise choice, but worked well. Soon, the drama was back. £1,000,000 wasn't as thrilling a prize anymore, but people were once more willing to gamble, and it became fun viewing again. 25 years since it's debut, it's still winning the timeslot by a country mile again; it freshened itself up and came back fit for the 21st century (even if the tensionless Fastest Finger First spin-off was a low point).

Crónicas marcianas (1997–2005)

Better in the earlier years

[5/10 · 26 April 2023]

This is one of those shows you either really like or really hate. Originally it was an exciting new spin on the typical weeknight chat show, but gradually worsened into Telecinco's go-to option to discuss its new reality shows and have live arguments on TV.

So, why the appeal? There's the brilliant production values - the amazing very first opening sequence and spot-on music changes never fail to grab your attention. The set is interesting too - themed on an alien spacecraft, it features a globe with googly eyes tracking Sardà wherever he goes. Galindo (rest in peace) was also very funny.

Crónicas launched the careers of some of Spain's biggest TV celebrities, including Boris Izaguirre, Xavier Sardà and - sadly - the awful Matamoros brothers. After its cancellation, many of the production crew used their experience here to move to Cuatro to give rise to the phenomenon that is "El Hormiguero".

The gradual decline of Telecinco from engaging general entertainment to endless reality shows no-one cares about, is both represented by and arguably down to Crónicas... a poisoned chalice.