Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Gancho Tuesday 6/30 Gee, that Wrestler Smells Good!

Hi, all. If you’re wondering about the tone of this recap, this is Hombre de Misterio, subbing for JudyB (who’ll do my Friday recap this week).

So what was the deal with Moni and Beto in Moni’s office? She locked the door, and I was thinking she sort of wanted Maury to catch her kissing Beto. No, she was just keeping Beto quiet. After Maury gives up on opening the door (Aldo was going to thank Moni), Maury goes back to work, Aldo is sent home with Salvador, and Moni sneaks Beto out. On the way out he gives her some flyers (volantes) of his upcoming wrestling match, and she quickly hides them, as Maury returns.

He informs Moni that not only did they catch the fake Dad, but Maury took a page from Moni’s book, in that he punched the guy out (lo agarré a trancazos). Moni digs this toughness, but Maury surprises her with a kiss on the cheek. What was that? I’m delivering a kiss from Aldo (good strategy, Maury). So bring us some cappuccino, and we’ll talk. Moni backs away to get the coffee, obviously smitten. As she goes, Maury sees a flyer on the floor, which says “Sensational Wrestling” (wrestling is lucha libre, or free fight).

Cut to the wrestling ring, where Morales is peeved that Beto has finally deigned to show up, given that the match is Saturday (the next day) morning. Beto thinks he’s ready, but a funny montage proves otherwise, as Beto is tossed all over the place, after which five huge wrestlers, with silly masks covering their faces, pile onto our pobrecito. This inspires Beto to put on HIS mask, after which the guys REALLY smash into him (actually his body double, that’s why they put on the mask at this point), flipping him, crushing him in the corner, and stomping on him. What fun!

Back at Grupo Sermeño (easy to remember, as it ends with Meño, a character from Tontas, which many of us just finished watching), Maury, Salvador, Jerry and Gabi are discussing what to do about Bonilla’s fraud with the fake Dad thing. Salvador wants to press charges, Maury wants to let it go. Sal thinks someone else is behind this, looks right at Jerry as he wonders how Bonilla found out Maury adopted the kids. Jerry gets indignant and stalks out, complaining why everyone always accuses HIM. (let’s guess – because you DID it, Jerry?). As the door closes, Sal holds up his finger, telling Maury that Jerry’s hiding something, be sure of it.

Back en casa, Beto’s sore, Moni’s massaging his back. He likes the costeño (Morales, who apparently is from the coastal region of Mexico), but this wrestling stuff hurts! Nieves comes in with some ointment, but Beto leaves to check on dinner. Nieves apologizes to Moni for telling Beto where she worked, but the lies have to stop (I doubt it). Moni’s not mad anymore, and the two are excited about Beto’s big match tomorrow.

The three kids are sitting on the bed, staring at…. Connie, who tells them about their big day tomorrow. They’ll start with a sauna, then haircuts for all, manis and pedis, we can’t have you looking unrefined, but Danny wants to go to the park. Aldo and Luisa are no more enthusiastic. Maury comes in with a great plan. Let’s go to the wrestling match! He shows them the flyer, as Connie makes a face. Too bad, they’re going, as rock music starts playing and the kids flex their muscles.

So, now it’s tomorrow. Two big hooded wrestlers decide not to eat the sandwiches (tortas, also means cakes, but apparently often used for sandwiches in Mexico) brought by someone’s girlfriend. Don’t want to interfere with the training. Of course, when Beto comes in, he can’t resist, can’t believe how great this wrestling is, even free sandwiches are provided, and he digs in. Morales enters, doesn’t think this eating before a fight is wise, is Beto really in shape, is he 100% (estás a cien)? 1000 percent, replies Beto, but all of a sudden the food hits, it’s gaseous eruptus, and he has to find that men’s room immediately!

It’s thug time. Bonilla tells Jerry he wants his dough. Jerry reminds him the plan didn’t work. Boney’s tired of Jerry’s plans. He wants his money, and to emphasize his point, snaps his fingers and two suited mafia types punch Jerry in the gut, sending him to the turf. Lucky for him, Ximena shows up (not having seen the hits), and the guys leave. She then notices Jerry, tells him she told him so, or maybe it was his horoscope.

It’s wrestling time! The ring is empty, the room is filled with people and smoke, the fans are screaming as Moni and Nieves (wearing a rhinestone-covered baseball cap), find their seats and say a little prayer. Morales tells them Beto’s tummy is upset. Over on the other side of the ring Maury arrives holding Danny, followed by Connie, Luisa and Aldo. Moni spies them, and ducks down to hide (I don’t really see why she’s so uptight about all this, but we’ll let it go for now). She calls Estrella on the cell for help, but Estrella has a date.

Moni and Nieves go to the dressing room to check on Beto. As they approach the bathroom, they’re overwhelmed by the smell. Beto yells through the door, he’s got a problem. No toilet paper? No, he doesn’t feel good, and he’s got a favor to ask Moni (I have my guess, we’ll see if I’m right in a few minutes).

Back in the barrio, Estrella parts the waves of hanging laundry to greet handsome Ricardo. And he brought flowers. They were going to go for a walk, but… change of plans. Would Ric like to go see a wrestling match?

At the ring, some big wrestlers are flying all over the place, and Maury and clan are enjoying every crash and splat, even when they go over the ropes. Connie’s a little mortified by it all, but even she starts smiling.

Not everyone’s at the match. Gabi the workaholic is at the office (this is Saturday, remember), and Salvador shows up, saying that when he got home, his wife had packed his bags, the door was closed and locked. Well, replies Gabi, maybe one door closes, another door opens, your next adventure could be with me! Sal is startled, until Gabi says she was just kidding to cheer him up (sure). She wants to go somewhere, they can have a glass of wine, she’ll listen attentively. He first says he needs a hotel, he can’t sleep in the office, but she says no to worry about that now, let’s talk. He agrees, and she’s making progress!

Back at the ring, guess what? Beto wants Moni to take his place (yeah, saw that one comin’). No way in hell, says Moni (I’ll lay odds the next time we see her she’s in the wrestling outfit with the hood and all). Ringside, little Danny has her own cute hood, and is eating popcorn. Connie’s fixing her makeup, and Estrella (in a nice black strapless dress with a white fringe) enters with Ricardo. Strella spots la momia (the mummy, her nickname for Connie), as Connie complains to Maury about the smell of everyone’s sweat. She wants to leave. Maury starts to agree, but Danny wants to see the avenging ghost (fantasma vengador), so they agree to stay for one more fight.

The announcer walks center ring, and introduces the villain first, known as The Crow (El Cuervo), who looks like a cross between Ozzy Ozborne and Michael Jackson, long black hair, white greasepaint on his face, long black robe. The crowd hisses and boos. And now introducing The Avenging Ghost! The crowd rises to its feet, cheering our avenger, in the silver suit with the blue trim, somehow filling it out quite differently than Beto in the hip and bust areas, but bouncing happily up to the top of the corner of the ring, climbing the ropes, to the delight of the crowd. And now introducing the dean (decano) of referees, Pepe Lopitasa (probably legitimately famous, but I couldn’t find him on Google).

The fight starts, and as usual in these things, the hero starts out losing, receiving all sorts of punishment, being kicked, smashed into the corner, thrown to the mat (oh, and BTW, they’ve got that body double back for this part, or else Moni just gained 45 pounds, I think it’s a guy with a bra on under the suit). Danny’s upset, but Maury tells her to have faith. Doesn’t look good tho’, as the Fantasma gets thrown right out of the ring, landing conveniently in Maury’s lap! He’s none the wiser, but I think this inspires our girl, as she pops back up, and the tide has turned! How? She starts BOXING. Beto, sitting in the bleachers with his Mom, says that’s not allowed, but no one can stop Moni now. She even slips in a kick to the nether regions. One more punch, and El Cuervo is down and out! The crowd explodes!

Not quite as exciting, but promising nevertheless, Gabi (looking very pretty) and Salvador are chatting amiably in a restaurant. A mariachi band starts, and Gabi thinks it’s so romantic, until Sal says that’s the song they had at my wife’s tenth anniversary, and Gabi quickly tells the band to shut up. Both Sal and Gabi have been upset by work lately, she by Moni (although he admits he likes Moni), and he by Jeronimo, who keeps manipulating Maury. He’s convinced Jerry is bad, but he has no proof. Gabi says she’ll help, they can be a team. They clasp their hands together.

Back at the ring, the kids are glowing in the aftermath, and Danny wants to meet El Fantasma. Connie’s not into it, she’ll wait outside. Up come Ric and Estrella, introductions are made, and Aldo can’t help stare at the sexy Estella with his mouth open. Strella sweetly tells him to stop it, flies might get in. Maury asks Ric to watch the two big kids while he takes Danny to meet the hero of the night.

Meanwhile, Beto has crashed into Connie on her way out, knocking her pocketbook to the ground. He immediately starts putting the moves on her, but she’s disgusted. He picks up her card from the ground, mispronounces her name, but memorizes her number. He’ll call her tomorrow. She slaps him and leaves. He LIKED that. Oh yes. And you know what else? She also dropped her wallet. Now he definitely has an excuse to see her.

We see some feet entering a nice house, it’s Ximena helping Jerry, patch over his eye, arm in a sling, the result of his warning from Boney’s goonsquad. Okay, you’re fine, I’m going out dancing with the girls, says Ximmy. Wait, you need to help me, sister, says Jerry, wincing in pain. He wants her to seduce Boney, so Boney will stop bothering Jerry about the money. You like Bonilla, right? Sure, but that was DAYS ago. Jerry tells Ximmy she can manipulate Boney through sex. She’s so good at that, and maybe she could even get him to marry her. Then all Jerry’s problems would be solved. Ximmy doesn’t think so. Why don’t YOU manipulate Boney through sex! You’d be great, she says with a wink, off to go dancing.

Maury and Danny are at the dressing room door. Moni, still in the wrestling outfit, but with the hood half off, sees them first, ducks behind a door. What’s she going to do? Maury talks through the door, your biggest fan is here, don’t let her down. Moni puts the mask on and opens the door. Danny’s first words are “you’ve got your mask on crooked (chueca), Fantasma”. Maury asks for an autograph. Moni brings out a poster of the Avenging Ghost, Danny remarking that the picture in the poster is way fatter, but of course, Maury doesn’t notice at all. Moni signs the poster. Danny asks if Fantasma’s butt hurt when “he” fell onto the canvas (la lona). Fantasma stays silent, but nods a bit. Finally, Danny wants a kiss, and after getting it, says “how nice you smell”! (qué rico hueles). Fantasma keeps making macho poses, and of course, Maury doesn’t suspect a thing. If he only knew!

At the superfresa dance club, Ximena’s dancing a sixties dances like the frug with her amiga, while three guys look on. One remarks to the second that she’s the cousin of that race car driver whom they don’t like. But the third guy (whose name might be Rolando) is intrigued by our girl, dancing with wild abandon.

Moni’s lying on her bed, waiting for her cue (oh sorry, I guess she’s thinking about the day’s events). The phone rings, and it’s little Danny. Danny tells Moni she went to the wrestling match, and her favorite was the Avenging Ghost, because he was skinny, and all the other fighters were tall and fat. Maury and Connie come in, who are you talking to? It’s Monita, and she hands the phone to Maury. Connie says she’ll wait in the bedroom, but as soon as she gets there, she stealthily picks up the phone to listen in. Maury tells Monita how they had a good time, and they all missed Moni. And you know what? he adds. I missed you, too (Connie doesn’t like this part).

Paula, Strella and Moni are girl talking in the kitchen. Paula can’t believe Moni now does wrestling, too. Strella says Moni’s a good-hearted person (buenaza), can’t turn anyone down. Moni asks if the girls will come to Tepita tomorrow, she wants to go shopping for office clothes, and needs some advice. With the money from the fight, she can afford it. Strella says Moni can keep borrowing Strella’s outfits, but Moni wants something to show her own personality. They agree she wants a change of “looks” (the English word, pronounced with a strong spanish accent).

Next morning, at the gym, Moni is hitting the bag with feeling, and Beto observes that her right handed punch is back. But you’re hitting like a child, he kids, and she gets mad. She gets up at 4 A.M. to train before work, so lay off it! And it’s Sunday and he STILL has her training. So, you want me to leave? I will, and he starts to leave, but doesn’t really want to, says I’m leaving, here I go, I’m starting to go, but she wants him out NOW. He starts again, runs into Don César, who inspects Moni’s hand. It’s much better, and very soon, she’ll be able to box again.

Connie is complaining to Ximena about Mao (Maury) and you know who. Also, she hated the people at the wrestling match, all fat with tight clothes, smelly, whereas here SHE is, divine, refined, a goddess….and all so your cousin can tell that THING he misses her! Ximena says to chill, the truth (la neta) is Mao’s yours, don’t worry. Connie leaves, still upset, and when Ximmy gets up, she crashes right into Rolando Klunder, the third guy from above. She even remembers him, from those car races several years ago. He was the guy who always came in third place, right? He was, but these two look promising, as they sit down for coffee.

We now see all of Mauricio’s racing trophies, displayed in the garage where his race car is being worked on by Cristano, Aldo helping . Danny’s sitting in his lap, looking cute as a button with a red shirt and a little gray and white striped tie. She asks if he were the Avenging Ghost, who would be his worst enemy? He really doesn’t have any enemies. None? Cristano interjects. What about Rolando Klunder? (Nooooooo!)

And next time: Beto gets a new shirt, and we meet Salvador’s dear wife!

Vocabulario:
Volantes – fliers
Lo agarré a trancazos – I punched him out
Estar a cien – to be 100%
El Decano – the dean
Chueco(a) – crooked
La lona – the canvas
Qué rico hueles – how nice you smell
Buenaza – a good hearted person
La neta – the truth

Labels:


Comments:
Hello Hombre, I think you got a fun episode (Beto's intestinal problems aside). I'll admit I'm fond of Lucha Libre. It's an interesting way of symbolizing the battle between the good and bad sides within ourselves. I also like the shiny and imaginative costumes. The referee was played by the famous Pepe Tropicasas; we were introduced to him in a past telenovela, maybe it was Duelo de Pasiones. For anyone who cares to see some wonderful photographs of luchadors, along with short human interest interviews, I recommend the site www.luchaloco.com. Where else will you read the quote "We're the mummies, here to serve the people."

I recognize Rolando Klunder from Juan Querendon.

I laughed out loud when Monita's body changed drastically during her stint as luchadora. Thanks Hombre, great recap and excellent vocab words tonight. Judy will be proud.
 

Absolutely, Sylvia...Judy IS proud. And are you still without closed captions? In that case I'm both proud and absolutely amazed. Also intrigued...I have a question for the guys....

This team of writers seems to be much more oriented towards male-type humor. The jokes about Beto's smelly feet, armpits and the extended pfeeeewwwwwww scenes of his explosive diarrhea all seemed very "guy type" to me. What's your take on it? And ladies...what do you think?

I like Estrella and Ricardo together (and once again we saw that the "naco girl" was instinctively comfortable and caring with the children in contrast to the haughty Constanza) and I love Gabriela and Salvador together, although I fear our office manager is destined to get her heart broken. Never a good idea to get involved with a man who's separated but not divorced.

Ximena continues to be a treat and it was good to see her stand up to her manipulative brother last night. Our gal has more smarts than I initially thought.

Thanks Hombre. It'll be fun to have the Friday night slot for a change and I hope whatever you're doing for the fourth turns out to be a blast.
 

Hombre, very well done and an excellent title. I guessed last night while watching that something much like that would be your title. I thought that Mao would recognize the Avenging Ghost by her scent when she fell into his lap.

Judy, I for one outgrew my appreciation of bathroom humor sometime ago, but here we are with a second straight show where the writers seem to revel in it. I'm hoping they keep it to a minimum.

I just can't get enough of Ximena. She is so fresh in every sense of the word. If Chava(Tontas) were to listen to her heart, he would pronounce it a good one.

Carlos
 

Hello Hombre, thanks for the recap. This show so far is good.Lots of good laughs. I just wonder how far the male cousin's greed is going to take him. You don't know anything about the kids and you invent a father for them.. what a jerk!! That girl Danny is so adorable and she loves her new daddy.Is it just me or does Aldo and the housekeepers grandson look very much alike?
Hanna,Md
 

Judy, I find the toilet humor revolting and I just thought, "is that really necessary? It didn't help that I was eating dinner as I watched. I must say, though, most of the guys I work with still find that sort of thing hilarious, so I guess there's an audience. I hope it's kept to a minimum.

Ximena is the best. I'd love to go out clubbing with her; she always seems to be having a great time, unlike most of the other people who are too cool to let loose and have fun.

Well executed, HdM.
 

Well, Carlos and Hombre...glad to know you've outgrown that. I know my son thought that sort of stuff was hilarious in middle school...hopefully he's matured since then also.
* * *

Hanna...good call...yes, the boys do look somewhat similar. Hope this isn't a setup for finding out they're long-lost half brothers. Girls frequently are attracted to guys who either look like their dads or their brothers. I have a friend who married a guy who looks almost exactly like her twin brother. Freaky!
 

Judy, I have captions about 80% of the time, so it's hit or miss. However, sometimes, they're wrong, as in the name of the referee, which the captions said was Pepe Lopitasa, but which Sylvia pointed out was Pepe Tropicasas. Now I see why I came up empty on Google with the former!

As for the bathroom humor, I'm sure the writers know their core audience, and this is probably very funny to them. And there does seem to be a broad cultural divide about humor. For example, I occasionally watch the show Haz Me Reir (Make Me Laugh, and Become a Millionaire), and they often have what I think are very cruel practical jokes, and everyone thinks they're hilarious.

But I do appreciate much of the other kinds of humor on Gancho, and I'm glad it has the funny parts to balance out the devious plans (most of which aren't working too well for the baddies yet, but we know it's only a matter of time...)
 

Thanks for the recap Hombre. As Sylvia said, you had a nice episode to recap.

I'm with Julia in that toilet humor wretched. I also hope it will be kept to a minimum.

Yes Hanna Aldo and the grandson look VERY SIMILAR to one another.

I also am tickled by Ximmy. She appears to be "crazy as a fox."
 

I really enjoyed it last night when Connie bumped into Ratso Rizzo. I can't wait to see what direction this will take. Of course she will accuse him of stealing the purse. Is another stay in the hoosegow in his future? Will they eventually hit it off? She is very pretty and he is very charming in an unrefined sort of way.

Carlos
 

I agree Carlos...Beto's charm is his light-hearted approach to life and his incredible self-confidence. There are worse qualities... (of course he has all of those too.) But he and Constanza deserve each other. Ojala!
 

Mao would do well to heed the advice of Sal who is apparently the token adult in this show. He has Jerry's number and could save Mao a lot of grief. The glimpse we got last night of his loving wife was downright frightening. Let's hope we see more of her as well. Does anyone think that there might be any punches thrown tonight?

I must also admit that Nieves looks very fetching in a frumpy naca way. She certainly has sparkling, mischievous almost naughty eyes. I've always liked this actress but never looked at her before in quite this way.

Carlos
 

Thanks for the recap Hombre. Definitely still liking this show. Hopefully it will keep up most of the light heartedness and not go too much to the dark like Tontas was doing towards the end.
Carlos, yes, Nieves definitely has that sparkling mischievous look. But hey, she was also Miss Mexico back in the 60's, 1963 according to Wiki, but 16 years old?
JeffMN
 

That was a great recap Hombre!

If my father would have been watching this novela he would have sided with Constanza, he has always told us to stay away from the arenas.

Paula, If you are there, I'm sorry I couldn't respond to you before, you asked me about the word "naco", it comes from the words "nacido corriente" (something lilke "born vulgar") and it's used usually for people from the lower social clases because unfortunately they don't have much of an education and their actions reflect that, but sometimes people from other social classes can be nacos too, depending on their behaviours. By the way, the shirts Beto uses with words on them are part of a trend that was started by a company that called itself NaCo., you can find all kinds of stuff written on them, and in some scenes the message on his shirt is either an inside joke or has some reference to what is happening in that particular moment.

Jarocha
 

Jarocha you are a treasure for sharing your particular knowledge with us. Thank you! We are truly lucky. I'm going to start paying more attention to Beto's NaCo shirts. Maybe I will even understand them.
 

Jarocha, I completely agree with Sylvia. Having you here is absolutely wonderful. I always enjpy it when you drop in. I'd like to say it would be our honor to have you visit Houston. We live in las afueras but we love the big city.
 

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