Caray, Caray!

Before I start the Don Fran recap I wanted to share just a few of the wedding pictures from the final that was so wonderfully recapped by Jardinera.

The first picture is to show how long the train was and how packed the church was.



Don Julio is walking Eva down the isle



Dan and Eva seem surprized during the ceramony when they turn and realize it is Laurita singing.




That indeed is Laurita singing her little heart out.



Dan is brought to tears as he listens to Laurita sing.





Now lets get on with the show. Don Fran welcomes everyone to Los Angeles. He says it is the first time in 10 years that they have taped the show outside of their studio. He tells everyone they are their to celebrate the number one rated show “Eva Luna”. He also had Lourdes Steffen from “Salt and Pepper” with him.

Don Fran’s first guests of course are “those who were not invited to the wedding” the villains of the novela, as he introduces Leo, Vick, and Marcella.


I really had a hard time understanding Don Fran most of the time, but I think his first question was to “Marcella” asking her how people reacted to her character since she was playing such a villain. She said they responded well to her and than said something about they weren’t willing to pay for her parking.

He asks Vanessa how she felt about being in Eva. She says she has been in lots of novelas, but this had been the best. Don Fran reminds her she was “bad” in this novela. She tells him Victoria was more of a victim.

Don Fran asks who was the worst villain? Victoria or Leo? Leo is waving his fingers in the “Certainly not me” fashion.


Marcella tells him both her children are good. There are boos from the audience. Vanessa says her character was not so much a villain as she was mentally unbalanced.

Don Fran asks Julian Gil how the experience was for him. He says he is naturally mischievous and the people misunderstood his character. Again talking about the Leo character he says he wasn’t bad.

Don Fran asks him which he prefers to play “heroes or villainous” parts. Julian tells him he likes to play the adventurous parts. He is encouraged by the audience to stand and turn around and we get a little twirl.
He does so to many cheers. He does admit to liking the “villainous roles” as the people seem to like that more. Don Fran jokingly says he isn’t going to stand and twirl because there is nothing to see.

Don Fran is talking with Susana D and asks what was it with Eva that captured the hearts of so many people. She tells him the TN had magic and a good script. He asks her how Marcella could have been so bad. Marcella looks at him and says she wasn’t bad. She says it depends on how you look at it. If they take your house, take your husband and you end up on the street. Julian too says it wasn’t a question of being bad. People just misunderstood the circumstances.

Vanessa also adds that she had the perfect life until Eva arrived at the house. She had to fight for her man.

We go to the audience for questions. The first question is for Julian and he asks what it was like to act with such a beautiful and talented actress like Blanca Soto. He tells him she is one of the most beautiful women he has seen in his life, and from the first day that he met her he knew she was going to be a star.

Second question is for Vanessa . She is asked what she prefers to play. A good person or a bad person. She tells him she likes to play both parts. Of course she identifies most with the “good” She likes it when the “bad” character becomes remorseful at the end of the show.

The next guests are “Alicia and Tony” and Fran and Jacky.”




Alicia still looks like the same airhead.

I think the audience is again chanting for another turn and twirl and I think it is for Tony. We do not get one. Don Fran asks “Tony “ how him and Alicia got along. Alicia teasingly says really bad. And they hated each other. Then she says they got along incredibly. Don Fran asks Alicia what was the best kiss he gave her. The camera shoots over to Julian with his hand raised taking credit for the best kiss. Tony teases that Leo’s character “is dead” Don Fran is now encouraging the both of them to demonstrate a kiss.

The audience is now chanting for them to kiss. We get a funny exaggerated kiss, with Alicia being the one to grab Tony.


Tony tells the audience the kiss that was the best was the last one when Alicia caught the bouquet. She agrees and says of course that was the best. Tony adds that always before he had to steal kisses from her and this time she went over to give him a kiss from her heart.


Question from the audience. Actually Lourdes is saying that since she represents all the women in the audience she wants to see Tony’s abs. Tony laughs and says he can’t right now but very soon people will be able to see it with other surprises when they buy his book the “Fat solution.”?

Don Fran remarks about his incredible weight loss. He use to weigh 300 lbs. We also get a before picture of Tony





Don Fran tells him he has been an inspiration for many people. He also mentioned that Tony had a problem with anorexia as well or studied anorexia. (didn’t really understand what he said) He congratulates him for solving his addictions . Tony says he is grateful to have the opportunity to inspire other young people. Alicia adds other tributes to Tony, he has written several books as well.

Don Fran now turns his attention to “Jacky and Fran”. Saying something about their characters coming and going throughout the entire novela. Don Fran also mentions “Fran’s” father, who apparently was on “Sabado Gigante” or something like that but who had passed away.

Don Fran mentions that Fran’s character always wanted to be a millionaire and in the end didn’t end up with anything. He tells Don Fran that he believes all men have a little bit of “Francisco Conte” in them.
He asks what man hasn’t lied a bit to a woman to impress her. He says all men are alike. Don Fran interjects, but not Julian, who teasingly says he has never lied in his life. He says the Fran character was important because it added humor to the story. (Or something like that.)

Don Fran mentions that in these stories it is not uncommon that the chauffer ends up with the maid. He then turns his attention to Jacky. I am not certain about this but Don Fran mentions something about finding love on and off the set. Jacky answers something about this costing her 8 months of not being able to tape. (Was she pregnant? I don’t know what that was all about.)

Don Fran also mentions that Marcella forgot to bring her black glove and she is now wearing a borrowed one. She says the other one was dirty with blood on it. They tease about her offering coffee to people and she turns to Don Fran and asks if he wants a coffee.

They talk a bit about the death of Marcella and we get a clip of the fire. More teasing about her demise and that she had lots left undone. Vanessa teases about having an Eva Luna part 2.

It turns out that Jacky is from Argentina. She mentions that Julian is from Argentina as well. She talks about having to neutralize her accent.

Don Fran is thanking “the second string” and announcing that the next segment will be the “A team” (Finally). (he didn’t say that but that is what I was thinking.)

He also is introducing the final scene of the novela which was nothing more than a shameless add for Mac Donalds. Eva and Dan are riding in a blue convertible very content. She suddenly gets a craving for a chicken sandwich. Thank goodness they are in front of Mac Don’s. She pats her stomach a bit and Dan is clueless as ever. He asks her if she can’t wait. She has to pat her stomach again before he figures out she is now eating for two.


We return to an empty stage with Don Fran introducing Guy and Blanca . Eva looks smashing in a golden slinky number and Dan looks like he is going to the rodeo.


Don Fran says to Blanca that she has to be very emotional after knowing so many people were watching the novela. He also notes that Guy has been in several novelas but that he has to feel very comforted with the publics reaction to this novela. Guy says the response was phenomenal and he is very grateful.

Don Fran asks Eva how the physical relationship in a novela between two people changes from the beginning to the ending. She says it is about the same but it gets easier towards the end. We get a clip of the fiery kiss between them in the back of the SUV.


and the audience is now chanting again for a kiss. Both Blanco and Guy seem a bit embarrassed. We get no kiss but Dan throws kisses to the audience.

More questions from the audience. The person who is asking the question now was lucky enough to be an extra at the taping of the wedding. She congratulates Blanca and tells her she is very pretty. She asks Blanco in real life does she like men more like Julian or like Guy. Guy is laughing as Blanca thinks about it and says “Oh my God” and says she prefers them like her husband. We get a nice picture of Eva and her Husband.


Don Fran teases her that her answer is logical but perhaps not the truth. She finally says she prefers them more masculine and Strong. Don Fran mentions that her first husband died. Then he asks her if there are similarities between her first husband and second one. Blanca tells him they are totally different. In their manner “of being” their looks and every thing. Don Fran than says that a person is able to fall in love with different types of people. Blanca tells him it is what is inside a person. Dan explains that his first wife isn’t dead but his second wife is totally different from his first. He agrees with Blanca that people look for something inside the other person and not necessarily just the physical.

Next question. The woman asking begins by saying “Papacito” She wants to know if Guy’s wife gets jealous when he kisses Blanca. Dan tells her that his wife knows that he is a professional and she usually leaves the set when they film, and sees it for the first time when it airs. He says he can than tell if he is doing his job well if his wife likes the scene. He tells her she is able to separate the real from the fiction.

Don Fran says he imagines that they have to refilm the scene many times. Dan also explains that while filming it gets very technical . There are cameras and microphones every where. The whole world is there. He says it is a job, although they do it with love so the audience will enjoy it.

Don Fran points out that Blanca was not the first leading woman for Guy in a novela but Guy was Blanca’s first leading man in a novela. Blanca tells him it is different when making a movie compared to a novela.
She says it is much longer doing the novela and they spend many more hours with one another.

The next guest is Laurita, played by Gabriela Borges. She comes bouncing out very cheery wearing the strangest looking little furry boots as she sits down beside Don Fran. She looks adorable


He tells her it is probably very different for her to be there because when she tapes there isn’t a lot of people around but here there is 2000 people. This does not see to daunt her one bit as she shouts out and asks how every one is.

They talk about her getting the role. She said she went to casting and was worried about looking so much like a gringa. Than she found out Guy was going to be the father and she went “Good, I have the job.” Don Fran mentions that Guy was born in Brazil and has lived in many different places. Dan than points out that people may not know this but Gabriel spoke English at the casting. She didn’t speak Spanish very well and learned it during the novela. She says she is still learning and after 8 months of taping is better. (her smile and energy throughout the interview is so fun to watch.)

Don Fran mentions that there are many kids who have bilingual parents but are not bilingual. Guy says it is important that children learn both languages so that they will have more opportunities. He gives the example of himself, who is an “American actor” but he has the opportunity to be in telenovelas.

Don Fran asks Gabriel what it was like working with Guy. She says it was great!! This was her first acting job and all the actors were marvelous and she loved it.

Our next guest is Deborah, Frances Oliviera. He points out that it was probably more difficult for her as she came in half way during the novela. When everyone else was already use to one another. She said it was a bit difficult because there was already a rhythm set. She says she had lots of help and direction. Don Fran also mentions the writer and asks for applause from the audience.

Don Fran asks what the work hours were like. Frances tells him they sometimes would start at 7 in the morning. Blanca says she was usually there by six. Frances tells him she would get up about 4 in the morning to be ready. Dan is thanking God that he didn’t have be there so early to do hair and such. Frances says they were there from about 6 in the morning till about 7 at night.

Don mentions that she has been in so many novelas and asks Frances why she thinks this one was such a success. She tells him because it was magical and had great actors writers and directors and also a great audience.


Next audience question or statement is from a young man who notes that Frances is beautiful and appears more like Eva’s sister rather than her mother.


Don Fran asks her how many novelas she has been in and she tells him thirty. He asks her if the novelas are distinct from one another or is the work the same. She tells him they are very distinct. She says the personalities are usually very different and her preparation for the roles are different.

Don turns to Gabriel now and says “this being your first novela, what is it like sitting next to some one who has done thirty? And with Guy who has also done so many.” She says she wants to continue doing novelas.


He asks her if she is studying as well. She says she is home schooled. He asks her now that the novela is over if she will return to school or continue with home schooling. She tells him it depends if she keeps working or not. He asks her if she is a good student. She says she was. He asks Blanca if she was a good student. She tells him yes that discipline was very important. We find out that Dan had studied international administration at school.

Next audience question addressed to “Papacito tan chulo” (the very cute) Guy. She wants to know who kisses better. Blanca or Vanessa. Guy tells her even though Vanessa is a wonderful person the role she played was a bad person and they didn’t give the passionate kisses because he was never in love with the Victoria character. He says that is why it is hard to compare them.

Don Fran is sitting there quite sadly as he says. “ In all the time I have been in television no one has ever called me “Papacito chulo”. Eva reaches over to give a consoling hand as we go to commercial


Every one is back on stage now as Don Fran reminds everyone where they can find all the episodes and news about the novelas.

There are more questions from Lourdes who has now joined the entire cast on stage. Some one wants to know if they are doing a slapping scene and the cameras shut down what do they do. I think Dan says they just shoot it over. Another question is for Guy. He has always played the “good” part. Does he ever want to play the “bad” part? He says he would love to change places and play Julian’s part. The audience boos. He than asks the audience if they wouldn’t like to see him play a villain. Every one shouts back no.

Don Fran asks Julian if he has been more successful with his villain roles or the hero roles. Julian tells him with the villain roles because he enjoys them more. Then he adds pointing to Guy that when he plays opposite someone like him he is always more successful.

Than Alicia started talking and I just lost interest. Everyone was talking at once. Finally Don Fran brings them all to their feet and asks for applause for all their hard work. He asks Susana Dosamantes to speak for everyone that has worked on this for the last 9 months. She says it was made with much love and hard work and was done for all of us.

Don Fran gives thanks to all the actors and the studios involved for presenting such a successful novela an we exit to our faithful Eva Luna theme song.

Don Julio was missing throughout the entire show and I didn’t catch if there was an explanation or not. I do want to leave you all with my favorite Don J. picture.

Labels: eva