Caray, Caray!

Hi! My mom wasn't quite feeling up to the task tonight. Although she could probably recap novelas in her sleep by now, I volunteered to hop into the ring for a spell. In a great display of multi-tasking I managed to get it done, make oatmeal-raisin-walnut cookies, and eat more than anyone should, all in an hour and ten minutes!

Which brings us to tonight's gripping episode of Una familia con suerte.

The curtain rises on the storefront of an interesting business model (at least, that's the first thing I saw. I came upstairs after putting the cookies in the oven, and my mom said I didn't miss anything): Lupita and Tomás' sister are ostensibly working the counter at the internet cafe and selling sandwiches to passers-by, but really engaged in chatting with some mystery fellow with the screen name "king of cups." The show's crew must have done their research, because the girls appear to be using the exact same version of Aol Instant Messenger that I used in the late 90s to share emoticons and crude jokes with my friends.
Tomás' sister is really excited about meeting this random individual (there's a lesson about trusting internet strangers somewhere in here) and decides to meet up with him that very night. She's bringing Lupita, whether the other girl likes it or not.

Meanwhile, Vins is at home industriously counting his presidential eggs before they hatch. Alone in his mansion (doesn't he have a job?), he practices his presidential mannerisms. His gay friend wanders in (doesn't *he* have a job?) and they chitchat. Pina prances in and acts jealous (doesn't she have a national radio show to run?) of the attention her husband is getting from this new fellow. Nothing important happens here.

Now we cut to Pancho, playing a mexican sport that looks like squash with a big glove instead of a racket. He looks remarkably moody and contemplative for a dude bouncing a ball against a wall. Fortunately, Chacho is there (with his lollipop) to help sort out his bro's feelings. Pancho: "how could this happen to me; I like the life I have; I must be true to who I really am inside; integrity; etc." Chacho: "This could really change your life [duh]; money isn't all bad; I'll always be your friend, no matter what." This goes back and forth for a bit, with Pancho emotionally squinting, but eventually Chacho cheers him up. In a particularly bro-mantic touch, the scene goes out on two dudes bouncing a ball against a wall *together*.

Back to Pancho's house (la casa popular): Rebeca (she of the astounding boobs and protruding butt) shows up in some astoundingly high stilettos to "sweeten the deal" and get Pancho on board with the whole president thinging. Her big reveal (and I thought her blouse was the "big reveal"--tee hee hee)is that she came on Fer's behalf. It's not really such big news, but it merits a pro forma closeup on Pancho's shocked face. It turns out he doesn't take that much convincing, and she whips out a contract in a huge leather notebook, but it doesn't get signed because *chela is now watching jealously and there has to be something for her to overhear and misinterpret*. To that end Rebeca repeatedly tells Pancho to look into her eyes as she reassures him that they'll be together EVERY DAY now and she'll be with him EVERY STEP. Chacho's friend is impressed by Rebeca's legs, but Chela is totally bugging out. She goes to vent to Candi who is once again practicing a suggestive dance, in preparation for the big festival which will soon take place.

Back to Lupita and Tomás' sister... the girls are sneaking out, and Lupita is having second thoughts. Tomás sister steamrolls her. Everybody feels a little guilty when Tomás shows up and confronts them. I lose what little interest I had in this subplot.

Similarly to Tomás' unwanted arrival, Monica shows up just as her boyfriend Freddy is preparing to sneak out to see these girls. He has just been telling his buddy Alex that having two chicks is like riding a race car - the danger and adrenaline are so exciting. You know the rest. With Monica's arrival, Freddy acts cool, and winds up going all smoochy. Alex is grumpy about being stuck in the room with two "empalogosos" (basically, disgustingly sweet).

Pina saunters into Fer's office and continues to be obnoxious. She is sorry about Fer's "condition."

Pancho thinks Chela is mad at him because she thinks Rebeca is making him forget Laurita. Actually she's just jealous. Anyway, she doesn't want him to sign up as president.

Fer visits Vins, who is practically wriggling out of his shiny suit in excitement. He removes all the square pillows from the couch, because apparently cancer patients can't handle pillows. Fers lets them know that she has an announcement. She is going to a special clinic in Europe and before she can finish getting the word "presidency" out of her mouth, Pina is pointing at Vins and Vins is engaged in a grin so contorted that it curls the edges of his mustache. She lets them wallow in their glee, telling them she'll make the big announcement on Pina's radio show.

Hop back to la casa popular for another heavy-handed juxtaposition of mansion-vs-normal-life, and the Pancho crew is busily hanging crepe paper for the festival, which they're assuming will solve all their money problems. crepe-paper away, my friends! Nothing new on the Chela-and-Pancho front, though.

The Nacos are working on their car, and their hair is greasier than the engine. They're talking about girls. Blah.

In another quick-and-easy juxtaposition, we switch to Alex and Freddy as they talk about girls.

Now we're in the rich kids' classroom (don't they have something to learn?) They're all chatting, and some random dude announces that he just got a rare Italian car, one of only two in the country. Freddy goes to check it out, and Alex scoops up his blackberry for some hidden-identity hi-jinks. Fortunately Lupita and Tomás' sister are still busily not selling sandwiches or internet access at the internet cafe/sandwich shop and ready to chat. Since both the girls and Freddy got held up the night of their meeting. Alex pretends to be Freddy and apologizes. He gets himself invited to *gasp* the festival!

We conclude the episode at the studio of "Pina Opina." Pina gives herself a glowing introduction and then introduces Fer as a genius of business. She proceeds to, rather than talk about business, tell the entire country of México that Fer is dying of cancer. She then says "Fernanda, what the whole country would like to know is, how much time do you have left." Oooh, killer. Clearly, Pina is angling for a Pulitzer.

Next week (quoting the preview): "You are invited to a grand festival of music, dance, and betrayal."

Thanks for reading!

-cerberez

Labels: familia