Caray, Caray!

Great recap. Very funny. But The evening news has more action than this boring draggggggggiiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggg tn.
 

Jardinera, thanks for the wonderful recap.

I love the casting of Alicia and Pablo. They look like two normal fifteen year olds. Notice I didn't say "sound" because of his signature laugh.

So Yolanda told Doroteo that she wants to learn how to pole dance from the best That could be funny. I hope we see her on stage at some point.

Laura is just a b***** but as someone mentioned in a previous day's post, there are women just like her.

If Fanny really is sick of the texts from Lenin, why does she not just block him? León has reason to be concerned.

A night out if the mansion, what are they to do? Should be good.

Jarifa
 

“Hmmm, here's a chance for Dionysus to make himself useful,” said Hermes.

“What can he do now?” asked Apollo with some irritation. “I put him in Tartarus because of Diego's accident.”

“Ramona, the maid,” said Hermes. “She's living in Bruja Central now. She makes perfect margaritas. Maybe if she helps get Yolanda drunk enough she can find out that Isabitch is using another man's baby to fleece Fernando.”

“I like that, but she doesn't need Dion's help. All she needs is a little time.”
 

Gracias, Jardinera.

Yolanda pole-dancing? Would our eyes ever recover from that?

Now that you've all lost your appetites, I am not looking forward to Isabloated's plans for Siete. If the writers of this series kill off that darling dog, I will mutiny!
 

Thanks Jardinera, I agree about the punishment for Alicia being ridiculously light and the fumigation abomination. Spraying toxic chemicals all through the house, extra heavy dose in the kid's room, how insane.

YoMama can't come down stairs without help, are we to believe she can swing on a pole?

Ana is going to remain hurt over Fernando choosing to marry Isa for another what, 80 episodes? and not forgive him? But having near kisses and touches all along? And having Fernando tell her he loves her the whole time? And having Ana reminisce about their moments until the show is over?
And having the kids put them in compromising situations trying to get them together?

That ridiculous laugh of Pablo must play a part in this storyline, I can't see why they would have it otherwise. Hopefully Alicia will get turned off by it as we all already have before she has sex with him.
 

Excellent Jardinera.

Jarifa, ITA that if Fanny wanted Lenin's advances to stop she could but she doesn't. I don't believe Laura coming on to Leon and Lenin coming on to Fanny is equivalent at this point. Fanny opened the door and got caught.

How convenient, Ana will not forgive Fernando. If she did she would have to tell Fernando she is an erotic dancer. She loves dancing at that club and willing to lie and keep Fernando at arms length, to stay.

Dana is the only person risking anything to take Doroteo down.

 

Do we know whether Doroteo has ever actually killed anyone?

From a purely social perspective, Dana has nothing to lose. She currently is risking physical violence, but seems to know that. In fact, Ana is the only person who has anything else to lose, which is everything. She needs to come forth with the truth yesterday because this will otherwise blow up in her face.
 

Thank you Jardinera, I enjoy your recap laced with plenty of snark and good sense.

CathyX I agree about the fumigation. I guess it was supposed to be funny but misuse of toxic chemicals in the home, and potential danger to people and pets, is not funny. (Sort of like Johnny...)

Also CathyX re: your comment "Hopefully Alicia will get turned off by (Pablos' laugh)...before she has sex with him" All I can say is CANCELO CANCELO CANCELO!

I'm getting that vibe from Fanny that she finds Lenin annoying but is secretly flattered by the attention. Glad Fanny's new BFF Edith will be there to give some good advice.

J in Oregon
 

I agree about Fanny with regard to Lenin. When Leon walked in, they looked to me like they were about to kiss. And Fanny doesn't ignore his advances like she should. If she never texted him back and didn't sit by him, she would be sending him a clearer message. But I'm sure she is flattered by the attention. And that's the same reason Ana 'loves' dancing. She loves the attention she gets when she does it.
 

I don't know that Ana is aware of the creeps' attention when she dances. For many dancers it's a very personal act that allows them to be in touch with themselves or some indescribable spiritual thing. She leaves the stage as soon as she's done and doesn't socialize with the customers.

Hisabruja would love the attention and play it for all it's worth because she has to believe she is the fairest of them all. Now, wouldn't it be amusing if she ended up in one of these places at the end of the series while Ana is queen of the mansion?
 

Many thanks Jardinera. You made this recap so much more enjoyable than the episode itself.

The whole fiasco with the fumigating was beyond stupid. With the amount of crud that was being pumped into that house, there will be some happy retailers out there as they better shop to replace some items that will not be usable or lose that awful smell. The fact Johny was even allowed to do that was beyond the pale. Could you see one of those little kiddies Osorio wants to be watching the show think "what a cool idea" and start spraying the Raid all over their house? Especially since it means, YAY!, you get to have a camp out after a grown up does something mindless.

Done with the rant.

You know, I'm getting a tad tired of the mooning, just about to kiss situations with all the kids hanging around that are always played out with Ana and Fer.(See more coming with the preview). I agree, she and Fanny both, don't want the attention, you have the means to stop it.

I'm starting to worry for our next 80 episodes. There's silly and cute and down-right stupid. Seems we are heading into the realm of down-right stupid with the Johny-antics and ideas like Yomama wanting to pole dance...I mean no!

Daisynjay
 

Thanks Jardinera for the great recap.
Does anybody else get annoyed by the trumpet "whinny" sound after every joke to announce that it is supposed to be funny? I usually like to decide that for myself.

Denise
 

Ana has been dancing at that club for 10 years, she knows why the guys are there. She started because she looked good and it paid well to dance scantly clad for drunk men. People dance for artistic reasons all the time and starve. She still looks good, I'm sure her technique & costumes have improved but it ain't paying well now and she obviously isn't concerned enough about getting caught, believing she'll get the boot as Nanny. She's backed herself into a corner because the only pay check she gets is from a man she disrespects daily with her lies.

 

Denise, that's usually a ploy used when it's not actually funny and for kid's shows, which usually aren't funny either, at least not for adults. And we've been told that this isn't a kids show, but the humor level borders on an 8 year old level.

UA, if Ana were dancing for herself and her spirituality, then she would dance in her room by herself, so I don't agree. Any dancer who does what she does, does it for that attention. And the pay is usually not bad.
 

I have to admit that I am mesmerized by Ana's dance/acrobatic routines. But,still, there is something disquieting about "sanitizing" and normalizing this activity. Kind of like the way Pretty Woman normalized or mainstreamed prostitution and became every middle-school girl's favorite movie. Even if we say, "Well, gee, all of her essentials are covered," ultimately it can't be good.

Denise
 

Denise and cathyx, I chalk the overboard "whinny" horn "play on words" slapstiick extravaganza of humor we are experiencing to a cultural difference in humor and not to the age of the viewer. Humor is subjective person to person and also culture to culture. I am lucky that I appreciate this spectacle of broad humor. I also am a fan of "The Three Stooges" and "Såbado gigante."

Personally, I have no problem with Ana being a pole dancer for whatever the reason no matter what response it provokes in the male audience. What I have a problem with is her being indentured to Doroteo due to her poverty and having to fear Fernando's reaction because he might turn into a sanctmonious dolt if he finds out about her pole dancing.

Should be interesting.

Jarifa
 

Jardinera,

What a joy to read one of your recaps! I'm sure you know we were worried about you and yours. I hope all is well in your family.

Agree with all who thought that we could have been spared Johnnys and his fumigation scheme. Edna has gone from being a blonde bombshell to being Johnnys sidekick? Why was she demoted?

Fatima
 

Fatima, I didn't understand how she went from being a supermodel-centerfold to begging for work at the Club Chicago. The TN version of "fickle finger of fate"? But if a supermodel like her can fall for a bozo like Johnny, I guess anything is possible.

J in Oregon
 

Jarifa, don't get me wrong.
I totally love the Mexican sense of humor. I'm thinking of Cantinflas and also Ana, actually, when she goes on one of those stream-of-conscious monologues as Cantinflas would do. Here in the U.S. we see mostly the broad humor, and we sometimes assume that the Mexican sense of humor is less evolved than ours. Nothing could be further from the truth. For me, I just don't like the "whinny". It's sort of like a laugh track.
 

Oops forgot to sign my name to the comments about Cantinflas etc.

Denise
 

J in Oregon, yes, I suspect you are right. :)

Fatima
 

Re:Fanny and Lenin..They want us to want to believe that sweet little Fanny does not think there is anything "off" about allowing Lenin's attentions/advances, all the while she is in a serious committed relationship. She aint that nieve. Didn't have much trouble shutting old Reeky down. Just seems we are seeing her possibly only glaring flaw. Leon needs to cool it for awhile. If she wants a fellow who acts like her 15 year old sister most of the time go for it Fanny.
 

Denise, did you see the movie " Cantinflas " that came out earlier this fall? Since you are a fan, you would probably enjoy it. It was very well done and is out in dvd now.

Jarifa
 

Don't the performers in men's clubs make most of their money from tips tucked in their g-string?
 

Jardinera,

Great and funny recap. Many thanks.

Humor across cultures is such an interesting topic that might be as difficult to explain as is the humor itself. These differences are pretty subtle as so many important humorists in the US did slapstick and silly antics that aren't really that different than much of what we are watching. In fact, nothing gets me laughing harder -- even after seeing is many times -- than watching Lucy in the chocolate factory or stomping grapes. I find myself laughing at Bruno's physical comedy. On the other hand, Johnny leaves me pretty much cold! I did have to laugh the other night, however, when Ana explained to the kids that Johnny was Juan's artistic name (I guess stage name).

Not sure what to make of any of this, but humor is in the eye of the culture, the beholder and may depend on how much we love or don't love the character trying to be funny.
 

UrbanA:

"If the writers of this series kill off that darling dog, I will mutiny!" Make mine a double. However, I don't think they'll go that dark in this TN. Something or someone will block her or make the attempt a failed one, and she'll go on without anybody being the wiser.

What a link! Thank you.....I think?
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Kirby Johnson: Welcome! Glad you've joined the chatter! If this is your first telenovela, it is totally a-typical for this time of night.
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Jarifa; that laugh is disgusting, for sure, but I've watched the kid do his impressions of his brother and his altar ego and the kid is surprisingly quite talented IMNSHO. Go figure.
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Cathyx: the fumigation abomination goes for the "Bug Busters" scripting as well as the unsound subliminal messaging kids were definitely getting out of it.

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As for the acne, it looks real enough. Bad enough to have to face it in real life, and didn't appreciate any of the scenes where Don Ferd acted ignorant and felt compelled to discuss it with Ana. Another bow to similarly plagued teens' (of which I was one) insecurities at that age, and thus another proof positive that this is a kid's show. Grrrrr.
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Tofie/Jarifa/Kirby:

"Fanny opened the door and got caught." -- She certainly did and was. ITA that if she didn't appreciate his insistence, there'd be more definitive ways of blocking him out of her life. Anyway, he's not exactly the better looking of the two options, and a name like Lenin totally turns me off.

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J in Oregon: "...before she has sex with [Pablo]... All I can say is CANCELO CANCELO CANCELO!" LOL!! My thoughts exactly!!


 

Jarifa/Travelling Lady/Denise, et al:

"Not sure what to make of any of this, but humor is in the eye of the culture, the beholder and may depend on how much we love or don't love the character trying to be funny."

Sorry, folks, but I must rant here:

(IMNSHO) I totally appreciate both Chaplin Slapstick, Lucy, and Red Skelton comedy skits, not to mention Cantinflas and Maria the India re: cultural differences in humor. Those, however, are geared to the mature on some level but most of all, they use elements of the clowning technique that necessarily avoid the tasteless and mindless use of bodily excremental functions as an easy out. The most memorable humor IMNSHO entices the brain and avoids the butt which is most rude, crude and limited to the most foul of daily life. --Highbrow as opposed to Lowbrow, etc., etc. I personally wouldn't chalk up this type of humor to ethnic differences in any way. Even Ana's stream-of-conscious monologues are written with the double-entendre, the pun, the foot-in-mouth errors. She and DF were too "genteel" both literally and figuratively to allow the whoopy cushion stuff to continue when Pablo appeared for Ali. Highbrow/lowbrow. Socially acceptable and that which is not. --Ethnicity has nothing to do with it. JMO.
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Jarifa,
was the movie good and at least semi-accurate? i am thinking of getting a copy of the dvd or at least renting it to watch. so i guess i will at least rent it. i would love to know more about the guy my parents took me to the movie theaters to watch so many movies of... love El Padrecito the best, i always cry in the end, also el senor doctor.
 

Fatima:

"Edna has gone from being a blonde bombshell to being Johnnys sidekick?" I wondered the same thing. I must have missed the explanation. Contract not renewed? She spent all the dough?
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DaisynJay:

"I'm starting to worry for our next 80 episodes. There's silly and cute and down-right stupid. Seems we are heading into the realm of down-right stupid with the Johny-antics and ideas like Yomama wanting to pole dance." --I am surprised we're all still here awaiting the next 80 having made it through the first. If it weren't for the big names and all the money they'd spent on this telenovela, it is certain this would have been relegated to an afternoon slot long before now. I can live with the fractured fairytales, the sexual non-action between the leads, the blue routines, the social PSA's, the stretch between January-May romances and romps, the virginity of a 45 year old major domo, the "your gonna do it anyway so make it count" underlying sexual themes to underaged teens. Give us some meat to chew for gawd sakes!
 

Jardinera,
i have to agree on your rant. yes there is a difference between the type of humor in Cantinflas, Lucy, Red Skelton and even Abbot and Costello (even though the cruelty Abbot projected on Costello was a bit extreme, but you can put them in same category as the three stooges, you have to also go to the time period they were famous in, not so much social scrutiny at the time if they were funny enough).

But the Johnny skids and Fernando sort of acting like a kid who has never seen another kid with acne is out of order...


by the way, loved your succint recap with the great snark all around. 'It's electric!' reminded me of the 'It's Electric' line dance i used to love doing so often in my 20's

 

i think it was called the Electric slide.
 

Vario: you got a point about tips and g-strings. We don't get either of that in this tn, do we?


 

Martai: I remember the electric slide! I think our posts crossed somehow.

 

Marta, I do not know about the accuracy of the film because I did not know a lot about Mario Moreno's biography to begin with. I just was familiar with some of his films. Although the movie centers around his getting the role of Passepartout in Around the World in 80 Days, it does take us back to the creation of the character of "Cantinflas". I really enjoyed it and thought that Óscar Jaenada did a great job in the starring role. It is definitely worth a rental. I was lucky enough to be able to see it at a neighborhood theater.

Jarifa
 

Thank you for the recap!

ITA with everyone who is worried about the dragging out of this TN. I wish Ana would find her Mom soon and I would love for Ana and Fer to get together sooner rather than later and the two of them fight Isa, Reeky and Doro together. It would be nice to have several weeks of episodes with them fully together taking on the world. I hate the last episode crap the usually happens.
 

Dear Jarifa,

Thank you for the information about the film. I look forward to tracking it down.

Jardinera -- Taking your comments all together describe very well the problems we all seem to be feeling to one degree or another with this novela. I don't agree with everything you have said about humor but much of it and it underscores the decisions on the part of the producer to aim low, extend everything that gets a laugh beyond reason, send mixed signals of all kinds to both youthful and adult audiences, etc. In my opinion, it is all about getting the largest audience for the longest period of time. And, they seem to have succeeded, a bad sign for future novelas.

I haven't been following but hope there are some good things coming on the horizon -- with lots to gnaw on.

I am still enjoying the principals and love the kids. And have moved into one-eye watching mode more than I like. Long live Siete!
 

I think that there are certain kinds of humor that always work: Sex and pratfalls. Those require no translation. Verbal humor is different, though.

Which makes me wonder how successful comic novelas are in other countries.
US sitcoms don't always work when exported to other countries.

To the contrary, drama always translates.
 

Jarifa,
that's great that it goes into detail on how he got the role in ATWi80D... i loved him in it!! my favorite version. Jackie chan did not come even close to him... sort of like comparing the sidekick in Green Lantern movie to Bruce Lee's in the '70s series. in this case charisma and personal style are absolutely key. And Mario Moreno had it in strides... teh way he wore his pants down at the hips, how he moved his lips/face/mustache and even his dance was unique.
 

Traveling lady, i have to admit i am with you in the fact that i am not enthused with the novela. to the extent that i had to peek into the mexico recaps which are two weeks ahead to get any motivation to keep on watching, besides my role as recapper... and i have to say it does get better... i won't say more for obvious reasons.
 

i meant to say i am not as enthused as i was in the first couple months of storyline... i am with TL in the 'one-eye watching' mode.
 

i meant Bruce Lee's personification of 'Kato' the sidekick in the '70's series.
 

UA, great point. i guess with Ana's constant 'phrasing' into mexican slang, they have to resorrt to drama and situations that are common with other countries for the novela to be 'sellable'... that's televisa marketing for you.
 

Marta -- Thanks for looking forward a bit. I am so glad to hear that good things lie ahead.

TL
 

Bit off topic, but Televisa's "Gracias" promo for 2014 is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnGB48b6O2I

Features a bunch of actors from their novelas (a number of which haven't aired in US yet) dancing and lip-synching to "La vida es mejor cantando."

Mi corazon es tuyo sections include Jorge Salinas, Silvia Navarro, Paulina Goto, the kids, Mayrín Villanueva, Carmen Salinas, René Casados and Pablo Montero.

Even though he is only featured for about 2 seconds, Rene Casados still somehow manages to out-ham everybody. If there was a fight and ham-acting was the weapon of choice, is there anybody you'd rather have on your side than Casados?

They had a bunch of actors stay in character. Love the in-character antagonist bitchface of Azela Robinson from Yo no creo en los hombres and the villainous conspiring in midst of the fun by Claudia Ramirez and Luis Gatica from El color de la pasion.
 

Just to let everyone know, due to technical issues there will not be any screenshots tonight. Here is hoping I won't have that issue next time.
 

Azela Robinson's character "Josefa" is the epitome of Cheshire Cat. I've nicknamed her, "Hoe-sefa."