The Birth of an Icon: Insights and El Chapulín Colorado (The Red Grasshopper) in Chespirito Sin Querer Queriendo review – Episode 3
Third episode of the bioseries Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo, HBO MAX: Don’t panic.
Read the review of Episode 1 and Episode 2 here.
Lee este texto en español: Opiniones de Chespirito: El Chapulín Colorado en “Sin Querer Queriendo” episodio 3
Table of Contents
From the beginning, the episode 3 of Chespirito Sin querer queriendo / Chespirito Not really on purpose (Don’t Get Your ‘Reathers Fuffled!) immerses us in the creative process and misadventures that led to the birth of one of Mexican television’s most beloved characters: El Chapulín Colorado (The Red Grasshopper).
This episode is an ode to the perseverance and vision of Roberto Gómez Bolaños, alias Chespirito, as he navigates the obstacles and pressures on his path to television immortality. Chespirito’s insights, his dilemmas, and his faith in his own ideas are the central focus of this emotional story.
Immortal Phrases and Creative Pressure
The plot kicks off with a nod to the immortal phrases Chespirito popularized —”Que no panda el cúnico” (“Pobody nanic“), “No contaban con mi astucia” (They didn’t count on my cleverness!), and “Y ahora, ¿quién podrá defenderme?” (And now, who can defend me?)—, immediately establishing the relevance of the genius behind them.
The narrative accelerates with a scare at Roberto’s family home, serving as a catalyst for the first of many tensions caused by an overload of obligations between writing, acting, and fathering six kids.
One of the central subplots revolves around the confrontation between Roberto and Sergio Peña, who challenges his decision to end “Los Supergenios de la Mesa Cuadrada.” This friction shows Chespirito’s constant struggle to innovate and to follow his creative instinct, despite the expectations of those around him.
In this context of uncertainty and the need for a new project, Roberto begins to conceive the idea of a superhero. Simultaneously, the series reminds us of his personal life, with the imminent arrival of his sixth child, adding a layer of responsibility and pressure to his already saturated schedule.
From Acapulco to the TV Station: The Gestation of the “B-Grade” Hero
The story takes us to a vibrant Acapulco, where Roberto’s personal life clashes with his professional responsibilities. His attempts to discuss the end of “El Chavo del Ocho” recordings with his wife are frustrated by domestic demands, reflecting the complexity of balancing his creative genius with the daily family life.
Meanwhile, in a flashback to the TV station, intrigue brews.
Mr. Treviño pressures for a rival comedian, Víctor Palacios (with a notable resemblance to the real-life Mexican superstar Alejandro Suárez), to take Chespirito’s time slot, leveraging the fact that Roberto hasn’t presented anything new and his show is airing reruns.
This threat pushes Roberto to refine his vision for a new character. He realizes the key isn’t a conventional superhero, but a parody, a “b-grade superhero,” a “mock superhero”: El Chapulín Justiciero.
Sergio Peña’s acceptance of the concept is a relief, though the original name doesn’t click. The phrase “Heroism is not about not being afraid, but about overcoming it” encapsulates the essence of this peculiar hero.
Despite this, the initial proposal doesn’t get greenlighted by top management, leading to the bold decision to secretly record the pilot. Here, the complicity with Mariano Casasola comes into play, as he allows them to use his news set for the clandestine recording.
The Secret Behind the Red Costume: Chroma Key
A crucial production detail highlighted in the episode is the limitation in the Chapulín’s costume design. Graciela sews the costume according to Roberto’s sketches, but they must avoid green and blue clothes due to the use of chroma key (green screen or blue screen for special effects), a fascinating anecdote explaining why the iconic costume ended up being red and yellow.
Thus, El Chapulín Justiciero transforms into El Chapulín Colorado.
Personal drama intensifies again in a flashforward to Acapulco, with a tense encounter between Roberto, Margarita (his future second wife), and Mariano, who culminates in a jealous scene and Mariano’s resignation, only to reach a “gentlemen’s agreement.”
Back in 1970, the secret pilot recording becomes a race against time: the team arrives secretly at the TV studio on a Saturday night, with only four hours left and a single set, forcing Roberto to rewrite on the fly. Tension mounts when a security guard reports the unauthorized activity.
The Final Confrontation and the Triumph of Genius
The climactic scene arrives with Roberto Gómez Bolaños handwriting the script and dressing himself in the Chapulín Colorado costume. The recording finishes just in time for Mr. Treviño’s arrival.
The episode culminates in an epic confrontation between Roberto and Mr. Joaquín Vargas (note: not the real-life Joaquín Vargas, founder of MVS), a executive at the TV station with a higher rank than Sergio Peña, and who reprimands Roberto for breaking the rules and deceiving management.
However, Roberto’s audacity is immense when he swaps his tape, meant for re-recording, with another tape that Vargas was supposed to review. The outcome is unexpected: despite his anger, El Chapulín Colorado’s genius manages to make Vargas “laugh like an idiot.”
Chespirito’s insights are validated at the peak moment when El Chapulín Colorado is broadcast on open television in Mexico and other countries.
The competition’s reaction, seeing the high ratings, seals Chespirito’s fate, where Emilio Azcárraga predicts his inevitable move to “the other” TV station.
This episode provides an intimate look into the continuous challenges and triumphs behind one of Spanish television’s greatest talents. It’s a reminder that sometimes, great ideas are born from rebellion and unwavering passion, shaping Chespirito’s insights and his legacy forever.
My Personal Opinion:
I’ll just say that I almost cried when they said “Chapulín Colorado” for the first time.
I’m more than ready for watching the upcoming Episode 4. Gotta wait a whole week for it!
They didn’t count on my cleverness!
Good people, follow my lead!
Note on the translation: The name in English of the episode 3 of the HBO MAX series isDon’t Get Your ‘Reathers Fuffled!
In Spanish the name of the episode 3 comes from a common phrase (“Que no cunda el pánico”) that the Chapulín Colorado changes to “Que no panda el cúnico”. According to ABC News, the translation of the common phrase is “Nobody panic”, and the Chapulín Colorado’s phrase would be “Pobody nanic”.
