El secretario

Genre Telenovela / Comedy
Written by Jörg Hiller
Claudia Sánchez
Catalina Coy[1]
Directed by Juan Camilo Pinzón
Víctor Cantillo (assistant)
Unai Amuchastegui (2nd. unit)[1]
Starring Juan Pablo Espinosa
Stephanie Cayo
Martín Karpan[1]
Theme music composer Fabo Romero, Jimmy Pulido López[1]
Opening theme Sólo tú (Jimmy Pulido)
Composer(s) Fabo Romero, J. Pulido
Country of origin Colombia
Language(s) Spanish
No. of episodes 120 (planned) (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Juan Andrés Flórez
Producer(s) Manuel Peñaloza[1]
Camera setup Multicamera
Broadcast
Original channel Caracol TV
Picture format 480p (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original run 22 August 2011 – present
External links
Website

El secretario is a 2011 Colombian telenovela produced and broadcast by Caracol TV.

Contents

Plot

30-year-old Emilio Romero (Juan Pablo Espinosa) was living in New York working as a pizza delivery guy, despite his background in finances. He finds out through a Facebook-like social network that he has a 6-year-old daughter in Bogotá, and decides to come back to Colombia, but he is broke. One of his clients (Hernán Méndez), who turns out to be a mafioso, pays his plane tickets with the condition of taking a suitcase full of clothes. When arriving to Bogotá, customs police find the suitcase has a double bottom packed with thousands of dollars. Romero co-operates with justice and is released under parole. He meets his daughter Valentina (Hillary Vergara), who lives with her mother and Emilio's ex-girlfriend Lorena (Helga Díaz) and her stepfather Franklin Sotomayor (Fernando Solórzano).

With no money in his pockets, Emilio managed to find a place to live: an apartment whose former tenant (Fabio Camero) is to be evicted. There he meets Gertrudis Dudis Buenahora (Margalida Castro), his new neighbour. Emilio also accepts (reluctantly at first, as he had applied to be an accounting assistant) a job as a secretary at Industrias Copito, a toilet paper company. His immediate bosses are Mario Segura (Fabián Mendoza), the operations manager and the owner's half-brother, and Antonia Fontalvo (Stephanie Cayo), the workaholic commercial manager and fiancée of Félix Segura (Martín Karpan), the company's owner. Félix has a clandestine affaire with Paola Zorrilla (Andrea López), Antonia's best friend.

As the only male secretary of the company, Emilio is mocked by the other secretaries and his male coworkers. Mario hates him because Antonia hired a male secretary in order to keep Mario's sexual instincts away from his former secretary, Yensi (Alexandra Serrano). Though loyal, optimistic, kind, and efficient, Emilio is clumsy and gets easily into trouble, specially with Félix; nevertheless, Antonia constantly defends him and stands by his side.

Cast

Episodes

  1. Emilio viaja a Colombia y conoce a su hija (2011-08-22; rating: 12.4)
  2. Félix continúa con las mentiras (2011-08-23; rating: 12.3)
  3. Mario le hace la vida imposible a Emilio (2011-08-24; rating: 12.6)
  4. El puesto de Emilio corre peligro (2011-08-25; rating: 14.5)
  5. El secretario ve desnuda a Antonia (2011-08-26; rating: 13.3)
  6. Todos en la empresa creen que Emilio es gay (2011-08-29; rating: 13.8)
  7. A Félix se le complica la vida (2011-08-30; rating: 14.0)
  8. Emilio gana puntos en la empresa (2011-08-31; rating: 14.6)
  9. Emilio le paga con la misma moneda a Mario (2011-09-01; rating: 14.3)
  10. Lorena descubre que sigue enamorada de Emilio (2011-09-02; rating: 11.7)
  11. Mario se le insinúa a Paola (2011-09-05; rating: 14.3)
  12. Se descubre la gran mentira de Emilio (2011-09-06; rating: 15.2)
  13. Emilio se dedica a remendar corazones (2011-09-07; rating: 14.0)
  14. Emilio se mete en la grande (2011-09-08; rating: 14.8)
  15. Emilio logra estar con su más preciado tesoro (2011-09-09; rating: N/A)
  16. A Emilio se le cumple un sueño (2011-09-13; rating: 13.4)
  17. De secretario a superhéroe (2011-09-14; rating: 13.2)
  18. El secretario sigue de capa caída (2011-09-15; rating: 13.6)
  19. Emilio queda como todo un caballero (2011-09-16; rating: 13.4)
  20. El heroísmo del secretario es bien retribuido (2011-09-19; rating: 14.2)
  21. Lorena descubre que Emilio es secretario (2011-09-20; rating: 14.5)
  22. Emilio se va de Copito (2011-09-21; rating: 14.8)
  23. Antonia peca por confiada (2011-09-22; rating: 15.2)
  24. Emilio, Franklin y Lorena se llevan un gran susto (2011-09-23; rating: 15.7)
  25. El puesto que dejó Emilio ya tiene dueña (2011-09-26; rating: 15.1)
  26. Emilio consigue nuevos "amigos" (2011-09-27; rating: 15.1)
  27. Paola tiene un plan para recuperar a Félix (2011-09-28; rating: 15.6)
  28. A Olguita le rompen el corazón (2011-09-29; rating: 14.1)
  29. Milady sufre por culpa de su infidelidad (2011-09-30; rating: 12.5)
  30. Mario es acusado y perseguido por una errónea infidelidad (2011-10-03; rating: 12.7)
  31. Lucila tratará de acercar a Mario a su congregación (2011-10-04; rating: 11.9)
  32. Félix espía a Emilio y a su novia (2011-10-05; rating: 12.1)
  33. La policía persigue a Emilio (2011-10-06; rating: 13.3)
  34. Emilio descubre irregularidades en el Ministerio (2011-10-07; rating: 8.9)
  35. Olguita planea tener una noche de pasión con Emilio (2011-10-10; rating: 11.5)
  36. El secretario regresa a Industrias Copito (2011-10-11; rating: 11.1)
  37. Olguita recibe unas singulares clases (2011-10-12; rating: 10.6)
  38. Lorena quiere reconquistar a Emilio (2011-10-13; rating: 11.6)
  39. Olguita termina lastimada por sorprender a Emilio (2011-10-14; rating: 11.6)
  40. Franklin cree que Emilio está conquistando a Lorena (2011-10-18; rating: 10.8)
  41. Mario Segura está a punto de dar un gran paso (2011-10-19; rating: 12.5)
  42. Emilio y Antonia comparten más tiempo juntos (2011-10-20; rating: 12.5)
  43. Yensi le enseña unos truquitos a Félix (2011-10-21; rating: 12.6)
  44. Emilio conoce al suegro (2011-10-24; rating: 12.9)
  45. Una tarde llena de música y baile en Copito (2011-10-25; rating: 11.6)
  46. El secretario le enseña a Félix a bailar (2011-10-26; rating: 11.7)
  47. Mario es bautizado en "los seres de la luz" (2011-10-27; rating: 12.2)
  48. Emilio y Antonia asisten a un curso prematrimonial (2011-10-28; rating: 11.4)
  49. Antonia pasa un gran susto por culpa de su prometido (2011-10-31; rating: 11.5)
  50. Olguita y Emilio pasan la noche juntos (2011-11-01; rating: 12.1)
  51. Emilio vuelve a caer en las trampas de Paola (2011-11-02; rating: 13.3)
  52. El secretario y Antonia se besan (2011-11-03; rating: 13.5)
  53. Caen los cómplices de Félix (2011-11-04; rating: 12.6)
  54. Lorena recupera de nuevo su familia (2011-11-08; rating: 12.1)
  55. Emilio y su novia se van de viaje (2011-11-09; rating: 11.9)
  56. ¿A Félix se le acabará el reinado? (2011-11-10; rating: 11.6)
  57. Mario está a punto de dañar el matrimonio de Félix (2011-11-15; rating: 12.5)
  58. Félix es arrestado en plena ceremonia de matrimonio (2011-11-16; rating: 12.9)
  59. El secretario se queda en la misma habitación con Antonia (2011-11-17; rating: 13.0)
  60. Emilio enfrenta a Paola (2011-11-18; rating: 11.1)
  61. Paola quiere a su amante en la carcel (2011-11-21; rating: 12.0)
  62. Olguita tiene envidia de Antonia (2011-11-22; rating: 11.7)
  63. Yensi se enamora de Mario (2011-11-23; rating: 12.8)
  64. A Félix le dan casa por cárcel (2011-11-24; rating: 13.8)
  65. Félix engaña a Antonia para justificar su detención (2011-11-25; rating: 11.1)
  66. Félix ordena secuestrar a Antonia (2011-11-28; rating: 11.4)
  67. Intentan secuestrar a Antonia (2011-11-29; rating: 12.7)
  68. Mario cree que ahora le gustan los hombres (2011-11-30; rating: 14.8)
  69. Félix convence a Antonia de que es inocente (2011-12-01; rating: 8.9)
  70. Mario cree estar enamorado del secretario (2011-12-02; rating: 8.4)
  71. Antonia viaja a Cartagena con Emilio (2011-12-05; rating: 10.2)
  72. Una serenata romántica le abre las puertas a un nuevo amor (2011-12-06; rating: 9.3)
  73. A Emilio le rompen el corazón (2011-12-07; rating: 7.3)
  74. Emilio le rompe el corazon a Olguita (2011-12-09; rating: 8.9)
  75. Antonia enfrenta a Yensi (2011-12-12; rating: 11.7)
  76. Mario acosa a Emilio (2011-12-13; rating: 11.0)
  77. Yensi chantajea a Félix (2011-12-14; rating: 10.8)
  78. Mario se la juega toda por Emilio (2011-12-15; rating: 11.5)
  79. Mario se quiere salir con la suya (2011-12-16; rating: 9.4)
  80. Olguita finge un embarazo (2011-12-19; rating: 11.2)
  81. Yensi consigue secretaria (2011-12-20; rating: 9.4)
  82. Emilio le pone un alto a sus planes con Antonia (2011-12-21; rating: 8.5)
  83. Conde se convierte en un osado detective (2011-12-22; rating: 9.4)
  84. Mario se destapa (2011-12-23; rating: 9.3)
  85. Félix descubre que su hermano es gay (2011-12-26; rating: 10.3)
  86. A Emilio se le termina de complicar la vida (2011-12-27; rating: 10.7)
  87. Mario se aprovecha de la necesidad de Emilio (2011-12-28; rating: 10.6)
  88. Paola tiene un nuevo amigo (2011-12-29; rating: 10.5)
  89. Emilio le hace una escena de celos a Antonia (2011-12-30)
  90. Félix se termina saliendo con la suya (2012-01-02)
  91. TBA (2012-01-03)

Music

The theme song is Solo tú, by in-house composers Fabo Romero and Jimmy Pulido López; the latter performs the song. Music by Afro-Colombian electronica band Systema Solar (Mi kolombia, Sin oficio, En los huesos) is featured in many episodes. In episode 12, most secretaries and the administrative area humiliate Emilio by performing a choreography with Daniela Romo's 1983 hit Pobre secretaria, which Emilio and Antonia sing in karaoke in episode 52. In episode 45, many Copito employees perform a choreography with Bomba Estéreo's 2008 hit Fuego. Vallenato singer Pipe Peláez appears on episode 72 singing a capella Cuando quieras quiero; in the same episode Mario dances Kool and the Gang's Ladies Night. Other songs already used by Caracol TV in other telenovelas, such as Ensamble's Otra vez (ep. 5), Adriana Bottina's Ya mi soledad (ep. 76) and Lucas Troo's Sin tu fe (ep. 29), are also featured.

Reception

After watching the first episode, television critic Javier Santamaría stated that the telenovela is similar to other Caracol TV series such as Nuevo rico nuevo pobre and Clase ejecutiva and that it does not have anything "special;" he criticizes Argentine actor Martín Karpan but praises Espinosa for his "commitment and energy."[2] Days later, his perception of the telenovela improved, praising its incidental music and stating that, since it is a comedy, it is "unavoidable" to see "caricatured characters." [3]

Ómar Rincón, writing for El Tiempo, slams Karpan, Mendoza, and López calling their characters "un-bear-able," and says that at Industrias Copito "no one works, everyone yells." Rincón praises the plot, "it sounds plausible, it's sweet and creates empathy [with it]," and actors Espinosa and Cayo.[4]

At gossip website lafiscalia.com, pinksauce praises its opening sequence, its scenes taped in New York, and the visual effects, but found some inconsistencies from the legal point of view on Emilio's return to Colombia, and criticizes Espinosa, Mendoza, Karpan, and Cayo, as well as the costume design and the make-up.[5] Diana C., from telenovela portal todotnv.com, claims that though the love story with unresolved sexual tension between Emilio and Antonia is "weak," praises the "cuteness" brought by Emilio's daughter, and the fact that Cayo and Karpan don't hide their native accents (Peruvian and Argentinian, respectively); she praises most main actors, except López.[6]

Ratings improved during its first week and, after having started in fifth place among the programmes broadcast in prime time,[7] it finished third after the fourth episode.[8] On 22 September 2011, it climbed to second place and became the most watched telenovela in Colombia that day.[9]

International broadcast

On October 2011, El secretario premiered on Telesistema 11 in Dominican Republic. [10] WAPA-TV broadcasts the telenovela in Puerto Rico since December 2011.[11] El secretario premieres 9 January 2012 on Repretel (Canal 6) in Costa Rica.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Departamento de prensa del Canal Caracol, El secretario, August 2011
  2. ^ Javier Santamaría, Los cacareados estrenos del 22, 23 August 2011
  3. ^ Javier Santamaría, Salpicón farandulero, 24 August 2011
  4. ^ Ómar Rincón, Caracol lo intenta, El Tiempo, 26 August 2011
  5. ^ pinksauce, Lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo de El secretario, lafiscalia.com, 22 August 2011
  6. ^ Diana C., El secretario, dale con la URST, todotnv.com, 30 August 2011
  7. ^ Germán sí es a prueba de balas [ratings], lafiscalia.com, 23 August 2011
  8. ^ Rating Colombia Jueves 25 de agosto de 2011, Total TV, 26 August 2011
  9. ^ Rating Colombia Jueves 22 de septiembre de 2011, Total TV, 23 September 2011
  10. ^ “El secretario” se estrenó en Republica Dominicana, todotnv.com, 24 October 2011
  11. ^ El secretario estrena en Puerto Rico, TV Boricua USA, 12 December 2011
  12. ^ repretel.com, Repretel canal 6 estrenará 3 novelas la próxima semana, Repretel, 3 January 2012

External links