Videomatch

Videomatch was a late-night 120-minute Argentine comedy show hosted by Marcelo Tinelli and broadcast on Telefe that debuted in 1989 in the midnight time slot. Currently the show still airs under the name of Showmatch (changing its name after switching to channel 9).

History

Videomatch began as a sports show. Since its second year sports were replaced with comedy sketches, increasing its success to a large extent. According to Tinelli:

"The humorous spin began when the ratings dropped as low as 0 points, and due to the lack of budget we decided to bring along with the team every sports video available, even if they were of very poor quality or pathetic. Then, when we showed the clips, we made fun of the images, saying 'what the hell is this?'. That's when the show took off"

In this way, Tinelli got a second show, Ritmo de la noche, comprising the same cast of Videomatch but airing Sundays on primetime.

Videomatch continued until 2004 on the screen Telefe with excellent ratings, being the most-watched show in all its years and becoming a "classic"; until an argument between Marcelo Tinelli and Claudio Villaruel (Director of Programming for Telefe) led to Tinelli leaving the channel. The show then switched to Channel 9, changing its name to Showmatch.

Characters and skits

The program was broadcast by Telefe for more than 15 years, and was composed of a team that was changed over the years, starting with sports commentators Gonzalo Bonadeo, Osvaldo Príncipi, Felipe Mc Gough, Henry de Ridder, Daniel Jacubovich, Marcelo "Teto" Medina, Ricardo "Lanchita" Bissio, Alejandro Coccia and others. And then pass them on to comedians such as Leo Rosenwasser, Hugo Varela, Pablo Granados, Pachu Peña, Freddy Villareal, José María Listort, Campi, El Turco Naim, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Diego Korol, Marcelo De Bellis, Larry de Clay, Rodrigo Rodríguez, Roberto Peña, Sergio Gonal, Waldo (Álvaro Navia), Yayo (José Carlos Guridi), Toti Ciliberto, Sebastián Almada and Pichu (Fernando Straneo).

• Among its best remembered sketches are:

"Deportes en el Recuerdo", "Los hermanos Loprete", "Los Raporteros", "Los Gauchos", "Leonardo Rivas Taxista", "Leo Leonor en la Panadería", "Figuretti", "Jose María Celular", "Rolando Fernandez el Gran DT", "José María Ruidoso", "Don Leo", "Top Forry", "Alejandro Saz", "Noti Pip", "Los Topus 4", "Fútbol Deprimente", "El payaso Muralito", "Los Reclutas", "Fernandito", El Cantante de Protesta, "Los Jaimitos", "Huevo y Poroto", "El Sanatero", "Yayo & Su Cuarteto obrero" and "Deportes en el recuerdo".

• Hidden cameras:

"Vale Valeria", "La ventana de América", "Debate abierto con el Dr. Borocotó", "La movida internacional", "El peor día de tu vida", "El peor viaje de tu vida", "La gran venganza", "Propuesta indecente", "Infraganti", "Atracción fatal", "La peor clase de tu vida", "Viva la fiesta", "La cámara cómplice", "Tardes musicales", "Xuxa de América", "Buenos vecinos", "El padre de la novia" and "Si lo sabe cante".

Musical themes

Among the most remembered opening themes are songs like: "Ritmo de la noche" (by The Sacados), Amigos, Gomazo, Bobby Goma, "Twist and Shout" (by The Beatles), 19-2000 (by Gorillaz), "Vicio" (by Los Ratones Paranoicos), Pink (by Aerosmith) and more.

Awards

Marcelo Tinelli received the Golden Martín Fierro Award in 1998, and his show more than 20 statuettes since.

External links

• YouTube:Interview with a man badly operated
• YouTube:The worst classroom of your life No.8 Nazarene with the idol
• El Show de Videomatch at the Internet Movie Database