'World's first' coronavirus sitcom to launch in locked-down Spain

[mark connolly]

‘World’s first’ coronavirus sitcom to launch in locked-down Spain

Quarantine Diaries aims to uplift Spanish people, but producer insists show will not make fun of dark reality.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[gschmidl]

Disgusting and misguided cash-in attempt.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Disgusting and misguided cash-in attempt.

Have you seen it?

 

[catheriam]

I read the artcle, oddly enough from Aljazeera.

Gorka Otxoa, one of the actors in the series, tweeted: "How lucky to have the opportunity to raise a smile in this complex situation from our homes. I hope joy and laughter raise our defences. We await you on Tuesday."

Indeed Spain's death total is now in the 13,000's. And millions of Spainards watching television, see the numbers of death rising, surely must feel saddened and worried and anxious and fearful ... and still have to make something of what is on hand for themselvers and their family for dinner.

If the intent of a eight part weekly series is to connect Spainards to each other witth stories everyone can relate tto, seems like a good idea. And undoubtely there will be an economic advantage on many levels, too!

 

[natefaith]

Sounds like a fun look at people's homes and lives during our lockdown, similar to "Jimmy Fallon's At Home Edition" episodes, and a good initiative to bring Spaniards together in a virtual way. Thanks for sharing.

 

[gschmidl]

Have you seen it?

Oddly enough, more Coronavirus content is not what I want to see now, or ever.

 

[trecile]

Oddly enough, more Coronavirus content is not what I want to see now, or ever.

Fortunately, you have the choice to tune in or not.

 

[CWBuff]

Fortunately, you have the choice to tune in or not.

tune in, turn off, drop out.... funny... where did i hear it before....?

 

[mmmmartin]

Given that one of the funniest ever UK TV sitcoms is Dad's Army, about WW2, and it's still showing to this day, this idea could be very funny indeed. Comedy is all around us. All the time.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

tune in, turn off, drop out.... funny... where did i hear it before....?

Sounds like my students ...

 

[Kathor1]

Disgusting and misguided cash-in attempt.

Diarios de cuarentena is broadcast by RTVE, a state-owned public corporation.

I understand that each episode is 30 minutes long and the first episode was shown on 7 April but I haven't watched it yet. I imagine that it's not much different from the thousands of videoclips that people have posted online about the funnier aspects of being locked in in the family home with one's nearest and dearest. And I guess that quite a few people can identify with it. But I gather from Spanish news media that there has also been criticism concerning the mere idea of such a series.

 

[Kathor1]

Here is what you are all talking about:

Diarios de la cuarentena - Capítulo 1

Un reflejo realista e íntimo de lo que ocurre en nuestras casas durante el confinamiento.

www.rtve.es

It comes with a complete transcript.

The prologue says that all the participants in the making of the series stayed at home during the whole time, just like all their Spanish viewers. They want to dedicate the series to all those professionals who go out to work for them every day. That is a thought I really appreciate as someone who has lived under lockdown for over 3 weeks now, very similar to the Spanish viewers. What I appreciate most are the logistics and all the people who are needed to get food to my home.

 

[CWBuff]

Given that one of the funniest ever UK TV sitcoms is Dad's Army, about WW2, and it's still showing to this day, this idea could be very funny indeed. Comedy is all around us. All the time.

And let's not forget Hogan's Heroes

 

[Kathor1]

Given that one of the funniest ever UK TV sitcoms is Dad's Army, about WW2, and it's still showing to this day, this idea could be very funny indeed. Comedy is all around us. All the time.

Not quite the same, though. WW2 ended in 1945, and Dad's Army was written and broadcast from 1968 onwards while this Spanish series is written and broadcast now while these things are happening.

The title of this thread, which is the title that the editor of the news article presumably came up with, is an unfortunate choice. "'World's first' coronavirus" put me off and I was determined not to watch it. I am glad that I changed my mind. It's not about the virus, it's about living in a "lockdown" society, a first for most of us, and this "world's first" angle puts an emphasis on it that just isn't there.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

And let's not forget Hogan's Heroes

And what about Mash.

 

[CWBuff]

And what about Mash.

Not about WW2
I said HH in that context

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Not about WW2
I said HH in that context

I know you did, but I chose the VNW. The thread title isn't really about either of them.

 

[Kathor1]

So, has anyone other than me watched the first episode of the Diarios de la cuarentena? I watched it with my very limited Spanish and burst into laughter a few times and it left me in a good mood. It is indeed inspired by current real-life video clips. One can understand what's going on without knowing much Spanish, it's more like short sketches than a continuous storyline.

I am going to study the transcript now - a great way to improve one's Spanish for camino walking since it's dialogues and not descriptive text, and then I will watch it for a second time. I hope I will not be disappointed when I actually understand it all.

 

[Kathor1]

I understand from a news article that the profits from the broadcasting of the series will go to the Spanish Red Cross for the purchase of medical supplies.

The episodes are recorded by the actors themselves who get advise about framing and lighting issues via Skype. The episodes are shot in the actors' homes. If I understand correctly, quite a few are couples where both partners happen to be actors.

 

[natefaith]

Thanks for the link @Kathar1na ! Will try to watch it with the family. Sounds like our kids might enjoy it. I keep thinking there are all these memes about parents being stuck with their kids all day, but what about kids being stuck with their parents all day?! I have no idea if the show will touch on that, but since it's in Spain and in Spanish our kids may find it quite relatable.

 

[Pelegrin]

I understand from a news article that the profits from the broadcasting of the series will go to the Spanish Red Cross for the purchase of medical supplies.

The episodes are recorded by the actors themselves who get advise about framing and lighting issues via Skype. The episodes are shot in the actors' homes. If I understand correctly, quite a few are couples where both partners happen to be actors.

I watched it for five minutes. It looked good but I don' t like this type of TV programme.