Going back in time with Lleno, Por Favor: Spain’s T.V. Cultural Resurgence in the 1990s
As always, it is the weekend, and weekend means that I am travelling backwards in time through the pages of history, or in this case, classic television. We, today, revisit one more relic of the golden age of Spanish 90s television – Lleno, por favor. It is remembered fondly, sometimes cringingly, but one can agree on the fact that there existed a time, although rather short-lived, television was raw, and perhaps befitting to how the world looked back then, simple.
Asseen on Lleno, Por Favor: Plot Summary, Style, and Theme
Lleno, Por Favor is a Spanish classic which debuted on October 1993 on Antena 3, but it aired for 13 episodes before going off air. One look at the history and scope of the network and one can see that while the show only aired for a short period of time, it was, by all means, a large success. What was even more interesting is the fact that its premiere raked in five million viewers, the final show of its season saw a percentage of viewers close to a good 42.1 percent; there are many shows today struggling for air time who wish that they could ever see that much success.
The first question that comes to my mind is – why exactly did it get cancelled? Could it have simply been that the idea of a gas station owned by a staunch catholic, Franco supporter turned harsh businessman might not sell over a prolonged period of time? However, I think the show made good sense. The show was enjoyable and witty, infused with something new. It showed the audience how historically Spain underwent so many changes throughout the years, like those stereotypes.
What’s Up With the Title? A Gas Station in Spain
It was set in the highway gas station in Sotoalto, Spain, where the protagonist was Mr. Pepe, a fictive character portrayed by actor Alfredo Landa.
Pepe was simply a caricature of all things antiquated: he was, after all, a churchgoer who also resisted change and progress with every ounce within him. His most noble heart and antiquated way of perceiving the world created comic relief with the secondary cast, especially the daughter he fathered, Trini (Lydia Bosch), as well as their mechanic The Gasofa (Miguel Molina), who was not good at following rules. These characters quite successfully complemented each other, as each introduced a certain degree of comical tension to the scenes at the gas station.
A different set of characters was introduced in each episode: there were hippies, there also was a family heartless enough to abandon their grandfather and even the Pope, and various other characters. Such episodes enabled the program to comment on the changes taking place in Spain’s society and set forth the issues of progress and conservatism.
What ca n be Noticed as Full, Please Ages?**
Pepe was quite a charming person, who drew the audiences into his narrative. The series was a hit, particularly in 1993 for a number of reasons:
- Deficiency of Growth-Based Entertainment
Having quality viewing still a work in progress and with limited television channels in existence, the place of Full, Please was strategized and right on point as people largely embraced it. The low bar meant audiences were easily entertained by its mix of slapstick humor, caricatured characters, and melodrama.
- Presence of Most Stars
One of the popular plots included his son Alberto, this character was played by actor Alfredo Landa; did the show cast his wife Filo (Doña Filo) featuring actress Beatriz Carvajal as reliable confederates portraying valuable and proficient theater actors?
This formula worked across other 90s sitcoms, for example,La Casa de los Líos as well as Hostal Royal Manzanares, both of which were also dominated by seasoned thespians directing the plot.
- Intergenerational Conflicts Pepe’s conservative principles constantly clashed with those of his daughter Trini, making them a source of comic relief that many could identify with. Trini’s affair with a truck-driver boyfriend, as well as her dress codes, turned out to be many sources of conflict during the 90’s which was a transitional period for Spain.
- Idioms/Taglines & Comedy “I believe only in God, Franco, and Don Santiago Bernabéu” were some of the catchphrases that Landa’s character with his deep voice and wide range of comebacks was able to deliver.
- Character Relationships Trini’s shy admirer Satur (Jesús Cisneros) was a classic ‘will he won’t he’ scenario adding complexity to this otherwise light hearted series nut brought emotion into it.`
The Contribution of the Show
Full, Please is a typical example of Spanish television when everything was scripted fiction and featured colorful characters. Despite the fact that this series may not withstand the test of time, it is rather an interesting time capsule of the 90s, an era in television history when mass entertained sitcoms were the archetype of popular entertainment.
For fans wishing to relive the magic, or get a taste of this strange corner of Spanish pop culture for the first time, Full, Please is accessible on Atresplayer.
Concluding Remarks
Full Please may not be perfect drama or series but it can be said that its great virtue is being on air during one of the most formative periods of Spanish television history. It’s definitely a guilty pleasure that still retains good old memories for many who had watched it during their childhood days when it offered a combination of joke, cliches, and over the top acting.