The comedy series El Chavo del 8, which first aired on February 26, 1973, is now available to watch after a four-year absence from all platforms. Fans can now watch the beloved series on the streaming service Vix, as well as Televisa's Canal de Las Estrellas.
All 273 episodes from the show's seven seasons, led by creator Roberto Gómez Bolaños, are now available on the streaming platform Vix, after a five-year hiatus due to the infighting between the artist's family and widow.
The return of El Chavo del 8, starring Roberto Gómez Bolaños, María Antonieta de las Nieves, Florinda Meza, Carlos Villagrán, Ramón Valdés, Edgar Vivar, Rubén Aguirre, and Angelines Fernández, comes after years of scandals and disagreements among the cast. Let's take a look at some of the most talked-about controversies.
Off-Air for Four Years
The show was taken off the air due to a legal dispute over the rights to the series. This was a significant blow for both the audience and the family of Roberto Gómez Bolaños, also known as "Chespirito." His family had hoped for a resolution, which has now finally been reached, allowing fans who grew up with El Chavo del 8 to enjoy the series once again.
Conflict Among the Cast
Despite the joy they brought to fans in La Vecindad, several cast members didn't end their relationships on good terms. Carlos Villagrán and María Antonieta de las Nieves have publicly spoken about their ongoing disagreements. Both actors continued to profit from their characters, even though the rights to these characters belonged to Gómez Bolaños.
This issue led to Villagrán, who played "Quico," leaving the series. He claimed that the character was his creation, not Gómez Bolaños'.
Legal Battle Over 'La Chilindrina'
Similar to Villagrán, María Antonieta de las Nieves faced her own legal challenges over her portrayal of "La Chilindrina." She used the character outside of the show, which led to legal troubles. However, after some time, she won the case.
In a 2013 interview with Univision, she explained: "He had the rights to La Chilindrina, but he told us it was to protect the characters, and he assured us we would have control after El Chavo ended." Eventually, she gained full rights to the character.
Performing for Pablo Escobar
One of the most shocking incidents involving the cast occurred in Bogotá, Colombia, where part of the cast performed at the birthday party of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar's daughter. They had been offered a significant sum of money for the appearance.
Carlos Villagrán, in an interview with América TV, revealed that Escobar's men offered him up to a million dollars to perform. Although Villagrán declined, the rest of the cast accepted the invitation.
Romance Between 'Quico' and 'Doña Florinda'
While it's well known that Florinda Meza was the widow of Roberto Gómez Bolaños, she also had a relationship with Carlos Villagrán, who played her son in the show.
The affair was controversial from the start, as Villagrán was still married at the time, while Meza was single and had not yet begun her relationship with Gómez Bolaños.
Royalty Payments
One of the ongoing controversies involves the payment of royalties. Several original cast members, including Edgar Vivar, have complained about the meager royalties they receive.
Vivar once stated, "We do receive royalties, but it's not fair. We only get 10% of the salary we earned back then, and after inflation, the check costs more to print than the payment itself."
Do you remember any other scandals involving the cast of this iconic show?
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