The state broadcaster RTVE has made an unusual decision to return the comedy show ‘La Garita’ to its lineup, despite the program seemingly being definitively laid to rest after a disastrous failure this summer. The project, led by the comedy duo H.H. Vaquero and Alex Clavero, will get a second chance on the ‘second channel’—La 2. The premiere is scheduled for this coming Saturday, September 27, in a late-night slot at 23:20.
Initially, the show was conceived as a summer replacement for the popular format ‘La Revuelta’ on the country’s main channel, La 1. However, the experiment ended in complete failure. Debuting on July 14 with a respectable 9.6% share and 965,000 viewers, the program collapsed by its second episode. After a forced break due to special news coverage, its audience shrank to 691,000, and its share fell to 7.4%. This sharp drop—amplified by a wave of criticism on social media and a lukewarm reception from reviewers—forced RTVE management to urgently pull the show off the air after just two episodes. The vacant slot was filled by the tried-and-true classic ‘Viaje al centro de la tele,’ which delivered far more stable results.
The hosts themselves, Vaquero and Clavero, did not make a tragedy out of what happened and approached the closure of their creation with their signature humor. Shortly after news broke about the show’s removal from the air, they commented ironically online, joking that this week they’re being kicked out everywhere. Such a reaction is fully in keeping with the spirit of the program itself, which is built on biting commentary and self-irony.
There is also a cold economic calculation behind this decision. Production of the project, handled by 100 Balas (The Mediapro Studio) and Globomedia, cost the public broadcaster a hefty sum. According to the corporation’s expenditure data, the budget amounted to €917,178. Now, in an attempt to recoup at least some of these significant expenses, RTVE is moving the format to a less competitive niche. La 2’s weekend programming has traditionally targeted a more niche audience that prefers archive and educational programs.
It is still unclear how many episodes of ‘La Garita’ will actually air. Nevertheless, this return sends a clear signal that the broadcaster is seeking the right audience for the format. Perhaps on La 2, where viewers are more receptive to unconventional projects, the show will finally find its audience, despite an unsuccessful debut on the country’s main television stage.
