El Chapulín Colorado (partially lost Mexican sitcom TV series; 1973-1979)
From The Lost Media Wiki
"Al robot se le infectaron los transistores" (1976)
Status: Partially Lost
El Chapulín Colorado is a Mexican sitcom starring comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños, best known by his nickname "Chespirito." The show focuses on the adventures of the titular character, a clumsy hero whose mistakes are often proven to be the key to his success in aiding his summoners. "El Chapulín" was originally conceived as part of an earlier TV effort by Chespirito, Los Supergenios de la Mesa Cuadrada (later followed by Chespirito y la Mesa Cuadrada and Chespirito), proving popular enough to earn its own full-fledged series following the merger of Televisión Independiente de México – the show's broadcaster – and Telesistema Mexicano in 1973.
As an independent series, over two hundred episodes of El Chapulín Colorado were broadcast between 1973 and 1979, from which about 41 were absent from Televisa's most recent distribution package for the same reason as many episodes of its sister series, El Chavo del Ocho.
Episode List
Below is a complete list of all lost episodes whose existence is proven through information collected by fans. According to Lista CH, in addition to the 32 episodes listed, eight more completely unknown episodes went undistributed by Televisa during the time it had the right to shop the series to international broadcasters - the company lost this right in August 2020.
Key:
Green - Found episodes available in Spanish.
Gold - Found episodes not available in Spanish.
Orange - Partially available episodes/excerpts.
Red - Completely lost episodes.
Note: the episode titles used in here are not official since the actual titles are unknown due to the episodes' lost nature. Titles from previous/later versions of the episodes are used instead (e.g. the lost 1973 episode "Las caricaturas me hacen llorar" is named after its common 1976 remake). Original airdates are either taken from Tele-Guía magazines or determined through deduction.
Season 1 (1973)
| Unofficial Title | Original Airdate | |
|---|---|---|
| "R.S.E." | March 14th, 1973 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[1] Includes a Doctor Chapatín sketch. A remake, made in 1975, is also missing. | ||
| "Las caricaturas me hacen llorar" | June 27th, 1973 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía. Includes a Doctor Chapatín sketch. | ||
| "Aventuras en Venus" | July 11th, 1973 | |
| Found through a VHS tape recording from the early 90's. Only available in Brazilian Portuguese, rendering the original audio missing. | ||
| "Cuento de brujas" | August 24th, 1973 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[2] | ||
| "En las guerras médicas, la bayoneta se llamaba bisturí" | September 14th, 1973 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía. | ||
Season 2 (1974)
| Unofficial Title | Original Airdate | |
|---|---|---|
| "La bella durmiente era un señor muy feo - parte 1" | January 18th, 1974 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[3] First episode of a two-episode arc. Remade in 1976 as a three-episode arc, whose first episode is also missing. Interestingly enough, another remake - made in 1982 as part of Programa Chespirito - is also missing its first episode. | ||
| "Más vale cien fantasmas volando que uno en la mano" | February 15th, 1974 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[4] | ||
| "Los muertos son obedientes" | March 22nd, 1974 | |
| Footage of this episode is used on "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín", an episode that served the purpose of introducing the series to the viewers of Televisa's Canal 2 after it moved from Canal 8 in 1974. Its airdate was discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[5] | ||
| "Más vale una mujer joven, rica y bonita que una vieja, pobre y fea" | April 5th, 1974 | |
| Footage of this episode is used on "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín". | ||
| "No por mucho amenazar, nos madrugan más temprano" | April 12th, 1974 | |
| Found in its entirety in early 2023, courtesy of collector Albano Conticello via Chespirito fan Shambler Casper, backed by efforts from various other fans. Before this, the only footage available of this episode was that used on "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín". A vague Tele-Guía synopsis is believed to refer to this episode.[6] | ||
| "Los valientes mueren pandeados" | May 10th, 1974 | |
| Footage of this episode is used on "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín". Its airdate was discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[7] | ||
| "Colección de rateros" | May 17th, 1974 | |
| Footage of this episode is used on "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín". | ||
| "Aristócratas vemos, rateros no sabemos" | June 29th, 1974 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[8] The official website of the 2012 event América Celebra a Chespirito mistakenly attributed this airdate to the common 1978 remake, aiding on its identification process. | ||
| "El vampiro" | September 28th, 1974 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía. Photographic evidence of this episode's existence exists. | ||
Season 3 (1975)
| Unofficial Title | Original Airdate | |
|---|---|---|
| "La mansión de los fantasmas" | January 16th, 1975 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[9] | ||
| "El Chapulín vs Hitler: El encuentro del siglo" | March 13th, 1975 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[10] Remake of a 1973 episode, which is also missing. | ||
| "Los antiguos piratas del Caribe sólo de vez en cuando desviaban a Cuba - parte 3" | April 10th, 1975 | |
| Announced by Florinda in the end of "Los antiguos piratas del Caribe sólo de vez en cuando desviaban a Cuba - parte 2". Final episode of a three-episode arc. For reasons unknown, the closing credits of the second episode have been altered from its original cut, suggesting that the currently used sequence is taken from the lost third episode. | ||
| "Los bandidos se pueden regenerar" | April 24th, 1975 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[11] | ||
| "R.S.E." | July 24th, 1975 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[12] Remake of a 1973 episode, which is also missing. | ||
| "Cómo convertirse en héroe en cuatro fáciles lecciones" | August 14th, 1975 | |
| Existence suggested by photographic evidence. | ||
Season 4 (1976-77)
| Unofficial Title | Original Airdate | |
|---|---|---|
| "El caso de dos hombres que eran tán parecidos, que eran idénticos, sobretodo uno de ellos" | April 22nd, 1976 | |
| Footage of this episode was featured in a news report in Latin American TV. However, it has yet to be resurfaced, with only a still serving as evidence of its existence. | ||
| "Bebé de carne sin hueso" | June 24th, 1976 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[13] | ||
| "Al robot se le infectaron los transistores" | August 12th, 1976 | |
| Originally discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía,[14] eighteen minutes of footage from this episode, recorded from Canal 5 de Rosario circa 1983, resurfaced in June 2024, provided to Chespirito fan Shambler Casper by Argentinian collector Claudio Matuc (best known by his online alias RETROMAGIA ROSARIO). | ||
| "El bandido del hospital" | September 16th, 1976 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[15] | ||
| "La bella durmiente era un señor muy feo - parte 1" | Sept 25th, 1976 | |
| A brief summary of this episode is present in the beginning of "La bella durmiente era un señor muy feo - parte 2". First episode of a three-episode arc. Remake of a two-episode arc from 1973, whose first episode is also missing. | ||
| "El hombre invisible es tan antipático que nadie lo puede ver" | Dec 11th, 1976 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[16] | ||
| "Se solicitan difuntos con referencias" | Dec 18th, 1976 | |
| Footage of this episode was used by Chilean TV network TVN during an interview with Chespirito in 2008. Includes a Doctor Chapatín sketch. | ||
| Conferencia sobre un Chapulín | January 1st, 1977 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[17] Not much is known about this episode, but its synopsis suggests that it may follow the same concept as the 1974 episode "Conferencia sobre un Chapulín", featuring excerpts of episodes from the 1976 season. | ||
Seasons 5-7 (1977-1979)
| Unofficial Title | Original Airdate | |
|---|---|---|
| "A pistola regalada no le mires agujero - parte 1" | February 19th, 1977 | |
| A brief summary of this episode is present in the beginning of "A pistola regalada no le mires agujero - parte 2". | ||
| "Todo sube, hasta los aviones - parte 2" | September 14th, 1977 | |
| Announced in the end of "Todo sube, hasta los aviones - parte 1". | ||
| "Los fantasmas del Viejo Oeste" | November 16th, 1977 | |
| Discovered through a synopsis from Tele-Guía.[18] Re-aired in 1979.[19] | ||
| "Las pulgas" | May 31st, 1978 | |
| Aired regularly through Brazilian network SBT. Only available in Brazilian Portuguese, rendering the original audio missing. Includes the Doctor Chapatín sketch "El contrabando". | ||
External Links
- Lista CH - Episode guides to Chespirito's works, idealized by Thomas Henrique (in memoriam) and maintained by James Revolti. (in Portuguese and Spanish)
- Guia de episódios e esquetes mundialmente perdidos - Discussion on the topic of 'Lost episodes' from Chespirito's works. (in Portuguese)
References
Special thanks to Cássio Ferreira, Guilherme Leão and several other members of Fórum Chaves (a complete name list is available on the "Guia de episódios..." link below), for their priceless contributions on the finding of synopses related to missing episodes.
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1073: “"El Chapulín Colorado" se enfrenta a un poderoso ratón que utiliza la última novedad en armas secretas. Entremés de "El Doctor Chapatín".”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1098: “"El Chapulin Colorado" tiene que enfrentarse a una bruja que se dedica a convertir a las personas en rana, árboles, cosas etc.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1119: “"El Chapulín Colorado" se enfrenta al hombre de las cavernas que ha permanecido 20.000 años bajo de la nieve.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1123: “"El Chapulín Colorado" asiste a un teatro y se enfrenta a una serie de fantasmas.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía (unknown #): “"El Chapulín Colorado" tiene que localizar a un "difunto" que desapareció del depósito de cadáveres.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1131: “Un Chapulín Anémico.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1135: “Tema: El Bueno, el Malo y el Feo.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1142: “"El Chapulín Colorado" se reduce de tamaño para perseguir a un hábil bandido.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1170: “"El Chapulín Colorado" en la casa de los espantos.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1218: “"El Chapulín Colorado" combate en la II Guerra Mundial contra Hitler, utilizando su muy personal estrategia.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía (unknown #): “"El Chapulín Colorado" se ve amenazado por unos malosos vaqueros, que tratan de ahorcarlo.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1276: “'El Chapulin Colorado' ayuda a un cientifico a localizar un importante ratón.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1246: “"El Chapulín Colorado" trabaja como niñera.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1253: “"El Chapulín Colorado" tiene que ayudar a un científico que se ve amenazado por un robot.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1258: “El Chapulin Colorado tiene que salvar a un hombre que está amenazado de muerte por un delincuente que se disfraza de cualquier cosa.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1270: “"El Chapulín Colorado" combate al "Hombre Invisible" que se dedica a desaparecer objetos.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1273: “Resumen de los mejores programas de "El Chapulín Colorado" en 1976.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1318: “"El Chapulín Colorado" se hace chiquito para detener a un peligroso delincuente.”
- ↑ Tele-Guía #1382: “Los Fantasmas. Un pueblo del Oeste está habitado por fantasmas.”