El Condominio
Encyclopedia
El Condominio was a Puerto Rican
television show produced by Sunshine Logrono
for Televicentro Puerto Rico
.
in 1993. In 1994, Los Apartamentos was cancelled, and Logroño signed up the show's actors to produce El Condominio for what was then called WAPA-TV. The program's show and basic synopsis remained intact.
The show became an instant hit in Puerto Rican television, often appearing among the most seen shows in Puerto Rico on the Nielsen
list of television show ratings.
The show was set on an apartment building (condominium) called "Monte Brisas". The set included a lobby with the door to the manager's office on the back, and an elevator to the right.
In 2004, controversy arose when Mojena declared that he wanted the show suspended or for Logroño to pay him royalties
, alleguing, in a lawsuit
, that he stole his creation by implanting the original actors and characters used on Los Apartamentos to El Condominio. A court ruling ordered Logroño to continue on producing the show without paying Mojena royalties until the case is further reviewed. A court decision was expected by June or July 2005.
The controversy was spread on Puerto Rican media, and the show's actors united at Logroño's side, defending their show as a workshop for Puerto Rican actors. Among the show's most vocal defenders were two of its main stars, René Monclóva
and Marian Pabón.
On May, 2005, the Puerto Rican court finally reached a verdict, deciding that the show could no longer go on. On June 1, the show's last episode was transmitted.
In mid June, the gossip TV show Super Xclusivo reported that the show's actors filed a legal motion to allow the actors to portray their character counterparts from El Condominio. Most of the characters then appeared in another show called Por el Casco de San Juan.
as a "momma's boy".
Because he had such bad luck with women, the owner befriended his employee "Lolo Bond" (played by Monclova), an alcoholic handyman who had much better luck with women. "Lolo" sometimes felt that his boss may be homosexual without his own knowledge, so he tried to arrange dates for him, and, combined with the owner's virginal behaviour and "Lolo"s suspicions, this often lead to comical situations.
"Lolo"s girlfriend was a widow whose husband only left her debts and an unemployed gay son, León (played by Logroño). His best friend was a Puerto Rican-American
hustler Brenda Q (played by Marian Pabón) who lived on the revenues made by a naïve, big busted exotic dancer.
Other characters include a biased plastic surgeon with a nasty attitude, Argüelles; an ignorant security guard prone to gluttony, Vázquez; a Born-Again Christian old lady who owned dozens of stray dogs, Doña Soto, and a whole family on Welfare.
Most of the comical situations that happened in the show revolved around these characters, with some actors making occasional special appearances to contribute to the show's stories.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
television show produced by Sunshine Logrono
Sunshine Logroño
Emmanuel Logroño , better known as Sunshine Logroño is a Puerto Rican actor, radio announcer, television show host, singer, comedy writer, entrepreneur and comedian...
for Televicentro Puerto Rico
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV is an independent television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital channel 27, virtual channel 4. The station is owned by InterMedia Partners and is branded as WAPA Television....
.
Production details
El Condominio came to be as a result of a Tony Mojena produced show, Los Apartamentos, which first appeared on Puerto Rican television on Telemundo Puerto RicoTelemundo Puerto Rico
The name Telemundo Puerto Rico may represent:* WKAQ-TV, a Telemundo station in San Juan, Puerto Rico* Telemundo Puerto Rico , a former Spanish-language cable network...
in 1993. In 1994, Los Apartamentos was cancelled, and Logroño signed up the show's actors to produce El Condominio for what was then called WAPA-TV. The program's show and basic synopsis remained intact.
The show became an instant hit in Puerto Rican television, often appearing among the most seen shows in Puerto Rico on the Nielsen
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
list of television show ratings.
The show was set on an apartment building (condominium) called "Monte Brisas". The set included a lobby with the door to the manager's office on the back, and an elevator to the right.
In 2004, controversy arose when Mojena declared that he wanted the show suspended or for Logroño to pay him royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
, alleguing, in a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
, that he stole his creation by implanting the original actors and characters used on Los Apartamentos to El Condominio. A court ruling ordered Logroño to continue on producing the show without paying Mojena royalties until the case is further reviewed. A court decision was expected by June or July 2005.
The controversy was spread on Puerto Rican media, and the show's actors united at Logroño's side, defending their show as a workshop for Puerto Rican actors. Among the show's most vocal defenders were two of its main stars, René Monclóva
Rene Monclova
René Monclova is a Puerto Rican actor. Monclova has been popular both with theater and television audiences. Mainly a comedian, Monclova has also played serious characters, a fact that might escape the minds of many Puerto Ricans, since he has become better known for his role as "Lolo", a...
and Marian Pabón.
On May, 2005, the Puerto Rican court finally reached a verdict, deciding that the show could no longer go on. On June 1, the show's last episode was transmitted.
In mid June, the gossip TV show Super Xclusivo reported that the show's actors filed a legal motion to allow the actors to portray their character counterparts from El Condominio. Most of the characters then appeared in another show called Por el Casco de San Juan.
Synopsis
"El Condominio" was owned by a lonely man in his forties. He apparently was a virgin, and had bad luck with women. He inherited the property from his mother (sometimes played by Logrono), an elderly woman who raised her son to be what is known in American slangSlang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
as a "momma's boy".
Because he had such bad luck with women, the owner befriended his employee "Lolo Bond" (played by Monclova), an alcoholic handyman who had much better luck with women. "Lolo" sometimes felt that his boss may be homosexual without his own knowledge, so he tried to arrange dates for him, and, combined with the owner's virginal behaviour and "Lolo"s suspicions, this often lead to comical situations.
"Lolo"s girlfriend was a widow whose husband only left her debts and an unemployed gay son, León (played by Logroño). His best friend was a Puerto Rican-American
Nuyorican
Nuyorican is a portmanteau of the terms "New York" and "Puerto Rican" and refers to the members or culture of the Puerto Rican diaspora located in or around New York State especially the New York City metropolitan area, or of their descendants...
hustler Brenda Q (played by Marian Pabón) who lived on the revenues made by a naïve, big busted exotic dancer.
Other characters include a biased plastic surgeon with a nasty attitude, Argüelles; an ignorant security guard prone to gluttony, Vázquez; a Born-Again Christian old lady who owned dozens of stray dogs, Doña Soto, and a whole family on Welfare.
Most of the comical situations that happened in the show revolved around these characters, with some actors making occasional special appearances to contribute to the show's stories.
Cast
Here is a partial list of some of the show's cast members:- Sunshine LogronoSunshine LogroñoEmmanuel Logroño , better known as Sunshine Logroño is a Puerto Rican actor, radio announcer, television show host, singer, comedy writer, entrepreneur and comedian...
as "Elpidio", a mentally retarded man/boy; as "Pachango", a nasty and smelly old man with a hernia, and as León. - Efraín López NerisEfraín López NerisEfraín López Neris is a Sephardi Puerto Rican actor, producer and cinematographer that has had a long trajectory in Puerto Rico's national artistic scene....
as "Vázquez", the security guard - René MonclovaRene MonclovaRené Monclova is a Puerto Rican actor. Monclova has been popular both with theater and television audiences. Mainly a comedian, Monclova has also played serious characters, a fact that might escape the minds of many Puerto Ricans, since he has become better known for his role as "Lolo", a...
as "Lolo Bond", the alcoholic handyman - Marian Pabón as "Brenda Q"
- Jorge CastroJorge CastroJorge Castro may refer to:* Jorge Castro * Jorge Castro...
as "Segismundo Alberto", the building's administrator - Albert Rodríguez as "Dr. Sebastián Argüelles"
- Cristina Soler as "Doña Laura Alvarez Viuda de Gumbia", Lolo's Lover
- Suzette Bacó as "Doña Soto", Owner of over a dozen dogs