The surprising miniseries that recalls 'tamarism' and the peak of trash TV

BarcelonaFrom the late 90s to the early 2000s, Spanish television experienced an earthquake called Martian ChroniclesThe program, presented by Xavier Sardà, became one of the greatest exponents of trash television and generated its own universe made up of a bestiary that featured often surreal stories and montages. Among all those cathode creatures, Tamara stood out, a girl who presented herself as a singer and who made the song "The Nightmare Before Christmas" famous. I didn't change, of dubious musical quality. This whole world between fiction and reality is what the miniseries now recovers. Superstar, created by Nacho Vigalondo and available on Netflix since this Friday.

Although Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi are only the producers of SuperstarIn the miniseries it's easy to see some of his obsessions, such as his fascination with Spanish pop culture and his desire to redeem figures who have been mocked or scorned by society. In this sense, the series takes a fond look at a whole string of characters who for years have carried the label of freaks and those who have been seen as television puppets. In fact, some of them ended up starring in Geeks looking to annoy, a film in which Javier Cárdenas, who had been a collaborator of Martian Chronicles, profited from their misery.

Transformation exercise

One of the keys to transporting the viewer to that era is the actors' characterization, who transform into very recognizable characters. Ingrid García-Jonsson, wearing a mahogany wig, plays Tamara, while Secun de la Rosa is Leonardo Dantés, who walked around the sets claiming to be a composer and who became popular thanks to the song. The handkerchief danceThe cast is rounded out by Carlos Areces, Julián Villagrán, Pepón Nieto, and Natalia de Molina, who play Paco Porras, Arlekín, Tony Genil, and Loly Álvarez, respectively. Another key character in the story is Magarita Seisdedos, Tamara's mother and her main defender. During the years of the soap opera, a dark legend spread that she carried a brick in her purse to hit the paparazzi who chased the singer.

Vigalondo's series has the approval of the former Tamara, now known as Yurena, who was present at the official presentation of the production. During the event, she took the opportunity to thank García-Jonsson for his acting work. For her part, the actress also had kind words for the singer: "I hope this series gives her the love she didn't receive at the time. I think that when a person trusts you to tell their life story in a crazy fiction, the only thing you can do is give them love back."

While all the main characters have the name and appearance of real life, the series takes liberties with Martian Chronicles, Xavier Sardà and other programs that all those television creatures appeared on. In fiction, the Telecinco program is renamed Mars time, Sardà as Joaquín Sardana and Gestmusic, which produced the program, is called Jusmusic.

Superstar It's not a miniseries rooted in reality, but rather one that moves in a dreamlike and magical realm. When Margarita Seisdedos watches with concern as Tamara delves into a world that seems dangerous, she ends up living in a boarding house where all the guests are mothers of ungrateful daughters. On his journey to becoming a successful composer, Leonardo Dantés doubles as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The production consists of six episodes, each written from the point of view of a different character.