The prize that changes your life
"Which team did Barça play against in the first football match broadcast on TV3?" That was the question Simón guessed at the end of the match.Catch me if you can and that helped him win the biggest prize ever awarded on public television: 241,000 euros. He got it right on the seventh. After naming Leganés, Valladolid, Atlético de Madrid, Salamanca, and Real Sociedad, he finally, somewhat haphazardly, decided to bet on Osasuna. And he nailed it. Despite closing the epic with a somewhat random answer, the system bears no resemblance to the knowledge Simón has demonstrated over fifty programs. From the most diverse academic fields to aspects of popular and media culture, this contestant has demonstrated admirable skill, concentration, and speed. An essential factor in this type of television event is that the audience feels a sense of fairness toward whoever takes home the prize, and in this case, that was the case. From home, the rowing was in favor of the contestant. In the era of ChatGPT and AI, it's comforting to reconnect with human knowledge.
After celebrating his milestone by waving his arms at the top of the show's podium, Simón went down to celebrate with the host. Llucià Ferrer gave him a hug, and we learned some insider details about the feat we've seen over the weeks. She praised his achievement, considering the work problems he'd been having, and we discovered he'd been suffering from depression as a result. Beyond announcing that he would buy himself a souvenir Osasuna shirt, Simón expressed his gratitude for the treatment he received from the show and "all the self-esteem I've regained here." He added: "You don't know how well it's been for me to record here during the times I was most screwed, and how much coming here has helped me." He thanked his family, both his blood and his political family, and wanted to have a memento for his deceased father.
From the contestant's point of view, it seems that television has offered him a space for personal validation. And the public dimension has undoubtedly contributed even more. The contest has been a tool for reaffirmation. Simón has taken home much more than just a monetary prize, because, as he said, the program has facilitated a process of repair and reconstruction. From the perspective of the program itself and with the audience in mind, in theCatch me if you can Simón's story has helped him build an aspirational epic. Finding a tale of overcoming challenges that goes beyond pocketing a fortune. There's that aspiration to change lives. Competitions often need to be imbued with a symbolic value that transcends mere financial gain to give entertainment a higher meaning.