Casado con Hijos (Married with Children) is a Chilean adaptation of the American sitcom Married... with Children. It originally aired on Mega from May 2, 2006 to October 15, 2008, with a total of 259 episodes spanning over 4 seasons.
In January 2023, 15 years after it ended it original run, it was announced that it would be given a fifth season starting in March 2023. It is currently the second longest running MWC remake, just behind the Russian remake.
It is the fourth remake from Latin America and the third Spanish language adaptation, following the Colombian and Argentinian versions.
Background[]
Like the other MWC remakes, the Chilean version followed the plot, gags, and dialogue of the original scripts closely, especially during its first season. Many of the changes that were made reflect Chilean culture, such as:
- Changing the characters' names to Spanish based names.
- Emphasizing fútbol (soccer) over American football, wrestling, and softball. Bowling is shown, though it is only featured in one particular episode.
- Instead of going to The Jiggly Room or "nudie bar", the men go to a Café con piernas (lit. "Coffee with legs"), a type of coffee bar or café unique to Chile, where where women serve customers coffee while wearing a minidress or bikini/lingerie and high heel. It is similar to a "bikini barista" in the U.S. or to a lesser extent, a "hostess club" or "maid café" in Japan.
- Modernizing certain items that did not exist during MWC (such as DVDs instead of Beta/VHS tapes and cordless phones and cell phones instead of the corded phone in the Bundy kitchen)
- The various groups such as NO MA'AM and F.A.N.G. are turned in N.I.C.A. (no más imposiciones categorícas y andrógenas, "No more categorical and androgynous impositions") and Mo.Na.Chi.Ta., respectively. Additionally the "YES MA'AM" shirt that Jefferson wore in NO MA'AM (episode) is now "Mujeres Al Poder" ("Women in Power").
- Music that reflects the culture and modern popular music styles, including Chilean folk music and reggaetón, instead of glam metal and grunge. Additionally, the music from the 1960s-1970s that the adult Bundys and Rhoades listened to is now 1980s American pop music.
The dialogue and episode titles also feature words and phrases that are unique to Chilean Spanish, making it stand out among the other Spanish language versions.
Halfway through Season 2, several episodes started to stray away from the original MWC script, keep only certain elements, with some barely having any resemblance to its original counterpart. In Season 3, the trend continued with several episodes being 100% original.
A running gag in the series is that all the character have completely new looks every season, except for Tito. In Season 2, which takes place a year after Season 1, the characters all have different looks. Notably, Kena went from a reddish-brown hair color to blonde, while Titi's gradually becomes more blonde each season. Pablo also has a different look, shaving his head bald at one point to growing his hair out while sporting a beard.
Story[]
The series focuses on the Larraíns, a middle-class family who can be described as lazy, preferring to spend their time watching television and having little to no hope of moving up in society. They eventually becomes neighbors to a newlywed couple, Marcia and Pablo, who both work in the banking industry.
Characters[]
Larraín-Gomez Family[]
- Tito Larraín - Born into a wealthy family, they lost all of their money during the Crisis of 1982. While the rest of the family fled Chile, Tito chose to stay behind by himself. During high school, he met Kena. After getting her pregnant, they chose to get married. Having no money for college, he eventually took a job working at a women's shoe store called “El Conde del Calzado”. The few things that he enjoy are beer, putting his hand down his pants and supporting his favorite fútbol club, Unión Española. The highlight of his life is the day that he scored four goals against rival fútbol club, Audax Italiano when he was a young fútbol player. As of Season 5, he is now working as an Uber driver.
- Kena Larraín-Gomez - Wife of Tito and mother to Titi and Nacho. She is originally from the rural area of Coihueco. Much like her MWC counterpart, Peggy Bundy, she is a housewife who has never cooked, washed clothes or kept the house clean. She would rather buy new clothes on sale than wash the clothes she already has. She is easily turned on and tries to have sex with Tito, much to his dismay. Kena dresses with bright and attractive colors, tight outfits and low-cut shirts. In Season 1, she had reddish-brown hair that was similar to Peggy's, but from Season 2 onward, she became a blonde with brown roots.
- Titi Larraín - The oldest child and only daughter. She is 19 years old at the beginning of the series, but has the maturity of a 13 year old and reads like a 6 year old. She is the most attractive out of the family but she is very foolish and naïve. Like Kelly Bundy, she was originally a normal teenage girl, but dumbed down after the second season. In the later seasons, she starts speaking with a rather high pitched voice and wears a "twintails" hairstyle , further emphasizing her child-like personality. At the start of the series, she was a brunette, but with each season, her hair become more blonde. In Season 5, she returns home from Saudi Arabia after breaking up with her football player boyfriend. She had also been married to an 87 year old man who died in the first episode. As of Season 5, she is a social media influencer who carries around a small dog that she treats like a baby.
- Nacho Larraín - The youngest child and only son of the family. He is characterized by being the smartest of his family and for having good grades at school. Nacho is very unpopular with women due to his lack of charm and unappealing looks. His family often makes fun of him for this and for being a mama's boy. His character is popular for his peculiar "baile del limpiaparabrisas" (windshield wiper dance). In Season 5, while he was able to move out after Season 4, he decided to lease out his apartment and move back home. He currently works at the same shoe store his father once worked at, along with his father's friend/co-worker, Lucho. He later falls in love with Lucho's Venezuelan girlfriend.
- Domingo Siete Pérez Gómez - Kena's cousin turned adopted son. He is the son of Kena's relatives, Yaritza and Zalo, who abandon the young boy with the family after a visit. After realizing that he has now gained another child, Tito screams out in horror before taking a trip across Chile to find Yaritza and Zalo. He eventually gives in and lets the boy live with them, much to Kena's delight. He is treated much better than Titi and Nacho were as kids by Kena, though he would only appear in a couple of episodes before disappearing without explanation. He is essentially Seven, with the character's name literally translating as "Seventh Sunday" (a slang term for "Unexpected pregnancy"). Though, unlike Seven, Domingo would later appear in Season 5, now as a young man, who pays the family a surprise visit.
Pinto-Durán Family[]
- Marcia Durán - Wife to Pablo, Kena's newest friend and Tito's arch nemesis. She is egocentric and considers herself superior to the Larraíns due to her job in banking. As the seasons progressed, she would put on a more aggressive personality and leading feminist movements. She views Tito as a bad influence on her husband and will do whatever she can to make Tito's life miserable. She often bullies Pablo, even to the point where she will verbally and even physically attack him. After Pablo left her in Season 1, as she was about to marry another man at the start of Season 2, Pablo returns and declares his love for her (while sporting a newer look and personality) and both decided to stay together. Marcia is usually shown as a very sexual person, getting excited by minimal things and regularly bragging to Kena about how often she has sex with Pablo. In Season 5, she is diagnosed as a nymphomaniac. She is essentially Marcy D'Arcy, though unlike her MWC counterpart, her hairstyle does not drastically change with each season.
- Pablo Pinto - Husband to Marcia and Tito's newest friend. He was originally a bank manager who was timid and dressed in preppy fashion. He is often bossed around by Marcia, to the point where Tito has given him the nickname, "Marcio". Near the end of Season 1, he shaves his head to help the Larrains out and decides to stand up to Marcia with his bold new look. Though the plan immediately backfired, as Marcia screamed in horror upon seeing his new look and proceeded to beat him up as he pleaded for mercy outside of the Larrains' front door. He eventually decides to quit his job and leave Marcia to stay with his brother in Ibiza, Spain. At the start of Season 2 he returns back to Chile just as Marcia was about to marry another man. Upon his return, he changed his fashion style to a more modern look, has a more bold and outgoing personality, and speaks with a prominent European Spanish accent (which becomes more exaggerated with each season). As of Season 5, he is still married to Marcia and is raising their child. He is also noticeably thinner due to having gastric bypass surgery and dressing effeminately in the current season. He is basically Steve Rhoades with elements of Jefferson D'Arcy mixed in during the later seasons.
Others[]
- Lucho Montaner - Tito's co-worker and oldest friend. He is a pervert and womanizer, who is always looking for an opportunity to sleep with another woman. He lives with his mother, who believes that he is still a virgin. He is essentially Luke Ventura but unlike the original, he has a longer lasting role, essentially filling in for Griff. He is also viewed as a family friend and often tags along with Tito and Pablo. As of Season 5, he still works at the shoe store, with Nacho as his newest co-worker, and is dating a woman from Venezuela, but has to deal with Nacho trying to date her as well.
- Norma Pons - The new neighbor of the Larraín family during the third season. She is a former schoolmate of Kena and works as a real estate agent. She leased Marcia and Pablo's house after the couple moved to the affluent La Dehesa neighborhood in Santiago. Norma is shown as a feminist and independent woman, but at the same time very gossipy and malicious. She usually complains about the little education of the Larraíns and the damage that their dog Campeón causes at home. At the same time, the Larraíns often make fun of her for still being single despite her age, calling her a "spinster". Norma dies in the episode ""El final de la Norma", after drinking Titi's enamel remover by accident. She is somewhat of a secondary Marcy Rhoades from Season 4-5.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
| Actor | Role | Original |
|---|---|---|
| Fernando Larraín | Alberto José "Tito" Larraín | Al Bundy |
| Javiera Contador | Maria Eugenia "Kena" Gomez | Peggy Bundy |
| Dayana Amigo | Maria Fernanda "Titi" Larraín | Kelly Bundy |
| Fernando Godoy | Ignacio Rufino "Nacho" Larraín | Bud Bundy |
| Carmen Gloria Bresky | Marcia Durán | Marcy Rhoades |
| Marcial Tagle | Pablo Pinto | Steve Rhoades |
Recurring Cast[]
| Actor | Role | Original |
|---|---|---|
| Jaime Omeñaca | Luis "Lucho" Montaner | Luke Ventura |
| Patricio Ossa | Domingo Siete Pérez Gómez | Seven |
| Guido Vecchiola | Guillermo "Helmut" | Carlos |
| María José Pestán | Fresia | Amber |
Episodes[]
- Main article: Casado con Hijos (Chile)/Episodes
Theme Song[]
Along with the Colombian MWC remakes, the Chilean version features an opening theme song with lyrics called "Casado Con Hijos". The opening credits typically show Tito entering the house and singing the song while making his way into the living room, while the rest of the family, along with Marcia and Pablo dance in the background. Each version is changed for the new season (and will have some minor variations within each season). There are also a few special themed openings, such as a Christmas, Halloween or Homeland Holidays version.
Lyrics[]
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Soy casado, casado con hijos | I'm married, married with children |
| Ni lo sueñes, es mucho el sacrificio | Don't even dream it, it takes much sacrifice |
| A mi esposa, la mandaría a trabajar | I would send my wife off to work |
| Y aunque me pase todo el día en la zapatería | And though I spend all day at the shoe store |
| Todo el dinero lo gasta mi familia | My family spends all the money |
| Soy casado, casado con hijos | I'm married, married with children |
| No me envidien por favor | Please don't envy me |
| No me envidien | Don't envy me |
Trivia[]
- A year prior to Casado con Hijos being filmed, Fernando Larraín and Carmen Gloria Bresky both appeared in the series, La Nany, the Chilean adaptation of the U.S. sitcom, The Nanny. The series would be followed by Casado con Hijos during its last few episodes. Coincidentally, Florencia Peña and Guillermo Francella from the Argentinean adaptation of MWC, Casados con Hijos (Argentina), appeared in the Argentinean version of the The Nanny, La Niñera a year prior to the film of Casados con Hijos.
- As of the second season, the character of Pablo (Marcial Tagle) speaks with a characteristic European Spanish accent. According to the actor, while recording the series, he suffered an accident, for which he spent a long time without recording. He also recounted that, in the original version, his character disappears from the plot after separating from his wife, like Steve Rhoades and after the accident, there were plans for Pablo to also disappear. But, the director Diego Rougier did not want this to happen, the actor then decided to reinvent the character, sending him on a trip to Spain and returning to Chile, speaking with a Spanish accent and bolder attitude.
- Among the Latin American remakes, the Chilean version is the only one that uses "Casado" instead of the plural form, "Casados" in its title.
- Among the Spanish language remakes, only the Chilean and Colombian versions have an opening theme song with lyrics. All other versions are instrumental pieces.
| International Remakes | ||
| Germany • United Kingdom • Brazil • Turkey • Colombia • Argentina • Russia • Chile • Spain • Hungary • Croatia • Bulgaria • Israel • Armenia • Mexico | ||