Especial de stand up

Alejandro Riaño takes the stage to contrast the social classes of Bogotá, relying heavily on local stereotypes of “gomelos” (wealthy snobs) and “guisos” (the working class). Filmed at the Teatro Nacional La Castellana in his home city, this performance serves as a showcase of the regional Colombian archetypes that Riaño spent his early career developing. He spends a significant portion of the set cataloging physical tells, breaking down dance styles, and mimicking the hyperactive cadences of South American soccer commentators.

Released on Netflix in early 2018, the show marked a major milestone as one of the platform’s first major pushes into Colombian stand-up. At this stage in his career, Riaño was still performing under his own name, just months before he would find massive viral success with his satirical, ultra-wealthy character Juanpis González. While the special aimed to capture the local flavor of Colombia’s capital, it met with some sharp criticism at home. Local reviewers pointed out that the routine leaned too heavily on outdated classist tropes, specifically in his bit about dating a “loba” (a gaudy or wild woman), and that the live theater audience seemed occasionally muted by the predictable jokes.