José Mota amuses me less and less, and the question lingers: what should be done about it? The year-end special, which opens with a rather unfortunate title, felt heavy and a touch sad to me. The line Save yourself Putin! echoed loudly, and despite that sharp, provocative moment, his immense audience suggests we are likely to see more of his humor in the near future.
The real intrigue lies not in the punch lines but in the person behind the name. Jose SanchezMota was the guest who joined Jenaro Castro on Across Plano. The comedian, who rose from a humble start in a Toledo hostel, opened up to the journalist. As the relaxed, friendly tone of the conversation unfolded, a version of him emerged that resonated with many, including the writer, who found himself identifying with several of his expressions and reactions.
I never warmed to José Mota in the same way as some fans of Cruz y Raya, yet over time he won the writer over on certain misunderstood moments. He sparked interest in what many would call the lifeblood of cinema. One of Álex de la Iglesia’s films stands out as a favorite, admired for its energy and audacity. There wasn’t room in the Plano general program to dwell on every excess, because Jenaro Castro’s show is a space that blends memory with contemporary commentary. It plays with the past—an approach reminiscent of De cerca by Jesús Hermida and the 1980s style of Luis Tomás Melgar, while also nodding to the Self-Portrait of Pablo Lizcano from 1984. The aim is to present the past in a way that feels immediate and relevant. And more than anything, the show invites the guest to loosen up and speak freely, linking ideas to describe what first comes to mind about current events and public figures. When José Sánchez Mota is at ease and uncovered, he begins to describe ideas that shape his perspective on the Constitution, democracy, populism, national symbols, slogans, and ideological stances. The result is television that feels honest and engaging, a rare balance of wit and candor that sticks with viewers after the credits roll.