Christian Gálvez (Móstoles, 1980) has returned to Telecinco afternoons with '25 words', a daily contest from Monday to Friday at 7:00 p.m., in which two teams made up of an anonymous contestant and two celebrities compete in a succession of games to find out words in which humor, ingenuity, mental agility and intuition are the keys to victory and the economic jackpot. This is the first international adaptation of the contest '25 Words or Less', released in the United States, and which is gradually making a name for itself on the television grid.
What is it about word-based contests that draws audiences so much?
The fact of playing with our language and putting ourselves to the test. Of wanting not only to enjoy and play with our language but also to pay a small tribute to the self-knowledge that we have. And then at the end, that we all like to compete with ourselves and show ourselves that we can be better.
In '25 words' anonymous and famous contestants participate. Regarding the anonymous, what is your policy: empathize or keep a certain distance?
At first, I was perhaps too carried away by the opinion of social networks about who was the favorite. But a presenter is the link between what is a question and an answer and should avoid taking a position. For this reason, the presenter Christian Gálvez has never positioned himself nor will he do so with the contestants, but I, as a person, if it is true that in the end you grow fond of people who are with us for a long time. I now have great friends who have participated in the different contests that I have presented and I do not hide it.
And as for celebrities. What is your contribution to this type of program?
They provide absolutely everything. They give you tables and temperance, which is very important for the contestants. And for the audience, they bring the interest of discovering the people behind it. And for them, logically, participating in these programs is no longer a showcase.
What is your priority when you jump on the set and have to host a program like '25 words'?
My highest priority is that the people on the other side of the screen think that we are worth being with. Because in the end this is a competition and there is a lot of offer. My main objective is to ask myself how we make people stay with us after saying 'good afternoon'. From there, I also try to make people feel comfortable, keep up, not let things drag on too long...
In addition to presenting ’25 palabras’ you are also an executive producer of the contest with Fénix Media. What is your function?
We are three partners and each one is in charge of a plot. Olga Flórez is in charge of managing broadcast contests; Rafa Guardiola has specialized in directing and content; and I am in charge of the research and development of new formats. But the three of us have been very involved in adapting this format, the original of which lasts between 25 and 30 minutes and which we have extended twice as long for the needs of our channel, maintaining the spirit and the rules. And then, well, we are making changes through trial/error and listening to our audience. That is what our work consists of.
How has the perspective of the world of television changed from this other perspective?
It is an exercise of responsibility. Although in other contests I have always been very lucky because they have had my opinion, it is one thing to see the project as a whole and another individually.
He has worked for many years under the direction of Paolo Vasile, who has recently left the group. What is the legacy that he has left in you?
Under his tenure I began as a reporter on 'Caiga quien caya' and ended up being the Christian Gálvez of 'Pasapalabra' at the time. In one way or another, he has allowed me to make history on Telecinco and the Mediaset group. And the most important thing, as I thanked him when I went to say goodbye to him in his office, is that he has always let me be myself, which I consider a great gift.
Mediaset's new management is giving programs more time to consolidate. How do you see it?
If I had to judge myself from a few years ago, it would be tremendously unfair because a year ago I don't know what I know now. By this I mean that before it was a time with a totally different supply and demand than now. It was a brilliant business model for many years but in the end everything is cyclical. Now there is a change in trend but there is also a change in need and in the editorial project. That said, in my opinion, they bet and create the content regardless of the result, because I like it.
He has been focused on family contests for a few years. Would you like to change registration?
We're on that. Not to change, but I would like to broaden my horizons as I have done at other times. There are very interesting projects in terms of production and soon we will be able to present totally different projects to what we have been doing. But what I want is to combine projects without stopping doing what I do now, because I have a great time with the contests.
