The first interview in prime time about what it could have been like in The anthilla program in which he has collaborated for years. But it was Leiva who was announced a week ago. Neither Leiva is a minor character, nor is the Planet a small prize. The first hour of the program has been dedicated to Leiva and that documentary directed by “some kids from the neighborhood” who I don’t think he has named. After about forty minutes, Marron arrived with an experiment that Leiva patiently contemplated. After that he went with his Quaker hat somewhere else.
A few ads later came the part in which the panelists dance and applaud themselves before sitting down at the table. “(what less). At the table and its ants, Cristina Pardo, Tamara Falcó, Nuria Roca, and Juan del Val excited like a little child. He carries the award in his hand and Tamara does something that should never be done: hold someone else’s award. Tamara, in her blessed innocence, says “This is the closest I am going to get to a Planeta award.” Strange and erroneous statement from someone who has lived with a Nobel Prize winner. Since October 15 we know that, to win the Planet, it is enough to be a presenter for the group. It may be that, due to an error, omission or laziness on the part of a presenter, the award goes to a writer, but it is best for an employee of the house to win it, so Tamara could win the award without a problem. Or child, or novel. Maybe both. Tamara, with her little voice, seems to be the only one really interested in Juan del Val talking.
Juan del Val is very happy and excited. He says that he was nervous, but the reality is that it had been leaked since at least eight in the afternoon and that they even knew about it in Forocoches. I don’t rule out that even Triana Marrash knew about it. And it is evident that if you are at that party that night, you smelled something. You would also smell something if you thank your editor with whom, I assume, you have worked on that novel (which no one at the table mentions because of the title). And if you are there it is because you have a chance to win. They show the images of the stellar moment, unfortunately removing the shot in which Esther Vaquero executes a moment of high comedy. They bring us dishes from the stalls full of frozen smiles, shy applause, and faces of “Let’s see when we’re going to read.” Del Val repeats and elitism as if he were fucking Curtis Garland. I think I notice small dents in the pride of at least two of those present on the set. Anyone would think that this good man makes popular novels instead of hardcover erotic novels.
Nuria Roca speaks more than Juan del Val, and he looks like “but wasn’t the interviewee me?”
“Juan has made me a better person,” says the Rock without realizing that this speaks about her, not about Juan. He gives off a certain tenderness, and probably thinks this is recognition of his literary work. But something must be sniffed, because the space dedicated to this collaborator does not reach thirteen minutes (timed). Instead of spending half an hour with their partner, they focus on commenting on complete nonsense: a thong with synthetic pubic hair that Kim Kardashian has marketed, the bag that Nuria Roca carries to the beach, and the latest news about Koldo.
The idea enters the conversation that maybe Val has to take some days off, and Motos takes it as a joke. Juan del Val emphasizes that he will continue as a screenwriter and talk show host, and he needs to look with a kitten face and say “right, Pablo, right?”
No matter how much noise we may have about this year’s Planet, it is ugly – and strange – that you have a colleague winning the most important award (perhaps for the last year) in Spain and you don’t dedicate even fifteen minutes to it.
