Noemí Galera (Barcelona, 57 years old) is in an office that does not belong to her, that of the directors of the Operación Triunfo, run by three screens that spit out live images of the participants locked up on the top floor for three months. , located in a studio in the Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya, on the outskirts of Terrassa. The head of the academy of the television competition, which celebrates its semi-final this Monday, prefers to sit with the production team at a simple desk on which there is a poster with the message: “You leave your ego here.” A downward arrow points to it Garbage can. On one of the televisions, Martin is eating lactose-free yogurt. In the next room, Paul Thin and Álvaro Mayo, this week's nominees, are packing their bags. The second will leave that night.
Shortly before, Galera had herself photographed in what she calls “Guantánamo,” a small prison-like room with two bunk beds where she sleeps on Monday evenings. On it hangs the white suit that will be worn a few hours later at the gala, where the candidates will be celebrated as if they were the Beatles of 1965. The main novelty of this edition will be broadcast live on Prime Video, the first not in a old fashioned channel was developed. Despite being made available to a smaller audience, the move to the platform had no impact on the program, whose digital impact has far exceeded that of the 2017, 2018 and 2020 editions. The last gala received 8.6 million votes, ten times more than in 2020. In total, OT videos reach 720 million views on networks, twice as many as the last edition.
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Galera is tired but happy. “The balance is very positive. The collaboration with Amazon was good. I hope we do more OT with them. They have allowed themselves to be carried away by us who have been running this program for 23 years,” he says. “Actually, this is the format of my life.” He knows that he has invested himself beyond measure in the OT. He has not left this area for weeks and has hardly seen his two children, aged 11 and 13. “When they ask me if they recognize me on the street, I say I don't know because I don't step on it,” smiles Galera, who displays the same simplicity and naturalness that he looks for in his castings says . She is Mami Noe, the nurse of these orphans, but also an enemy of the state on the networks, depending on the day and time.
She's been on TV for more than half her life, but she's more unknown than she seems. He was born in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, on Carrer de les Camèlies, which gave Mercè Rodoreda's novel its title. He grew up without his father. His mother ran a bar. His uncle sang boleros in the backyard during his vacation in a town in Castellón; He believes he gets his endless appetite for music from him. While studying Hispanic philology, a career she financed by working as a saleswoman at Bulevard Rosa, a now-defunct shopping center in the upper part of Barcelona, television crossed her path. Gestmusic, La Trinca's production company, signed her after her participation in the Love at First Sight competition, Tinder's television ancestor. “I've been here since I was 24 years old. Now I think I wouldn't enjoy doing anything else. I was lucky, but I also put in more hours than anyone else,” he admits.
“OT” is a program of values such as respect and equality. This was lost a little during the Telecinco phase because “reality” took precedence. Fortunately, that has changed,” says Galera.
Since the golden edition of 2017, that of Amaia and Aitana, the format has returned to the whiter register of the first editions, far from the harsh tone of his years at Telecinco, as Galera, involved in several clashes with Risto Mejide – “I haven’t seen it again, I have no interest in removing that stage,” he says – admitting the format was distorted. “OT is a values program. For example, respect and equality. In this edition we have organized talks on sexual health, attention deficits and physical self-esteem. At that point, that was somewhat lost: television was different and reality prevailed. Fortunately, that has changed,” he says. She wouldn't be returning to her days as an OT judge, when the spectacle required required her to overact in a villainous role that she clearly doesn't have fond memories of.
“I don't have a bad conscience, but today I would do it differently because society is different and because luckily I'm a different person too,” he answers. “Being on a jury is thankless and in my time there were no networks. In 2005, they called me at home and threatened to kill me. “Lately I had to file two complaints, for insults and in one case because my daughter was lied to,” he admits. Famous for his “Milk Rises” and his BroncOTes, which earned him somewhat unfair fame at Rottenmeier – that indelible misogynistic cliché – he says he took this issue much more calmly. “The networks are like a Roman circus asking for blood and I didn't want to give it to them.” He doesn't go to the psychologist, “even though he should.” He says he was just a little more patient than usual.
Noemí Galera, casting director of Gestmusic, on the stairs to the “OT” academy in the Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya (Terrassa) at the end of January. Gianluca Battista
Without repeating the extremes of previous editions – in 2018 TVE had to apologize to the Falange for comments made by a participant and Galera herself – this edition was also not lacking in controversy: somewhat exaggerated accusations of bullying, insults between contestants' fandoms, various bollodramas and even a indescribable war with the French OT to decide which format was better, which ended with a strange Peace of the Pyrenees on the network formerly known as Twitter. In addition, the singer Iván Ferreiro called the program “butcher shop” and called his teachers “cantamañanas”. And a vigorous campaign by supporters of Chiara, one of the candidates, reached a giant screen in New York's Times Square (although she was eliminated). “I wonder what some people will do with their lives after February 19th,” says Galera ironically. It is the date of a result that is considered open. “I never know who will win anyway.” In 2017 he thought it would be Agoney. He left before the final.
When you watch her work on her auditions, it seems like she makes decisions based on instinct rather than strategy. “Yes, there is something completely irrational. “I trust my instincts because I made the biggest decision of my life by jumping into the pool.” For example? “When I met my partner Arnau [Vilà, director musical de Tu cara me suena]He had been married to another person for 15 years. We met a few times and I decided to part ways.” It happened during the castings for the 2009 edition, which may have increased his excessive attachment to the program. “It's true that I feel like it's a project of mine, even though it's not. I know that one day it will continue like this without me, because no one is important.” Years ago the limit of 60 was lifted. Since there is now less left, he says he will stay “until retirement.” But then he has doubts: “At what age do you retire now?”
Galera welcomes the participants of the Golden Edition 2017, which ended with Amaia and Aitana in first place, together with Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, the acting teachers of the “Operación Triunfo” at the time. Cristobal Castro
Galera sees OT as a sociological mirror, as “a reflection of the country’s youth.” In this issue, only five of the 16 participants say they are heterosexual. In 2001 there were no declared LGTBI. “We have never excluded people from the collective. But society has changed. Perhaps then they were not aware of what they were, what shades of gray there were. Now young people have the freedom to define themselves as they want, and even not to define themselves,” says the director of the academy. He also observes a healthier relationship with “sexuality and its needs,” which is reflected in his recurring and not always discreet trips to the shower. “If you compare this edition with the 2020 edition, you can see differences. Those who signed up this year spent their youth cooped up at home due to Covid. They are more sensitive and express their fears more easily, and that is very good,” says Galera.
In 2020, he had to organize a speech to counter a candidate's homophobic comments. “This year it wasn’t necessary. In just three years I have met a more modern, diverse and respectful youth. Even heterosexual people have nothing in common with those of another time. Now they don't mind showing affection, kissing or crying anymore. “I am proud that my children have this model.” Now they no longer sing for Chayanne, but for Sen Senra. When you see them on the screen, it seems like the goat is on the verge of extinction. “Overall. And that's wonderful.” Although he is afraid of other young people: “The one who is here, on the cell phone, who also exists.” The networks show how radicalized the country is. To have these 16 people with these values , is a host with an open hand, depending on who it is,” he says of the rise of certain political parties.
For Galera, the values of the program are “an open host” to certain political parties. In this issue, only five participants say they are heterosexual. In 2001 there were no declared LGTBI
Another theme of this issue was the double standards between men and women. “Much more is required of them, as is the case in other areas of society. They have to sing well, but also dance, be pretty and look great. The fact that they are coming on stage is already a benefit to us. It's something we have ingrained in our DNA.” Despite everything, celebrate that the candidates are not submissive and protest when they don't like something, as has happened several times in this edition (and, even worse, in the year 2018, when the candidates even called for a demonstration). ). Despite the criticism, the Triumphs no longer seem like alien beings following orders, but rather like co-producers of a show with their own criteria and subjectivity.
“Before they didn’t dare get up. Everything was more “this is how it is and this is how it is”. Now we give them the opportunity to say something,” says Galera. “Sometimes it bothers me selfishly because it requires extra effort from me. But I prefer them to be rebellious than docile. Let them speak with pride about their time on the program rather than denying OT when they leave here.” There was a time when it was embarrassing to say you watched this show. Now the shame may have changed sides.
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