Overview
El Hormiguero is a Spanish television program with a live audience focusing on comedy, science, and politics running since September 2006. It is hosted and produced by screenwriter Pablo Motos. The show aired on Spain's Cuatro channel from launch until June 2011 and is now broadcast on Antena 3. Recurring guests on the show include Luis Piedrahita, Raquel Martos, Marron & "The Man in Black", and puppet ants Trancas and Barrancas. It has proved a ratings success, and has expanded from a weekly 120-minute show to a daily 40-minute show in its third season, which began on September 17, 2007. The show won the Entertainment prize at the 2009 Rose d'Or ceremony.
El Hormiguero maintains a high-energy pace that moves quickly between science demonstrations, comedy sketches, and interviews. Since 2006, the format has leaned into its own eccentricity, often featuring puppet ants and recurring characters alongside celebrity guests. The inclusion of live stunts and experiments creates a unpredictable rhythm that keeps the nightly broadcast feeling kinetic rather than strictly scripted.
By the third season, the transition from a long weekly installment to a shorter, daily format helped solidify its presence on Spanish television. Hosted and produced by Pablo Motos, the program avoids standard talk show decorum in favor of chaotic segments that move through topics ranging from politics to slapstick humor. This distinct blend earned the production an Entertainment prize at the 2009 Rose d’Or ceremony, marking its departure from typical daytime interview structures.
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Details
- First Aired
- September 24, 2006
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episode Runtime
- 50 minutes
- Origin
- ES
- TMDB Votes
- 39