¡Qué Locuras! is a hidden camera-comedy television show from the United States and Venezuela. In English, "¡Qué Locuras!" translates as "What Craziness!" or "What Follies!" The premise of the show involves hidden cameras filming pranks on celebrities, both local and international. It is similar to Punk'd on MTV in the United States.

Production information

The show was first broadcast in 2000 and hosted by Ernesto Cortéz, who is best known for appearing in the sketch comedy show, Bienvenidos. ¡Qué Locuras! is produced by Venevision International in the United States and directed by Hugo Carregal, and had, as of the beginning of 2007, around 150 episodes. ¡Qué Locuras! has become a hit in the United States (where it was shown by Univision) as well as in other South American countries.

In 2018, Moncho Martinez, an actor who played several characters in the show, decided to bring it back to life as a theater play, with initial presentations in the northern Venezuelan city of Maracaibo.

Notable pranks

Pranks involving characters played by Luís Moncho Martínez

Dominican television actor Luís Moncho Martínez, who has produced the show since its debut, has created (and starred in) numerous pranks for the program. Among these pranks are:

  • El Inspector Rodriguez

A celebrity is driven to Venevision's studio facility, thinking that he or she is going to participate in a television show (particularly Súper Sábado Sensacional) and Guerra de los Sexos. Upon entering the parking lot, the celebrity gets told by the "security guard" known as Inspector Rodriguez (played by Luís Moncho Martínez) that he or she cannot proceed because the celebrity's name does not appear on the list of Venevision's guests for that day. Rodriguez would frequently tease and demean them to leave the premises in a way that would provoke the celebrities to yell at him (and even get into a physical altercation).

  • Cocinando Con Ermo (translated: Cooking With Ermo)

A fake cooking show starring Ermo (played by Luís Moncho Martínez), an overly effeminate chef, was put on to lure celebrities into a trap consisting of Ermo arguing with his assistant (played by Irán Lovera), causing both of them to throw food and condiments at each other, with the celebrity in the middle of it all.

  • Ruperto

Ruperto (played by Luís Moncho Martínez) is a mentally incapacitated man who wants to get a picture with every celebrity that arrives on the Venevision complex. As the celebrity is interviewed in the hallway by a man posing as a Venevision reporter (who is mentioned in the segment as Ruperto's brother), Ruperto starts getting excited and starts harassing the celebrity.