When Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny returned to host Saturday Night Live, fans expected plenty of laughs, music, and cultural nods. Nobody quite anticipated an emotional trip back to one of Latin America’s most iconic shows: "El Chavo del Ocho."
In the skit, Bad Bunny played Quico, the spoiled but lovable child known for his sailor outfit and exaggerated pout, while SNL cast member Marcello Hernandez played the beloved orphan El Chavo. For Latinos, this was a moment of recognition, nostalgia, and cultural validation. For non-Latino viewers, it may have just looked like a quirky reenactment.
© Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via GettyIf El Chavo del Ocho doesn’t ring a bell, or you didn’t grow up with it, don’t worry. Here’s what you need to know about the show that defined an era of Latin American television.
The Legacy of 'El Chavo del Ocho'
To understand the skit’s roots, it helps to know what 'El Chavo del Ocho' represents for generations of Latinos. Created by Mexican comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños, better known as Chespirito (“Little Shakespeare”), the sitcom first aired in 1973 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe story centered around El Chavo, a poor orphan who lived inside a barrel in a fictional vecindad, which is a Mexican tenement housing complex. The series followed his misadventures with his neighbors, including Quico, Doña Florinda, Don Ramón, and La Chilindrina.
© Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesDespite its simple set and low-budget production, the show resonated deeply because it captured universal themes such as friendship, poverty, pride, jealousy, humor, and resilience.
At its peak, the show had over 350 million viewers per episode across Latin America and Spain. It became a staple of family life, passed down from parents to children, and even dubbed into Portuguese for Brazilian audiences (Chaves). In the United States, it aired on Univision, becoming a touchstone for Latino immigrant households.
Why the SNL Skit Hit Home
Seeing Bad Bunny, Marcello Hernandez, Chloe Fineman, Jon Hamm, Andrew Dismukes, and the rest of the cast members revive these characters on SNL meant more than just a laugh. It was a recognition of Latino pop culture on one of America’s biggest comedy stages. For decades, Latino families have carried El Chavo as a symbol of shared identity, but mainstream U.S. television rarely acknowledges it.
© Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesFor Latinos who grew up with the show, the skit felt like it was saying, “We see you. We know this mattered to you.” It was a validation of childhood memories, of sitting in the living room with parents and grandparents, laughing at El Chavo’s innocent misunderstandings or Quico’s jealous outbursts.
For Puerto Ricans in particular, seeing Bad Bunny, a global superstar who has made a career out of embracing his identity, step into this world was especially powerful. He was reminding audiences that Latin American culture belongs on global stages.
The Show's Importance
If you were too young when "El Chavo del Ocho" was popular, here’s the best way to think of it: It was the "I Love Lucy" or "The Simpsons" of Latin America. It was a cultural glue that connected millions across borders, languages, and generations.
© Will Heath/NBC via Getty ImagesThe humor was slapstick and simple, but that’s why it worked, as it spoke to children and adults alike. The show made poverty visible in a way that wasn’t demeaning, but rather humanizing. It highlighted the dignity, humor, and struggles of everyday people.
So when SNL revived it, it was a bridge between cultures. Non-Latino viewers may not catch every reference, but understanding that this show holds the same nostalgia and cultural weight as America’s biggest sitcoms helps decode why it mattered so much.
