When Sálvame was on the brink of cancellation at Telecinco, its team offered a satirical preview of its successor, hosted by Ana Rosa Quintana. Dubbed Sálvame Cotton Candy, it mocked the anticipated shift to a more pleasant and flattering tone, as desired by the channel's new management. After yet another transformation, La familia de la tele has become a mere shadow of its initial promise to disrupt TVE's afternoon lineup, reduced to a one-hour program focused on streaming an endless parade of videos.

Originally launched on April 28 with grand aspirations of innovation and spontaneity, the show's essence dissipated by Monday. The awkward trio of presenters introduced the program from a neglected corner of a lavish set. The content was a monotonous sequence of video after video, interspersed with fleeting jokes and brief connections with reporters, culminating in more videos. The only deviation from this formula was an unscripted moment by María Patiño, which left her co-hosts visibly flustered.

Despite the show's extravagant set, featuring kitchens and lounges ripe for creative exploration, it was relegated to a mere backdrop. The core of the show on La 1 revolved around eclectic video content, ranging from Miguel Ángel Revilla at a book fair to the 90th birthday of architect Norman Foster. This format bore no resemblance to the edgy Sálvame vibe once promised, aligning more closely with the tame nature of Socialité or Aquí hay tomate, devoid of any engaging bite. The absence of a live audience further stripped the show of warmth, and the relentless video barrage stifled any potential for entertainment or improvisation.

This latest iteration is symptomatic of the numerous adjustments imposed on La Osa Producciones due to dwindling viewership. Initial changes involved experimenting with presenters' roles and adjusting airtimes. Incremental modifications followed, affecting themes, collaborators, and set arrangements. Last Friday, La 1 announced the elimination of the program's second segment, traditionally more focused on news and advice, leaving only an hour for the lighter, entertainment-focused portion.

The axed second segment is being replaced by pre-recorded episodes of El Cazador Stars and the new El club de La Promesa, which recap events from the afternoon series. Produced by the same team as La familia de la tele, TVE recognizes the dominance of telenovelas in the afternoon slot, aiming to keep the production team occupied despite recent setbacks. With audience shares plummeting below 6%—a stark contrast to La 1's 10.4% average in May—TVE could not risk jeopardizing its successful series like La Promesa and Valle salvaje.

In the revamped finale, hosts Inés Hernand and Aitor Albizua joined María Patiño to discuss the scheduled videos. This underscores the essence of a show without a show. Lydia Lozano continued her antics on RTVE Play, Kiko Matamoros made a serious appearance as a roving journalist, and Belén Esteban, having previously voiced her fatigue with the format, was notably absent.

Promised elements like personal trainers, weather updates, regional connections, and dietary tips were nowhere to be seen. Missing contributors, such as Rocío Carrasco, raise questions about the show's direction. Despite the lackluster reception, further changes seem inevitable, yet increasingly futile. The Sálvame spirit, once a hallmark, has departed La 1, leaving behind a format neither faithful to its roots nor aligned with its ambitions. The days of this iteration are numbered, with its original concept all but a distant memory.