Arturo Valls (Valencia, 1975) starts today on Movistar Plus at the helm of the Spanish version of That’s my jam, the successful NBC show presented by Jimmy Fallon. There, two couples of guest stars – the first are Amaia, Rigoberta Bandini, Nathy Peluso and Paco León – participate in different tests and challenges to demonstrate their skills and musical knowledge. Valls puts his particular stamp as presenter while also acting as producer and while the recording of a new season of Mask Singer is about to begin and El club del 1% is pending premiere, both formats on Antena 3.
So you’re going to be the Spanish Jimmy Fallon?
(Laughs). More like Jimmy Fallas. Let’s say a little yes in that energy and that way of doing things that Jimmy Fallon has, although one already brings a little bit from home as well. I think we have, keeping in mind the differences, a similar style. Fallon is quite similar to me and my way of making white humor with that little thing of being a bit of a bastard and sometimes being ironic.
Have you watched the original program a lot to get a sense of its character and format?
It wouldn’t make much sense to imitate it because the adaptations have to be given that nuance of the idiosyncrasy of each country. I remember that Cámara Café was an original French series but you couldn’t use its humor, which has its differences from ours. You have to be careful to adapt the format to the audience in your country without losing the essence and energy of the program.
This Spanish version is the sixth international version of the format. Have you seen them too?
Not much because we didn’t want to immerse ourselves in either the original, as I told you, or the versions. I have seen the French and the German ones that I think are very free in the adaptation, for example, in terms of duration. It is a blessing that finally the channels in this country, in this case Movistar, respect the times of the original format, which is 50 minutes and do not unnecessarily lengthen it to two hours, as happens in MasterChef, with filling to stretch.
Is celebrities taking on tests and challenges to demonstrate their musical skills and knowledge the essence of the program?
Yes, precisely. That is the excuse to then put on a show that gives a lot of importance to music, which is also live, which we are not used to. We have an incredible band that is going to propose musical challenges to these guests, professional singers or actors, who come to test themselves. And it is always very interesting to see famous guests out of their comfort zone singing musical genres or styles that they have never faced. And also in an improvised way and with certain surprises for them.
In addition to being a presenter, you are a producer. Does that lead to enjoying the project more or suffering from it more?
Sometimes I think that I wish I were just a presenter, doing my thing and going home without having to worry about getting the guests to come, getting the set on time, talking to the network about the delivery date… All of this is, as I would tell you, a joyful suffering because being so involved makes you live it with a different passion. That you are one of the people who built the project is also exciting.
It seems that Arturo Valls enjoys improvising more than when you follow a script.
Absolutely. But, look how curious, because I’m not a big fan of pure and simple improvisation either. I mean, I like having a crutch that you can lean on, but it’s true that when you let go of it and walk alone, that’s when fresher, more natural and genuine things are produced. But I would never go without a net and go crazy.
