25 Years of Morning Magazine Show ‘Today’: A Journey with Televisa
The popular morning magazine show Today on Televisa is just about to celebrate its remarkable 25th anniversary on the air. Over the years, it has been graced by numerous celebrities such as Talina Fernández, Laura Flores, Ernesto Laguardia, Annete Cuburu, Angélica María, Alan Tacher, Natalia Téllez, Fernando del Solar, Maca Carriedo, and many others, all becoming part of the show’s big family.
Veterans of the show, Andrea Legarreta, Galilea Montijo, and Raúl Araiza, have witnessed countless arrivals and departures. There has been a long-running rumor that suggests these veteran hosts have the power to approve or reject new talents. Although there is no evidence to support this claim, former colleagues have always expressed their gratitude towards the hosts.
Prior to gaining fame as an influencer, reality TV star, and journalist, Pedro Prieto had already established a moderate career in Spain, his home country. However, he decided to try his luck abroad as an actor and model in India and China, before eventually settling in Mexico in October 2013.
Arriving in Latin America was not an easy journey for Prieto. He faced difficult times and shared an apartment with eight models in the Del Valle neighborhood, all searching for opportunities in the industry.
Then came the casting call for a contest on Today, where Prieto had to portray a half-naked cupid and deliver a compliment, a rose, and sit between Andrea Legarreta and Galilea Montijo. It may have been a simple task for anyone else, but for Prieto, who was not yet familiar with them, it presented a challenge.
Fortunately, Prieto impressed the casting committee with his eloquence. “I don’t know what the heck I said, I have no idea, but people liked me and my Facebook started to explode. I won and stayed as a guest host for a week,” Prieto revealed in a recent interview.
As time passed, Prieto’s popularity grew, but financial difficulties still plagued him. He kept this hardship to himself, not even sharing it with his family. He refrained from returning to Madrid for two and a half years, hoping to achieve a significant breakthrough. “I spent two and a half years without going back to Madrid because I told myself that I wouldn’t return until I had something substantial. Besides, I didn’t have enough money. If I bought a plane ticket, I would struggle to afford meals,” Prieto confessed.
During one Christmas, Andrea Legarreta extended an invitation to Prieto to celebrate at her house. He accepted, even though he barely had enough money for transportation. However, Erik Rubín unknowingly came to Prieto’s rescue by offering him an Uber Black service for his return trip. “I felt embarrassed to ask where the bus would drop me off. I took the bus to Televisa, which cost five pesos. It was an unforgettable experience. We often fail to appreciate the things we have,” Prieto admitted.
The Christmas celebration also brought another challenge for Prieto – finding a suitable gift. With the Rubín Legarreta family playing the “secret friend” game, Prieto questioned what he could give to the daughters of Andrea Legarreta and Erik Rubín, considering their privileged backgrounds. In the end, he decided on two thermoses with small trinkets and bubbles. Prieto humorously mentioned that he even won a pair of Ray-Ban glasses himself during the game.
However, what Prieto truly treasures from this experience is Andrea’s generosity in inviting someone she barely knew to her family celebration. Additionally, he recalls the invaluable advice he received from Andrea’s daughters, who were very young at the time. “I remember when I was about to perform in the musical theater production of ‘Hook’ (a children’s play based on Peter Pan) with Miguel Ángel Valles. I was extremely nervous, but Mia Rubín and Nina approached me. They reassured me, saying, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll do great because we believe in your talent.’ I thought, ‘Wow! Two little girls are boosting my confidence?! I’m terrified! What an incredible family!'” Prieto fondly reminisced.
Prieto considers his eight-year tenure on Today as one of the best schools in the industry. He metaphorically compared it to playing for Real Madrid, the top football team. In an interview with Mara Patricia Castañeda last April, Prieto expressed his gratitude for the invaluable experiences he gained.
