Karina Rivera he said goodbye to Timoteo, not knowing that it would be the last time they would drive together on television. This happened on August 14, 1999, she had become pregnant and decided to put her work on hold. They told her she would be temporarily replaced. However, it was not.
Karina and Timoteo were renamed María Pía y Timoteo. The beloved dragon “fell in love” with a new cheerleader, who, at the time, was a 22-year-old. Thus, despite the great success he achieved with his program, Karina Rivera was fired after giving birth.
For many years, different versions of this controversy have been spread. There was even speculation about a rivalry between the cheerleaders. Here we tell you all about it.
YOU CAN SEE Ricardo Bonilla ‘Timoteo’ on Karina Rivera: “We dream of working together again”
Karina Rivera’s version
Karina Rivera revealed in an interview that the show’s production promised her that she would work with them again. Even, she proposed María Pía to be her replacement as driver.
“They told me: ‘No Karina, go rest for a month and while we look for a replacement for this time, then you come back and tell the children that you are pregnant and how nice it is to talk about a child in a children’s program.’ So, they painted it super cute for me and I said ‘wow’, right? How cool, but it wasn’t like that, what’s more, I proposed María Pía”, he explained to Action Media Web.
“I proposed María Pía, I proposed Ana Karina because I had had her as a guest, but she was preparing for Viña del Mar and was very involved in music (…) but they had not told me that she was not going to come back . I gave birth and the following Saturday the program was called María Pía y Timoteo, she added.
YOU CAN SEE Karina and Timoteo had an unexpected reunion on América TV
Why did you choose María Pía Copello?
At first the channel accepted Anna Carina, but finally it hired María Pía. According to the former animator of This is war, he went through a casting with dozens of young people, but the chemistry he had with Timoteo ended up convincing the production. This version is different from the one Karina gave.
Timoteo knew about Karina’s dismissal
Ricardo Bonilla, who plays Timoteo, confessed that he was one of the people who had found out about the dismissal of Karina Rivera. At one point, he wanted to talk to her about it, but they forbade him.
“One day after the recording they told me what was going to happen. (…) I didn’t tell my friend, I should have warned her, but the producer asked me not to say anything. I took heed The program ended and they called Karina to tell her that she would not be there. And that caused tremendous disgust”, expressed the actor for Action Media Web.
“The order came from above”
According to producer Bianca Casagrande, the dismissal of Karina Rivera was an order from the management of the América Televisión channel. She proposed that the cheerleader continue on the show, but they rejected it. Some time later, he resigned.
“The order came from above, from above the production management, which was that karina being pregnant I couldn’t be in charge of a children’s program, “said the scriptwriter of Karina and Timoteo in an interview.
Karina Rivera and Timoteo will return with the children’s show this year
During the En boca de todos program in September 2021, Karina Rivera and Ricardo Bonilla, who gives life to the endearing dragon Timoteo, revealed that they are planning their return for 2022. The animator said that, after meeting Bonilla on TV after 26 years, their friendship has grown stronger.
“I love it. Wonderful things have happened because we were invited here at América TV. We haven’t stopped seeing each other, this year has been magical, we always talk. We have nice things that we are planning“Karina expressed.
María Pía Copello made an emotional publication about the children’s program
The renowned tiktoker María Pía Copello made a publication in 2019 on her Instagram account where she recalls her stage in one of the most beloved children’s shows on Peruvian television. Along with the photograph, he attached a message expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to have been part of the project.
“One always stays with the beautiful memories. For me it was a wonderful stage, being in Maria Pia and Timothy and having accompanied them for so many years. From the refurinfunflay!” he wrote.
María Pía Copello revealed that her daughter’s appearances in her Tik Tok videos are not free
As you know, the charismatic cheerleader María Pía Copello appears in several Tik Tok and Instagram videos accompanied by her youngest daughter. That is why he recently announced that the little girl receives a payment that she can access when she is of legal age.
“I pay him, obviously. At 18 you will have your savings. (…) She has my artistic vein. He has vastly surpassed me.”, commented during an interview with Magaly TV.
Karina and Timoteo star in an emotional meeting after 26 years
The program La banda del Chino brought together the iconic children’s duo made up of Karina Rivera and Timoteo, 26 years after they started the television program. In the meeting, the couple recounted memorable moments that they lived throughout their journey.
The presenter assured: “It is very cute indeed. I love it when they remember Karina and Timoteo, when they want to see us together”. The dragon, for his part, indicated: “I focused on two characters that I loved as a child, which was Topo Gigio and the Smurf ‘Clumsy’”.
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