Wanda Nara's strategy in the February televised fight

After a January with low viewership numbers, Telefe decided to make a strategic leap for February. Host Wanda Nara is preparing for an unprecedented television battle against actress China Suárez, as two major premieres face off in prime time. Telefe’s programming is no coincidence: every move is calculated to directly compete with eltrece’s offerings.

The Monday that Defines the Month: Wanda’s Media Bet

Wanda Nara, as host of MasterChef Celebrity on Telefe, faces the challenge of maintaining audience numbers against a production with a significant budget. eltrece premieres the first episode of “Daughter of Fire, the Bastard’s Revenge” at 9:15 p.m., a bold move that leverages the strong numbers from the repeat of “The Manager.”

Meanwhile, Telefe accelerates its schedule: the MasterChef Celebrity elimination gala will start at 9:30 p.m., just 15 minutes later. This decision is not improvised. Wanda stars in a direct promotional spot where she delivers the message “The real fire is in MasterChef” while the song “Fuego” by Bomba Estéreo plays in the background. The message is clear: the true television attraction isn’t fiction, but the live culinary competition.

Wanda, the Gravitational Center of the Season

What’s unusual about this season of MasterChef is that Wanda, as host, has become the focal point of the program’s narrative. Unlike previous editions where cooking was the main focus, this time the contestants and their relationship with her largely determine the show’s appeal. The longstanding conflicts surrounding Wanda—her public feuds with Luis Ventura and Susana Roccasalvo, the triangle with actress China Suárez, and other personalities linked to her circle—have transformed the show into more than just a culinary competition.

This phenomenon didn’t happen by chance. Since it was announced that participants like Rusherking (ex-partner of China Suárez), Julia Calvo (close to Wanda), and even Maxi López (ex-partner of Wanda) would join, the dynamic changed radically. The reality show became a reflection of the media conflict between Wanda and China Suárez that has been ongoing for years, known in the media as the “Wanda gate.”

The “Wanda gate” Reappears on Screen

The origin of this conflict dates back to a scandal involving infidelity: Mauro Icardi, Wanda’s partner, was romantically linked to China Suárez in Paris. This episode dominated media coverage for months. Now, years later, the rivalry resurfaces for ratings.

Mauro Icardi himself intensified the conflict with a social media post accusing the show of using China Suárez’s name to boost ratings. He described the actress as “a mythomaniac woman who is completely obsessed with me, my partner, and my family. A person whose life revolves around talking about us to stay relevant in the media.” He even sarcastically called the show “MasterChina.” His intervention added fuel: now the battle isn’t just between Wanda and China Suárez, but Icardi is once again part of the public narrative.

Technical Details of the Decisive Monday

The elimination gala will be divided into two segments. First, a mini challenge where contestants will work with pistachio bruschetta. The winner will earn the benefit of having the three judges assist for one minute before the main technical challenge.

In the main challenge, chefs must prepare a dish using baby ingredients. Wanda’s strategy of moving the broadcast earlier aims to attract viewers before they disperse to the other channel.

The Rival Production: Disney+’s “Seriela”

On eltrece’s side, “Daughter of Fire, the Bastard’s Revenge” represents an innovative format: the “seriela,” which combines traditional telenovela codes with the aesthetic of contemporary series.

The story takes place in a Patagonian town where a mysterious woman named Letizia (played by China Suárez) arrives to marry a local businessman. Her true purpose is to execute a carefully planned revenge. The cast includes Diego Cremonesi, Eleonora Wexler, Joaquín Ferreira, Carlos Belloso, Pedro Fontaine, Antonella Costa, and other notable actors. The production promises narrative twists and a suspenseful plot that maintains intrigue throughout the season.

Telefe’s Final Move

Wanda leaves nothing to chance. Besides moving the gala earlier, Telefe will suspend “Pasapalabra” next Monday to give more airtime to MasterChef and will then air “Chefs on the Couch,” a one-on-one interview with Verónica Lozano where she will speak with the eliminated contestant of the night. This programming structure aims to retain viewers throughout the evening.

Wanda and Telefe’s strategy is to turn the time slot into a controlled territory: culinary competition followed by analysis and discussion—a formula contrasting with eltrece’s fiction. While China Suárez stars in revenge in Patagonia, Wanda manages live drama in the studio. Monday in February will be the thermometer of the Argentine TV market.