Podcast Summary: Siempre es Lunes – Charlando Cosas: Boy Bands

Host: Macetaminofen

Guests: El George, Marisol, Guzabra
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively, nostalgia-filled episode, Macetaminofen and friends take listeners on a wild tour of the history and impact of boy bands, focusing on Puerto Rican groups like Menudo, their influence on pop culture, marketing, and the way the boy band format spread internationally. The conversation is packed with anecdotes, roasting, playful banter, pop-culture tangents, and some pointed commentary about the exploitation underlying the industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Boy Bands in Puerto Rico

• The idea of the boy band didn’t start in the U.S.
• La Pandilla (Spain) is discussed as an early template, even inspiring Edgardo Díaz to form Menudo ([01:02]).
  • “La Pandilla España… era una nena, la nena se llamaba Blanca y el resto eran nenes…” – B ([01:02])
• Edgardo Díaz’s involvement as a sound engineer was foundational ([01:32]).
• Alfred D. Herger’s influence bringing pop concepts to Puerto Rico ([02:18]).

2. Birth and Evolution of Menudo

• Menudo is the iconic Puerto Rican boy band, formed in 1977 ([02:26]).
  • “Menudo tiene… un montón de épocas.” – B ([04:10])
• Early Menudo lineup: Nefti y Fernando Salaberri, Carlos y Oscar Meléndez, Ricky Meléndez ([03:24]).
  • Notable Running Joke: The first Menudo members were roasted for being “the ugly version” – “el primer line up de Menudo era la versión fea.” – C ([03:01])
• Ricky Meléndez is highlighted as the emblematic member, later replaced by Ricky Martin ([03:37], [03:41]).
• Several “Ricky's” went through the band, as a recurring theme ([03:41]-[03:51]).
• Discussion on the many lineups and eras: René, Miguel Cancel, Xavier, Charlie Mazó, Johnny Lozada, Roy Roselló, Robbie, and particularly the 'rock' era ([04:34]-[05:08]).
• Edgardo Díaz’s strict “age out” rule: members were replaced at 16, keeping the group eternally youthful ([05:39]).
  • “La fórmula de él era que tan pronto los nenes cumplían 16 les metió una pata en el sácalo.” – A ([05:51])

3. The ‘Menuditis’ Effect – Merchandising & Fandom

• Exploded into merchandising: shirts, stickers, keychains, marketed at Padosa and other school supply shops ([06:27]-[06:50]).
• “Edgardo… marketing explotando…” – A ([06:52])
• Their TV shows, movies, and special contracts, discussing how some members benefited and others were just short-term employees ([06:56]-[07:27]).
• Ricky Meléndez’s unique status and higher pay ([07:27]-[07:49]).
• “Ricky Meléndez cobraba 25 mil pesos mensuales... hasta los 17 años.” – A, B ([07:27])

4. Media, Movies, and International Presence

• Menudo’s TV program, movies (Una aventura llamada Menudo), soap in Venezuela, and miniseries ([08:23]-[09:09]).
• “Salieron… en Different Strokes o en Silver Spoons.” – C ([09:29]-[09:41])
• Their U.S. exposure is credited with inspiring future American boy bands ([09:44]-[10:02]).

5. Influence on the Boy Band Industry, Scandals, and Legacy

• The model inspired Lou Pearlman, creator of New Kids on the Block, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys ([09:45]-[10:02]).
  • “So Lou Pearlman existe gracias a Edgardo Díaz.” – A ([09:45])
• Menudo’s reunion concerts in the late 90s generated a new wave of nostalgia ([10:07]-[10:46]).
• Personal stories about fandom and the emotional ups and downs when favorites left the group ([11:39]-[12:14]).
• They address exploitation, the control Edgardo Díaz had, and troubling aspects about child labor and parental complicity ([12:14]-[13:13]):
  • “Están trabajando 10 horas, 12 horas, cuenta loca… Es abuso. Fue feo.” – A ([13:13])

6. Contenders and Copycats: Los Chicos, Ho, and others

• Los Chicos, intended as Telemundo’s answer to Menudo, never reached similar heights ([13:48]-[14:32]), but gave us Chayanne.
  • "Los Chicos… lo único que salió ahí fue Chayanne." – C ([14:05])
• The band Ho gets a humorous treatment as “la banda que iba a destruir a menudo” ([15:43]-[16:12]), fondly remembered for their school gym performances.
• The distinction between actual boy bands and youth-oriented merengue pop groups like Grupo Manía, La Máquina, and Límite 21. Debate if merengue bands with a young look count as “boy bands” ([18:43]-[19:48]).

7. School, Parties, and Youth Culture in the 80s-90s

• Vivid stories about concerts and school events – mentioning performances by Grupomanía and Jerry Rivera at school fairs and proms ([20:54]-[21:33]).
• Tangents about which schools produced which local celebrities and running jokes about inter-school competition and politics ([21:56]-[23:15]).

8. Other Notable Puerto Rican Boy Bands and The Expansion to the US

• Brief mentions of lesser-known bands (Euforia, Explosión), pop culture figures (Mr. Cash) ([23:27]-[23:50]).
• The international leap: how the Menudo formula was copied by New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC ([23:50]-[24:07]).
• The hosts tease that they'll continue with more “super cabronas” (dope) bands in a future episode ([24:16]-[24:31]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the economics of being in Menudo:
  “El último que creo que Ricky Meléndez cobraba 25 mil pesos mensuales... Lo dejaron estar hasta los 17 años.” – A ([07:27])

• On the exploitation scandal:
  “Y la mierda era que ellos lo normalizaron… todos los que estuvieron en Menudo, no todos estuvieron con el gal y toda la cosa, pero bueno, lo dijo él... sabía escoger a sus víctimas.” – B ([12:34]-[12:50])

  • “Es abuso. Fue feo.” – A ([13:13])

• Defining nostalgia for Menudo:
  “Menuditis… un regreso de la fiebre de Menudo, de la menuditis...” – B ([10:52])

• About the copycat attempts:
  “Los chicos… lo único que salió ahí fue Chayanne.” – C ([14:05])

• Reflections on changing trends:
  “Para mí los boy band caen ahí porque estuvo La Máquina, estuvo Grupo Manía… vendían imágenes.” – A ([19:14])

Important Timestamps

• [01:02] – Discussion of La Pandilla’s origins and Edgardo Díaz’s inspiration for Menudo
• [02:26] – Formation of Menudo and lineup details
• [03:37] – Ricky Meléndez and the replacement cycle
• [05:39] – Age-out model and Menudo's business formula
• [07:27] – Menudo contracts and pay
• [08:23] – Menudo’s broader media presence (TV, film)
• [09:45] – Influence on U.S. boy bands and Lou Pearlman
• [10:07] – Menudo’s reunion concerts and "menuditis" comeback
• [12:14]-[13:13] – Exploitation and child labor critique
• [14:05] – The rise (and limits) of Los Chicos
• [15:43]-[16:12] – Ho and the humorous rivalry narrative
• [18:43]-[19:48] – Debate: Are young merengue groups boy bands?
• [23:50]-[24:07] – U.S. boy band phenomenon, and links to Menudo

Episode Tone

The episode is irreverent, full of insider references, playful roasting, nostalgia, and sharp humor. There’s genuine affection for the era—but also an unfiltered critique of its darker sides. The camaraderie is palpable, with each host riffing off the others, sharing vivid stories and poking fun at themselves and their memories.

Takeaway

Whether you grew up with Menudo, Los Chicos, or the 90s explosion of boy bands, this episode is a fun, honest look at how Puerto Rico created—and exported—the boy band formula. It’s a celebration of youth culture, music, and the weird, wild ride of fandom, spiced with the cynicism and affection only true insiders can provide.