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Konstantinou kai Elenis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης; English: Konstantino's and Eleni's) is a Greek TV sitcom broadcast on ANT1 channel, which aired from October 1998 until June 2000. The story revolves around the cohabitation of two people with very different personalities; an assistant professor of Byzantine Studies at the University of Athens named Konstantinos Katakouzinos and a waitress named Eleni Vlachaki. The series focuses on the clash of Konstaninos and Eleni's very different personalities as they live together and have to deal with each other.
| Konstantinou kai Elenis | |
|---|---|
| Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης | |
| Created by | Haris Romas Anna Chatzisofia |
| Directed by | Kostas Lychnaras |
| Starring | Haris Romas Eleni Rantou Maria Lekaki Vasilis Koukouras Kallirroi Miriagou Stergios Nenes |
| Theme music composer | Pascual Marquina Narro |
| Opening theme | "España Cañi" |
| Country of origin | Greece |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 68 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Greece, Athens, Marousi |
| Running time | approx. 40 to 50 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ANT1 |
| Release | October 1998 – June 2000 |
The main stars are Haris Romas, who co-wrote the script along with Anna Hatzisofia, and Eleni Rantou. The character of Manthos is portrayed by Vasilis Koukouras whereas the character of Peggy, Matina and Nikolas are portrayed by Maria Lekaki, Kalirroi Miriagou and Stergios Nenes respectively. The series ran for two seasons, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000, and consisted of 68 episodes. Each episode lasts about 40–45 minutes. Reruns of the series are still being broadcast to date.
Konstantinou kai Elenis is widely considered the most successful Greek TV series of all time and maintains a huge cultural impact on the Greek-speaking world even to this day. The show is also one of the few Greek-produced that have achieved a cult status, scoring high viewership ratings for roughly twenty years after its finale and maintaining a dedicated fanbase.[1][2][3]
Storyline
editKonstaninos' uncle dies and leaves two wills appointing as inheritors of his small mansion in Marousi, Athens his nephew, an assistant professor of Byzantine Studies at the University of Athens and Eleni, his gardener's daughter. The prospective inheritors and their lawyers do not know which will was written first as the second will would deem the first invalid. As they are both emotionally attached to the house, they decide to compromise and live together until the court's decision.
Konstaninos and Eleni's very different personalities conflict, leading them to major quarrels over sometimes unimportant things. Konstantinos, a narrow minded but extremely educated person, with good manners, obsessed with the Byzantine Empire, is a very conservative character who speaks puristic Greek and is very religious and superstitious. He also dislikes being in the company of others and hates every type of modern entertainment. Eleni works as a waitress at a bar, non educated with terrible manners, uses slang and often vulgar words and expressions, and is a very open minded and kind-hearted person. A typical young woman, she enjoys all kinds of modern entertainment and has many friends and many short-lived relationships. In many episodes, their mutual dislike even leads one of the two, or even both, to plot against the other to become the sole inheritor of the house.
Various other subplots play a significant role in many episodes, usually involving the most important supporting characters: Peggy is Eleni's closest friend, a waitress at the same bar and a talentless actress. Manthos, Konstantinos' closest friend and schoolmate, is the son of a rich industrialist who has multiple relationships including his most permanent one, Peggy. Matina is Konstantinos and Eleni's old friend and neighbour, a civil servant who is single, afraid that she'll die alone, and is obsessed with getting married. Nicolas is the bartender at the bar where Eleni and Peggy work and a very close friend of both.
Recording
editThe show was mostly recorded at Paiania Studio in Attica, but the characters visited many areas inside and outside the city such as Arachova and Hydra.
Cast and characters
editThe main cast of the series includes Haris Romas and Eleni Rantou as Konstantinos and Eleni, the protagonists. The show also featured many popular actors and as guest stars in various episodes.
Main cast
edit- Haris Romas as "Konstantinos Katakouzinos": He is a grumpy, overly conservative and narrow-minded Byzantinologist, who works as an assistant professor at the University of Athens. He is also the author of an unpublished book called "The Sewer System in Byzantium", which he regards as a masterpiece, but nobody is interested in publishing it. Konstantinos has many peculiarities and is an extremely difficult person to deal with, let alone live with.
- Eleni Rantou as "Eleni Vlachaki": She is a strong-willed and kind-hearted young woman, without any formal manners and rather uneducated. She works as a waitress in a night bar and is shown to have many short-lived relationships, which usually differ between episodes. Eleni calls Konstantinos by the nickname "Katakouzina", a pun on his name and the word "κουζίνα" meaning kitchen in Greek.
- Maria Lekaki as "Peggy Karra (Panagiota Carachisaridou)": The closest friend of Eleni's. Her real name is Panagiota Carachisaridou, but she has adopted an "artistic" name. Her dream is to become a famous actress, and she constantly tries to grasp leading roles at various plays, but with no result, as she is completely talentless. Her main profession is waiting at the same bar in which Eleni works. She is also Manthos' fiancée and main love interest, among many.
- Vasilis Koukouras as "Manthos Foustanos": Konstantinos' best friend and probably the only person who tolerates him. He is a lazy playboy with a huge ego and the only son of a rich industrialist; his only interest in life seems to be women. He is almost always shown to be in a relationship with Peggy during the series, who eventually becomes his only girlfriend. He also loves expensive sportscars and especially his Porsche, which he often brags about. A running gag of the show is that he is usually seen trying to hide from his girlfriends the existence of his other girlfriends, usually by a close call.
- Kallirroi Miriagou as "Matina Mantarinaki": Eleni's second best friend and neighbor. She is a very punctual person who always provides Eleni with food and likes being in her company, even when the latter teases her about her non-existent love life. With no self-esteem, Matina has assured herself that she's probably never going to get married, although she often tries to attract men. She has a constant crush on Konstantinos and Nikolas, who both avoid her at any cost.
- Stergios Nenes as "Nicolas Varthaculias": He is the bartender in the bar in which Eleni and Peggy work. He drives a Harley Davidson which is well beyond his means and hasn't paid off even after the series' end. He is shown to have occasional relationships.
Recurring cast
edit- Ilias Zervos as "Nikos Grevias": Konstantinos' lawyer.
- Eleni Filippa as "Elli Roussou": Eleni's lawyer, and past love interest of Nikolas.
- Lilian Arhonti as "Fiona Makri": Love interest of Manthos.
- Marianna Marteli as "Lila": Love interest of Manthos.
- Hrisa Kontogiorgou as "Joanna": Love interest of Manthos.
- Thanasis Papageorgiou as "Lefteris Anagnostou": Student of Konstantinos.
- Konstantina Halkiopoulou as "Maria Boukouvala": Student of Konstantinos.
- Giorgos Samolis as "Alkis Ioannou": Student of Konstantinos.
- Maria Paleologou as "Nitsa Voupoura": Neighbor of Konstantinos and Eleni, the ugly greengrocer of the neighborhood.
Episodes
editA total of 68 episodes have been broadcast; thirty-three in the first season and thirty-five in the second season.[4]
Season 1 (1998–1999)
editThe season started on 12 October 1998 and finished on 7 June 1999. It included thirty-three episodes.[5]
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Sigkatikisi (Cohabitation)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 12, 1998 |
| 2 | 2 | "San to Skilo me ti Gata (Like Dog and Cat)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 19, 1998 |
| 3 | 3 | "Violistis stin Idia Stegi (Fiddler on the Same Roof)[6]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 26, 1998 |
| 4 | 4 | "Otan Pigename Mazi Scholio (When we used to go to school together)[7]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 2, 1998 |
| 5 | 5 | "Moro Mou, Moro Mou Esi (My Baby, My Baby you)[8]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 9, 1998 |
| 6 | 6 | "Den Plirono, Den Plirono (Can't Pay? Won't Pay!)[9]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 16, 1998 |
| 7 | 7 | "Thia Maro, Kale Thia Maro (Part A) (Aunt Maro, Dear Aunt Maro (Part A))[10]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 23, 1998 |
| 8 | 8 | "Thia Maro, Kale Thia Maro (Part B) (Aunt Maro, Dear Aunt Maro (Part B))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 30, 1998 |
| 9 | 9 | "O Erotas Gennithike Gia Tesseris (Love was made for Four)[11]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 7, 1998 |
| 10 | 10 | "Paradosi Kat'ikon... Anohis (Pent... House Delivery)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 14, 1998 |
| 11 | 11 | "Hali Birthday (Sucky Birthday)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 21, 1998 |
| 12 | 12 | "Gia tin Kardia tis Oreas Elenis (For the heart of Beautiful Helen)[12]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 11, 1999 |
| 13 | 13 | "Mad Spiti (Mad House)[13]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 18, 1999 |
| 14 | 14 | "Soe kai Avlaves (Part A) (Safe and Sound (Part A))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 25, 1999 |
| 15 | 15 | "Soe kai Avlaves (Part B) (Safe and Sound (Part B))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 1, 1999 |
| 16 | 16 | "Sta Ori, ta Agria Vouna (At the High Mountains)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 8, 1999 |
| 17 | 17 | "Trianta Vale... Karatia (Thirty plus... Carats)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 15, 1999 |
| 18 | 18 | "Sexoualiki Parenohlisi (Sexual Harassment)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 22, 1999 |
| 19 | 19 | "To Telefteo Tango sto Maroussi (Last Tango in Maroussi)[14]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 1, 1999 |
| 20 | 20 | "The Konstantinou kai Elenis Show [15]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 8, 1999 |
| 21 | 21 | "O Erastis tis Kommotrias (The Hairdresser's Lover)[16]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 15, 1999 |
| 22 | 22 | "I Farma ton Zoon (Animal Farm)[17]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 22, 1999 |
| 23 | 23 | "I Magisses tou Amarousiou (The Witches of Amaroussion)[18]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 29, 1999 |
| 24 | 24 | "Amnisia (Amnesia)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 5, 1999 |
| 25 | 25 | "I Vendeta (The Vendetta)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 12, 1999 |
| 26 | 26 | "Fonos sto Vizandio (Murder in Byzantium)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 19, 1999 |
| 27 | 27 | "Konstantinou kai Elenis Voithia Mas (St. Konstantinos and Eleni Bless our Souls)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 26, 1999 |
| 28 | 28 | "O Hartopektis (The Gamester)[19]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 3, 1999 |
| 29 | 29 | "Sta Mathitika sou ta Vivlia (Ιn your School Books)[20]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 10, 1999 |
| 30 | 30 | "Ena Asteri Genniete (A Star is Born)[21]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 17, 1999 |
| 31 | 31 | "O Telefteos Anthropos Pou Ide ton Thio (Last Man to see the Uncle)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 24, 1999 |
| 32 | 32 | "Konstantinou kai Elenis on the Rocks" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 31, 1999 |
| 33 | 33 | "I Diki (The Trial)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | June 7, 1999 |
Season 2 (1999–2000)
editThe season started on 11 October 1999 and finished on 19 June 2000. It included thirty-five episodes.[22]
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1 | "I Kata Panourgian Asthenis (The Cunning Invalid)[23]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 11, 1999 | |
| 35 | 2 | "Me tin Thia Den Ine Amartia (With Aunt it's Not a Sin)[24]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 18, 1999 | |
| 36 | 3 | "To Rock kai to... Pourock (The Rock and the Ol' Rock)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | October 25, 1999 | |
| 37 | 4 | "Agrio Thiliko (Wild Female)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 1, 1999 | |
| 38 | 5 | "To Moro tis Rozmari (Part A) (Rosemary's Baby (Part A))[25]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 8, 1999 | |
| 39 | 6 | "To Moro tis Rozmari (Part B) (Rosemary's Baby (Part B))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 15, 1999 | |
| 40 | 7 | "I Exindavelona (The Miseress)[26]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 22, 1999 | |
| 41 | 8 | "I Gampri tis Distihias (The Distress Grooms)[27]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | November 29, 1999 | |
| 42 | 9 | "Glikia Mou Exaderfi (My Dear Cousin)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 6, 1999 | |
| 43 | 10 | "I Doules tou Katakouzene (The Maids of Katakou-Genet)[28]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 13, 1999 | |
| 44 | 11 | "I Germanoi Xanaxanarhonte (The Nazis Strike Again Again)[29]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | December 20, 1999 | |
| 45 | 12 | "O Pio Kalos Dimotis Ime Ego (The Best Citizen is Me)[30]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 10, 2000 | |
| 46 | 13 | "I Teleftea Mera tou Kosmou (The End of the World)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 17, 2000 | |
| 47 | 14 | "Marijuana STOP[31]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 24, 2000 | |
| 48 | 15 | "Viva Mexico (¡Que viva México!)[32]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | January 31, 2000 | |
| 49 | 16 | "I Soferantzes (The Drivers)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 7, 2000 | |
| 50 | 17 | "Esi Ise I Etia Pou Ipofero (You are the Reason why I Suffer)[33]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 14, 2000 | |
| 51 | 18 | "The Godmother[34]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 21, 2000 | |
| 52 | 19 | "I Kali Samaritis (The Good Samaritan)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | February 28, 2000 | |
| 53 | 20 | "Tis Metamorfoseos (Feast of the Transfiguration)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 6, 2000 | |
| 54 | 21 | "Aponi Zoi (Hardhearted Life)[35]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 13, 2000 | |
| 55 | 22 | "Tou Patros kai tou Iou (Part A) (Of Father and Son (Part A))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 20, 2000 | |
| 56 | 23 | "Tou Patros kai tou Iou (Part B) (Of Father and Son (Part B))" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | March 27, 2000 | |
| 57 | 24 | "Konstantinos o Politevomenos (Konstantinos the Politician)[36]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 3, 2000 | |
| 58 | 25 | "I Trihes (Hair)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 10, 2000 | |
| 59 | 26 | "Sismi, Limi kai... Katakouzini (Earthquakes, Starvations and Katakouzinations)[37]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 17, 2000 | |
| 60 | 27 | "Ta Avga kai ta Pashalia (Eggs and Lilacs)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | April 24, 2000 | |
| 61 | 28 | "Vaskanias to Anagnosma (Spell Reading)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 1, 2000 | |
| 62 | 29 | "Sferes Pano Apo to Marousi (Bullets Over Maroussi)[38]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 8, 2000 | |
| 63 | 30 | "I Triti Diathiki (The Third Will)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 15, 2000 | |
| 64 | 31 | "I Lady kai i Alitra (Lady and the Trampess)[39]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 22, 2000 | |
| 65 | 32 | "Pare ta Lefta kai Treha (Take the Money and Run)[40]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | May 29, 2000 | |
| 66 | 33 | "Agapis Agonas Agonos (Love's Labour's Lost)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | June 5, 2000 | |
|
Konstantinos has met an elegant but fashion-victim magazine publisher and Eleni has begun an affair with a stockbroker who is a workaholic. The explosive personalities of the two cohabitants will not tolerate the idiosyncrasies of their new partners. The title is the non-literal translation of "Love's Labour's Lost" (by William Shakespeare). | ||||||
| 67 | 34 | "Ti Ine Afto Pou to Lene Agapi (What's that thing Called Love?)[41]" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | June 12, 2000 | |
| 68 | 35 | "O Gamos kai to Gamoto (The Wedding and the Damn)" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | June 19, 2000 | |
| 69 | 36 | "Making Of" | Kostas Lychnaras | Haris Romas, Anna Hadjisophia | June 30, 2000 | |
References
edit- ^ "Έζησα μια Εβδομάδα σαν τον Κωνσταντίνο Κατακουζηνό από το "Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης"".
- ^ "Οι πιο CULT άκυροι χαρακτήρες του Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης - Frapress". 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Το φαινόμενο "Κωνσταντίνου & Ελένης"! – The Look.Gr". 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης - Livemovies". Livemovies.
- ^ "Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης - 1ος κύκλος". ishow.gr. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16.
- ^ A reference to the musical Fiddler on the Roof
- ^ A reference to the Greek song "Otan Pigename Mazi Scholio". by the Olympians (1966)
- ^ A reference to the Greek song "Moro mou, Moro mou Esi". by Christos Dantis (1994)
- ^ A reference to the play "Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (English title) / "I'm not paying, I'm not paying") (Greek title)". by Dario Fo (1974)
- ^ A reference to the Greek Song "Aunt Maro". by Dionyssis Savvopoulos (1969)
- ^ A reference to the Greek Song "Love was made for Two". by Grigoris Bithikotsis (1969) (
- ^ A reference to the eponymous Greek film starring Dionysis Papagiannopoulos, Eleni Anoussaki, Alekos Jannetakos et altri (1967)
- ^ A reference to the 1997 film Mad City
- ^ A reference to the 1972 film Last Tango in Paris
- ^ The title and episode's plot references and even mentions the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show
- ^ The title references to the 1990 film The Hairdresser's Husband
- ^ A reference to the eponymous novella by George Orwell (1945)
- ^ A reference to 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick
- ^ A reference to the Greek film "I Hartopektra" ("The Gamestress") starring Rena Vlachopoulou, Lambros Konstantaras et altri (1964)
- ^ A reference to the Greek song "O Alexis". by the Olympians (1967)
- ^ A reference to the eponymous US film (1937)
- ^ "Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης - 2ος κύκλος". ishow.gr. Archived from the original on 2016-01-29.
- ^ A reference to the comédie-ballet The Imaginary Invalid
- ^ A reference to the 1980 Italian film
- ^ An obvious reference to the novel Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
- ^ A reference to the Molière play The Miser
- ^ A reference to the Greek film Oi Gampri tis Eftyhias ("The Grooms of Eftyhia") where Eftyhia is a Greek female name and means "Fortune" as well
- ^ A reference to the 1974 play The Maids by Jean Genet and also a pun of Konstantinos' last name "Katakouzinos"
- ^ A reference to the 1948 Greek film The Nazis Strike Again
- ^ A reference to the Greek song "The Best Waitress is Me". by Haris Alexiou (1976)
- ^ A reference to the 1971 Greek film Marijouana STOP!
- ^ A reference to the 1979 Soviet film ¡Que viva México!
- ^ A reference to the eponymous Greek "song". by Manolis Chiotis (1940), famously sung by Mary Linda (1970)
- ^ A reference to the film The Godfather
- ^ A reference to the eponymous Greek "song". by Grigoris Bithikotsis (1964)
- ^ A reference to the Greek film "Thanassakis o Politevomenos" starring Dinos Iliopoulos, Vyron Pallis, Anna Synodinou (1954)
- ^ The title is a parody of the Greek collocation Sismi, limi kai katapontismoi meaning Earthquakes, starvations and floods and also a pun of Konstantinos' last name "Katakouzinos"
- ^ A reference to the film Bullets over Broadway
- ^ A reference to the Disney animated film Lady and the Tramp
- ^ A reference to the eponymous film by Woody Allen (1969)
- ^ A reference to the eponymous "song". by Tonis Maroudas, famously sung by Sophia Loren (1957)
External links
edit- Konstantinou kai Elenis official site (in Greek)
- Konstantinou kai Elenis episodes (in Greek)