[swah]

El Chavo (mexican slang for "the kid") was a boy who slept inside a barrel in the shared patio of a slum ("la vecindad") where most of the action happens.

Interesting! In portuguese they made it into a name ("Chaves").

Some say that El Chavo Del Ocho ("The kid from 8") actually lived in the apt. 8, and just liked hiding in the barrel ;)

To me, when Ramon hit El Chavo it was funny, like Chaplin or The Three Stoges slapstick humor.

(But I agree it would be banned in this politically correct days.)