Hermes & Renato

Hermes & Renato

Company type	Comedy troupe
Industry	Entertainment, Comedy
Founded	1999 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Founder	Marco Antônio Alves, Fausto Fanti, Adriano Silva, Felipe Torres, Bruno Sutter
Headquarters	São Paulo , Brazil
Area served	Brazil
Key people	Marco Antônio Alves, Adriano Silva, Felipe Torres, Franco Fanti (current); Fausto Fanti (former), Bruno Sutter (former), Gil Brother (former)
Products	Television shows, Radio shows, Comedy sketches, Music (Massacration)
Website	www.youtube.com/user/hermeserenato

Hermes & Renato, which operated under the name Banana Mecânica between 2010 and 2013 due to trademark conflicts with MTV Brasil, is a Brazilian comedy troupe established in 1999 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, and has been based in São Paulo since 2002. The group was originally formed by childhood friends Marco Antônio Alves, Fausto Fanti, Adriano Silva (the sole member born in Rio de Janeiro city), Felipe Torres, and Bruno Sutter. Later additions included Gil Brother (2002–2008) and Franco Fanti (from 2015), who is Fausto’s brother. Their name comes from the first characters they created: Hermes (Alves) and Renato (Fausto). Among other prominent personas are Luís Boça (Torres), a socially awkward, innocent adult residing with his grandmother Lourdes (Alves), and Joselito Sem-Noção (Silva), a mischievous prankster known for causing chaos.

Drawing inspiration from comedians such as Os Trapalhões, Chespirito, Monty Python, and Costinha, as well as classic pornochanchada cinema and the comedy series TV Pirata, their humor is characterized by provocative, off-color comedy rich in pop culture nods, linguistic playfulness, puns, catchphrases, vulgar language, and double meanings. This distinctive approach garnered them a devoted cult following that began in the late 1990s and endures to this day.

Their television work was broadcast on MTV Brasil from 1999 to 2010 and again in 2013; on Record between 2010 and 2013 as part of the variety program Legendários; and on FX from 2015 to 2016. Between 2004 and 2005, they hosted a radio show on São Paulo’s Mix FM. Additionally, they produced Tela Class for MTV and created the satirical heavy metal band Massacration.

History

The origins of Hermes & Renato trace back to 1990 in Petrópolis, when Marco Antônio Alves and Fausto Fanti began performing comedic sketches under the personas "Hermes" and "Renato," names inspired by a former teacher and a shared friend. By 1999, Adriano Silva, Felipe Torres, and Bruno Sutter had joined them, forming a professional comedy ensemble that secured an MTV Brasil contract after submitting a demo tape.

While on MTV, the group developed a loyal fanbase with their edgy humor and iconic characters such as "Gozo the Clown," "Padre Gato," "Luís Boça," alongside the con artist pair "Hermes" and "Renato." Their parody band Massacration released albums and hosted the show Total Massacration from 2005 to 2006. They also created Tela Class, which involved re-dubbing obscure films, and spoofed telenovelas like Sinhá Boça and O Proxeneta. Bruno Sutter departed in 2012 to focus on his musical career but maintained occasional collaborations. Gil Brother was part of the troupe between 2002 and 2008.

Following the conclusion of their MTV contract in 2010, Hermes & Renato transitioned to Record TV’s variety show Legendários. Because MTV retained rights over their original name and characters, they adopted the name "Banana Mecânica" after conducting a fan vote. However, due to censorship imposed by Record, much of this era’s material was later disowned by the group. They returned to MTV in 2013 under their original moniker until the channel ceased operations. Afterwards, they acquired rights enabling expansion into digital media and other television outlets, launching an official YouTube channel in 2014.

In late 2013, Hermes & Renato signed with FX Latin America; however, their new season was postponed until November 2015 following Fausto Fanti’s suicide in July 2014. Regarded as the creative mastermind behind the troupe, Fausto was succeeded by his brother Franco Fanti. Their contract with FX concluded in 2016.

The group premiered their inaugural theatrical production titled Uma Tentativa de Show in 2017. In 2020, Felipe Torres starred alongside fellow comedians in the film Abestalhados 2, which premiered in October 2022 to favorable critical reception. That same year, Torres and Adriano Silva made guest appearances on Comedy Central’s sitcom Auto Posto.

In 2021, Torres reprised his character Boça in Electric Mob’s music video "Higher Than Your Heels" and portrayed Charlinho in a McDonald’s advertisement promoting French fries.

On December 3, 2023, former member Gil Brother passed away after fighting prostate and bladder cancer.

Documentary and abandoned film project

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of Hermes & Renato in 2009, MTV Brasil premiered a one-hour documentary entitled A Verdadeira História de Hermes & Renato. The group revealed intentions to produce a feature-length movie targeted for release in theaters by 2011; nonetheless, after this deadline passed without progress, no additional information was provided. The initiative was likely discontinued following the shutdown of MTV Brasil in 2013 and the passing of Fausto Fanti in 2014.

Current members

• 1999–present: Marco Antônio Alves (Hermes)
• 1999–present: Adriano Silva
• 1999–present: Felipe Torres
• 2015–present: Franco Fanti

Former members

• 1999–2014: Fausto Fanti (Renato)
• 1999–2012: Bruno Sutter
• 2002–2008: Gil Brother

See also

• Massacration

External links

• Hermes & Renato on YouTube