February 18, 2006
A creepy castroite wedding
Agencia EFE gives the facts of the story on ground:
Cuba TV program suspended following wedding broadcast
Havana, Feb 15 (EFE).- A popular variety show on Cuba's state-run television was taken off the air following a broadcast devoted to the wedding of the program's host in a Havana hotel.
The Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) announced Wednesday the temporary suspension of "El Expreso," saying Sunday's broadcast "is not in keeping with the programming guidelines established" by the government agency. The ICRT also issued an apology to viewers, citing in a statement "the many complaints that the program has generated." The TV show, which offers a combination of music and comedy, had occupied the prime-time slot in Cubavision's Sunday lineup for more than a year.
On Sunday, the entire program was dedicated to the wedding of actor Jorge Martinez, the show's host and a well-known soap opera star. Instead of the usual venue, a television studio, the show took place inside a banquet hall of Havana's Capri hotel, where the ceremony was filmed in detail.
The music at the reception was provided by a group of artists, including singer Paulito FG, one of the island's most popular salsa performers.
"Since we first learned of the program's content, we analyzed the causes of this serious violation so as to take appropriate action against every one responsible," the ICRT said.
"Until a full evaluation of what happened is carried out and this music program complies with all the established requirements, free of all the banality and frivolousness that so annoy viewers, the show will remain off the air," the agency said.
The statement added that radio and television programs "exist to provide news, education and healthy entertainment for our viewers, with a priority placed on talent and artistic sensibility." The ICRT, a ministerial-level agency, said it would adopt "all necessary measures" to ensure that its goal of promoting diverse, broad-based cultural entertainment is achieved.
The agency's statement was preceded by a Monday editorial in state-run newspaper Granma, which accused the program of getting its programming ideas from "gossip magazines" and resorting to "easy entertainment." EFE rmo/mc
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...but doesn't offer any analysis. What do you think was going on with that thing?
The castroites claim that Cuban people don't like to put up with jejeune triviality they call "banality" but just their saying this should rule that out as the explanation, because the only thing they ever do is lie.
What could it be? Why did Cuban authorities crack down so hard on this newscaster's tacky wedding? It's not taste ... for castro has no taste, just look at what he's done to Havana.
I think it's probably a matter of the wedding being lavish and opulent, and millions of Cuban viewers seeing that glory paraded around - people who are completely deprived of any luxury, and knowing they can't have any, but castro's suckups happily can.
Cuba's communist authorities knowing that such a display belies their claims about being a "fairer" and "juster" and more "equal" society, also know very well that Cuba's people see the castroite hypocrisy, too.
And they are trembling in their boots over it.
The castroites shut the tacky show down because they feared revolts.
This poor-little-rich-castroite boy committed the ultimate faux pas by allowing Cuba's real people to really see how the other half lives.
Posted by Mora at February 18, 2006 02:57 AM
Comments
Second hand info: The music included singing Ava Maria and other religious songs which isn't legal in Cuba. Every table had a bottle of expensive rum paid for by Jorge Martinez. Every person involved was fired including the cameraman.
Posted by: Greg R at February 18, 2006 04:55 AM
I concur with your comment Mora.
Just more of those aberrant castroites plastering more excrement on themselves. Perhaps they will be known as "Los Apestesos" in the free and normal Cuba of the future. But then again, that would be way too kind.
Posted by: omar at February 18, 2006 08:41 AM
What happened here es que se les escapo un conejo por el hueco. The people on the street have NO access to the Capri hotel -- or any other, for that matter.
So haddyalike it? It wasn't the Miami mafia that went down there to have a lavish wedding (despicable as that is) but it was one of their own companeros privilegiados sneaking in his version of la vida loca on castro-tv. Phew!
The Cuban impulse to show off strikes again.
Posted by: Gigi at February 18, 2006 10:22 AM
Thanks Omar and Gigi. You both have invaluable insights. It now looks clearer than ever that this is what's going on.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at February 18, 2006 10:53 AM
Thank you most interesting, it seems that Raul's hardliners will begin to purge soon. I would bet that they are gathering in Guisa at the former Arca estate to that now.
Posted by: Larry Daley at February 18, 2006 12:05 PM
I agree with you Mora; Castro et al. must have been fuming knowing that all the island watched how this guy was allowed to throw a wedding, tacky as it may be, but lavish. Which must have left a bunch of them thinking, hey, we aren't allowed to do that. The fact that the viewers got to watch this, is priceless.
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 18, 2006 12:33 PM
I love it! Once the word starts to spread, maybe there will be enough discontent to start a rumble. It's about time the Cuban people started beating up on their oppressors -- especially the scum-of-the-earth CDRs!
¡Ya no mas, coño!
Posted by: George L. Moneo at February 18, 2006 02:25 PM
I wish EFE would've published pictures of the wedding...to see what the Cubans saw through their television....
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 18, 2006 04:55 PM
This just reminded me of it, but can someone explain how the hell the Chimperator did not see fit to include Cuba in the most recent appearance of the list of 'evil empires' during the last SOTU. I mean Mugabe's little hell-hole made the list, how could he leave Castro's playground of tyranny off? It's both closer geographically to the US and has been under the jackboot for far longer.
Posted by: Defense Guy at February 19, 2006 11:30 AM
We trust you'll do it for him. It's good to hear that people on the left are even more outraged about castro's depredations. Please try to convince other leftists that castro is a monster. If you succeed, it would be the first time leftists were right about anything. The door is wide open. Get one leftist congresscritter to speak out. All we hear is a satisfied silence.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at February 19, 2006 05:46 PM