She is the star of the #1 show on the colony of Puerto Rico, on the island’s largest channel. She spends each day criticizing and analyzing current events in Puerto Rico, from politics to crimes. Her shows are now broadcast in the United States via the Internet. Her creator reportedly makes $2 million a year.
She is La Comay, a personality with unfiltered and uncorroborated opinions. And she is a puppet. We repeat: she is a puppet.
In a media age where talking heads and opinion shapers dominate the US mainstream media, La Comay (who is portrayed by actor Kobo Santarrosa) is part gossip queen, part political instigator, and part yellow journalist. The puppet headlines WAPA TV’s SuperXclusivo show, which is broadcast both on the island and on WAPA América in the US.
Kobo Santarrosa, the actor who plays La Comay
The format is simple: La Comany sits on her throne, while her sidekick Hector Travieso eggs her on, as they comment, criticize, and expose anyone and anything that they see wrong with Puerto Rico. The show’s tactics reek of typical yellow journalism: the innuendos that are labeled as “exclusivo;” the call-in number “tip” lines; the video loops that keep playing over and over and over again; the photos of individuals pulled from social media sites; and finally, the “journalists” who abuse their craft.
Yet, because of her popularity, La Comay also has the power to interview Governors, as she did in 2009 with Republican Governor Luis Fortuño.
It is a tired and well-proven formula, one that pits class vs. class, politician vs. politician, all in the name of comedy and “bochinche” (“commotion”). La Comay knows here audience: give them gossip, give them juicy stories, and screw anyone who gets in the way. But, as the ratings suggest, the colony of Puerto Rico devours La Comay like a mango. Not a day goes by that the people of Puerto Rico don’t talk about a puppet.
However, it appears that the silence about La Comay has started to end. Recently, La Comay used the word “pato” when describing Ricky Martin’s homosexuality. “Pato,” besides being the Spanish word for “duck,” is an offensive term to describe gays. Looks like the puppet had to apologize. And the apology is quite flowery and lengthy.
Part 1
Part 2
This action by La Comay is an obvious realization that the show’s ways of polarizing and offending are starting to get more scrutiny. Perhaps it’s the fact that the show is being broadcast in the United States or maybe the colony of Puerto Rico is starting to speak out.
As for the puppet, we say: don’t hide behind your puppet mask. Show your damn face. Stick to real comedy, and shed the sensationalism. Yellow journalism does nothing to help the colony of Puerto Rico. In fact, your methods just perpetuate a culture of extreme divisiveness and does very little to unite a nation that needs healing.
Mr. Benitez, you are a freaking idiot. I don’t know where you are from but the last time I checked Puerto Rico was a Commonwealth of the US and not a colony. Open up a history book and maybe you’ll learn something. Maybe, that’s too much to ask.
I was born in Puerto Rico and while you say Commonwealth, I say Colony. You can call a duck a chicken but it is still a duck. And thanks for the kind words of respect!!!!
It’s definitely a colony and sometimes the truth of the world isn’t in the history books because history is written by the victors and conquerers. Even the state-hood party in Puerto Rico say it’s a colony.
You’ve been had,Huyck. US Commonwealth is different from a British Commonwealth. Brittish Commonwealths are independent nations with very close ties to Brittain(free association like)
The US version means self governing, under approval of US Congress, but as an UNINCORPORATED US territory subject to the US CONSTITUTION’s territorial clause. Its a colony. Heck, even the incorporated US territories accused Congress of colonialism as a bargain chip for statehood.
Puerto Rico’s true name is “The US territory of Puerto Rico” for dignity reasons, Congress allowed the name “Mancomunidad”in spanish(US Commonwealth)
But the Democrats,who renamed themselves “popular Democrats”. Altered the name in Spanish (behind Congreses back) to Estado Libre Associado(the Free Associated State of PR) this name is a blatant lie. Puerto Rico is nor Free(either as a state,or Independent republic) Its not “associated”(Independent nations associate by treaty,Puerto Rico,by contrast, is a mere US territory. And finally, PR is not a state of any kind.
There you go, buddy,you learn something new every day.
Bochinche means gossip, not commotion in this context.
Also, Puerto Rico is by definition a colony regardless of what the US government says.
Thanks for the comments! Gossip is too general of a word in English, and commotion is more specific, but the fact is that bochinche is just such a word that is hard to translate into English. It’s just bochinche and it is bad for the island. Gracias!!!!!
As they say: Talk about me, GOOD or BAD , but talk! “La Comay” must be thrilled with all this controversy that makes her (him)more notorious and popular around the globe and his bank account getting fatter by the minute
If she mattered outside of PRIco, which she doesn’t.
These types of shows don’t last in english. (Remember DC Follies,with the president puppets).
Its that in 2012, these shows, like chavo del ocho (a classsic) are typecasted as 3rd world TV programs….because they are! I admit that being born in NJ might make me biased in favor of english TV, but I feel it just makes Puerto Ricans even more foreign and backwards in stereotypical eyes.
It’s sad.