Venezuela Demands Soap Opera Be Taken Off the Air
- Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:56am by
Scott Baker
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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan authorities are demanding that a private television station stop airing a Colombian soap opera that they say is denigrating to their country.
The soap opera “Chepe Fortuna” features an unscrupulous secretary named “Venezuela” who has a dog called “Little Hugo,” an apparent reference to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Given recent diplomatic disputes between the neighboring countries, the satire has not sat well with Venezuela’s government.
The character Venezuela, in contrast to her sister named Colombia, “is repeatedly characterized as associated with illegal activities, meddling and vulgarity,” Venezuela’s telecommunications regulatory agency Conatel said in a statement.
The regulator accused the soap opera of promoting “political intolerance” and notified private Venezuelan TV state Televen on Thursday that it should pull it off the air. It wasn‘t clear if the regulator’s order included a sanction for the station if it didn’t.
Filming of the soap opera began in 2009, when relations between Colombia and Venezuela were at a particularly tense moment.
The secretary Venezuela lost her dog in one episode, and another character told her not to worry and that she would be better off without her dog “Little Hugo.”
Televen is owned by Venezuelan magnate Gustavo Cisneros and maintains a neutral stance with respect to Chavez’s socialist-oriented government.
“Chepe Fortuna” is produced by Colombian network RCN.
Miguel Angel Baquero, producer of “Chepe Fortuna,” denied that the soap opera promotes intolerance.
“It is a folkloric comedy with the sole intention of entertaining the people and showing how the humor of the people of Colombia’s coast lets two sisters be called Colombia and Venezuela,” Baquero said in a statement on RCN radio’s website.
Televen didn’t immediately respond to requests from the AP for comment.
Televen also received an order not to air the reality show “12 de Corazones” or “12 of Hearts,” produced by Telemundo, the second-largest Spanish television network in the United States, because the program included content that would “deform the sensibilities of children and adolescents.”
At the end of last year, the Venezuelan network pulled off the air at Conatel’s request the Colombian soap operas “El Capo” and “Rosario Tijeras,“ which the regulatory agency said ”were authentic schools on how to commit crimes.” The soap operas dealt with Colombian drug lords and a hit woman.
Last year, Conatel also threatened to sanction Televen if it didn’t stop airing the U.S. program “Family Guy,” which Chavez’s government accused of promoting the consumption and legalization of marijuana. It currently airs “Family Guy” only late at night.
Televen and Venevision, another Cisnero-owned channel, once took a hardline stance against Chavez’s government but in recent years have curbed their criticism.
The government in 2007 forced another anti-Chavez channel, RCTV, to halt broadcasts. That left Globovision as the sole stridently anti-Chavez channel left on the airwaves.
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Comments (94)
Reasonabiliy
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:41pmWonder if Baby Huey listens to Rush and/or Glenn at home or in his Capital office (throne Room).
Report Post »Rob
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:32pmHasn’t our government alrady started controllling the internet?
Report Post »cbp47rde
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:30pmI can’t believe I wasted my time reading this story…
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:24pmHUGO—Go change your diaper and the channel you THIN-SKINNED little man
Report Post »historypaper
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:22pmLittle Hugo, what a perfect name for the little cheap ass communist.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:16pmOle! i suddenly have a craving for a fajita and to be called Susana Rojo. Maybe a little guacamole on the side of the fajita…and a Corona.
Report Post »I’m sorry, what the hell was that story about anyway? Chavez controlling the airwaves and censoring any anti government productions? Wow who’d have guessed THAT??
Mr.Obnoxious
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:14pmProbably not enough slapstick comedy in this show for Hugo!
Report Post »Seneca
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:01pmNaming pets after people and people after countries is nothing new.
Report Post »Once a day I go to the bathroom and take an “obama”, & twice a week my wife asks me to take out the “french”. Is that weird?
kapie9969
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:52pmMy dad said watch this cool show,called V,so im watching it and all i could think of is just change the main character to Obama, and the evil lizard people to progressives,do it and youll see it fits.
Report Post »cranes
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:52pmTHis will certainly cause a revolt in his country. We now know he is crazy. You don’t take a persons soaps away from them, it will cause outright revolt. Watch and see!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:49pmWe lived in Central America for almost 25 years and recently returned to the USA because of many threats to life in that area. hugochavez, putin, amanjadijebado, ortega, evo are among those who are interested in destroying AMERICA and AMERICANS. chavez thinks he’s important because achattackmedenajad and putin are letting him play with the “big boys”. he doesn’t realize that he is a pawn in their game. achattamack or whatever his name is from iran is also a pawn in putin’s game…wonder who’s controlling putin? I love to see chavez trying to through his weight around because I know that one of these days, the other shoe is going to drop right on top of his big fat head. he will be shocked to learn he is of no importance whatsoever to the “big boys”. Why the Venezuelans don’t nail the sucker is beyond me.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 5:14pmWatch for ten “kings”who have enough power, together, to put the BIG GUY in charge..
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:42pmDid she call that black Latino (African-Latino, African-Columbian?) a Monkey? He said she was descended from dinosaurs, And she said “and you as a monkey remain that way” at 2:51
Wheres the Sharpton…. Latinos hate negroes….. OMG
Report Post »donh2
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:41pmWhat about MUSTARD ! I hear Hugo hates the smell of mustard. All you hot dog vendors in Caracas better get that condiment off your street carts !
Report Post »Slobaphobe
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:29pmWell, I have noticed that many of Letterman’s guests, The View , and MSNBC don’t promote civil discourse. In fact, they cause me to feel victimized, bullied and really sad. My lawyer thinks I have a suit….
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:24pmWe must dispatch our own Super Rev! Sharpton will have this situation under control in no time. He can’t stand intolerance, you know.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:43pmIf Sharpton wishes to go to Venezuela and stay there to protest discrimination, he is welcome to do so, just as long as he STAYS there.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:24pmThe pettiness… this world is fast becoming pathetic.
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:21pmthat soup opera ROCKS, anything to get Hugo the Stoogo upset, I’M ALL FOR
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:16pmComing to a country near you? Fairness doctrine? Net neutrality?
Report Post »clockn63
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:59pmLord help us
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:32pmCan anyone say “Dictator for life Obama?”
Report Post »chazman
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:15pmHey! If the Venezuelan people really don’t want this dictator wannabe, they should kick him out of the country by force! And his little dog, Sean Penn, too! Otherwise, they can suck on it!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:14pmThis is relevant how? With all that’s going on here, I am not worried about Hugo or the dog. Hopefully the Blaze will find some stories about us instead of a slop opera.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:20pmComing to a TV near you censorship … that IS the relavance.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:13pm@CatB
Dead on.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:15pmumm…hello?
Report Post »Loud and clear message here.
And quite relevant.
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:35pmMaybe they can move the production to neighboring Colombia and beam it over the border?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 7:53am@HEAVYDUTY
Report Post »Check newspapers from that part of the world. You can get them in English if you do not read Spanish. Venezuela is the USA if we do NOT wake up and soon. littlehugo is a littlebarrack with a Spanish accent.
DRB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:10pmBwa-ha-ha-ha
Report Post »quiet little lamb
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:19pmi can’t tell, if at the 2:30 mark…is that a racist joke? or am i just so tuned in to making sure everything is pc?
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:04pmIs our FCC chief hearing about this? He could learn a thing or two…
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:04pmNina is certainly a hottie.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:59amLittle Hugo … lol .. poor baby — doesn’t Chavez know that naming your dog after someone is a compliment … Example Obama and Bo.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:07pmHa!! Big deal. I named my pet rat “Little O’Barry.”
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:19pmWhat a cruel name to give a rat ;- ) sounds like a name for a Flea ON a rat!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:37pmI haven’t been able to find a photo of “little Hugo” …. seems even the dog doesn’t want to be associated with Chavez .. did I miss it in the trailer above?
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:42pmor even worse – for a liberal lawyer!
Report Post »Cliff
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:55pmCATB… Obama is named after BO???? EXACTLY what I thought!!!
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:33pmBO was always body odor when I was a kid. Body Odor still stinks and so does BO.
Report Post »frogxx
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:57amBill Maher is a fink!
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:01pmHugo can’t handle somebody that tells “the real truth” instead of the FABRICATED truth his dictatorship creates!!!
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:01pmTrue.
Report Post »LVMerrily
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:40pmMark Lloyd is in DC taking notes to see if Hugo successfully get them off the air.
My question is that if they enact ‘net neutrality’ regulations (aka censorship) where does the audience go? If no conservative talk radio does the audience all wake up tomorrow and accept the progressive agenda and fall into line?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:42pmAnyone get the feeling little hugo the presidental-dictator is having a temper tantrum at this show?
Oh well, he should learn to enjoy it, might actually show he can crack a smile on his face without his face cracking. Maybe that is why Hillary went there the other week, to discuss plastic surgery secret treatments and such?
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:01pmHugo Chavez in a conversation about America TV:
“Truth…what is this truth they keep speaking about…I have never heard of the thing…go…go and get me their President on the phone now…(short wait)…Mr President, what is this nonsense you keep letting get shown about the Truth? Oh, Mr Beck…ulp…”
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:08pmAlso, after Chaves calls Beck:
(Spooky Dude: “Well, well Mr Chaves, it looks like I shall have to send my best man Lord Van Jones to deal with you…(background noise followed by loud splash and a deep sigh)…right after they get him out of the fish pond….”
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:08pmThat’s funny! Hey, Hugo, waaaaa!
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:20pmI would never name my dog obama, I could never be cruel to a dog…………..
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:41pmMust be a really slow news day! http://wp.me/pYLB7-wh
Report Post »avenger
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:12pmWAIT….THIS IS GREAT NEWS….the government has been dissolved,hugo is being fed to the pigs and freedom is back…..ahhh shet….it is part of this dopey program…
Report Post »lylee
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:16pmBuckOfama
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:20pm
I would never name my dog obama, I could never be cruel to a dog
I am about to rename our dog Obama, he keeps peeing on the carpet.
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 6:40pm.The real scandal is that the dog is a female and is actually Hugo’s mother.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:17pmDictators cannot handle any opinion that differes from theirs truth or not. I cant believe idiots like majr, penn, glover etc think this guy is cool. dont they get that half the stuff they been in would be banned in hugos country? You have idiots like santana wearing a che shirt when music like santanas would have been forbidden. But like i have said before. socialists are children, the think like children, act like children, demand like children. and like children they wish to be led around. it dosent matter if its the correct path or not, only that they have a leader to give them pourpose, and frame of thought.
Report Post »LadybugsTX
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 2:57amNow, now. Come on! You know Hugo was doing this for the good of his people…. Sean Penn abd Oliver Stone are right. Chavez is awesome. It‘s too bad we don’t have a ruling class like Venezuala does., who‘s only goal is to remove those pesky day to day decisions for us so we don’t make the wrong choice, for our own good of course. With all those parents out there letting their children watch porn, Family Guy, etc., we need someone to step up. It‘s not like we’re smart enough to know that Big Macks are fattening and cigarettes give us cancer, otherwise we wouldn’t do it, right? Surely we deserve a Government who’s top priority is to “help” us as we are clearly unable to help ourselves. A Government who’s sitting on high, looking down on it’s beloved people and watching our every move and choice so they might stop us from harming ourselves. After all, the sandbox is a dangerous place. I can’t wait until they start giving out the Red Stars for being good boys and girls by keeping our BMIs under the standard, driving hybrids and giving 30% of our wages they let us keep to the DNC. How does that feel WalkWithMe1966?
Report Post »hud
Posted on January 16, 2011 at 10:40amThis could be a real ratings winner for MSNBC. If they broadcast this I would watch their channel for 30 minutes a week.
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