It’s been only a few days since I’ve arrived in Spain, and the summer is in full swing, with Spaniards already preparing for their two-month beach extravaganza (financial crisis or not.)

And with the summer and the heat comes the sexy and the daring, including this TV spot featuring the spectacular Amaia Salamanca, best known for her role as Catalina Marcos in the Spanish version of Colombian hit series Sin tetas no hay paraíso.

Watch Amaia as she invites you to get wet, and enjoy the thrills of summer with a Spanish accent (and a tampon safely secured inside.)

It’s amazing what a television outlet would do to beat its competitors. Take Telemundo Puerto Rico’s Dando Candela, which earlier this week (June 13) promised viewers an ¡exclusive! ¡amazing! ¡historic! interview by reporter Yulianna Vargas with Kobbo Santarrosa, the TV personality being sued by WAPA-TV for breach of contract.

Turns out such “exclusive” interview was nothing but a rehashed audio from an interview by the same reporter that aired in October 26, 2012, about yet another court battle involving Santarrosa.

Watch the hosts of Dando Candela hype up the interview as if it were ‘news.’

The blunder quickly took over the local media, so the show’s producer was quick to respond.

Her response?…. It’s even more embarrassing than the snafu itself.

“We understood, as news producers, that it was pertinent to offer the story to our viewers. Our commitment is to entertain and look for information to give our audience with the greatest respect that characterizes us.”

Wait. What?

I might be wrong here, but the only time I saw one of these was in a 1940′s movie… Besides, why on Earth would Spaniards pitch anything “Mexican” to a mostly German and French crowd?

Anyone?

Please bear with me. I’m in Spain and taking it real easy. More complex posts coming soon. Or not.

Photo: Laura Martínez, Sabadell, Barcelona.  

Call me a mamona purist, but every time I see a Spanish-language commercial for Vonage, I cannot help but cringe, and wonder why the marketing forces behind this campaign didn’t come up with something more creative without trashing the Spanish language.

I guess they were “berry” excited to use a popular saying, so how about this:
Vonage: Bueno, Bonito y Barato.

America, it turns out, is a very far away galaxy place located somewhere in the Salta region of Argentina; it has really crappy weather but promises some sun and a high of 72 on Wednesday.

You can even check out the local time here:

Happy learning.

Hat tip: @aqwack

I think I’ve said this a million times, but I love my neighborhood.

And not only because I can easily find authentic foods like Hispanic lettuce and ethnically diverse beauty salons, but because business owners really go out of their way to cater to an increasingly Latino demographic.

I might not live near Columbia, but I’m a proud neighbor of the Dominican Institute of Journalism, founded by Dr. Pittaluga in 2005. ¡Sí, señor!

Related articles:

• Jesus goes for a ‘Wok’ 
• Dominican salon offers ‘acondicionadol’

The Spain-born singer (God) will forever be this blogger’s favorite artist. Dancer. Singer. Casanova. Gay. Or Not. So. Get Over it. Just enjoy this video and watch it over, and over, and over again (Paying special attention to minute 2:30)

Will Ya?

Print is not dead. It will only be dead when somebody actually goes and shoot it to death.
Got it?

Hat tip: @tropicarlitos

‘East Los High’ premieres June 3rd on Hulu and Hulu Plus

Hulu and Hulu Plus today are premiering East Los High, a Latino-themed drama set in a Los Angeles high-school.

According to press reports, the show’s creator -and director- has promised “no gardeners, no gangs, no maids,” but apparently tons of cute kids confronting each other for the love of their very young lives while wearing prom king and queen costumes.

Watch here and judge for yourselves. Will you be watching?