Colombian Comedy

Culture

By Rick Segreda

Considering the level of chaos in Colombia’s history, it would have been impossible for Colombian’s not to have a sense of humor, but it was not until the arrival of television in the 1950’s that a distinctly Colombian comedy came into being. Shows such as Yo y Tu and, later, Don Chinche, used family life as a starting point for satirical barbs aimed at local culture and politics, often burlesquing regional dialects and attitudes.

One innovative program, Sabados Felices, or “Happy Saturdays,” offered a showcase for comics from all over Colombia, along with sketches poking fun at local politicians and celebrities. A show called No Me Lo Cambie, or "Don’t Change the Channel on Me," integrated bits from European and American shows along with "Candid Camera"-style practical jokes.

In the 90’s, Jaime Garzon initiated a more sophisticated style of political comedy, combining an opinionated acuity, often at the expense of the government, with a theatrical flair for parodying people from all walks of Colombian life. Unfortunately, his open partisanship played a hand in his death when he was assassinated on August 13th, 1999, reportedly by right-wing paramilitaries, which had the effect since of inhibiting overtly critical comedy in Colombia.

Still, political comedy, as long as it was impartial, continued, and in radio Crisanto Alfonso Vargas and Guillermo Díaz Salamanca became enormously successful with their gibes at the state and citizenry, with Salamanca, particularly, lauded as the “man of a thousand voices” for his aptitude at imitating public figures in all spheres of prominence.  Martin de Francisco and Santiago Moure began as television who gained notoriety for pushing the boundaries of decorum in their humor who later moved to radio.

In 2004 comic Jose Ordoñez occasioned a moment of national pride when he set the Guinness book of world records for the longest duration – 65 hours – in telling continuous jokes. However, in the last decade, Colombia’s two most notable contributions to world humor have come about in another comic, Andrés López, and a television program, Betty la Fea.

The former popularized the American tradition of stand-up and monologue comedy and achieved international renown for his one-man show “The Ball of Letters,” a sardonic and observant take on generational and cultural divisions in Colombia.  Betty la Fea, a comedy-drama about a homely but brainy administrative assistant at a fashion agency who gets her revenge against the more easily appreciated beauties in her midst by virtue of her I.Q. and work ethic, not only became a massive hit across Latin America, but inspired no less than thirteen remakes in as many countries, including Greece, Turkey, Russia, India, Israal, and of course, the United States, where it is known as Ugly Betty.

John Leguizamo is a well-known actor and comedian who was born in Bogotá, but who emigrated to the United States at the age of four. His monologues and shows have poked fun at both Latino culture in the United States as well as the popular stereotypes about Hispanics.