Monday, July 16, 2007

Desi

When I was growing up there were only two Hispanics I ever saw on TV, Desi Arnaz and Speedy Gonzalez. Though Speedy was the fastest mouse in all of Mexico and showed that stupid gato what's what, Desi was the one that we all looked up too.
Think about the television landscape of the 1950's. White, suburban, boring ass suburbanites who did boring shit and were lame. Then came Desi and his crazy wife Lucy. The show was funny, no doubt. But think about the climate of the culture at the time. Not exactly open minded about Hispanics and "White folks" being married. And here was this show where this Cuban band leader and his wife lived their zany lives in New York city.
While the portrayal of Desi was a broad character it was by no means denigrating. though he did sometimes look like a buffoon, Lucy and Ethel looked much more foolish and no one would say the show was anti-Kracy Redhead. No, he was cool and elegant. Desi always looked sharp in his suits, tuxes, and smoking jackets. Hair in the brilliant quaff that would be rivalled only by Tony Curtis or Elvis. The way he walked, talked, and even smoked was pure cool. He was like a Cuban James Dean, except you could understand what he said and Desi could drive better.
He was also a gifted straightman. Lucy was brilliant, but a zany character is only as brilliant as their straightman. Vivian Vance and Desi were both amazing straightmen, working as a sounding board for Lucy. But Desi was funny on his own. A raising of his eyebrows and cursing in Spanish whenever Lucy would crash the show. Good stuff.
Not to mention his musical talent. His band was awesome. Have you ever listened to Babalu, Cuban Pete, or the Lady in Red outside the context of the show. His band was one of the great groups of the Cuban big band era. The mix of Latin rhythms and Desi's sexy voice was perfection. Download his songs and listen, or if not there are a few of his CD's on Amazon.
Desi was also a pioneer in his industry. He and Lucy founded Desilu studios as the first independent television production company working outside the studio system. He didn't want to be controlled by the networks, so he took his destiny in his own hands. He would produce the shows and sell them to the networks and local affiliates thereby inventing syndication. Besides I love Lucy, they also produced Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, the Untouchables, Dragnet and many more.
I know he had his problems. I know he cheated on Lucy. alot. I know he had a drinking problem too and could be a perfectionist. I'm not saying the guy is a saint.
What I do think is that Desi busted open the door for those that would come after. He isn't just an icon for Cubans, but for Latinos everywhere. He is one of our most enduring icons like Cantinflas, Zorro, or Celia Cruz. Desi was not a bandito, or an illiterate peasant like all other Hispanics were shown to be back then, just waiting around for John Wayne or Gary Cooper to shoot them in the face. He was an ultra-cool bandleader who only wanted a hot meal when he came home and for his wife not to have filled the living room up with chickens or whatever.

Also, Marybec says he is Muy Caliente. Aye! Aye!


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