Ethnic Observation - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lady Prudence · 06-17-2008, 06:19 PM

Do you notice that even though Ricky is CUBAN, when Lucy wants to recreate Cuba for him (when she sings like Carmen Miranda-- in PORTUGUESE!), the clothes, the food, the accents are all MEXICAN. They make allusions to tortillas (which is one thing in Cuba and another in Mexico) and often Ricky uses a faux Mexican accent. They often dress like Mexicans when it should be Cuban -- didn't Desi Arnaz know better?
The "I Get Ideas" number (which is an Argentine tango) Lucy dresses like a flamenco (Spanish) dancer. Huh? And then Lucy refers to the Mexican Hat Dance as an "old Cuban folk song" (Breaking the Lease episode).

The musical repertoire is lovely though, and he addresses most all Latin American countries and Spain individually. Mexico and Cuba are such different countries, however, like confusing England and Australia -- both countries speak speak English...BUT...

comedyfreak · 06-18-2008, 05:14 AM

I guess someone forgot to do their homework or the writers assumed all latins are the same,

desilu #1 · 06-18-2008, 09:51 AM

It must not have been that different if Desi didn't have it changed. I'm sure he knew better, but didn't have the time to teach his writers the differences or care about the insignificant stuff. It all worked and that is all that mattered.

Benno123 · 06-18-2008, 10:39 AM

I always figured that anything that happened in Ricky's nightclub was for entertainment regardless of ethnic background in the act. Of course, Ricky would have sung "Heartbreak Hotel" and someone would be upset because he didn't sing it in Spanish, or it wasn't Cuban, or so on.

kooky12 · 06-18-2008, 10:50 AM

You could probably also find techinical flaws with Ricky's African makeup when he visits the hospital, but I guess they just cared about the general theme.

Benno123 · 06-18-2008, 10:59 AM

I hope I didn't sound mean when I posted that last comment. I just feel that after almost 60 years of being on the air nonstop, it must not be a big issue how authentic something is. I'm just of the belief that if it's entertaining and it makes you happy, who cares! Besides, for all we know Desi could have dressed like that in Cuba and hung around with flamingo dancers!!! I doubt it, I imagine he was prim and proper and looked great, but I wasn't there so I don't know. As I've learned over the past few weeks, anything is possible.

Haunted_Armoire · 06-18-2008, 02:41 PM

What's a "Cuban" accent anyway? I mean if you want to get technical how can you define the Spanish language into one category? I know that Cuban Spanish is different from Spanish spoken in Mexico and Spain itself. Different words for different things. Different expressions. The core is there for but heaven's sake how can lump "Spanish" or "Latino" into only one category!

Chocolate Moose · 06-18-2008, 04:22 PM

desi drank heavily, right? he wouldn't have cared

Ireneparalegal · 06-18-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desilu #1

It must not have been that different if Desi didn't have it changed. I'm sure he knew better, but didn't have the time to teach his writers the differences or care about the insignificant stuff. It all worked and that is all that mattered.

I have to agree. I am sure with time constraints, there was no time to be technical. The general idea was there.

The Great One · 06-19-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Prudence

Do you notice that even though Ricky is CUBAN, when Lucy wants to recreate Cuba for him (when she sings like Carmen Miranda-- in PORTUGUESE!), the clothes, the food, the accents are all MEXICAN. They make allusions to tortillas (which is one thing in Cuba and another in Mexico) and often Ricky uses a faux Mexican accent. They often dress like Mexicans when it should be Cuban -- didn't Desi Arnaz know better?
The "I Get Ideas" number (which is an Argentine tango) Lucy dresses like a flamenco (Spanish) dancer. Huh? And then Lucy refers to the Mexican Hat Dance as an "old Cuban folk song" (Breaking the Lease episode).

The musical repertoire is lovely though, and he addresses most all Latin American countries and Spain individually. Mexico and Cuba are such different countries, however, like confusing England and Australia -- both countries speak speak English...BUT...

You bring up a very interesting point! I have never noticed that before about the show.

The Great One · 06-19-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

desi drank heavily, right? he wouldn't have cared

You may be right about that!

06-18-2008, 05:14 AM	#2
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I guess someone forgot to do their homework or the writers assumed all latins are the same,
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06-18-2008, 09:51 AM	#3
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	It must not have been that different if Desi didn't have it changed. I'm sure he knew better, but didn't have the time to teach his writers the differences or care about the insignificant stuff. It all worked and that is all that mattered.
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06-18-2008, 04:22 PM	#8
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,900	desi drank heavily, right? he wouldn't have cared
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06-17-2008, 06:19 PM	#1
Lady Prudence Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jun 17, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 4	Ethnic Observation Do you notice that even though Ricky is CUBAN, when Lucy wants to recreate Cuba for him (when she sings like Carmen Miranda-- in PORTUGUESE!), the clothes, the food, the accents are all MEXICAN. They make allusions to tortillas (which is one thing in Cuba and another in Mexico) and often Ricky uses a faux Mexican accent. They often dress like Mexicans when it should be Cuban -- didn't Desi Arnaz know better? The "I Get Ideas" number (which is an Argentine tango) Lucy dresses like a flamenco (Spanish) dancer. Huh? And then Lucy refers to the Mexican Hat Dance as an "old Cuban folk song" (Breaking the Lease episode). The musical repertoire is lovely though, and he addresses most all Latin American countries and Spain individually. Mexico and Cuba are such different countries, however, like confusing England and Australia -- both countries speak speak English...BUT...

06-18-2008, 10:39 AM	#4
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I always figured that anything that happened in Ricky's nightclub was for entertainment regardless of ethnic background in the act. Of course, Ricky would have sung "Heartbreak Hotel" and someone would be upset because he didn't sing it in Spanish, or it wasn't Cuban, or so on.

06-18-2008, 10:50 AM	#5
kooky12 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 2,022	You could probably also find techinical flaws with Ricky's African makeup when he visits the hospital, but I guess they just cared about the general theme.

06-18-2008, 10:59 AM	#6
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I hope I didn't sound mean when I posted that last comment. I just feel that after almost 60 years of being on the air nonstop, it must not be a big issue how authentic something is. I'm just of the belief that if it's entertaining and it makes you happy, who cares! Besides, for all we know Desi could have dressed like that in Cuba and hung around with flamingo dancers!!! I doubt it, I imagine he was prim and proper and looked great, but I wasn't there so I don't know. As I've learned over the past few weeks, anything is possible.

06-18-2008, 02:41 PM	#7
Haunted_Armoire Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 293	What's a "Cuban" accent anyway? I mean if you want to get technical how can you define the Spanish language into one category? I know that Cuban Spanish is different from Spanish spoken in Mexico and Spain itself. Different words for different things. Different expressions. The core is there for but heaven's sake how can lump "Spanish" or "Latino" into only one category!