Caray, Caray!

I had to do this from the broadcast so if I missed an important detail, please e it to me and I will correct it in the morning.

Since this is my fourth consecutive series I will sit out the next one. I will comment, but need to take a hiatus from this as I have recently assumed a leadership position in my opera club.

Egad; I've become Frasier Crane!

 

First of all, thank you SO much for another great recap, UA. Loved those asides?

Secondly, could you let me know which novela you will be watching/commenting? I really enjoy your comments and would like to follow along. I kind of go by what you regulars are watching to help find the next novela to see.

Please bear with me and this question. I'm sure you will all think how in the heck I am asking this now, but could you guys please clear up Maria's "Lawyer" status for me?

All along, I have been thinking she was attending law school. Didn't she have to give up going to school for lack of money? She's been representing Susanito. Does this mean she is a full fledged lawyer after all?

Thank you!

Fatima
 

UA, ignore the stupid question mark I added to the end of my second sentence. Good grief, I can't even type tonight!

Fatima
 

UA--Sounds like you are tired of porkeria. So are we. Thank you for soldiering on for us. You got plenty for us to digest, though it doesn't taste too fresh any more.

If there was a scene missing, we certainly didn't miss it.

I would rather have had a longer trial and less of the "Two Ladies of the Furrowed Brows," emoting over Susano's fate.

I enjoyed the "Den of Thieves" much more than Isa and her doll conversations, Paloma and her castigo, and even JA making Calzones, which looked suspiciously like lasagne.

I also enjoyed Mirna's predicament when Lourdes got the keys back and locked the door on Mirna's stash of cash.

I'm not apologetic that I muted Pichi and Homerito routine.

How come Susanito gets to have a horn in his cell. Fortunately he had it to bop one of the trustees who entered his cell to make him into a Susanita. (UA--I think it was Susano that blew the horn in the beat-down guy. True, it was kind of dark in there, but the guy on the floor skedaddled out of the cell after whoever blew the horn stood up.)

Fatima--Just pull your beanie down over your ears and you'll be ok. The "Maria as Lawyer" has had us all puzzled. Apparently she can sit in first chair as long as she has a licensed attorney in second chair. At first it was going to be a friend (I thought it was a professor-friend) from the university who would become the attorney of record. Then she picked Ruben, for some ungodly reason we can't fathom.

And no, she isn't an attorney--she did drop out of law school and hasn't had any experience at the bar, but boy, she sure knows how to read crime scene pictures. That is supposed to make her an expert. Too bad the judge had no patience with her conflicting facts.

How come there was no jury? Maria went on too long swearing she would get Susanito out of there and would appeal.

Eeee-ewww for the scene of Ruben sliming all over an unconscious Maria. Then she shows up all better and there's nothing wrong with her, other than being overcome by Susanito's sentence. Gimmie a break.

G'nite all. Check back in the morning.
 

Anita, Mexico doesn't have jury trials. I think that they had some on very rare occasions in the past and sometimes there is a panel of judges, but by far most of the time the decision is made by one judge only.
 

Anita, I'm taking a hiatus because the upcoming replacement for QBA doesn't sound compelling enough for me to do this. I'll probably watch, but I'll wait for another novela with a favorite actor to come along. I get first dibs on Jorge Salinas' next series.

I do have a lot of work coming up not only in looking for a new job but in running the opera club, since the season is beginning next month. I will be contacting small opera companies as well as investigating the HD Ambassador program at the Met. I currently have 9 events on the calendar and need to get a few more worked out. What are you planning to see this season? E me.

The only novela in which I recall a jury trial was En Nombre del Amor and it had a jury of 7. It was when Padre Cristobal and Natalia were being tried for the murder of her husband, based on questionable evidence and statements made by the story's arch-villain, Carlota.

In Duelo de Pasiones there was a trial done under the same conditions as Susanito's. No jury, no spectators, no press, and a decision without deliberation.

Since Mirna was hiding the cash there, it's only poetic justice that she lose it this way.

The two elderly sisters' scene was definitely filler and we didn't need that. We know they realize that Mancia is a few cards short of a deck, but this scene didn't take us anywhere useful.

Jorge Alfredo needs a better way to deal with Ruben rather than with his fists. Maria is going to freak over this and rightly so because it puts him at risk again.

She may be in denial about it but she needs a restraining order against Ruben. Is that not possible in Mexico?
 

Anita, thank you so much for the clarification! I was really beginning to wonder if I had missed the boat somewhere as the entire scene had me confused. Was just as dumbfounded as everyone else as to her choice of the Big Rube to be there with her.

It's little things like this that make me lose total interest in Maria as a heroine.

Interesting, Carolina, about lack of juries in Mexico. We all gripe about doing jury duty, but we really take so many of our rights for granted sometimes.

If Univision had any sense, they would make a CD of all of the music play on this show. Don't bother with a DVD, what's there to replay except the music?! (and closeups of Jorge Salinas)

Honestly, Maria doesn't even strike me as someone who has attended university much less law school.

Ok, Anita, will use the ole beanie from here on out!

Fatima
 

Univision would not have the rights to release the music or the DVD of the series; that's Televisa's exclusive right. The only responsibility they have for the content is if they censor or edit the series to add more commercials or remove filler scenes.

Thus far there is no CD or DVD of the series, but since it only ended two months ago in Mexico, it's a little early.
 

Carolina--Thanks for the info on non-jury trials in Mexico being the norm. I wondered because in Refugio, Licenciado Linares and Max Torreslanda had a jury trial (what a farce that was...) so I assumed it was common. But now I remember Blanca and Josefina in CME, they were already behind bars. The court read the list of their crimes and declared them guilty. Can't remember how they ended up in the manicomio together (but it doesn't really matter).

For any other CME fans out there, here's an OT. Our infamous Dr. Nesme (Demian Bichir) is the lead Mexican detective on The Bridge (FX channel). His toupee fits well and he has a mustache. Since the Americans took the body, I'm not sure how important he will be.
 

Weird epi last night for the most part. Could not believe that incredibly creepy scene with Ruben pawing Maria. Still makes me feel like I need a shower. I agree that it is time for JA to use his head rather than his fists when dealing with Rub. I can't help thinking that in those previews maybe somebody else give Rub a beat down as well since when he arrives at Casa Mendoza JA is already there apparently on chef duty. In any event I'll have to wait and see.

Can't help but wonder who is going to find mirna's money stash. She was an idiot not to tkae it out of her hidey hole before Lourdes found her. i did enjoy her telling snotty Elvirus that she would have to share the bar no only with Maria but with her little brother.

Isa is only 8 so playing with dolls in normal but when I looked at that ragged doll she had for most of the time I had thought looked like Chucky from the horror films last night it struck me the doll looked just like Sabine Moussier complete with the orange face. I still remember that from LM.

JA quietly talking to Isa bout he behavior with Paloma was sweet and for once Amelia actually seemed to approve of something about him.

That scene with the two fools from the bar was so odd. I would swear we saw that exact scene on Thursday when it made no sense either.

Very funny to see Coloso try to stop Fernando from going after 7 Seas which mimicked the numerous times Fernando tried to stop him from going after JA. Novelas always seem to have repeating motifs and apparently in this one it is stopping your friend from chasing romantic rivals to give them a beating.

The replacement for this one isn't going to do it for me so tonight I'm going to check out Santa Diabla on Telemundo. If that doesn't float my boat I'll take a break after QBA as well and all of the probable replacement for the current Telemundo line up don't sound so great either.
 

Anita

The Bridge is excellent and it is doing what they should have done with QBA. In the scenes in Mexico they are in Spanish with subtitles, the American scenes are done in English. Demian is a co-star and much of the story involves him. Only half the body was found on the American side and half in Mexico and it was actually two different people one Mexican, one American. I don't care for Diane Kruger as the lead on the American team but the story is interesting if brutal and there are many threads, a woman with a tunnel running under her property, the murders, the corruption in the Mexican police fore. It's well worth viewing.
 

Decie--Thanks. I just watched the first episode of the Bridge on OnDemand and am looking forward to the next ones (in between Marido en Alquiler with Juan Soler dealing with his shrieky bi-polar wife and the handy"man" he is attracted to).

I knew the body on the Bridge was positioned exactly with half in US and half in Mexico. I agree that it is about time we recognized each other's languages. They should do more in tns. At least Concho does sprinkle his rants with a bit of English and the subtitles are for the most part accurate.
 

Oh, and I'm going to save Santa Diabla on my DVR and take a look later on. Hope it doesn't disappoint.
 

Fatima ...

Actually Mejia did release a soundtrack of Que Bonito Amor

http://www.amazon.com/BONITO-AMOR-SOUNDTRACK-VICENTE-FERNANDEZ/dp/B00CNE200Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375813481&sr=8-1&keywords=que+bonito+amor+music+cd+songs

however, it's not the music sung by the actores at EL Jalisco no te Rajes. The soundtrack is from the music used during the scenes from the novela ie... Reik, Rio Roma, of course Vicente Fernandez and even Ana Gabriel. I don't recall the others.

Amazon had a list of the songs when the cd came out but now the least is gone. The cd must be a total mejia flop.

Maria
 

OOPs... list for least

Maria
 

If novelas are showing trials with juries, then that is a flight of fantasy even beyond the norm for TNs. OTOH, the reluctance to report crimes that we see in TNs is quite accurate. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in the mexican legal system to see the film, "Presumed Guilty". Here's a few quotes from a review of it and a link:

"Unlike the U.S., Mexico's legal system has no jury trials. In the majority of cases, there are also no oral arguments, meaning lawyers don't stand in front of a judge to plead their client's case. Judges usually never meet the accused. Everything is done via paperwork. Judges are subject to a Napoleonic code of justice, meaning laws are strictly codified, leaving them little room for judgment."

"Someone committing a crime in Mexico has only a two in 100 chance of getting caught and punished, according to Guillermo Zepeda, a CIDE scholar. A big reason is that just 12% of crimes are reported to the police, Mr. Zepeda says. In a big deterrent, police ask many people who report crimes for money to solve the case or become suspects themselves, Mr. Zepeda says."

"Crooked cops regularly solve cases by grabbing the first person they find, often along with a cooked-up story from someone claiming to be an eyewitness. Prosecutors and judges play along, eager to calm a growing public outcry over high crime rates and rising violence from Mexico's war on illicit drug gangs. In practice, suspects are often presumed guilty."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704322004574475492261338318.html
 

So much for retiring to Mexico...
 

great recap UA!
incredibly interesting about the system (and depressing). no wonder JAntos hasn't been caught yet.

Loving The Bridge! guessing america won't really watch it because it's too messy to concern ourselves with the plight of the women of juarez. it's a bit preachy, but i don't mind.

I love marco's character, but yeah, sonia is a bore. He wears a toup!??? really!!!

what about la seleccion on Unimas? i think that was supposed to start last night! should i be checking the telemundo forum for info?

mai tai
 

LOL, UA! It's still the game plan for me.

As for the use of subtitles, in this country, in smart and sophisticated shows or on PBS, they can get away with using them for extended scenes. For your average sitcom level of show, where the average viewer has maybe a high school level of education or less and they basically just want to flop on the couch and veg out, they can't use subtitles extensively. Viewers would simply change the channel.

The reading level required for someone to be able read subtitles and to follow along an extended or complicated scene subtitles is pretty high and you have to be able to read quickly. Based on working adult language learners (including reading comprehension) for the last 25 years, I'm going to guess that in order to read them without a lot of effort requires at least 10th grade reading level, and possibly more like 12th grade level.

In Mexico, where literacy levels are far below those of the US, less than half the population attended school beyond 6th grade, and only a small fraction of the population can read at that level, novelas that tried to use subtitles extensively would quickly find that they have very few viewers.

Ain't gonna happen, people.
 

When did The Bridge begin? I just discovered I can get it on an On Demand channel.

Don't look for big ratings on TV anymore; the landscape is so fragmented now the days of double-digit ratings are over. BTW I don't get Mundo Fox, as Time-Warner doesn't carry it.

I am very peeved with them for dropping ShowTime in the middle of the last season of Dexter.
 

Urban

The Bridge began July 10 so you haven't missed much. I'm fascinated by it and for those of us who live near the border it is telling an accurate picture of what goes on, the coyotes that abandon people to die in the desert, the corruption, the lack of caring if victims aren't white and it goes on and on. I read an interesting review of the show and how it said it was time that we looked south of the border for leading men in the Bichir mode. I've thought that for a long time, not for pretty boys like Levy but for people with serious talent that can hold their own with American counterparts. I've actually seen Eduardo Yanez in two shows Law & Order SVU and NCIS -LA so there is some opportunity.

In a lot of ways I'm glad the whole ratings thing is being ignored. I've always thought it was a shame that numbers rather than quality determined what stayed on the air. Nowadays people can record things watch them OnDemand, on computers and so many ways that can't be measured in the old ways so we can find good things if we want.

That being said we can also find crappy novelas to laugh at enjoy as well. LOL
 

Jury trials as we know them in this country aren't the norm. Many countries operate under the napoleonic Code which vasically says you are guilty until you can prove your innocent. A few corrupt cops or judges and people end up like Susanito.

I always remember a fried who is Mexican American as is her boyfriend telling me that Eddie got picked up for minor thing in Tijuana. He called her in the middle of the night to come and get him. When she got there and paid the fine or bribe and they were walking out she asked him where all his jewlery was. He just told her shut up and lets get out of here. I would go probably go crazy in any jail but the idea of one in a foreign country give me the chills.

 

DCG, yes, you are right about jury trials being relatively rare throughout the world. Our system is by no means perfect, but a lot of Americans really don't appreciate how good we have it.

Korea is in the process of transitioning to using juries and it has been a huge deal for years there. I've had several very interesting conversations with Korea acquaintances about the process and how we do things in our country. I believe other countries have also recently been making changes toward a jury system.
 

Come on, Irasema. If I saw my friend unconscious in the arms of a creepy lech who was thisclose to kissing her, I would INSIST on accompanying them to the clinic. As much as Maria is trying to help Susanito even in her delicate (health wise) state and you don't even have her back? FAIL!
 

DCG, I had a friend who was picked up by the cops while on a surfing/beach bum trip to the Philippines. He hadn't done anything but what they considered suspicious behavior. They held him overnight and absolutely scared the crap out of him.
 

Carolina

I think irasema wanted to go with Maria but Ruben told her in no uncertain terms that it wasn't necessary for her to go. Irasema is tough but like the others she is intimidated by Ruben and his air of education and power.
 

Maria, thank you for that link. Dumb me, as much as I am on Amazon, I made an assumption that I would not find anything. I will check it out.

Anita, am a tad confused. Demian Bichir (I think he's quite cute!) played that horrible Dr. Nesme in CME?! Really?! Demian is a 30something isn't he? I thought the Nesme character was in his 50s. I have the DVD for CME. Now, I have to go and check!

Fatima
 

DCG, that was an anonymous comment, not me, but I agree with you. Rub is a pushy bully and Irasema already had her hands full looking after Mania (heh. That was a typo, but I'm not going to fix it. :)
 

Feelin' hip in your Freudian slip!
 

I like it, Carolina, I like it. :))

Fatima
 

Dr. Nesme from CME was played by Odiseo Bichir, the older brother of Démian Bichir. They have a younger brother, Bruno Bichir who works with TV Azteca and also works in films in Mexico.

Jarocha