An opinion piece by Ángel Sánchez
The transmission of the chimes on television may seem like an insignificant event, but in reality it is a moment – as the song says – in which most of the Spaniards do something together.
… All for the fee, nothing for dignity.
Different televisions compete for the highest peak audience with a wide variety of characters and silliness. What is striking, however, is how one chain manages to gain ratings from the others because one of its presenters has “undressed” on the screen for years to welcome the new year. This situation is surreal and the presenter, despite being nice and professional, always finds a humanitarian excuse for her performance of showing her young body with skimpy fabric designs. The goal is to show the largest surface of female skin to give vent to the social stupidity promoted by network television and “mainstream” culture.
This is not an attack on Cristina Pedroche’s television work. If the television network pays you good money to take the share, that’s fine. According to other media, this money is much higher than what chef Chicote pocketed for “holding the candle” and waiting for “La Pedroche” to “uncork”. Allow me the concept of “cork” on the night where most cava is drunk in Spain.
Sad missed opportunity to convey other values
What is really surprising is that, in the midst of an economic and cultural crisis, with one of the greatest shortages of life, where many people cannot eat with dignity and many more cannot even turn on the heating in winter, there is a large number of people waiting, encouraging and commenting on which dress Cristina Pedroche will wear or not at the bells of a television channel, the presenter is not to blame for this, but this kind of frivolity does not help in this very familiar event, where it is a good time to broadcast a set of values.
A transcendental moment prostituted by a peak audience.
While it may seem like this moment isn’t transcendental, it is, as most families, grandparents, parents, children, in-laws, cousins and others come together to say goodbye to one year and welcome another, in most cases private and sacred which is the living room of a house, the moment in which one remembers who is no longer there, the moment in which the merits of relatives are applauded, the moment in which offenses are forgiven and the moment in which the hearts of families united.
While we wait for the clock to strike – the real protagonist – the embarrassing and morbid spectacle of seeing what a tiny rag this presenter is wearing and of “covering” the real shame “the humanitarian garment” with a message that is overshadowed by the humorous and somewhat childish comments of the silliest and most idiotic relatives (some will say I forgot that UNHCR is behind this show and that blah blah blah…) but honestly, does anyone keep that couplet? Don’t you think that no matter how much share and audience there are better and more serious moments to promote humanitarian messages?
I know that there are other channels with other programs and that of course you can get grapes by listening to Radio 5 or even not get them and go to bed like this, it’s not a requirement to watch the show. It’s more that this girl, other girls and other guys do it on TV it doesn’t seem bad to me, but something sick, childish and hypocritical enough happens to a good part of Spanish society to choose the leader of the audience for that surreal show