Anarchy Across the Universe: Novelas: a Mirror for Brasileiros and their Society

Novelas on Globo TV: the Brazil for Brazilians to Watch and Share

First, I must explain that from now on I will refer to Globo TV as TV Bobo, bobo means fool. Everything, how horrible to generalize before the third line of an essay, everything on Globo is fake, idiotic and foolish. However horrible TV Bobo may be, its hypnotic grip on Brazilians is nonpareil.

In the beginning all is plum blossoms. Then, they shrivel and become prunes.

TV Bobo became the station of choice in the 70s, supporting vigourously the darkest hours of the Redeemer coup (1964-85.) Its strength then as now resides in novelas. Novelas are a very Brazilian concept of soaps. They differ from Mexican novelas as well.

TV Bobo has its grip on a super-cast of artistas globais or artistas bobos. Their acting is homegrown, the dinasties of actresses or actors run from father to son or daughter. Brazilians talk about the globais as if they were family members. It would be funny if these people acted as if they were mortals. Huh-uh. Negativo. They are divas and divos ( I prefer Devo) commanding top cash and privileges in a market where either you work for TV Bobo or you don't work at all.

The novelas are shown during the 6 PM to 10 PM slot, generally three novelas, and in the morning some re-runs of novelas. The subject matter of novelas is quite relevant to brasileiros. In America the struggle of Brazilian undocumented immigrants was shown. Scenes on the rio Grande, street shots of Miami, of Rio, corruption in both Americas, drama and gawgeous people made America a must-see. I hated it at first and ended up watching it.

Novelas dictate fashion, hairdos, such as this hateful progressive whatever to get hair straight. The anorexia that reigns in Rio/SP. Three sets of CDs/novela: Brazilian music, International and Instrumental.

Fernanda Montenegro and Italo Rossi starred in Belíssima, some 40 years after this picture. He's the balding guy. She had no bags under her yes, Dennis Miller

After America, we had Belíssima (most beautiful.) This novela relied on a veteran Diva, Fernanda Montenegro, known to Americans for her snappy remarks regarding Gwyneth Paltrow, who bested Fernanda's fantastic performance in Central Station. In Belíssima the sets weren't as diverse or luxurious as in America or in the newcomer, Páginas da Vida.

Belíssima was a novela relying on total supense of disbelief, with a strong supporting cast and again, many good-looking actors. I was happy to wave it bye-bye.

Páginas da Vida is TV Bobo at its best. Instead of locations in São Paulo, these are all in Rio de Janeiro's filet mignon, side-by-side with Rio's favelas. Better yet; the dialogs are very close to what Nelson Rodrigues would have written if he were around the living. Some examples:

"You must still love me. If you don't, you never did." Nelson said, "True love is immortal. If it's over it was never love."

"You should've done what I asked you on our first night. Given me a divorce."

"You profitted from me for five years. Now you ditch me as if I were a banana peel."

"You can't be normal. I pay the horses, go to the soccer matches, chat with my friends. All you do is work. I prefer my friends."

At the far right end are the Twin Bros. Mountains and Leblon

Manuel Carlos, the author of Páginas da Vida, knows he is sipping the know-how of Nelson's plays. Short clipped fragments. Bombastic statements, unexpected revelations.

In addition to a much richer dialog, Páginas da Vida has an extraordinarily wealthy décor, as the plot revolves around a huge family whose matriarch is dying and patriarch is a super-billionaire SOB. We've had four chapters so far. The music is bossa-nova. Rio is beautiful, sunny, the rich live in very big homes or condos.

Do you think the brasileiros hate the rich? Nooooo! They think, as they watch this one-hour daily illusion, they take part in these lives, can put in their two-cent opinions, they care for these characters. Many-a-times artistas globais received death threats for leaving a female character or trying to kill a well-like actor, fantasy and reality mix in the land of futebol and carnaval all year around with novela after novela after novela.

It's through novelas that TV Bobo pitches its politics as well. Need I tell you they hate Lula and the Workers' Party (PT) ? Unfortunately for them, the very poor are immune to Bobo's political preferences. Despite the hysteria over corruption this year, the people want Lula again, in their singular wisdom. Maybe they want to write their own novela for the next four years.

Marcos Palmeira, actor, fighter for the environment, speaker of Carioca dialect, one of few actors who look brasileiros