Aló Ciudadano
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Aló Ciudadano is a Venezuelan television show seen on the 24-hour news network, Globovisión. Its hosted by Leopoldo Castillo and it is currently co-hosted by Alejandra Otero and journalist María Isabel Párraga. This show is a parody of Hugo Chávez's program Aló Presidente on Venezolana de Televisión. The term "ciudadano", or "citizen", makes it seem that this program is for the citizens instead of just the president. This show is interactive, people can call the show and give their opinions and/or complaints or they can send text messages, which will appear on the news ticker. Leopoldo Castillo will conduct interviews and he will usually discuss politics. People who have been interviewed on this show have included Teodoro Petkoff, Freddy Bernal, Julio Borges, Pedro León Zapata, Marcel Granier, María Corina Machado, Henry Ramos Allup, and many other people. This program is also transmitted on the radio station CNB. Alejandra Otero, at the beginning of every show, will conduct a poll and people can respond by sending text messages. The poll results are updated every minute and the results can be seen on the newsticker.
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[edit] History
The show began airing in late 2002, and was originally co-hosted by Carlos Acosta and Marjorie Martínez (also known as "La Niña Marjorie"). When Carlos Acosta left in 2004, he was replaced by José Francisco Rivera. María Isabel Párraga was added to the show shortly thereafter. José Francisco Rivera left the show in 2005. La Niña Marjorie also left in 2004 and was replaced by Isabel González Capriles (who left in 2005 after revealing she was emotionally involved with the then minister of communications and information, Andrés Izarra).
[edit] Criticism
Hugo Chávez and his supporters have accused Aló Ciudadano of making racist comments. Although Aló Ciudadano does oppose Chávez's government, they have had pro-Chavez people on his show, such as the mayor of the Libertador municipality, Freddy Bernal.
[edit] Trivia
- Leopoldo Castillo begins his show saying "Ciudadanos de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela" ("citizens of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela"). He is also known for saying the phrases "¡Otra llamada más!" ("another phone call!") and "Rueda videotape" ("roll the videotape").
- Leopoldo Castillo was (or still is) a member of COPEI and was named ambassador to El Salvador during the Government of Luis Herrera Campins.
- María Isabel Párraga also works for Caracas's El Universal newspaper.
- Alejandra Otero is the daughter of Miguel Enrique Otero, director of Caracas's El Nacional newspaper.
