“News” that Makes You Smile When it Bites

The Totally Fake Latino News with Culture Clash may be wrapping up its virtual run with the La Jolla Playhouse soon so this would be a good time to drop in and catch some top rate comedy from a point of view that’s been much too neglected.

Practicing their very own brand of social commentary through the rebellious medium of satire, Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Sigüenza, collectively known as Culture Clash, lay out their take on America from the perspective of the barrio, L.A. streets and the beaches of Callie.   Vantage points we don’t see or hear from nearly enough.  The trio has been fine tuning their unique comedic spin since 1984.  With The Totally Fake Latino News, created through their collaboration with La Jolla Playhouse on the University of California’s San Diego campus, they stretch their reach to the digital universe.  You’ll still see their wickedly sharp one and two man skits where they flip and twist stereotypes with deft shrewdness.  In their virtual guise, they also get to paint piercing pictures of the state of our union using delightfully telling contemporary and archival footage.  It’s the way they use video to give a fuller understanding of what’s splashed on the evening news that often feels the most satisfying.  So too is how they weave in iconic voices from back in the day to reveal truths we’ve yet to successfully confront.

Even though there may be a lot in their topsy-turvy mix that sounds familiar, it’s the slant that fills each of the 10-minute episodes with such vibrant and welcome verve.  A reminder of what’s missing from the upper echelons of comedy.

Most will find the send ups and astute responses to today’ inanities validating.  Others may simply shrug them off.    But for over three decades, west coast audiences have been appreciating the laughter inducing candor Culture Clash has been touting from the brown reality of SoCal and beyond.