This week, I’m a giving a couple of chanclasos to TBS and all the major TV networks.  TBS announced that it was canceling the George Lopez late night talk show. Now, according to the latest U.S. Census Report, the U.S. is more racially diverse than ever.  Well, you wouldn’t know it if you watched late night TV.  It’s still dominated by white men. Not even women are getting any love from TV executives. Women are funny, too. If there aren’t any people of color on any TV shows or programs, I’m going to remove one person of color from their audience by turning the tube off. I should be doing yoga anyway. Have to burn off all those tortillas.

For many Latinos, a chancla is more than summer footwear. The flip flops on our mothers’ feet were also impromptu and easily accessed weapons. Back talk, ignoring orders or fighting with your siblings could, without warning, result in a chancla on the rear end or, if distance was a factor, flying at you.Now we’re all grown up. But some people still deserve chanclasos. And we’re going to let them have it here in our weekly column, El Chanclaso. Every Friday, Sergio, our resident chancludo, will turn a critical eye on political shenanigans, and current issues and events with his chancla firmly in hand. Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, being on the wrong end of the chancla could get you one or two chanclasos. Sergio will also give aplausos to those who make us proud.You’ve been warned. Now, behave!

Blog originally published on August 12, 2011