Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Liveblog: “Today” in Cuba, the second hour

We continue our coverage of “Today” show host Matt Lauer and company from Havana, Cuba.

To reiterate what we said before, the coverage so far has been pretty thorough and provides a balanced viewpoint of many issues facing Cuba. Will that change in the second hour? Let’s find out.

8:50am- As cuban salsa dancers perform, we find yet another blogger that is peeved at the coverage by “Today”.

Before I get accused of being a right-winger (ha!) how do those on the left feel about the coverage? Do you agree with how the reporting is walking the tightrope (so to speak) or not?

8:30am- Upon returning from commercials, a Cuban band is shown by Lauer playing salsa. The lead dancer has a slight resemblance to Celia Cruz, which is kind of eerie.

Soon after he interviews a member of the Buena Vista Social Club who emphasizes the importance of music to Cuban culture and deflects a question from Lauer on artistic freedom since the Cuban revolution.

8:20am- Baseball, boxing and ballet (“the three Bs”) serve as basis for the next segment. The importance of sport on the island is addressed including an odd, but brief part where Lauer tries to gauge whether the Yankees or Red Sox are more popular by giving away a few caps in Havana’s colloquially named “Baseball Park.” From there, a Cuban ballet dancer is interviewed who believes that “the three Bs” can serve as tools for closer dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba. (The more delicate issue of how to go about doing so is conveniently left out of the discussion).

8:10am- While an creepy interview of the daughter of the "Crocodile Hunter" is conducted from New York, we find a dissenting view of the coverage by “Today”:

“No mention of dissidents, of political prisoners. Lauer briefly stated (and I mean briefly), that dissent is not tolerated in Cuba, but that was quickly followed up by a mention of the Cuban resolver spirit. He finished the segment by stating that Cubans wear their "no es facil" (it's not easy) attitude as a source of pride.

Tell that to those that have decided that a trip through shark-infested waters in a makeshift raft is better than having pride in "no es facil".

8:00am- Lovely shots of some of the colonial Cuban buildings, though from where Lauer’s located it’s somewhat isolated from the populace.

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