Covering the Cultures

“Bilingual TV Is an Idea Whose Time Has Come” (Dec. 10) and, hopefully, to Calendar as well. How about some articles and critiques about Spanish-language programming? For example, a beautiful novella recently concluded on KMEX, Channel 34, “Dona Bela.” Now the stars of that novella, and many of the ensemble players, are in the current novella “La Marquesa de Santos.”

I would like very much to know something about the stars (Maite Proenza and Gracindo Junior) and the entire production. Both novellas are fine period dramas. “Dona Bela” was magnificent. The excellent acting, the convincing scenery, and lavish costumes were lyric accents for the beautiful music. Although my Spanish is limited, the enjoyment of the novella transcended the language barrier.

I am part of a segment of viewers not mentioned in the article, an English-speaking viewer studying Spanish. Many of the students I know try to watch some TV in the language they are trying to perfect.

I would like to see more bilingual programming on TV and more acknowledgment of these programs in Calendar. Also, the TV stations would do a service to our multicultural society by providing more help in understanding the languages and cultures of our diverse society trying to coexist in Southern California.

LEA PETRICK

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