Carlos Otero is a Cuban presenter and host born on June 16, 1958, in Havana, Cuba.
Otero is regarded by the Cuban public as one of the best hosts and entertainers of all time. His versatility as a host, interviewer, presenter, and even actor in comedic programs carved out a niche for him in the most popular entertainment shows on Cuban television, making him the star presenter during his 30-year career in Cuba.
As he has acknowledged on several occasions, he crafted his own style inspired by the greats of Cuban broadcasting: Germán Pinelli, Cepero Brito, and Consuelito Vidal.
Biography
In 1978, he made his debut as one of the 9 hosts of the program "Para Bailar," which aired every Sunday on television and launched the careers of prominent presenters and actors such as Lily Rentería, Mara Roque, Albertico Pujol, Rebeca Martínez, and Néstor Jiménez. "Para Bailar" remained on the air until 1983, and thanks to the professionalism of its participants and the charisma of its hosts, it became one of the most successful interactive programs of its kind, serving as a reference for later shows like Bailando en Cuba.
But perhaps it is "Sabadazo" by director and screenwriter Julio Pulido that Cubans most associate with Carlos Otero. On July 4, 1993, during the toughest years of the Special Period, Cuban television brought together a group of comedians, under Otero's stellar leadership, during its prime Saturday night slot. This group would become known as the best comedians of the 1990s on the island. The show enjoyed great acceptance and popularity among an audience overwhelmed by economic hardships, who eagerly awaited that hour of entertainment every Saturday. Notable figures who appeared on Sabadazo included Ulises Toirac, Orlando Doimeadios, Bongó Quiñongo, Geonel Martín (Gustavito), who made his debut as a comedian on the show, and Ángel García Mesa (Antolín el Pichón), among others, who are now essential when discussing Cuban humor.
Carlos Otero left the hosting of the show at the beginning of 1996 because he understood that the television program needed a change that never materialized.
Initially, Carlos Otero was chosen in 1998 to host the show 23 y M, but he left the project after 3 months, and Edith Massola took over as host.
In 2007, he returned to host a high-rating prime-time show "Con Carlos y Punto," where he once again combined humor with interviews and music.
That same year, he made an appearance in Ulises Toirac's comedy show "Jura decir la verdad." This program was interrupted and taken off the air as news of his arrival in the United States was already known at the time of its broadcast.
Otero emigrated to Miami via Canada with his two children and his wife in December 2007. His arrival and reception were televised. A few days earlier, he had been awarded the Animator of the Year prize in Cuba.
Upon his arrival, he granted several interviews on various programs and signed with AmericaTeVe Canal 41. True to his hosting style, he has been presenting the show TN3 on this network for several years alongside his co-host, Venezuelan Mónica Pasqualotto. Throughout these years, he has had the opportunity to reconnect with figures from the island who have visited the city of exile.
In December 2004, he reunited live on América TV with part of the cast of Sabadazo.
Both on his own show TN3 and on his Facebook and Instagram profiles, he expresses his opinions against the policy of the Cuban government and highlights the situation in which the people of the island live.
Otero has been emotionally connected for 7 years to the Cuban singer Haniset Rodríguez, with whom he also shares the stage.
