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 shows made him a staple in the most popular entertainment programs on Cuban television, establishing him as the star presenter during his 30-year career in Cuba.
As he has acknowledged on several occasions, he forged his own style inspired by the greats of Cuban broadcasting: Germán Pinelli, Cepero Brito, and Consuelito Vidal.
Biography
In 1978, he debuted as one of the nine hosts of the show "Para Bailar," which aired every Sunday on television and featured 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 presenters, it became one of the most successful participation shows of its kind, serving as a reference for later programs like Bailando en Cuba.
But perhaps it is "Sabadazo," directed and written by Julio Pulido, that best captures the way Cubans remember 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 star hosting, for its prime-time Saturday night slot. This program would go on to feature some of the best humorists of the 1990s on the island. It enjoyed great acceptance and popularity among an audience that, overwhelmed by economic hardships, looked forward every Saturday to that hour of entertainment. "Sabadazo" featured talents like Ulises Toirac, Orlando Doimeadios, Bongó Quiñongo, Geonel Martín (Gustavito), who made his debut as a comedian on the show, Ángel García Mesa (Antolín el Pichón), among other figures who are now essential when discussing Cuban humor.
Carlos Otero left the hosting of the show in early 1996 because he understood that the television program needed a change that did not come.
Initially, Carlos Otero was chosen in 1998 to host the show 23 y M, but he left the project after three months, and Edith Massola took over as the host.
In 2007, he hosted a high-rating prime time television show "Con Carlos y Punto," where he once again combined humor with interviews and music.
That same year, he made an appearance on the comedy show by Ulises Toirac "Jura decir la verdad." The program was interrupted and taken off the air because by the time it was broadcast, news of his arrival in the United States was already known.
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 prior, he had received the Award for Animator of the Year in Cuba.
Upon his arrival, he gave 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 channel for several years alongside his co-host, the 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, they 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 policies of the Cuban government and denounces the situation in which the people of the island live.
Otero has been romantically involved for 7 years with the Cuban chorus girl Haniset Rodríguez, with whom he also shares the set.
