TV REVIEW : Can ‘Clash’ Translate Laughs Into Ratings?

Imagine a TV show hosted by a Chicano-based comedy group, whose first guest is a Puerto Rican comedian who makes fun of a popular Cuban singer.

Formula for the much-discussed, long-awaited Latino TV hit? We’ll see. Culture Clash, the L.A.-based trio, is finally getting its chance.

The group, whose theater productions have been wildly successful here and around the country, has a six-week trial run on KTTV Channel 11 (premiering tonight at 7). Taped live before an audience at the Mayan Theatre, the show looks and sounds great. (The house band is led by Tito Larriva, formerly of the Plugz and the Cruzados.) If the show is popular, it could get syndicated to other Fox affiliates. If it’s a smash, it could get picked up by the Fox network.

Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza have previously produced a pilot for a Fox sitcom, but all sides agreed it shouldn’t see the light of day. This time, the three are serving as executive producers of the show, allowing them more control. And the format is different--instead of a sitcom, the new effort is sketch-based, relying on the trio’s theatrical repertoire.

The question is whether they can hone the long stage routines to the 30-minute TV format. The first show features just two sketches: Salinas and Siguenza trying to sell their Farmworker Aerobic Video, and the trio as culturally confused homeboys. The premise for the first sketch is funny, but like many of their stage bits, goes on a bit too long and deflates the humor. The second sketch inexplicably leaves out the funniest part of its stage version--Montoya as an opera-warbling cholo.

Interspersed is a short CNN (Chicano News Network) report by Montoya as anchorman Dick Monty, revealing a poll that finds Angelenos would prefer Fernando Valenzuela as their mayor.

The show also features a few minutes of stand-up by comedian Marga Gomez, who includes a funny bit on Gloria Estefan’s inability to dance. And actress Rosana DeSoto does a cameo, acting as translator for selected Spanish words.

But this show’s success will rest with Culture Clash. Their challenge is to appeal to a wide spectrum of Latinos and all others. The good news is that these guys can be uniquely, genuinely hilarious. The bad news is that six weeks may not be enough time to adapt their considerable comedic skills to the format. And in the process they may get a language lesson of their own.

Como se dice ratings?