Jugando Pelota Dura is a Puerto Rican television talk show hosted by Ferdinand Pérez. The program initially premiered on Sistema TV network in 2012 before moving on to Univision Puerto Rico (later, Teleonce) in 2017 after the passing of Hurricane Maria left WMTJ unable to broadcast the show.[1] The show shares its name from Perez's radio show Pelota Dura (Hard Ball) that airs on WUNO. The program primarily features coverage of political issues and headlines, along with discussion from a panel of analysts and political figures.
| Jugando Pelota Dura | |
|---|---|
 Title card for the show 2017-Present | |
| Also known as |
|
| Genre | Political News Opinion Program |
| Created by | Ferdinand Perez |
| Directed by | Jose "Cheo" Perez |
| Presented by | Ferdinand Perez Margarita Aponte Cyd Marie Flemming Kimberly Santiago |
| Country of origin | Puerto Rico |
| Original language | Spanish |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Ferdinand Perez |
| Producers | Andrea Pagán Kiana Perelló |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 60 Minutes (2017-2023) 90 Minutes (Extra Inning/Pre-Game) (2024-present) 120 Minutes (Puerto Rico Habla) |
| Production companies | Liberman Media Group Práctico Events |
| Original release | |
| Network | WMTJ (2012-2017) Univision Puerto Rico (2017-2021) TeleOnce (2021-present) |
| Release | 2012 – present |
| Related | |
History
editAfter serving 2 terms as a legislator for the PPD and a failed candidacy for the mayoral seat of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ferdinand Perez launched Jugando Pelota Dura (Playing Hard Ball) on WMTJ (Sistema TV). The show focused on providing a platform to highlight issues that are affecting the people of Puerto Rico and allowed Perez to use his knowledge and connections to invite local politicians and discuss ways to address this issues. The original version of the show featured Perez alongside a panel of journalists and political analysts which included Yolanda Velez Arcelay, Alex Delgado, Millie Mendez and Zoe Laboy.[2]
In 2017, after Hurricane Maria damaged the facilities of WMTJ, Jugando Pelota Dura was forced to find a new home and the show moved to WLII-DT which at the time was branded as Univision Puerto Rico. Jugando Pelota Dura premiered on Univision in December 2017 airing at the coveted 5:55pm time-slot, however, during the show's time in Univision the show was shuffled around the scheduled and moved time-slots several times which hurt it chances to hold an audience, 4 months after its premiere in April 2018 the show was moved to 9:00pm and two months later in June 2018 the show was moved to 7:00pm where it has remained since.[1][3][4]
The show features Ferdinand Perez alongside a panel of journalist and a panel of guests who are related to the topics discussed on that day's episode. The original panel featured Zoe Laboy, Yolanda Velez Acerlay, Leo Aldridge and Denise Perez. In 2020, Alex Delgado (a journalist from WUNO) rejoined the cast and so did Margarita Aponte a journalist who previously had worked as anchor of Las Noticias before its initial closure in 2014. Laboy, Arcelay and Aldridge all left in 2022 to join WKAQ-TV in the show Rayos X after their exit JPD added to the panel Victor Hernandez and Cyd Marie Flemming, a long anchor of Las Noticias who returned to WLII-DT after an 8-year absence. Aponte and Flemming also perform hosting duties on occasions where Perez can not make it to the show.[5][6][7]
Additionally, the show added Jailenne Rivera as a co-host. Rivera would be in charge of commercial break lead-ins and producing reports from the field. Rivera would eventually leave the show in 2023 with her role being filled by Kimberly Santiago moving forward.[8]
On November 29, 2022, after speculation began that the show would move networks once again, Ferdinand Perez announced on his Instagram that he had renewed his contract with Liberman Media Group (owner of WLII-DT and its repeater). The contract would run for three more years which would renew Jugando Pelota Dura to stay on TeleOnce until, at least, 2025.[9][10][11][12]
Puerto Rico Habla
editOn August 28, 2022, the show premiered its new special Sunday edition called Jugando Pelota Dura: Puerto Rico Habla ('Puerto Rico Speaks'). The show works as a town hall meeting where a live audience is welcomed and encouraged to ask questions on social problems and a panel of experts and local politicians is present to respond to these issues and offer solutions. The specials air once a month on Sundays in the show's usual time slot of 7 p.m. Initially the show was set to take place from WLII's secondary studios at The Mall of San Juan, however, the production of the show has decided to take these specials live on the road with the last two airing live from Plaza Colón in Mayagüez and from Plaza Rafaél Hernandez in Aguadilla[13][14][15][16]
On-Air Staff
edit- Ferdinand Pérez - Host (2012-Present)
- Margarita Aponte - Host/Panelist (2020-Present)
- Cyd Marie Flemming - Host/Panelist (2021-Present)
- Denisse Perez - Panelist (2019-Present) Reporter (2012-2016)
- Alex Delgado - Panelist (2012-2017, 2020-Present)
- Anibelle Sloan - Panelist (2023-Present)
- Victor Rivera Hernández- Panelist (2020-Present)
- Kimberly Santiago - Social Media (2022-Present)
- Jorge Colberg Toro - Analyst (2024-Present)
Guests
edit- Jorge Schmidt Nieto - Guest Panelist
- Mayra López Mulero - Guest Panelist
- Carlos Rivera Santiago - Guest Panelist
Former On-Air Staff
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Con nueva casa y equipo el programa "Jugando Pelota Dura"". TVBoricua USA. TVBoricua USA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Ferdinand Pérez repasa su historial legislativo". El Nuevo Dia. El Nuevo Dia. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Programa de análisis político "Jugando Pelota Dura" cambia de horario". TVBoricua USA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Se avecina otro cambio de horario para "Jugando Pelota Dura"". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Yolanda Vélez Arcelay sale de TeleOnce y se une a Telemundo". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Leo Aldridge se une a Rayos X: "Estoy muy entusiasmado por la oportunidad"". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Cyd Marie Fleming se integra al equipo de "Jugando Pelota Dura"". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Jailenne Rivera dice adiós a "Jugando Pelota Dura"". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Ferdinand Pérez desmiente rumores y renueva contrato de Jugando Pelota Dura". NotiUno. NotiUno. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Jugando Pelota Dura pone fin a "especulaciones" sobre cambio de canal". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Jugando Pelota Dura se queda en TeleOnce". NotiCel. NotiCel. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Se acabaron los rumores, Jugando Pelota Dura sigue en TeleOnce". El Vocero. El Vocero. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Puerto Rico Habla: la nueva edición dominical de "Jugando Pelota Dura"". TVBoricua USA. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- ^ "TeleOnce estrenará programa con participación ciudadana". El Nuevo Dia. August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- ^ "TeleOnce lleva su programación local a Mayagüez". TVBoricuaUSA. TVBoricuaUSA. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "TeleOnce transmitirá programación especial desde Aguadilla". Primera Hora. Primera Hora. Retrieved 29 October 2023.