Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho (born February 26, 1949) is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez". Among the shows which Warrington has hosted are Friendo y Comiendo and "A Freir y a Comer" alongside Luis Antonio Cosme, Café con Leche alongside Lily García and Yan Ruíz and a television program transmitted through WAPA-TV called La Cocina Caliente de Luis y Bizcocho (Luis and Bizcocho's Hot Kitchen), alongside Luisito Vigoreaux; Hola Gente alongside Alexandra Fuentes and Gerardo Ortiz; and together with Lily and Yan a morning show called "¡Buenos Días!" (Good Morning!) Actor José Reymundí began a strike against Producciones Tommy Muñiz in 1973, in particular against its administrator Hérnan Nigaglioni, claiming that he had been left out of a local production to favor foreigners. Warrington, Candal, Morales, Carbia, Molina and García left to create Producciones ASTRA and joined Channel 7. This would only last for some years, since the company gained a reputation for supporting work syndicates and were avoided. After working for different shows landed a spot in " Cogiendo Impulso", which was transmitted on Channel 11; it was here that he developed the characters of "Juancito" and "Pito". While working in the comedy Los Kakukomicos, Warrington played the character of "Cuca Gómez", a cross-dressing role that would help settle Warrington's fame as a comedian. The plot involved a female cosmetologist who was involved in all kinds of hilarious and off-the-wall situations. "Cuca Gómez" became very popular in Puerto Rico and soon appeared in other TV shows as a special guest star. In 1985, Warrington was named "Mr. Television" by the Artistic Association of Puerto Rico.Imdb Along Juan Manuel Lebrón, Warrington was recognized as one of the best improv comedians in Puerto Rico during the 1980s.
Entertainment career Early years Encouraged by Muñiz's challenge, Warrington returned to school and graduated from Central High School of Santurce in mid-late 1960s; he then went back to Muñiz to take him up on his earlier offer. While he resumed his job polishing boots, the producer summoned him to the studio in order to appear in the debuting military comedy. Tommy Muñiz kept his word and let Otilio assist in the TV show "El Special de Corona" (The Corona Special). He made his television debut on August 22, 1967, at the age of 16, having been given the stagename of "Bizcocho" as a placeholder. Thus, Warrington became the first black Puerto Rican male comedian to be regularly featured on a local TV program. Nervous and inexperienced, his first scene was shot six times. One of the show's sections involved a group of "wacky" soldiers and included José Miguel Agrelot (as "Sargento Manteca) and Jacobo Morales. When Otilio joined the group, Morales baptized him as "Soldier Bizcocho" (Cake), a nickname that would remain with him for the rest of his life.
Muñiz saw potential in Otilio and paid for his college education; as a result Warrington attended the University of Puerto Rico graduating with an associate degree in Television Direction and Production. After graduation Otilio participated in many local TV programs such as "El Show del Mediodía" (The Noon Show). In 1970, a new show titled Ja-ja, ji-ji, jo-jo con Agrelot began airing and he made appearances in it. In October 1970, Warrington participated in a homage held for Norma Candal at Club Iguazú. On August 20, 1971, Warrington wrestled Shorty Castro in a no-referee, no holds barred matches as part of a series of homages to José Miguel Pérez for his undefeated run as WWWF World Tag Team Champion held at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium at San Juan Estadio Paquito Montaner at Ponce. He also joined Teatro Moderno in the Festival de Comedias organized at the Ateneo Puertorriqueño and which included the plays Si se muriera mi suegra by Maggie Hernández, El Manicomio Loco by Felipe Montes and La Criada Aprovechada y la Máquina Maravillosa by Enrique Fuentes. In October 1971, Warrington performed in the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) 25th anniversary show held at Country Club. In December 1971, Warrington received a homage at Residencial Luis Lloréns Torres. He was also contracted for other events with popular appeal, such as hosting a trip to Disney World where people could join him.
Despite being regarded as a successful artist, appearing in the Show del Mediodía among others, Warrington won about $125 per week plus a car during this stage of his career. Due to this and the firing of actor José Rey Mundo, he joined a strike against Producciones Tommy Muñiz. Soon afterwards, the protests grew as APATE joined and people like Castro decided not to cross the picket lines, while others like Candal where active in the frontlines. Morales in turn decided to quit on the air. Only Alida Arizmendi challenged the protests. WAPA-TV decided not to intervene and distanced itself from the issue. In the end, Muñiz granted the demands of the protestors, such as health coverage or six month contracts, but Reymundí was unable to benefit due to the cancellation of the production due to the strike. Producciones Tommy Muñiz was affected by it, with only productions like Esto no tiene nombre or Ja-ja, ji-ji, jo-jo con Agrelot surviving. Afterwards, Warrington resumed his participation at WAPA-TV. In December 1973, he was among several media personalities that visited a collection of international owl figurines gathered Rita Caro de Caro and exhibited at the Villa Cofresí hotel at Rincón.
Warrington was contracted by Humberto Vidal, a local shoe store chain, to promote a line of yo-yos intended to be used in competitive games. Emilio E. Huyke published Los Comediantes: Risas de Oro para Toda la Familia (1974) which included a section dedicated to him. In December 1973, Warrington was fired from WAPA-TV. However, he began working on a concept named Bizcocho y su Tropa for Telecadena Pérez Perry, where the show was given a weekend slot and included the participation of Awilda Chávez. On December 20, 1973, Warrington wrote to APATE president William Valentín that he was uninterested in returning to work with Producciones Tommy Muñiz. As rumors for his dismissal made the rounds in the media, Muñiz insisted that he had not fired any artist. Two months later, Warrington was one of the founding members of Producciones Internacionales ASTRA, a corporation intended to produce new television content.
In June 1975, Warrington revived the promotion where he would join a group in a trip sponsored by Club de Turismo Jet-Set to Disney World. In August 1975, he was cast as the titular character of Teatro La Máscara's comedic play El Bebe Furioso, playing a tempestuous baby. Two months later, Warrington participated in the event Dale la Mano a tu Hermano, held at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium to raise funds for the people affected by a storm named Eloísa. He also participated in the tele-marathon held by the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). In November 1975, Warrington rejoined the cast of El Bebé Furioso for a series of shows at Teatro Matienzo. In April 1977, Warrington performed at Teatro La Perla, where a series of plays by Marqués and Méndez Ballester were organized. He joined Awilda Carbia in Awilda en Desconcierto, where he was tasked with singing salsa songs. In October 1978, Warrington joined Edgardo Huertas to present the comedy-musical show El Bembé at Café Teatro La Tea at Old San Juan. In early 1979, he was featured in WKAQ-TV's El Show de Nydia Caro where he was tasked with the comedy skits and resumed his role as a baby. He continued active in the channel's programming, being also featured in El Súper Show Goya. Warrington participated in Qué caras… Qué gestos along Awilda Carbia at the University of Puerto Rico's Mayagüez campus. During this month Jacobo Morales' Díos los Cría (lit. "And God raises them") was released strring him, alongside Norma Candal, Gladys Rodríguez, Esther Sandoval and Alicia Moreda.Eddie Miró
In August 1979, Warrington was featured as a special act in El Súper Show Goya. During the 1970s, he also developed a parody of Awilda Carbia's most sentimental and sensitive characterization. Warrington also sponsored the 1979 Maratón Cima del Yunque to raise funds for tue Sociedad de Niños y Adultos Lisiados, a non-profit organization that helped incapacitated people. Warrington performed at the Fiestas Patronales at Ciales. In December 1979, Warrington was cast in the role of the "Royal Court's Jester" in Teatro La Máscara's adaption of Cinderella. The play debuted at Teatro Matienzo in Santurce, before continuing at Teatro La Perla at Ponce and Teatro Tapia in Old San Juan. Warrington continued working with Teatro La Máscara in the troupe's adaptation of Manuel Méndez Ballester's Los Cocorocos which was presented at Teatro Tapia as part of the Festival de Teatro Puertorriqueño. He joined the group when the play continued at Teatro Sylvia Rexach. In June 1980, Warrington resumed his appearance in Cinderella when Teatro La Máscara brought it to Teatro Tapia, returned to La Perla and moved to Centro Cultural de Mayagüez. His performance was critiqued as "very funny", carried by his misadventures along the Prince and by one of his songs, which was a catchy earworm described as staying in people's minds for weeks.
Popularity of Cuca Gómez (1980–1989) Beginning in 1980, Warrington joined several other artists and performed comedy along them for Island Tourists, a local tourism firm, appearing in a number of events that celebrated different occasions such as Valentine's Day. He also became involved with the Casa del Artista, participating in a game that the Leones de Ponce held to promote the project. During the winter he participated in the Día de la Cobfraternidad, an annual event held for the patients of the Río Piedras Medical Center. In January 1981, Warrington and Shorty Castro were announced for a Three Kings Day show at Safari Park, but logistics prevented him from arriving. In February 1981, Warrington participated in an event sponsored by the Blue Cross of Puerto Rico where several artists joined players from the Puerto Rico winter baseball league. He also joined Artistas de Radio y Televisión, a softball team, to play against a team from Jardines de Caparra to help that community raise funds for their youth baseball program. He also hosted the opening act of a professional boxing card held at Aguada, Salsa en el Ring, performing a comedy skit featuring Cuca Gómez. During this time, the cosmetologist character created by writer Felipe San Pedro gained momentum and was also featured in a concert at Guaynabo. Warrington also sponsored another event for the youth baseball league of Jardines de Caparra, named Liga Pirulí and hosting children from ages 5 to 8.