Words by Jesse Serwer—

Probably the biggest viral video sensation to come out of the Caribbean to date, Roger Alexis’ “Santana” shorts are bawdy, mini-stage plays brought to life by Trini-accented Crank Yankers. Puppets having sex can be funny enough but it’s the soap opera-like melodrama and character development, and the distinctly Trini accents and situations, that has audiences across the Caribbean and the diaspora hooked into the adventures of the womanizing Santana, his girlfriend Janice and his impotent neighbor Narine. Less than two years after Santana’s first shorts went viral, the dreadlocked, Michael Jackson jacket-sporting puppet is now the star of his own movie, I’m Santana!, out in Trinidad theaters today. On the eve of the movie’s release, we called up Roger for a chat about the movie, the series’ habit of tackling taboo topics, and the real inspiration for Santana. Read on, and catch up on all of the Santana shorts at Roger’s YouTube page or the Lexo TV site.