Voting Station

Wallace Souza

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TV Personality

The Resume

    (August 12, 1958-July 27, 2010)
    Born in Manaus, Brazil
    Former police officer/TV presenter/politician/criminal
    Hosted 'Canal Livre,' an investigative journalism show focusing on crime
    Served in the Amazonas state assembly (1998-2009)
    Arrested on charges of murder, drug trafficking, possession of illegal firearms, witness intimidation and forming a criminal gang (October, 2009)
    Died of a heart attack before going on trial

Why he might be annoying:

    He was accused of hiring hitmen to commit at least five murders.
    According to police, the killings had three motives: (1) improved ratings for 'Canal Livre'; (2) eliminating rivals to his own drug trafficking; (3) increase public fear of crime to fuel his campaign to become Secretary of Security for Amazonas.
    Police became suspicious because his show's reporters kept showing up at crime scenes ahead of the police and reporting details of the murders before there had been any investigation.
    He reportedly threatened prosecutors and police who searched his house.
    His son was also arrested for murder and drug trafficking.
    Because he had political immunity, he could not be arrested until the state assembly expelled him.
    Usually when someone in show biz says, 'I'd kill for ratings like that,' they don't mean it literally.

Why he might not be annoying:

    'Canal Livre' was the top-rated program in Manaus.
    He claimed he beat the police to murder scenes because he had better sources: 'The police are incompetent. A lot of times, they can't even determine blood types.'
    It puts American tabloid TV in perspective: say what you will about (for example) Geraldo Rivera, he has yet to kill someone to boost his ratings.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 46 Votes: 82.61% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 48 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 132 Votes: 67.42% Annoying