Freedom from judging - what will they do?

It just occurred to me that something very rare might occur in the Grupo Especial parades this year. Three groups will parade, but (according to Liesa's press release a few hours ago) their parades WILL NOT BE JUDGED. That's unprecedented. Though I'm still waiting for details to confirm this, it could potentially mean that they will be freed from the usual constraints on their parades. Escolas are always paranoid about losing a precious tenth of a point on this or that tiny little detail, and this makes them pretty conservative, following Liesa's every little regulation with slavish obedience. But now those three escolas can do whatever they want. They can go over the time limit; they could have horses! trained monkeys! trumpets! Full frontal nudity! (All those are against regulations.) Paraders could have all the gaps in parade that they want! They can stop under the judges' booth, take their costumes off and do cartwheels! They can bring beer and - at laaaast - be able to bring their digital cameras! Most of all, paraders will be singing the song because they WANT to, not because they have to.

There is potential here for three free-wheeling, invigorating, and extremely creative parades. Done on a shoestring and in just a month. Kind of the way escola parades used to be, way back in the old days when it all started. Though I'm terribly sorry for the three escolas (I'm actually writing to Portela now to see if there's any way to send donations), and terrifically frustrated that I'm not there right now so that I could go help make costumes, I'm also kind of curious to see what they'll do.