By Elia Esparza
Once again, Latino talent gets a pass or a snub from Hollywood’s colorblind industry. Ok, so I shouldn’t sound like sour grapes, I mean as I’m often reminded, “Be happy for the itty bitty blessings” that do come our way.
Ok, so here it goes. The 2019 EMMY Nominations were announced and the 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will broadcast on Sunday, September 22nd, honoring the greatest TV achievements of the past year. The major awards are divided into separate categories for comedy and drama.
Outstanding Comedy Series contenders include Barry, Fleabag, The Good Place, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Russian Doll, Schitt’s Creek, and Veep.
Outstanding Drama Series include Better Call Sal, Bodyguard, Game of Thrones, Killing Eve, Ozark, Pose, Succession, and This Is Us
In searching the Latinx nominated, as bleak as it has always been for Latinos working in film or television, I was thrilled to have found a few names.
In the Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora was nominated along with Mahershala Ali, True Detective, Huge Grant, A Very English Scandal, Jared Harris, Chernobyl, Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us, and Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon.
Then I came across John Leguizamo, When They See Us nominated in the Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.
Way down in the Outstanding Narrator Category, I almost did a summersault when I see Anthony Mendez‘s name! He’s nominated for his work on the PBS docuseries, Wonders of Mexico. You all know him… that distinctive voice that pops into Jane The Virgin’s shows.
I would be remiss not to mention that the Steven Canals’ series Pose (nominated this year) has many Latinos worth mentioning– Jason A Rodriguez, David Granados, MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Bianca Castro, Alexia Garcia, and Angel Bismark Curiel.
Where are the Latinas? Talented like Jennifer Lopez, Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera, Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Rosie Perez, and the women from Vida, Pose, One Day At A Time, and Orange Is The New Black. It is beyond unforgiving that these super-talented women are snubbed!
Being an optimist always seeing the glass half-full, maybe next year it will be the year of the TV Latinas! These women made a boatload of money for the networks, they deserve Primetime EMMY nominations!
For the complete list of 2019 EMMY Nominations, CLICK HERE