By Cris Franco

Playwright/Screenwriter Josefina López holds a singular place in both American theater and Hollywood—an artist whose voice has reshaped the narrative around Latinas on stage and screen.

In 1990, her signature play Real Women Have Curves, about an ambitious, 18-year-old, plus-sized Latina battling her family’s oppressive gender and cultural norms, became a major hit. In 2002, after a bidding war, HBO adapted the play into an award-winning film with America Ferrera in her first starring role.

So enduring is López’s semi- autobiographical tale, that for the last 23- years, both the play and film have consistently drawn large audiences, taken by López’s funny and insightful depiction of the immigrant struggle. Not resting on her laurels, more plays followed. 

López used her college loans to establish a community theater, CASA 0101, which offers multiple performing arts programs and world class theater. Lopez initially opened a nearby restaurant, CasaFina Restaurant to complement the theater experience.  Both her theater and the restaurant are located in the neighborhood that fueled her creative spirit, Boyle Heights. It was this same spirit that drove her to not give up on a career-long dream — to see her play morph yet once again, into a full Broadway musical.

Now, in a full-circle moment, López’s dream of bringing Real Women Have Curves to Broadway has finally become a reality. On April 27, 2025, the musical adaptation of her iconic play will make its long-awaited debut.

I had the privilege of speaking to Ms. López who was in NYC attending a show rehearsal. We discussed why her musical is more than just entertainment, how a “sewing factory sings”, and the importance of keeping Real Women Have Curves real.

CRIS FRANCO (CF): Josefina, I’ve streamed the many rehearsals, promos and preview clips from Real Women Have Curves, the musical — and I’m very excited!    

JOSEFINA LOPEZ (JL): Me, too! It’s got all that I loved about the play and movie but heightened with singing, dancing and an expanded story. Lisa Loomer, who adapted it, has done such a great job. 

CF: How has the original plot changed? 

JL:  We’ve added to it.  Revisiting the world allowed us to delve deeper, go back in time and bring in characters with backstories true to the times. We now meet Guatemalan (Itzel) and Salvadorian (Rosalí) refugees, a cholita (Flaca) trying to remake her life and a woman who hasn’t yet come out. These real people were part of my factory experience and now we’ve included them. It’s beautiful.

CF:  It sounds wonderful — and daunting.  Was it challenging adapting Real Women into a musical?

JL: Yes. I had tried twice before — but decided to let Lisa Loomer take-on this third attempt because when you create a successful play and movie, as I did, you get attached.  But for the project to grow, you have to be able to see beyond what already exists.  And to create new moments where it lends itself to song and dance.  I knew I had to just let go and tell myself, yeah, that moment is possible, too.  And that was the challenge. 

CF: It appears there are new male characters in the musical. 

JL: Yes. The original play featured only women and there were a few men in the film. But we added more men into the musical.  And that’s part of the challenge, too. Knowing what characters to add — without adding too many. You don’t want to overpower the narrative because Broadway often relies on spectacle and I didn’t want us to lose sight of the story.  

CF: I get it. You wanted to keep Real Women, real.

JL: Yes.  

CF: The master of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim, stated that when he was approached about musicalizing a story, he’d ask himself: “Does it sing?” Did you think Real Women would sing?  

JL: I knew it would. All the way back, when I was in the (sewing) factory, I knew that Real Women  was a musical because the factory itself was musical. The sewing machines each had a distinct, humming sound depending on how old the machine was or if it needed oil. The steam iron made a rhythmic hiss. Cutting the fabric had a percussive tick-tick-tick. The radio was always playing. Outside the cars would zoom by and you could hear all the “loncheria” trucks horns honking — da-da-da-da-daaaa!

CF: “La cucaracha, la cucaracha” — 

JL: The factory was always alive with sound and motion – moving the dresses, shaking them, sewing them, ironing them.  There was always action throughout the workroom and choreography to the assembly of the garments.  Even when I was writing the original play, I thought to myself, this story could be a musical. I imagined the women dancing with the mannequins. I had all these ideas but I was only 18-years-old and, frankly, I didn’t know how to write a musical. But I could definitely hear and see it come alive as a musical.

CF: What are your favorite musicals?

JL:  I didn’t like musicals growing up because they were not relevant to my life in Boyle Heights. It wasn’t until years later when I experienced that moment in Miss Saigon where (Vietnamese) Kim and this white (American) soldier’s souls connect through a song, that I thought, ‘Oh my God — musicals can be about anything’. They don’t have to be about two white characters falling in love in a world where everything’s rosy. Those plots were so completely relatable to me living as an undocumented girl in East L.A. So, Miss Saigon got me interested in musical theater and then I saw Next To Normal —

CF: O.M.G. That show is so daring. It’s about how a wife and mother whose mental disorder destroys and — in a way — unites a suburban family. 

JL: Next To Normal showed me that musicals can go deep and be profound. That’s when I thought, I really want my play to be a musical. At first that was just a dream, but after our film won so many awards, I started actively working with my manager seeking theater producers. And I’ve been pursuing this goal until I finally met Sergio Trujillo who won the Best Choreographer Tony in 2019.  I thought Sergio could direct it. He’s an immigrant, so he gets it and understands the pain of being undocumented.  And it slowly all came together. 

CF: There are so many elements involved in creating a musical, that a director can make or break your show.  How did you select your collaborators: Lisa Loomer and Nell Benjamin (book), Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez (score)?  

JL: Selecting the right creatives is a big decision. But when I met Barry Wessler, the producer of Chicago, I thought — well he must know what he’s doing. His show’s have been running for over 20 years! Lisa Loomer was the smartest choice because she knows my world of Boyle Heights and she knows me.  Sergio is the one who came up with Joy Huerta. I had heard some of her songs and had heard of her.   

CF: She’s a Grammy winner. 

JL: Yes. I just had never put Joy’s name and her wonderful songs together. I thought — Oh, my God, this woman’s a poet.  She is an incredible, soulful human being — amazing.  And I thought, yes, she could write the songs for the show.   

CF: I very much like the songs I’ve heard.  They’re on story, tuneful and energetic. 

JL: I agree.  Once the creatives were lined up, I guess my big contribution was insisting that our casting agent, or at least their consultant, be a Mexican-American.  So that Mexican-American actors would be the first to be considered for the roles.  

CF: That is very important because today’s discerning Latinx audience are very familiar with the cultural and linguistic nuances of a México-American vs. a Puertoriqueño vs. a Cubano, etc. Casting still lumps us together into playing a generic Hispanic that comes across as inauthentic because a generic Hispano doesn’t exist.  But what does exist in your show is a cast that can all act, sing and dance.

JL: Well, you have to be a triple threat to be on Broadway, right?

CF: Was it a challenge finding Latinx triple threats?

JL:  It was hard to find men and women of a certain age who could sing and act and dance because until shows like In The Heights — thank goodness for In The Heights — our actors had limited opportunities to develop their musical talents. But we have assembled an amazing cast. But, the biggest challenge was getting the word out in the search for our lead, Ana, because, once again, not enough Latinos get to train, especially Mexican-Americans.  But we finally found Tatianna Córdoba who can do it all.  Plus, she’s got incredible comedic timing and she’s a great singer. Tatianna graduated from Boston Conservatory of Music at Berklee in 2022.  She’s beautiful, charming and she looks 18-years-old!  

CF: But finding her took work? 

JL: We had over one-thousand submissions for the role.      

CF: Although the original Real Women was written in the 1980s, the themes are more pressing than ever: body image, femininity vs. feminism, women’s rights, the immigrant experience. What do you think that says about our present society?

JL: Those things have only gotten worse. It’s sad. When I first wrote the play, I thought that twenty-years later, the story would be irrelevant because society would have progressed beyond these racist and sexist assumptions.  But it’s only gotten worse for women and the undocumented. It’s gotten worse for everyone. Immigrants have been dehumanized. So, it’s divine timing that this play is now on Broadway so it can challenge the narrative that we are the bad guys. That we’re taking rather than contributing. I’m very proud to share my story because it’s not just mine. It’s the story of so many others. Me, our director and the whole cast feel that telling this story is now necessary.  It’s not just entertainment.  It’s us fighting for our humanity.

I was talking to a reporter earlier and I realized — hey, by opening a theater and a restaurant, I’ve created hundreds of jobs. I didn’t take anyone’s job away. Immigrants create jobs. I’ve always been very proud and public about the fact that I am a formerly undocumented person who at age18 worked in a sewing factory.  And today I get to walk to a Broadway show where I get to see myself portrayed as a worker in that sewing factory. In a way, I’m the embodiment of the American Dream.  

CF: You certainly are. And, I too, can’t understand anyone who can’t relate to the cause of the undocumented worker.  I mean, they are just like you. They are you in different circumstances. It’s disparaging to refer to them as “aliens.”

JL: Which is code for “non-human.” And for me, that term really hurts. So I wanted to explore and celebrate my humanity through the story and say, no, I’m not an alien, I’m a human being. That’s why the play’s undressing scene is so important.  It says — look at me!  I’m flesh and blood and curves and fat and everything.  How much more real can I be than this?  

And, yeah, it’s a story of defiance, of self-acceptance because that’s me, too. But it’s also a personal feminist story about how we women are made to feel that we’re not good enough by a system that makes us feel inferior. I used to blame myself thinking, I just need to work on myself.  Until I realized that every freaking woman has the same program running in her head. And I got sick of it.  That’s why I wanted to share this story, so the other women could see it and think — wait a minute. I’m going through the same bullshit. Oh my God, everyone’s going through this!

CF: Speaking as a male — yeah, it’s true. Society does allow us to be uncaring, sloppy, vulgar, aggressive, blunt and demanding.  While women are heavily judged if they display those very human traits. Society will forgive the most vile man of almost anything if he’s a good provider. Which brings me to money and the economics of Broadway. 

JL: Oh, yes.  Mounting a show here is crazy expensive. 

CF: Currently, some orchestra prime tickets to Othello starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington list at $900 each with the cheapest ticket at $221.  But I’ve noticed that Real Women sells some balcony seats for under $50.  

JL: I think they’re listed at $48. We’re doing our best so that our audiences can afford to see the show. I always just go to the half-price TKTS booth and get them at 50% off but that still adds up to $100 for a pair of tickets.  And that’s because it takes about twelve-million dollars to get a show on Broadway. So it requires many investors who are primarily white men — even at my backers’ auditions.  

CF: How do you think that affects what shows get produced? 

JL: Well, if this is the group that decides what musicals make it to Broadway, it eliminates many shows that don’t appeal to this very specific funding base. I know that without a hit play we wouldn’t have had the hit movie. And without the movie we wouldn’t have had a shot at becoming a musical.  

CF: It’s very significant that you are finally here. 

JL: Especially this season when, for the first time in history, we have two new Latino musicals on Broadway: Buena Vista Social Club and Real Women Have Curves. 

CF: Do you think that says something positive about Latino stories breaking into the mainstream market? 

JL: Yes, because by bringing people into our experience they can see how beautiful we are. Broadway’s not seen a world quite like Real Women Have Curves. We present my working-class neighborhood the way I saw it.  Colorful murals, life, creativity, resilience, hope. Which is contrary to what most have heard about Boyle Heights which was at one time labeled the “drive-by shooting capitol of the world.”  That’s what captures the national headlines — not that our city has a long history of activism for civil rights and social justice. 

That’s the truth, just like the musical truly depicts how much fun it was working in the factory.  The day was filled with so much laughter and juicy chisme (gossip) that I really looked forward to going to work. So, while my friends all went off to college, I went to work in a factory where I got a real education about what it meant to be a woman. 

CF: So, your journey to Broadway began way back then. And now you’re here. 

JL:  It’s incredible to walk to Times Square and to see a giant billboard for Real Women Have Curves. 

CF: (my phone’s alarm goes off) Josefina, there’s so much more I wanted to ask you but I know our time is over and you’ve gotta go back to rehearsal. I’m gonna jump to my final question: What advice do you offer to young playwrights? 

JL: To keep telling the truth. Write about what they know, and to write about the wisdom they’ve [writers] gained from their pain and suffering, because nobody needs any more tragedies. And if they haven’t yet learned from their life lessons, wait a couple of years to write your story.  We need to hear about what they’ve gained from the losses. 

To experience what Josefina López learned from her storied life, get ready to experience Real Women Have Curves:  the Musical currently in previews wiht opening night on April 27th at the James Earl Jones Theater, NY, NY.  

The full cast includes: Tatianna Córdoba, Justina Machado, Florencia Cuenca, Shelby Acosta, Carla Jimenez, Aline Mayagoitia, Jennifer Sánchez, and Sandra Valls, Mauricio Mendoza, with Ana’s boyfriend played by Mason Reeves. with the ensemble cast consisting of Zeus Mendoza, Claudia Mulet, Christopher M. Ramirez, Monica Tulia Ramirez, Quincy Hampton, Ariana Burks 

For all show info and tickets, log onto: https://www.realwomenhavecurvesbroadway.com

The post Josefina López: From Boyle Heights to Broadway Lights first appeared on .

Empanadas anyone?  The empanadas at Empanada Loca are extra tasty since Dolores Roach took up residence in the basement of one of the last Latino owned businesses in Washington Height in New York. 

Justina Machado plays the title role of Dolores Roach in this mesmerizing and bone-chilling tale of betrayal and cannibalism in the Amazon series The Horror of Dolores Roach which  grips viewers with its dark and twisted narrative.  

Machado delivers a remarkable performance, showcasing her versatility as an actress and bringing depth to the complex character of Dolores Roach. Whether she is playing a disturbing and horrifying serial killer, as in this series, or a single mom in the 2017 comedy hit series One Day at a Time, (where she was named the “One of the Most Dynamic Actresses on TV” by Harper’s Bazaar magazine), Machado always delivers with exceptional acting skills.

The series follows Dolores Roach, a woman recently released from a 16-year prison sentence, only to return to a gentrified neighborhood that is unrecognizable to her. Desperate to reunite with her former boyfriend, the neighborhood drug dealer, Dolores expects gratitude for not exposing his involvement in drug dealing. However, as the story unfolds, Dolores discovers that she was set up and seeks revenge, leading her down a path of murder, cannibalism, and twisted reasoning.

Machado seamlessly navigates the nuances of comedy and horror, delivering a chilling performance that keeps viewers simultaneously drawn to and frightened of her character. Dolores’ relationship with Luis Batista, played by Alejandro Hernandez, adds an eerie and unsettling dynamic to the series. The twisted romance between a killer and a cook becomes a central element, with Luis aiding Dolores in disposing of her victims – in a most delicious way.

The Horror of Dolores Roach cleverly employs Dolores’ internal narration, allowing viewers to understand her twisted justifications for her heinous acts. The series is a dark and horrifying tale that tackles themes of betrayal, mental illness, and the consequences of one’s actions. It hooks viewers from the beginning, likening it to the chilling atmosphere of “Sweeney Todd”, making Machado’s portrayal of Dolores Roach captivating and making it impossible not to both fear and empathize with her.

Throughout the series, the line between good and evil becomes blurred as Dolores seeks revenge against those who wronged her. The narrative is gripping and relentless, with each episode deepening the viewers’ connection to Dolores’ twisted world. While the themes of drugs, cannibalism, and mental instability may be unsettling for some, they serve as integral elements that contribute to the atmosphere and the character’s motivations.

Written and directed by Aaron Mark, who draws inspiration from his experience as a self-proclaimed “gentrifier” in Washington Heights, delves into the darkest corners of human nature. Mark originally crafted the story for Panamanian actress Daphne Rubin-Vega as a play, which later gained popularity as a podcast and ultimately made its way to television. The rights to the TV series were acquired by Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, and also executive produced by Gloria Calderon Kellet through Glo Productions.

The featured cast includes a diverse talent pool that includes Kita Updike, K. Todd Freeman,
Jean Yoon, Ilan Eskenazi, Jessica Pimentel among others. The stand our guest stars include Judy Reyes who plays Marcie, the new neighborhood drug dealer and a dicey character played by Cyndi Lauper.

The Horror of Dolores Roach is an unforgettable and addictive TV series that demands attention. Justina Machado’s outstanding performance, combined with Aaron Mark’s skillful storytelling, creates a truly gripping and haunting experience. Brace yourself for a journey into the depths of darkness as you witness Dolores Roach’s descent into evil and the twisted reasoning behind her actions.

Originally created by Aaron Mark as a one-woman play, Empanada Loca for Panamanian actress Daphne Rubin-Vega, Mark created, wrote, and directed the original podcast and penned the series pilot script. The new series comes from Mark, who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer with Dara Resnik, alongside executive producers Daphne Rubin-Vega; Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, and Chris Dickie for Blumhouse Television; Dawn Ostroff,Mimi O’Donnell, and Justin McGoldrick for Spotify; Gloria Calderón Kellett for GloNation Studios; and Roxann Dawson, who also directed the pilot.

All eight episodes of “The Horror of Dolores Roach” are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video as of July 7 on Amazon Prime #DoloresRoach

The post Justina Machado Killing It on ‘The Horror of Dolores Roach’ Amazon Series first appeared on .

By Bel Hernandez Castillo

Look around and you will see Latinas rising and driving the cultural conversation in the U.S. From JLO’s recent marriage to Ben Affleck to Actress Ana de Armas (No Time to Die, Knives Out) playing Marilyn Monroe, to Adhara Pérez the young Mexican niña who has an IQ higher than Einstein, and at 9 years of age, is pursuing two degrees at the University of Arizona. And what about the future you ask? The fact that actress Zoe Saldaña is the star of the five Avatar films that are set in the future, well you know Latinas will be kicking butt well beyond “a galaxy far far away” for eons. But just who are these outspoken U.S. Latinas who are seemingly unstoppable in their quest to make a difference? MSNBC’s special The Culture Is: Latina has captured the frank and insightful conversation led by actress Justina Machado (One Day at a Time, Jane The Virgin) with some of these Latinas.

The Culture Is series returns with the second installment of the series of four specials. The Culture Is: Latina one-hour special will premiere Sunday, August 7 at 10 p.m. ET and will feature an exclusive one-on-one interview with Machado and Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress and activist Rosie Perez who currently stars in HBO Max’s dark comedy The Flight Attendant. Perez’s first acting role in Hollywood was in director Spike Lee’s feature Do the Right Thing. It changed the course of her life and eventually lead to an Oscar nomination for her work in Fearless.

Additionally, there will be an open roundtable dialogue with eight other high-profile Latinas who during their conversation explore Latinas’ racial diversity, the power of images and how they shape the perception of what it is to be Latina, and their increasingly growing economic and voting power — all experiences that have shaped them personally and professionally.

Machado‘s smart and sassy role as Army veteran Penelope Alvarez on One Day at A Time garnered her the title of “The most dynamic actress on TV” by the magazine Harpers Baazar. Machado will soon be seen in the upcoming Amazon series The Horror of Dolores Roach which is executive produced by Showrunner Gloria Calderon Kellett, who is also part of The Culture is: Latina conversation. The other women include:

• Bricia Lopez, James Beard Award-Winning Restaurateur and Author
• Janel Martinez, Writer and Founder of Ain’t I Latina? 
• Gina Torres, Actress and Producer (9-1-1: Lone Star)
• Gloria Estefan, Grammy-Award Winning Singer, Actress and Philanthropist 
• Gloria Calderón Kellett, Executive Producer and Showrunner 
• Julissa Arce, Author of You Sound Like A White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation
• Maria Hinojosa,Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and Anchor of Latino USA 
• Mónica Ramírez, Co-founder and President of The Latinx House

The Culture Is: Latina is the second of a four-part special series highlighting Black, Latina, Asian American Pacific Islander, and Indigenous women.

“The Culture Is amplifies our efforts to elevate diverse voices across MSNBC’s cable and streaming platforms,” said MSNBC president Rashida Jones when the series was first announced in May. “It puts women at the forefront to tell their own stories and share their experiences directly with audiences.”

To watch The Culture Is: Latina tune in Sunday, August 7 at 10 p.m. ET. For more on this follow @MSNBC, and @JustinaMachado  on Twitter. 

The post ‘The Culture is…LATINA!” Conversations With Actress Justina Machado on Being Latina first appeared on .

Justina Machado is best known for her comedic roles as Penelope Alvarez on the Netflix and CBS sitcom One Day at a Time and Darci Factor in The CW dramedy Jane the Virgin. She takes a decidedly dramatic step forward in the Lifetime movie Switched Before Birth, portraying Anna Ramirez, a woman who wishes to become a mother but struggles to concieve. Directed by Elizabeth Rohm, the film premieres Oct. 23. 

Switched Before Birth follows Olivia Crawford (Skyler Samuels) and her husband Brian (Bo Yokely), who stretch themselves to financial limits after multiple miscarriages and failed in vitro fertilization trials. While going through her latest round of IVF, Oliva meets and becomes fast friends with Anna Ramirez (Machado), who is struggling to have a child after years of focusing on her successful restaurants.

Interviewed with her friend and the film’s director, Elizabeth Rohm, Machado just smiles when asked about the role she is playing. “I really don’t have a formula for this,” she says “I’m always looking at the character. And I really could relate to what she had to offer. Anna Ramirez loved everything that was going on in her life. The only thing she couldn’t deal with is what she couldn’t have. We all know what that feels like.”

When Olivia and Anna both become pregnant the ladies celebrate and begin to prepare for their babies. But Anna suffers a devastating miscarriage and struggles to move forward while her marriage to restaurateur Gabe Ramirez (Yancey Arias) crumbles. When Olivia and Brian finally welcome their twins, Olivia feels her life is complete, but the couple’s world is turned upside down when they discover one of the babies is biologically the child of Anna and Gabe’s that had been implanted into Olivia by mistake. Now pitted against each other, Olivia will do anything to keep the baby that she carried, while Anna will stop at nothing to bring her son home.

“Justina just kills it as Anna,” says Rohm. “People don’t know how we have our miracle babies. IVF is still considered to be like pioneering in the wild west. I think this movie will do a lot to help people understand what is possible in this modern age.”

Machado points to her friend and adds, “And this powerhouse was also the director. I’ve acted with her. Elizabeth is a talented lady. As for me, I just dig into the script. It is so much fun to be able to be this character and truly show what she is going through.” The actor and director might work together on another project. Rohm hints that she and Machado may team up again for a reboot of the 1980s police drama Cagney & Lacey.

The post Justina Machado Co-Stars in Lifetime’s Drama ‘Switched Before Birth’ first appeared on .

Gloria Calderón Kellett and Norman Lear are about to launch the fourth season of Calderón Kellet’s Latino version of One Day at a Time, a mere 45 years after Lear’s original series become a mainstay on the network from 1975 to 1984. Calderón Kellett developed ODAAT, the series with co-creator Mike Royce, which ran three seasons on Netflix, then it was cancelled. After a social media outrage and a call for the return of the much loved show, it was picked up by POP TV but cut short because of the Covid. Then the news came that the series was picked up by CBS, making a full circle back to the television network where it began. Home again.  Originally scheduled to premiere on October 5th, it was pushed back to October 12th at the last minute.

With the trajectory of ODAAT Calderón Kellett and Royce are the TV show creators that could…three times! The season four they shot for POP TV is what will be airing on CBS. Calderón Kellett took to social media to once again elicit the help of ODAAT fans. This season is crucial for the beloved sitcom if they are to get a season 5 on CBS.

If Calderón Kellet has shown anything, it’s that she is resilient and a survivor. And so she recounts her journey to being one of the most sought after show runners on television. Calderón Kellet recalls, “My parents are Cuban. I was raised in Oregon and San Diego, so I guess we are West Coast Cubans. Yeah, they do exist. I was a singer, dancer and actor at a very young age. In the first grade I was performing at malls and retirement communities.  The writing came a little bit later. It really emanated from a deep frustration I felt after coming to Hollywood and going out on auditions. I was stunned by the limited roles that they had for Latinos. ‘Where’s a Latino teacher, a lawyer or a doctor?’ The roles were always gangbangers or girlfriends of gangbangers. This was only fifteen years ago. That really frustrated me, so I figured that the people holding the power are holding the pen. So, I gotta hold the pen.”

Calderón Kellet was doing standup comedy at the time and noticed there were very few Latinas doing standup. “It was very male dominated,” she says. “I was consistently told that women had no place in comedy. So, I put together a one woman show of 15 short monologues for women of various, diverse backgrounds. It was a very simply staged production, just an actor on a small blank stage and a single light. The first night I gave tickets out to all the local charities that I supported and to the businesses around the theater. We were sold out and the rest of the run we had a line going around the block. People seemed to want to see a woman being funny. This is how I got my agent and my manager. I put up another show called Baggage the next year.  Then I wrote a book, Accessories – 30 Monologues for Women, a compilation of the monologues I did in those two shows. And that is really what started my career. That is the thing that caught fire for me and allowed people to see what I could do and make them want to hire me.” 

The once aspiring young singer, dancer and comic moved forward as a writer, actress, story editor and co-producer on the CBS series, How I Met Your Mother. Then she moved on to writer and supervising producer on Rules of Engagement, Lifetime’s Devious Maids, ABC’s Mixology and the ABC series, United We Fall.  In her current series, she has modeled the lead role of Penelope (played by Justina Machado) on herself.  

“It’s true,” she admits. “Our lead character is a veteran and a nurse.  I am not a veteran and I am not in health care. But the way she thinks and feels about the world is me. She is balancing between her mother (played by Rita Moreno), who is much more conservative and her daughter (played by Isabella Gomez) who is very liberal. Penelope is really trying to keep her balance between these very powerful women. She serves as our moderate.”

Calderón Kellett is not finding a huge difference between creating a series for streaming television and having it air on network television. “It really isn’t different at all,” she exclaims. “What is so beautiful about this show is, we were always making a Norman Lear sitcom. On Netflix, the episodes got to be a little bit longer, which was lovely, but this was always in the tone and style of what Norman has been doing for 45 years. It is really glorious to now be on a network which is what this format was designed for. It is having a discourse with your audience and saying, ‘Welcome to this Latino couch.’  The sitcom is a proscenium, a theater, a play. And the couch is the center of every great American sitcom because that’s where the conversations are happening. To be able to do that in the Norman Lear style on CBS so many years later is just a gift. And I am so proud to have it seen through the Latino lens.” 

When asked about the makeup of the writers room and how many are on staff, Kellett explains, “Every year it varies a little bit. I believe this year there were 12 of us. It’s normally between nine and twelve. It is a glorious room to be in.”

There are a lot of Latinos in there. We are heavily Latino and we also are heavily queer because one of our main characters is from the LGBTQIA community. It’s a lot. And we also have various ages amongst the writers which is also very important to us because the show spans so many ages. That is what happens when you put a Latina in charge.  We’re very intentional in making change.” 

As far as filming in front of a live audience, Kellett goes on to say, “Lear’s series featured live audiences. And, yes, we did most of ours live.” But then, the whispers about COVID started, so our sixth episode did not have an audience. The six episodes are what CBS has signed on for this season. We did a seventh animated episode, the ‘Election Episode,’ which we are praying CBS will let us air just before the Presidential election. We wrote this entire fourth season for Netflix but only got to shoot half of it. The hope is that CBS will love it and we can fold the remaining shows we have written for season four into season five. That is our deep wish and desire.  However, the great hope is that our community will come out and really show up big on October 5 to 19. That will be a clear statement to the network that the public wants to have the show on the air and we’ll be able to provide the series for many years to come.”

Aside from One Day At a Time, when asked about any other projects she’s working on, Calderón Kellett laughs. “I have many projects I am working on. I don’t know how many I am allowed to talk about yet.  My new deal is with Amazon. They have already greenlit several pilots for me. Then I have a movie with Natasha Rothwell, an incredible African American actress and writer. She and I have a movie called We Were There Too, being produced by Greg Berlanti’s company for HBO Max.”   

Wondering if Calderón Kellett ever missed her old days as a performer, she tells us, “I do but of all the things that I do, the writing, directing and producing have had the most impact. So, right now, that is where my focus is. I certainly love acting, being able to pop over and do somebody else’s show or do one of my own. But my priority is still the pen. Once I get another show on, I am sure I will make an appearance in it. There are a lot of very talented Latina actresses out there but not a lot of Latina writers and directors who are given the opportunity to create. So, I f eel that is where I need to put my focus at this moment.”

The post Gloria Calderón Kellett Leads Latinized “One Day At a Time” Back To CBS first appeared on .

By Ana Perez

Monday, October 5th:

If you are a fan of One Day at a Time from the start, you probably started watching the show on Netflix. Then it was cancelled and then you probably watched Season 4 on Pop TV, but the sitcom has a new home. On October 5th, One Day at a Time will have its CBS network debut. This is the lauded sticom that would and it did! It’s essential for fans to watch in order for the show to be renewed for Season 5. One Day at a Time is a comedy-drama that follows the life of Penelope, portrayed by Justina Machado, who is a single-mother and Army vet trying to readjust and raise her kids and her mother, played by great Rita Moreno, who lives with them. 

And, if you can’t get enough of Machado, tune in to Dancing with the Stars on ABC where you can watch the incredibly talented actress, a judge and fan favorite, light up the dance floor or watch the next day on Hulu.

Tuesday, October 6th:

Season 18 of NCIS may not be out yet, but CBS is airing Season 17 again for fans to get their fill. Make sure to tune in to see what Wilmer Valderrama (That ‘70s Show, Grey’s Anatomy) character, Nick Torres and Cote de Pablo as the super loved Ziva David are up to on CBS’s NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service at 8/7c.

While you’re watching CBS, be sure to catch Alana de la Garza (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Law and Order) on FBI at 9/8c. Garza, a Mexican-American actress, portrays Special Agent in Charge Isobelle Castille. CBS is currently airing reruns of Season 2, but the show has been renewed for Season 3.

On PBS catch KCET’s new documentary entitled 187: The Rise Of The Latino Vote. The 90-minute film, which chronicles Proposition 187, a California ballot measure passed in 1994 that sought to deny public services to undocumented immigrants. Premieres Tues., Oct. 6 at 8 PT, and encores on Thurs., Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal, as well as Sun., Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV nationwide (Dish Network 9410 and DirecTV 375). The documentary will also be airing in the San Francisco area on Fri., Oct 9 at 8 p.m. PT on KQED and in the Sacramento area on Thurs., Oct 29 at 8 p.m. PT on KVIE.

Wednesday, October 7th:

Entertainment takes a break to bring you the Vice Presidential Debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris. 

Vote! Your voice matters! 

Make sure to catch Cuban-American actor and musician Yul Vazquez on the premiere of of Books of Blood on Hulu. The film is based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed and influential horror anthology of the same name. The film takes audiences on a journey into uncharted territory through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time. 

Thursday, October 8th:

Clear your schedule for the premiere of Connecting…, the new NBC ensemble comedy series that follows a group of friends trying to stay connected (and sane) while social distancing due to the pandemic. Connecting… will feature Otmara Marrero (Clementine, StartUp), a Cuban-American actress, in her first leading role. The series was written and executive produced by Martin Gero (Blindspot) and Brendan Gall (The Lovebirds). Check back with us later for a profile on the talented Marrero!

Friday, October 9th:

Fridays are for the movies! Make sure to watch Antonio Campos’s psychological thriller The Devil All The Time on Netflix. Campos is a Brazillian-American director, producer and screenwriter, is best known for directing Afterschool, Simon Killer and Christine. The movie stars Tom Holland (Spider-man: Far From Home, Avengers: Endgame), Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Tenet) and Bill Skarsgard (It, Castle Rock).

For the kiddos: Let’s go on an adventure with Santiago, an 8-year-old pirate, and his crew as they embark on rescues, uncover hidden treasures and keeps the Caribbean high seas safe. The show, which premieres on Nick Jr., is infused with Spanish language and Latino-Caribbean culture.

The post The LH Watch List: The Shows and People to Watch first appeared on .

Justina Machado is gracing our screens once again, this time as she lights up the dance floor on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). 

Machado (One Day at a Time, Six Feet Under) joined season 29 of DWTS and is already crushing the competition. Machado is paired up with pro partner Sasha Farber and together they danced a Cha Cha to Aretha Franklin’s Respect that left the judges stunned. 

“The confidence, the musicality, the rhythm,” judge Bruno Tonioli said. “Tu eres una chica maravillosa.” 

Machacho brought so much excitement to her performance. Her smile and energy exuded off the screen. 

“You are oozing charisma, there’s no doubt about that,” judge Derek Hugh said. “You filled this room with so much energy and power.” 

Machado and Farber aka TeamLOCOmotion tied for the top spot alongside Disney Channel star Skai Jackson and her pro partner Alan Bersten. Machado’s team received 7s from all three judges for a total score of 21 out of 30.

Machado is best known for her portrayal of Vanessa Diaz in HBO’s Six Feet Under. Most recently, Machado was awarded the Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Penelope Alvarez on One Day at a Time. 

After her fiery performance, Machado may have to make room on her trophy shelf for the Mirror Ball trophy. 

Make sure to catch Machado on DWTS Live Mondays 8e|7c on ABC!

(Featured Photo provided by ABC/Photo by: Eric McCandless)

The post Justina Machado Cha Cha’s Her Way To The Top on “Dancing with the Stars” first appeared on .

Los Angeles —  The Paley Center for Media will present its inaugural Hispanic Heritage month celebration A Tribute to Hispanic Achievements in Television along with Verizon, Citi, both Sponsoring the Paley Front Row Programs.

The inaugural monthlong celebration premiered on Tuesday, September 15 with a star-studded celebration honoring the indelible mark the Hispanic community has made on media and television features: Gloria Estefan, Tony Gonzalez, Eva Longoria, George Lopez, Justina Machado, Edward James Olmos, Maria Elena Salinas, and Jimmy Smits, and moderated by Soledad O’ Brien.

There will also be a a dynamic, interactive experience on paleycenter.org with video testimonials covering drama, telenovelas, comedy, news, talk, documentary, sports, music, and variety; conversations with today’s most influential Hispanic names; trivia games; education classes; and family programs. Programs from this experience will be available in English and Spanish and all activities are free.

The Paley Center has hosted Tributes and exhibitions which highlight the African-American and Hispanic achievements in television, the contributions of women, the impact and importance of LGBTQ+ representation in television.

“We’re so proud to launch this inaugural tribute to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate the numerous contributions of the Hispanic community on television and media,” said Maureen J. Reidy, the Paley Center’s President & CEO. “This is a must-see celebration for the whole family that informs, educates, and entertains, offered as a bi-lingual interactive experience for all.”

The event is made possible through the support from dozens of companies and individuals, demonstrating a strong and ongoing commitment to promoting diverse voices in media and entertainment.

A Tribute to Latino Achievements in Television will also include.

Alex Rodriguez in Conversation

Wednesday, September 17, 8 pm EST on Yahoo Entertainment

Acclaimed journalist Natalie Morales of the Today Show will moderate a conversation with acclaimed broadcaster and entrepreneur Alex Rodriguez will participate in an intimate conversation about his career on and off the field. Alex will discuss his many successes through the lens of his iconic presence on television as a baseball star; Emmy-winning broadcaster for ESPN, Fox Sports, and CNBC’s Back in the Game; and his role as CEO of A-Rod Corp.

“I’ve always been proud of my Hispanic heritage so it’s an honor to be included in the Paley Center’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration,” said Rodriguez. “This celebration is certain to show why the Hispanic community has made such a lasting impact on television and media.”

Univision and Televisa’s Imperio de Mentiras (en Español): A Conversation with the Stars and Producer 

Friday, September 18, 2020, 8 pm EST on Yahoo Entertainment

Televisa’s Imperio de mentiras (Empire of Lies), which is set to air on the Univision Network on September 21, stars Angelique Boyer and Andrés Palacios, as a pair of tempestuous lovers whose passionate affair is suddenly caught up in a whirlwind of crime and corruption when her father and his ex-girlfriend are both mysteriously murdered. Executive produced by Giselle González, the telenovela is derived from a Turkish drama series, Kara para ask. Boyer, Palacios, and González will appear to discuss their show in a virtual panel moderated by Miguel Sirgado, journalist and former editor in chief of !Hola! USA, to be conducted in Spanish.

Univision and UniMás’s Enamorándonos (en Español): A Conversation with the Hosts and Creator  

Friday, September 25, 8 pm EST on Yahoo Entertainment

Reality show Enamorándonos (Love is in the Air) sets out to match up potential lovers but with a twist, allowing the viewers themselves to not merely watch the suspense and fun unfold as relationships develop, but to participate as well. Through social media, those at home looking for love are given the chance to meet datable candidates in hopes that sparks might fly between them. Its charismatic hosts, Ana Patricia Gámez and Rafael Araneda, and its creator, Zeynep Peker, will appear in a discussion conducted in English and Spanish.

Telemundo’s La Reina del Sur: A Conversation with the Stars and Executive Producer

Friday, October 2, 2020, 8 pm EST on Yahoo Entertainment

Telemundo’s most successful “Super Series” in its revamping of the traditional telenovela format, La Reina del Sur, has cultivating a tremendous fan base, and paving the way for an equally popular English-language version, Queen of the South. Adapted from the novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, the series follows the tumultuous and dangerous life of Teresa Mendoza, a Mexican woman who rises to the top as the most powerful drug trafficker in Spain and then finds it difficult to leave this world behind, even after assuming a new identity under the Witness Protection program. Star Kate del Castillo, who has developed a following for her performance of Teresa, will appear with fellow cast members Isabella Sierra (Sofia Dantes) and Alejandro Calva (César “Batman” Güemes), and executive producer and showrunner Marcos Santana to discuss the relevancy of their show and what to expect in its much-anticipated third season. The panel will be conducted in both Spanish and English by Marcela Isaza, Entertainment Reporter.

“I am proud to have brought the story of Teresa Mendoza to life so many years ago, which thanks to its success and devoted fans, will soon be producing its third season,” said del Castillo.

Hispanic Voices in Media 

Thursday, October 8, 2020, 8 pm EST on Yahoo Entertainment

Leading Latino/a journalists from across broadcast and cable television to discuss the unique role the media plays in informing, educating, and making an impact on Latinos. They’ll share their expert insights into television’s coverage of American Latinos in the upcoming presidential election, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, immigration, and the growing power and influence of this community in American life. Participants include Ana Cabrera, CNN; Ilia Calderón, Univision; Jose Diaz-Balart, Telemundo; Tom Llamas, ABC News; Juan Williams, Fox News; and Moderator: Mariana Atencio. Rounding out the monthlong tribute, there is a dynamic, interactive experience with video testimonials, education programs, interactive trivia, and family programs which will be accessible virtually through the Paley Center’s website, paleycenter.org.

The post Paley Celebration: “A Tribute To Latino Achievements In Television” first appeared on .

One Day At A Time fans asked for the series to be saved, and Pop TV has answered the call. The comedy will have a 13-episode fourth season and will be on CBS-owned Pop in 2020.

Netflix canceled the show after three seasons and it caused a major backlash from the fans and many high profile entertainment industry figures. According to news reports, Gloria Calderon Kellett, ODAAT‘s Co-showrunner stated they had been in talks with various networks before choosing its new home at Pop.

One Day At A Time was inspired by Norman Lear‘s 1975 series with the same name. The show follows three generations of a Cuban-American family. A newly single mom and military veteran, portrayed by Justina Machado, is about the triumphs and tribulations that come with raising two strong-willed children (Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz), all the while enlisting the help of her old-school mother, brilliantly played by Rita Moreno, and her building manager-turned-invaluable confidante portrayed by Todd Grinnell.

“We are thrilled beyond belief to be making more One Day At A Time,” said co-showrunners Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce. “This show has meant so much to so many, and we can’t wait to dive in with our amazing new partners Pop and CBS. And we’d especially like to thank all of the fans for their undying support, helping us turn #SaveODAAT into #MoreODAAT.”

Norman Lear state the following in a statement released:
“Three months ago, I was heartbroken with the news of our beloved One Day At A Time‘s cancellation. Today, I’m overwhelmed with joy to know the Alvarez family will live on,” said executive producer. “Thank you to my producing partner, Brent Miller, our incredibly talented co-showrunners, Mike Royce and Gloria Calderón Kellett, and of course, Sony, for never once giving up on the show, our actors or the possibility that a cable network could finally save a canceled series that originated on a streaming service.  And one last thank you to, Pop, for having the guts to be that first cable network.  Even this I get to experience – at 96.”

How amazing it is to be involved with the brilliant and culturally significant series that deals with important themes one minute while making you laugh the next. We couldn’t be more proud to continue telling heartwarming stories of love, inclusion, acceptance, and diversity that pull on your emotions while putting a smile on your face.” –Brad Schwartz, Pop TV.”

The series will also be broadcast on CBS later in 2020, as part of the pick-up deal, after its run on Pop. CBS was home to the original series which aired on the network over 40 years ago.

The post “One Day At a Time” Is Back! Season 4 on Pop TV first appeared on .

TheTRENDTalk Show, 4th Season’s, 1st Episode

If you miss any of the TheTRENDTalk shows, airing Sunday mornings at 7AM on MeTV, you can also watch on YouTube. Be sure to Subscribe.

In this episode hosts, Naibe Reynoso and Bel Hernandez welcome Justina Machado, the woman Harpers Bazaar called, “One of the most dynamic actresses on TV.” She’s fun and down to earth. Watch and listen to why she was such a hit on Norman Lear’s One Day At A Time, where she portrayed a single mom living with her two kids and her mother, played by the fabulous Rita Moreno.

Also featured in this episode are entrepreneurs Christina and Willy Escobar, a husband and wife team who have learned to successfully balance running a business and keeping family first.

Enjoy!

Follow Justina Machado on social media:
Twitter @JustinaMachado
Instagram @JustinaMachado

The post TheTRENDTalk: Justina Machado Chats Success & Staying Grounded first appeared on .