Latino Hollywood must be scratching their collective heads over the recent Oscar, Tony and now Emmy awards that have consistently overlooked or openly snubbed deserving Latino films, TV shows, and the talent behind and in front of the camera.

So Much for Diversity

Of the dozens of potential Latino Emmy nominees TV series and on-camera actors eligible and worthy of an Emmy nomination, incredibly only a grand total of TWO Latinos were graced by the voters with Emmy nominations: Colman Domingo is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama TV Series for his portrayal of Ali in Euphoria and Oscar Isaacs for his Leading Actor Emmy nomination for his role as Jonathan in HBO’s Scenes From A Marriage. And as Porky Pig would say: “That’s all folks!”

But the Gomez snub for her work as an actress in Only Murders in the Building is especially galling because it begs the question of the Emmy voters: “What the heck were you people watching?” Gomez was lauded by Deadline Hollywood as “the glue that holds the show together.” How is it the voters looked right past that insightful and accurate bit of news?

Chemistry 101

The chemistry between the main characters in Only Murders in the Building Is cited as a major factor in the huge success of Hulu’s Original TV series which has earned 17 Emmy nominations including two for its male leads, Steve Martin and Martin Short., for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy series. The two comic actor legends have worked together in films like The three Amigos, Father of the Bride, countless other collaborations, so the chemistry between these two comedy amigos was well-established. But the question going into season one of Only Murders in the Building was how Selena Gomez would fit in with her two veteran comic co-stars.

From the very beginning, Gomez’s character, Mabel Mora, has proven to be a pivotal one in the storyline. Gomez’s portrayal of Mabel Mora as a potty-mouthed, droll, street-smart young New Yorker who delivers her one-line acid rejoinders with lethal deadpan accuracy, is the perfect foil and contrast to the Martin and  Short characters. Gomez is the active chemical agent in this potent comedic trio.

Steve Martin’s character, Charles Haden Savage, is a former TV star of a cop show, Brazos. Savage is a bit world-weary and somewhat of a cynic. However, Martin Short as Oliver Putman is a kinetic, hyper theatrical out-of work Broadway director. The three residents of the iconic Arconia Hotel team up to solve a murder that has occurred in the scenic old structure.

But Mabel’s allegiance to the crime-fighting team, her personal agenda, sexual identity and dark past connection to the Arconia Hotel are cleverly not made clear by the writers of the show. Over the succeeding episodes in season one and continuing into season two Mabel’s true character is slowly peeled away and revealed one onion layer at a time.

At times, Savage and Putman are not quite sure if Mabel is an ally, a BFF, a conniving femme fatale, or even a murderer, it’s obvious Mabel is the emotional focus of their lives. Regardless of their suspicions, they admire Mabel because she is cool, hip, smart, and has what old-timers like Savage and Putman nostalgically used to call “moxie.”

Without Mabel, Savage and Putman are just two old fuddy duddies fumbling around trying to solve a murder mystery. Mabel is the much-needed catalyst that drives the plot and whose caustic charm compliments and completes this oddball May-December crime-fighting trio. Gomez is without a doubt the glue that holds it all together.

The Other Snubbed Main Character

From a certain angle or critical perspective, you could argue that the two main characters in Only Murders in the Building are actually Mabel Mora and the Arconia Hotel. By placing all the action in the historic dwelling with its grand, spacious old New York City apartments, the writers have made the setting of the Arconia Hotel a universe unto itself.

At the center of that universe is Gomez as Mabel Mora. Mabel’s emotional tentacles are wound through and around the Arconia Hotel. The true hierarchy of characters is made abundantly clear in the opening credits. That opening credit shot sequence is a basic tutorial in scene analysis and cinema language. It begins with a shot of the outside wall of the hotel. First, we see Steve Martin through the window of his apartment. As we pan upward, we see Martin Short in his window. Finally, we reach the top and there looking demure and mysterious is Gomez. In classic movie scene structure, the character in the superior or higher position is the dominant character, the one in charge, the focal point of the scene.

So apparently and most painfully, the Emmy voters not only neglected to watch Only Murders in the Building, or notice Gomez was even in the cast and therefore did not fully appreciate her wonderful acting talents, but also totally missed the clues as to her true stature in the TV series shown in plain sight in easy to understand film studies cinema language in the opening credits.

Only Murders in the Building has been renewed for a third season. No doubt next year the series will again receive Emmy nominations. Hopefully within this time, the bag of plenty we will see a slip of paper with the name of Selena Gomez nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series along with her two crime-solving compadres, Messrs. Martin and Short. The Emmy voters need to take Gomez off the snub list and recognize her vital comedic contributions to the success of Only Murders in the Building. 

Season Two of Only Murders in the Building is currently streaming on Hulu.

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Hulu’s original crime comedy series Only Murders in the Building seamlessly weaves together all the creative elements that go into making an outstanding production into a perfect storm. 

From the opening title credits to the closing theme music and everything in between, Only Murders in the Building is a TV reviewer’s delight. It’s like being a kid in a candy store. The only problem with the kid-in-the-candy store dream scenario is confronting the onerous dilemma of which treat to pick first. Swing a dead cat in any direction in this Hulu series candy store and you hit a deliciously tasty treat. 

But let’s start with the script. 

Pushing Nouns Against Verbs 

The script is the backbone of any play, TV show or movie. The screenplay or teleplay often goes unnoticed and unappreciated, but it is more than just pushing nouns against verbs on a blank computer screen. 

The talented writing team of Only Murders in the Building, which includes series creators John Hoffman (Looking, Good Boy), and Steve Martin (Roxanne, L.A. Story), have crafted together a murder mystery that is at once engaging, intriguing, full of twists and turns, but also filled with razor-sharp sparkling dialog, witty verbal repartee and hilarious belly-laughs. A well-done murder mystery/comedy is a rare achievement., Arsenic and Old Lace (1943) and Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) come to mind. 

This is a generous writing team. Every member of the eclectic cast of Only Murders in the Building, which features pop superstar Sting and the brilliant Nathan Lane (The Producers, The Birdcage), gets their fair share of the crisp, quick-silver dialog. 

Return of the Two Amigos 

Two of the shining comedic stars in this series, Steve Martin and Martin Short, have teamed up to bring us unforgettable laughs in The Three Amigos, on SNL and recently in their two-man show, Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, have perfected their on-screen comedic chemistry to a high-art form. Their timing is impeccable, imperceptible and effortless. These two guys could read ads out of a phone directory and make it work as a comedy routine.

Selena Gomez: The Unknown Chemistry Factor 

The addition of young Latina actress and singer, Selena Gomez (Monte Carlo, Spring Breakers), at first glance seems like a risky casting choice. But it turns out to be a risk well worth taking. Gomez, who plays tough, potty-mouthed Mabel Mora, delivers her acid rejoinders and drops multiple “F” bombs with a droll, streetwise authenticity that will make her Disney Channel fans shriek in horror and disbelief. 

Gomez’s delightful performance dovetails neatly with those of Martin and Short. Gomez’s, Mabel Mora, proves to be an essential and enjoyable part of Only Murders in the Building. 

Location, Location, Location 

Only Murders in the Building takes place in the Arconia Hotel. That picturesque hotel is one of those grand, old, high-rise New York City apartment buildings honeycombed with very cool, tastefully appointed digs you see in movies about New York City dwellers. The hotel is also populated with off-beat, quirky residents you also always see in movies about New York City dwellers. 

But more importantly, the hotel is the scene of the brutal murder of one of the tenants. Martin, Short and Gomez join forces and form an unlikely team of sleuths determined to solve the homicide case. In the process, they create a True Crime Podcast. As with any well-written unsolved crime puzzle, the three amateur hotel detectives search for clues, develop leads and suspects, encounter red herrings and interact with each other in a relationship that blossoms into a bond of trust and friendship. 

The old high-rise is an important character in the story. There are frequent establishing shots of the iconic edifice letting the viewer know this is the world where all those characters live. It is the place where all the action occurs. The hotel is the only character in the story who knows where all the incriminating skeletons and telltale dark secrets reside. 

In the show’s opening credits, we pan up the outside of the hotel. In the first window, we see Steve Martin. We pan up further and see Martin Short through his window. Further up we see a pensive Selena Gomez. It’s an image that evokes the voyeurism of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window as Jimmy Stewart watches his neighbors through their windows in the building across from his apartment. It is an homage to Hitchcock and a reminder there was murder in that building as well. 

Always Leave ‘Em Laughing and Wanting More 

There’s an old showbiz adage that any stand-up comic worth his weight in Henny Youngman one-liners should always end with the audience laughing and wanting more. An effective whodunit should always make the audience feel like they are also detectives helping the heroes of the story solve the crime. 

Season One of Only Murders in the Building ends with a shocking cliffhanger and a tantalizing tease that guarantees the show’s many new fans will anxiously and impatiently wait for Season Two.

Only Murders in the Building premieres on Hulu, August 31. 

The cast: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Aaron Dominguez, Vanessa Aspillaga, Ryan Broussard, and Nathan Lane

Featured Photo: (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)

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At a recent Zoom television press conference to discuss the upcoming 10-part Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building, Selena Gomez was asked if she was excited to team up with such brilliant comedic legends as Steve Martin and Martin Short. Gomez stared blankly and replied, “I had no idea who they were.”

As Martin and Short nodded solemnly in agreement, Gomez smiled broadly. “I’m kidding. Of course, I was so excited. I was very nervous, to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. Sometimes I find that comedy people can sometimes be a little bit distant, so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. And now I have these two crazy uncles in my life that basically give me boy advice and I sing rap songs to them.”

Martin nods again, “Naughty rap songs, I have to add.”

Short interjects, “And I think that, for me, what I love about the end-product of the show are the three different energies of the actors. I kind of play it very real. Steve goes way over the top. And Selena grounds everything in this kind of dry, hilarious delivery. And the combination, I think, is perfect. It was a dream to work with this brilliant, young lady.”

It is easy to understand Gomez’s original nervousness about working with two such established comedy pros. She readily admits she was launched into show business at too young an age. “I was a kid. I was just riding around on set.”  

Born and raised in Texas, Gomez began her career at age 10, appearing on the children’s television series, Barney & Friends (2002–2004). In her teens, she rose to prominence for her role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel series, Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012).

“I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age,’ says Gomez. “So, I didn’t know exactly what I was doing.” Whatever Gomez was doing, it was working. Following her turn on Waverly Place, she starred in ten films and released three albums with her former band. As of 2017, Gomez had sold over seven million albums and 22 million singles worldwide.

“Now, working with Steve and Martin and this whole crew has been a much different experience,” says Gomez. “The level of sophistication of the material is the reason why I first wanted to do this. I feel like a sponge, and I soak up all the wisdom that I can. It’s really nice to be back on TV and it’s nice to be cast as my actual age, which never happens.”

Gomez plays Mable Mora, a resident in an upscale West Side Manhattan apartment, who becomes allies with two strangers, fellow apartment residents Charles (Martin) and Oliver (Short). The three share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves involved in one when a grisly murder occurs inside their apartment building. The series was created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. Martin, Short and Gomez all serve as Executive Producers on the project.

“I haven’t done a television series since The Wizards of Waverly Place,” said Gomez. “It has been a while, but how Steve and Martin lead a set is so commendable. They are so humble and kind. They are there till the very end and they’ve set such an example for me. I love the way they talk to people. I love the way that they just come to set and make everybody feel good and that makes me want to be like that and do that more. I’m just so lucky. I just sit down and laugh all day.”

One of the things that all three stars had to adjust to was shooting on the streets of New York with a constant swarm of paparazzi photographers taking pictures. “Yeah,” said Martin. “I mean, Marty and I can barely walk down the street, the paparazzi were so crazy. We actually had to throw Selena out there so we could get to our trailers.

“That’s right, said Short. “And for some reason, the paparazzi stayed with her and we got away.”

“Our plan worked,” quipped Martin. “I don’t know why.”

Short added, “We even turned to the paparazzi and said, ‘We’re leaving!’ They didn’t seem to care.”

Gomez smiled at this interplay between Martin and Short.  She then added, “What I think is really special is that Steve Martin and Martin Short have a sense of humor that doesn’t exist anymore. I love that their humor is not typical, like, crass, or kind of dark. It’s very light, and I think for me, that was something that I really appreciated. But I have to be honest, I don’t know if I’m a good actor. I just do my job. And I just really hope that I can live up to these incredible people. I learned a lot from the first episode to the end. I even made a joke to John (Hoffman) that I now wish I could redo the entire first episode, because of how much I had developed by the end of the shoot.”

Martin concludes the interview session with, “I believe when Selena’s on screen, the show is suddenly elevated. It’s more mysterious, it’s more interesting. There’s an old cliché, the camera loves her. And I would say the camera likes me, and it’s fine with Marty.”Only Murders in the Building debuts on August 31 on Hulu.

Featured Photo: (Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)

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In the streamer’s upcoming series, the Hotel Transylvania franchise star joins two comedy legends, Oscar winner Steve Martin (Father of the Bride) and Martin Short (Three Amigos), who also created the story and co-wrote the script along with John Hoffman (Grace and Frankie).

When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, Mabel (Gomez), Charles (Martin) and (Oliver) suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. They document their case in a podcast and unravel their building’s years-long complex secrets–all the while lying to each other. They soon find themselves facing the possibility a killer is living among their neighbors and race to solve the crime’s puzzle before it’s too late.

In addition to voicing the character Mavi in Hotel Transylvania, Gomez has starred in various other comedies like Spring Breakers, Another Cinderella Story and Ramona and Beezus.

Only Murders in the Building also features three other Latino actors, Aaron Dominguez (Shaft), Esteban Benito (The Binge) and Vanessa Aspillaga (Hustlers).

The The 10-episode long series premieres Aug. 31.

Featured Photo: Only Murders in the Building (Credit: Hulu)

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By Luis Reyes

She was the beautiful senorita the Three Amigos could not say no to; the ethereal girl Tom Selleck fell for in Magnum P.I.; and Vicoria, the innkeeper who aided Zorro in his new adventures.

That was actress Patrice Martinez who sadly passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018 at her home in Burbank, California after a long illness and at the young age of 55.    

The first time I saw Patrice Martinez was in 1986 on the big screen in the now iconic slapstick comedy spoof film Three Amigos.  I was awestruck by her beauty, grace, and presence in her starring role as Carmen who seeks help to free her defenseless village from a rampaging bandit gang. Her skillfully rounded portrayal of Carmen, rooted in the classic Commedia dell’arte was a foil and in sharp contrast to the past senorita screen stereotypes.   

Patrice held her own on screen opposite a trio of comedians (no easy task for a young actress in her first major film). Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short played Hollywood silent screen cowboy heroes who under the mistaken assumption of a personal appearance, find themselves rescuing a real life South of the border Mexican village from the grips of bandidos.                             

A tremendous hit when first released, Three Amigos has for more than thirty years entertained several generations of kids growing up through repeated viewings on television, cassette tapes,  DVD, Blu-ray, cable and streaming services, becoming a perennial family favorite and Patrice’s best known film role. Millions of young men and boys were smitten and young girls and women emulated her strength and humor becoming instant fans. She would be recognized by fans on the street more from this film than anything else she was to do.  

Patrice was also featured as the after-life receptionist Miss Argentina in Tim Burton’s horror comedy Beetlejuice (1988) opposite Michael Keaton.

Her classic training was put to good use as the spirited Victoria Escalante starring opposite Duncan Regher and Henry Darrow for four seasons (1990-1993) on New World’s syndicated TV series, the 18th century swashbuckling Zorro which was filmed in Spain.     

On the original Magnum P.I. TV series starring Selleck Patrice played Linda Lee Ellison, Magnum’s Eurasian love interest in a two part episode. You could see why Magnum would fall for her.  She also played a Native-American girl opposite James Arness’ Matt Dillon in a television film based on the classic long running western TV series Gunsmoke titled Gunsmoke Return to Dodge. Her other television credits include guest starring on such series as Miami vice and Air America.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 12, 1963 to a family of theater, her mother Margarita Martinez founded the La Compania de Teatro de Albuquerque and later managed the Ricardo Montalban theatre in Hollywood. Her father was a musician. Patrice’s brother Benito Martinez is a respected actor (How to Get Away With Murder, The Shield) and her sister Benita Andre, is also an actress.

Patrice was discovered as a teenager by legendary director Sam Peckinpah who gave her a bit part in his film Convoy (1978) filmed in Albuquerque.

After high school, Patrice was one of the few American students (along with her future Three Amigos co-star Tony Plana), accepted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England where she honed her acting skills. Her time in the school provided classic stage training and experience.  

Upon finishing her classical studies, she returned to the US  pursue her acting career in Los Angeles, landed her first acting job in an independent film called A Walk on the Moon that was released later in 1987.

Off screen, Patrice was known by her friends and colleagues to be a “sweetheart of a human being,” a kind and gentle woman who did not take herself seriously but took her acting profession seriously, remained largely a private person.

Actress Dyana Ortelli remembers first meeting Patrice on location in the Mexican town, the film set of Santo Poco when they were working on Three Amigos. “Everything I had heard about her was true! She was a stunning beauty, who was also kind, generous, gracious, funny and amazingly talented,” Ortelli recalled.  “She was proud of her Latina roots and passionate about giving back to our community. From that day forward Patrice became one of my dearest friends and will forever hold a place in my heart.” 

In recent years Martinez sought other life and career interests and worked in real estate and management.

Her real life dignity, natural elegance and acting talent illuminated every role she undertook and every facet of her life. In a youth obsessed Hollywood where opportunities are limited for Latinos and actresses become a disposable commodity as they age, Patrice didn’t find more of the great leading roles again, for she was capable of giving so much more. For me and film fans the world over, the luminous Patrice Martinez will forever live on the blazing technicolor screen as Carmen, the perfect senorita of Three Amigos.

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