Luis Antonio Ramos
Five of ABC’s new offerings feature Latinos in a wide range of roles, with half a dozen renewed shows with Latinos as well. But where’s John Leguizamo?
ABC continues to make a strong showing in support of Latino Hollywood, with five new programs featuring Latinos and just as many returning programs that do the same. Among the new arrivals:
- Lucky 7, a drama about all that happens–good and bad–when seven men split a big lottery win, features Luis Antonio Ramos (The Ruins) as the owner of the store where it all happened, with Christine Evangelista (The Joneses) as his wife.
- Killer Women, produced by Sofía Vergara and Latin World Entertainment among others, is all about formidable female Texas Rangers. Plenty of space of Latino talent, and we’re seeing it, including Spanish actress Marta Milans (Shame), and Alex Fernandez (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen).
- Resurrection is a strange set of stories about what happens when the recently deceased randomly return to life. Among the players: Nicholas Gonzalez (Off the Map) and newcomer child actor Landon Gimenez.
- Trophy Wife. We loved Natalie Morales in Middleman, White Collar, and even 90210, so were sure to like here in this soapy new drama about beautiful people doing dubious things to each other.
Natalie Morales
- Mixology is another odd premise: the interlocking stories of a bunch of people who meet for the first time at a pick-up bar. Two Latinos are there: Alexis Carra (Incredible Girl) and Adan Canto (The Following), no longer a dead cult member.
ABC’s primetime roster continues to be enriched by the ongoing work of Latinos in other returning shows. Renewals include Sara Ramirez in Grey’s Anatomy, Jon Huertas in Castle, Guillermo Díaz in Scandal, Madeleine Stowe in Revenge, and Lana Parrilla in Once Upon a Time.
Unfortunately–and inevitably–it wasn’t all good news. Jai Rodriguez will have to look for other work; Reba McIntyre’s reboot of her sitcom career, Malibu Country, won’t be back. Writer Matt Lopez’ pilot, Gothica, got a pass, and Camile Guasty was part of the cast of the American reworking of the British comedy Spy, but it didn’t make the cut either.
The biggest disappointment, however, is the absence of John Leguizamo on the fall schedule. After two separate attempts at updating a British sitcom fell short, there was a lot of talk about the Latino-themed comedy pilot based on his own family. It apparently, is a ‘pass’ as well.
Still: five new shows and at least that many returning, all with Latinos in key roles. A pretty healthy commitment from ABC, continuing a multi-year trend where it puts its diversity where its mouth is.
