3 days ago
John Leguizamo Returns To MSNBC To Explore Latino Culture In Trump's America
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought change and chaos to many parts of America, and for many, it's a time when the feeling of community, pride, and the sense of being part of a country built by immigrants is threatened. The actor John Leguizamo hopes his MSNBC series Leguizamo Does America, which launches its second season on July 6, can remind people of the power that still exists in Latino communities across the country.
"Finally something for the whole community that uplifts, elevates and celebrates our Latiness in a way all people can admire and share," Leguizamo said, reflecting on his time in neighborhoods from Philadelphia to San Antonio, where vibrant Latino communities are defining America through food, culture, history and the achievements of people young and old.
'For season two, I wanted to go deeper into America and put a magnifying glass on Latino exceptionalism, Latino ingenuity, and Latino genius,' Leguizamo said.
'Our culture has made America what it is since 1492 and nobody knows it. We built and fought for this country, and suffered in America for who we are. Let's celebrate our legacy of contributions that continue to be vital to the prosperity of this great country.'
In the show's first season, Leguizamo told the Los Angeles Times he was motivated to make the series because Latino culture has traditionally been erased or ignored from both popular culture and the media. 'So for us to be so invisible, so erased, so excluded all over the map in America, the media and corporate settings where decisions are being made is just abysmal.'
Leguizamo, a New Yorker whose has roots in Puerto Rico and Colombia, has explored Latino culture for decades, in film, television and on Broadway. His MSNBC series, produced by NBC News Studios, brings Leguizamo's distinct high-energy style to a kind of cross-country road trip, with stops in cities and towns where Latinos--the country's fastest-growing demographic--are changing the culture, and, in cities like Phoenix, Denver, New Orleans, and Raleigh, having a growing voice in politics.
'Now more than ever, it's important that we celebrate the incredible contributions that Latinos have made and continue to make to this great nation,' said series director Ben DeJesus. 'It's been one of the highlights of my life to create and develop this series alongside the force of nature that is John Leguizamo and our passionate showrunner Carolina Saavedra. It's also important to note that this is a show made for audiences of all backgrounds, not just Latinos.'
DeJesus and Leguizamo have worked together for years on projects like American Masters: Raúl Juliá, and the series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, both of which aired on PBS. 'I really give John a lot of credit for risking his own career, because he is not afraid to be vocal about [the lack of Latino representation]
Leguizamo addressed the lack of Latino representation in film and television in a speech at the 2024 Emmy Awards, saying 'I'm John Leguizamo and I'm one of Hollywood's DEI hires. That's right. The D is for diligence, the E is for excellence, and the I is for imagination.'
'We need more stories from excluded groups,' Leguizamo told the audience. 'Black, Asian, Jewish, Arab, LGBTQ+ and disabled.'
The second season of Leguizamo Does America airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC, beginning July 6.
