Why are there so few Latino themed mainstream TV shows?
It has been like searching for the Holy Grail in trying to get a Latino-themed show on the air. There are so many factors, many of which apply to trying to get any show on the air. Casting: it is not easy to find a talent that can carry a show week after week. There are many talented actors but not that many ‘stars.’ Subject matter: with a Latino show we run into the problem of inclusiveness. Do you make it Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican? And you know someone’s going to feel left out. Then there’s the all important question: does the show have broad appeal? And last but not least is the fact that there are very few network approved “show runners” who are in a position to run a show. Most of them are not Latino. They are not intimately familiar with the Latino culture. For them, the thought of venturing into a Latino-themed show is fraught with peril and huge possibilities for missteps. The reason George Lopez was so successful was that it had the strong voice of George Lopez. Bruce Helfo
