Welcome To The Family: On Set Interviews with Rita Moreno and the Latino Cast

Everything looks normal inside apartment #15: Colorful couches, religious images adorning the walls, and a few shoes next to the main door to keep the carpet clean. That is until you look up and see that there is no ceiling. We are actually in a sound stage inside the Sony Studios, in Culver City.

Desde Hollywood was invited to talk to the Latino cast of the new NBC comedy Welcome To The Family (premiering Oct. 3). Read our exclusive interviews with the protagonists of this story, including the legendary Rita Moreno that guest stars as grandma or “la abuelita”.

Rita Moreno (Abuelita)

What did you like about this project?

What I like the most is my character: she is so mean! She doesn’t like anybody. She only loves Lisette. Everybody else is terrible. My daughter was asking me what was my character like and I said ‘She is an old lady’ and suddenly I realized ‘I am an old lady. I am 81!’ But I am an old lady in a modern way. She is ultra-catholic. The first scene that you see her is in church.

What is the current situation of Latinos in the entertainment industry?

It is certainly better. I won’t say that the doors are wide open. Like Ricardo Montalban said ‘It’s happening but slower than we, Latinos, would like’. I think that what is still missing is to have Latinos in roles that don’t necessary call for Latinos.

You have accomplished so much in your career. What motivates you?

I want to perform more. I give lectures, I do concerts, because I am still singing. Not dancing, I call it ‘moving’. I love it. If a wonderful role comes for film or television, that would be a plus. I have a book ladies and gentlemen! It’s called ‘Rita Moreno, A Memoir’ and just also come out in Spanish. I am happy with the reputation I have as an actor so I have little to complaint about.

Ricardo Chavira (Miguel)

Many shows try to capture this reality. What was about this one that grabbed your attention?

They are always trying to present ‘The Latino’ in a palatable way for everybody out there, and by that I mean white America. It’s never done well. With ‘House Wives’ they did it well because the characters were assimilated and part of suburban America. There’s always going to be stereotypes, you can’t escape it. But this one seemed more truthful than anything else. It is the best Latino family that I have read in the past 8 years.

My father wants to stay in touch with his Mexican side and considers himself Mexican-American, and he is right. I am half Mexican, my mother was German-Irish, and I completely identify with my Mexican side. But the primary of me is Americano. I am not denying my Mexican side but is not the dominant one. I believe this show captures that.

You also see a woman from Puerto Rican descent and a man from Mexican-American descent bringing their own individual cultures to conflict, contrast and accept each other.

Justina Machado (Lisette)

What do you like the most about Welcome to the Family?

What is great about it is that it isn’t playing on the ethnicity. It is about different people, with different philosophies and ways of life coming together. It is funny and smart. They are writing as a funny show, not like ‘She is Puerto Rican so she needs to say a Puerto Rican joke’.

What can you tell us about your character?

Lisette is very loyal and loving. She is a little ‘loquita’, corcky, strong and family oriented. She is fun. Nobody wants to be the boring wife. All the women in this show have great personalities.

Are better offers for a Latino actress like you today than 10 years ago?

I have been blessed. I don’t know what is like to be anything else. I can’t answer that question. I don’t know what is like to be white, or black. My reality has been pretty awesome. 10 years ago I was doing 6 Feet Under and that was a great show. I think is the same for me. What I hope it gets better is the quality of the parts. We want more quantity but we need quality.

Joseph Haro (Junior)

Do you think that in 10 years a family like this will too normal to be interesting?

It is already normal. It is funny that we are so slow. We are a melting pot of different ethnicity. I think this is an accurate representation of where we are today. Specially with the last election were the Latino voice was so loud. I believe that there is no more hiding anymore. But you are right, I hope that in 10 years it is officially the norm.

Does your character embrace his Latino heritage?

It is what makes my character so driven, embracing and loving. That is what the Latin culture gives to its generations, that love and attention to family. And he is catholic so he also has a lot of guilt. That always helps.

Are you optimistic regarding the roles that you will be able to get in the future?

I am always optimistic but I don’t necessary have expectations. I do want to be challenged and work as hard as I can.

Fabrizio Zacharee Guido (Demetrio)

How do you feel working with so talented and accomplished actors?

After you spend so much time with the same people It starts to feel like real family. I love the comedy of the whole family and the fact that it is like a real Latino family. It is fun!

Can you contain your excitement for the premiere?

I am always on social media like ‘Watch it. The premiere is October 3!’ and I ask my friends to tell their friends about it.

“Dan Yoder (Mike O’Malley, “Glee,” “My Name Is Earl”) and wife, Caroline (Mary McCormack, “In Plain Sight,” “The West Wing”), think they finally have it made. Their daughter, Molly (Ella Rae Peck, “Deception,” “Gossip Girl”) – not the most diligent of students – has managed to graduate from high school and has been accepted to college. Her proud parents are looking forward to an empty nest and are breathing a heavy sigh of relief.
Across town, Molly’s secret boyfriend, Junior Hernandez (Joey Haro, “Glee,” “Awkward”), is graduating from his high school with top honors and has plans to go to Stanford. Parents Miguel (Ricardo Chavira, “Desperate Housewives”) and Lisette (Justina Machado, “Six Feet Under,” “ER”) are bursting with pride. Everything seems like it is falling into place for them, but unbeknownst to both families, Molly and Junior are about to become parents themselves.
Once the teens break the big news, these two very different families are thrown together, which goes… “