2014: The Year Network TV Became Diversified

You can probably count on two hands the number of shows that have had a Latino lead or Latino cast in an English-speaking show that aired on network television until 2007 when “George Lopez” had its final episode. But now in 2014 alone there are about 12 shows that have a Hispanic leads or co-stars! It’s obvious that we’ve come a long way, and so in celebration of this feat, here are the shows airing in 2014 that feature Latino talent:

JANUARY:

“Every Witch Way” (Nickelodeon) – Teen sitcom, starring Paola Andino with various young Latinos as part of the cast. 

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14-year-old Emma Alonso (Paola Andino) deals with moving to a new town, growing up and falling in love, all while realizing that she’s a witch. The show’s cast also includes: Daniela Nieves as Andi Cruz, Tyler Alvarez as Diego Rueda, Nick Merico as Daniel Miller, Rafael de La Fuente as Julio and Melissa Carcache as Lily.

“Chicago P.D.” (NBC) – Drama spin-off from “Chicago Fire” co-starring Jon Seda.

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District 21 of the Chicago Police Department, the uniformed police patrol and the Intelligence Unit, pursue the city’s worst perpetrators. Seda plays Detective Antonio Dawson.

“Looking” (HBO) – Comedy-drama starring Frankie J. Alvarez.

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Follows the experiences of three gay friends friends living and loving in modern-day San Francisco. Alvarez plays Agustín, an artist’s assistant.

Rake (Fox) – Comedy-drama co-starring John Ortiz.

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Keegan Deane is a criminal defense lawyer who owns money to everyone around him, including his ex-wife, judges, an assistant district attorney, his bookie, a brothel owner, and the IRS. John Ortiz plays Ben Leon, Keegan’s best friend from law school.

FEBRUARY:

“Mixology” (ABC) – Sitcom starring Alexis Carra and Adan Canto.

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The series takes place all over the course of one night at a Manhattan bar called Mix, where five women and five men – all in search of love – meet up for more than just a casual drink. The show’s cast includes: Alexis Carra as Jessica, an aggressive single mom; and Adan Canto as Dominic, a mysterious bartender.

MARCH:

“Saint George” (FX) – Comedy series starring George Lopez and featuring a cast with various Latinos.

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George Lopez – a recently divorced working class Mexican-American who has become a successful entrepreneur – must find balance in a life of clashing cultures with his all-American ex-wife, an overbearing mother, a free-loading uncle, his cousin, his son and work. The show’s cast also includes: Olga Merediz as Alma Lopez (mom), David Zayas as Junior (cousin) and Danny Trejo as Tio Danny.

“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” (El Rey) – Horror-actioner starring Eiza Gonzalez and featuring various young Latinos as part of the cast. 

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Brothers, Seth and Richie Gecko are wanted by the FBI and Texas Ranger Freddie Gonzalez after a bank robbery leaves several people dead. The chase leads them all to a strip club populated by vampires that all must fight until dawn in order to survive. Eiza Gonzalez is the queen Vampire, Santanico Pandemonium; Jesse Garcia is Freddie Gonzalez; and Wilmer Valderrama is Carlos Madrigal, a drug lord.

MAY:

“Gang Related” (Fox) – Crime thriller starring Ramon Rodriguez.

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Ramon Rodriguez stars as Ryan Lopez, a loyal member of his family’s gang Los Angelicos – one of the most prominent in the city – who is sent to join the LAPD to rise through the ranks and become an informant. The show also includes: Jay Hernandez as Daniel Acosta and Emilio Rivera as Tio Gordo.

“Rosemary’s Baby” (NBC) – Miniseries adaptation of best-selling horror novel of the same name starring Zoe Saldana.

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A young married couple who escapes New York and moves to Paris with hopes of leaving their sad past behind. After a series of unfortunate events, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse are presented with an offer they can’t refuse – an apartment at the most prestigious address in the city. Problem is, it comes with a haunted past and an immeasurable price. Saldana stars as Rosemary.

JULY:

“Matador” (El Rey) – Drama-actioner starring Gabriel Luna.

Luna stars as a popular soccer star, Antonio “Matador” Bravo, who unbeknownst to the public and his family, is also a skilled covert operative performing missions for the CIA.

NOVEMBER:

“Cristela” (ABC) – Sitcom starring Cristela Alonzo and featuring a cast of mostly Latinos.

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In her sixth year of law school, Cristela Alonzo (as herself) is finally on the brink of landing her first big (unpaid) internship at a prestigious law firm. The only problem is that her pursuit of success is more ambitious than her traditional Mexican-American family thinks is appropriate. The show also includes: Carlos Ponce as Felix and Terri Hoyos as Natalia.

“Jane The Virgin” (CW) – Comedy Drama starring Gina Rodriguez

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When Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) was a young girl, her grandmother convinced her that women must protect their virginity at all costs. Jane is a driven young woman studying to become a teacher and has a wonderful fiancé who loves her enough to accept her insistence on “saving herself” until they’re married. But Jane’s world is suddenly turned upside down when she goes to see her doctor for a routine check-up and is accidentally artificially inseminated. The show also includes: Ivonne Coll as Alba, Jane’s grandmother; and Andrea Navedo as Xiomara, Jane’s mother.