Eva Longoria On Her New Show 'Devious Maids: 'Most Of The Latino Community Is Proud' (VIDEO)

While most primetime TV shows don't even have one Latina star, the new pilot "Devious Maids," which is headed to ABC this fall, has four: Ana Ortiz ("Ugly Betty"), Roselyn Sanchez ("Without A Trace"), Dania Ramirez ("Heroes"), and Judy Reyes ("Scrubs").

The show, which is being produced by "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry, also has something that no show has had since Salma Hayek began producing "Ugly Betty" on ABC in 2006: a Latina A-lister (Eva Longoria) as a co-producer!

Yet despite the fact that all of these proven and talented Latina actresses are starring on the new show, there are some bloggers who feel that the premise of the show—about four maids with big dreams who work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills—will reinforce the stereotype that has long plagued Latina actresses in Hollywood: that they can only play "the help" on TV.

LatinoVoices caught up with Eva Longoria to talk about the debate surrounding 'Devious Maids'. The Mexican actress—who is constantly working to get Latinos on TV, particularly in her work as a producer of The Alma Awards—talked about why the Latino community should be proud of the show, and why she doesn't see it as a bad thing that four Latinas are playing maids.

CHECK OUT THIS SLIDESHOW ON EVA LONGORIA"S CAREER RETROSPECTIVE

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• Her First Job Was At Wendy's

  Longoria <a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/news/eva-keeps-in-touch-with-wendys-staff_1077508" target="_hplink">told Latina Magazine</a> about her teen years working at the fast food restaurant: "I loved it. And I still love them. They are an amazing organization. I still keep in touch with my manager from when I was 14. They are just great to me. I wanted to have a <em>quinceanera</em>, so I went to Wendy's to work to pay for my own <em>quinceanera</em>. I stayed. I paid for my cheerleading and everything through that. It was like whatever you want to do outside of school, you have to pay for it. I never had a car because I was always trying to save."

• She Was A Struggling Soap Opera Actress

  Before she made it big with "Desperate Housewives," Longoria was on the daytime soap, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/eva_longoria/0,,,00.html" target="_hplink">The Young and the Restless for two years and says</a>, "It was, like, almost minimum wage. But I had a great time on it, and it obviously led me to better things." She also played bit parts on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/10-fun-facts-about-eva-longoria_n_1343308.html" target="_hplink">General Hospital and Beverly Hills 90210.</a>

• She Stole The Show On "Desperate Housewives"

  When "Desperate Housewives" premiered on the alphabet network (ABC) in 2004, the show had four stars: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria. Even though Eva was the least well-known of the group, her character Gabrielle Solis -- a materialistic former model turned housewife -- was easily the character most beloved by fans. DH fans loved the season 1 story line in which Eva's character Gaby has an affair with her hot young gardener John Rowland (Jesse Metcalfe). Her performance on the show turned Eva into an overnight star and a household name.

• Team Obama

  Longoria is one of seven Latinos who were appointed as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/eva-longoria-msnbc-latino-vote_n_1364634.html" target="_hplink">co-chairs </a>for Obama for America. As co-chair, Longoria will represent Hispanic and women's issues. "There is an attack on women's health care and President Obama's policies are the only ones that are going to move the agenda for women's rights," Longoria <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/eva-longoria-msnbc-latino-vote_n_1364634.html" target="_hplink">said</a>.

• L'Oréal Spokesperson

  Eva Longoria became a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjlzP4rbXw" target="_hplink">spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris</a> in 2005 and was featured in L'Oréal TV commercials and print ads until 2010.

• Restaurant Owner

  Eva Longoria opened the restaurant Beso ( "Kiss") on Hollywood Boulevard, <a href="http://besohollywood.com/" target="_hplink">along with partner and celebrity chef Todd English,</a> in March 2008. The menu offers <a href="http://besohollywood.com/" target="_hplink">a Latin approach to a classic Steakhouse. </a>

• Activist And Movie Producer

  Longoria is the producer of <a href="http://theharvestfilm.com/" target="_hplink">"The Harvest/La Cosecha: The Children Who Feed America,"</a>, a documentary about the more than 400,000 children in the United States who are torn from their schools and homes to work as migrant workers with their families, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/17/eva-longoria-on-producing-new-documentary-the-harvest-la-cosecha_n_1016377.html" target="_hplink">according to HuffPost.</a>

• Devious Maids

  Eva Longoria is the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/eva-longoria-joins-devious-maids_n_1380988.html?ref=mostpopular" target="_hplink">latest Latina to join ABC's new fall pilot, "Devious Maids"</a>. After working with Marc Cherry for seven seasons on the hit ABC dramedy "Desperate Housewives," the actress will continue working with the producer on the new ABC pilot as a co-executive producer.

Comments

[Tim Maspero]

07:16 PM on 05/14/2012

It seems interesting but it just seems like they are doing Desperate Housewives all over again. Four Female leads who are all "Desperate" maids wanting more in their life.

[mira chancleta]

08:30 AM on 04/16/2012

Wow!
What next Oprah and Whoopie Goldberg making a series on the humor in the lives of black crack ho's?
This woman has no verguenza!

[kemarie21]

12:07 AM on 04/17/2012

You really comparing druggies to to maids?

[kemarie21]

10:36 PM on 04/15/2012

I'm hispanic and I don't see anything wrong with it. I think that this will probably be a funny show.

[hace7]

03:20 PM on 04/13/2012

Longoria is not a middle class Hispanic, if she ever was poor or middle class she forgot about it. She will make money off this sitcom while perpetuating a stereotype. She is a self-hating Hispanic. We dont need more caricatures of Hispanics on television.

[gunkle]

07:37 AM on 04/13/2012

All stereotypes are based on truth. Every single one. Get over it.

[mira chancleta]

09:12 PM on 04/13/2012

yes, there are Hispanic-cultured maids in the US, but there are also Russian, Eastern European and Filipino ones...where is their "truth"?

[fredimessina]

08:03 PM on 04/12/2012

I frankly don't see the big deal. It's pretty clear that the four leads are the maids. And Ana Ortiz is an amazing actress. Why not wait and watch instead of forming opinions based on spec?

[mira chancleta]

09:15 PM on 04/13/2012

No thanks...I'll let you endorse the maid stereo-types,since you obviously see nothing negative, counter-productive or degrading about them...be sure to call out for Pizza Hut's "authentic" Mexican Pizza too.

[kemarie21]

10:37 PM on 04/15/2012

What is wrong with it? People are just judging the show before it even hits the tv. Chill relax not all hispanics are maids. People know that.

[kemarie21]

12:08 AM on 04/17/2012

Someone is a little prejudice?

[AiSaiko5]

05:23 PM on 04/11/2012

I'm a huge Longoria fan so I'm reserving judgement until I see the pilot. However, I'm not holding out much hope of success. I am loving the cast so far. Yet, I am not thrilled with the idea of another depiction of Latinas as maids. Nothing against domestic workers, but its been done. There are other ways to show the struggle to succeed. However, I am more concerned about how the women will be depicted as they try to "over come" their situation. Try to keep it classy ABC.

[Christy Martinez-Garcia]

03:29 PM on 04/11/2012

Marc Cherry produces great shows. And I've always admired Eva for breaking that type cast and being a middle class Latina accepted on a TV show like Desperate Housewives.
For that reason, I too am concerend that the premise of the show WILL reinforce the stereotype that many of us are constantly faced within our own communities.
Upon a diversity training that I provide to police officers, I asked them to complete a survey that included a section on perception. Many of them responded on their perception of Latina women as "great cooks" and "great housekeepers" - I was shocked.
But that is the image that many of us fight to overcome daily.
Why can't we be college students striving for success' or women in the media, or as police officers, or as doctors? I will watch to support in hopes that it will be sustained, but the thought will be a constant concern.
Thanks,
Made for Success, and not Maid for TV Stereotypyes

[valgonza08]

05:16 PM on 04/11/2012

well said.

[Scott-Michael Anderson]

11:58 PM on 04/11/2012

Oh girl! You are just asking for a Marc Cherry slap and one of his all-out hissy fits!

[valgonza08]

10:58 AM on 04/11/2012

I'm Latina and would rather see show with Latinas that are not maids..........What about the Latino Teachers, lawyers or Supreme Court Judges (Sonia Sotomayor for example. Why is it that when we seem to take 2 steps forward someone ruins it for us and pushes us 4 steps back.

Just a thought.

[mrh85]

10:38 AM on 04/13/2012

Couldn't agree more. I think it is much more inspiring for young Latinas to see women who are not just maids, because there shouldn't be shame in that, but Latinas who have had success in other professions. We should be giving them something higher to aspire to.

[edejan]

02:42 PM on 04/13/2012

I agree. F and F. Many of us are still in those low-paying, low-status jobs. We know we have ambitions. Show us role models who have achieved those goals.

[subversive86]

09:54 AM on 04/11/2012

The show will likely be moronic garbage, which will make it no difference from most of the caucasian filled shows that comprise the other 99.8% of primetime television. So, I see no reason that she should have to defend the show against these pilot fish, who have nothing outside of putting the names of famous persons in a post, to draw attention to themselves.

[weneedmoreflowers]

10:38 PM on 04/10/2012

Sounds like a stupid show though I'm sure a certain segment of society will find it entertaining.

[serdelp]

12:34 PM on 04/13/2012

It seems, thank God not all, that some Latins don't care how other Latins are being portrayed on TV. As long as they see themselves on the tube, they are happy, never mind that these "characters" are being portrayed as stereo types. Haven't we progressed beyond the "service rolls" Hollywood always seems to place us in? Why must Latins/Hispanics be depicted as servants? Are we an entire group of people forever destined to play the roll of toilet cleaners, nannies, dishwashers, maids and gardeners; forgetting that we're much more then that? While all of these are honest decent jobs, it is not the only jobs we are capable of doing. Here would have been a perfect opportunity to place Latins as professionals and yet they rather go for the laughs making us buffoons and placing us into menial jobs once again. Hollywood loves to continue showing what some Americans all think we are....their servants, cleaning up after them!

[mira chancleta]

09:24 PM on 04/13/2012

we said...but as you can see here in some of the posts...there is no shortage of ethno-apologists who unplug their brains if one of "their own" does it or endorses it, "it" must be right and therefore in need of being defended regardless of how irrational, illogical and indefensible the action is...

[kemarie21]

10:47 PM on 04/15/2012

Bitter much? First off you haven't seen it or probably read the script so stop being so off on this show. There are plenty of hispanic women playing other types of jobs. Here's the thing if you have such a problem with it, it simply shows you have a problem with maids. What are they lower then you? Have you ever though that there are maids that are hispanic that love their jobs?

[debbydrutz]

09:55 PM on 04/10/2012

Beauty and brains.

[RobietheCat]

02:21 PM on 04/11/2012

Right, devious maids.......hmm.

So why didn't she cast Nicky Santillan as one of the maids?

Or doesn't an attempt at extortion of a political candidate count as devious?

[serdelp]

03:50 PM on 04/13/2012

Really, is that all you see and not the fact that she is exploiting her own kind by perpetuating this tired stereotypical character that Latina actresses never seem to be able to shed? Oh, and making millions for it!

[jbeachboy32]

05:56 PM on 04/10/2012

what exactly is the fascination and obsession with people for eva longoria? please explain if you can the appeal, thank you

[edejan]

02:47 PM on 04/13/2012

She's beautiful and smart. And she's proud of her heritage and takes it to the public forum for all of us who identify with her.

[serdelp]

09:20 AM on 04/14/2012

Proud of her heritage, is that what you think? How about exploiting her own people by continuing to show America that Latinas can only be seen as servants. You're right on one thing, she does have a forum, unfortunately this is the way she uses it. Is this the best she can come up with, portraying Latinas in the traditional roll of a maid that Hollywood has been using for decades? If that's what you consider "Pride", I suggest you look up the definition of this word in the dictionary.

[jbeachboy32]

09:53 AM on 04/14/2012

are you female? thanks for your opinion, i guess im not really seeing the appeal and love with her

[FuriaRoja]

05:03 PM on 04/10/2012

I respect Eva, but it sounds like they were desperate for employment and this was the only gig white people would fund. Sad.

[Deranged loner]

08:41 PM on 04/12/2012

Cant you fund things yourselves ?
Asians whites, especially jewish ones are at the top of the best universities and latinos get in with laughably low SATs and graduate with much lower average GPAs . You can't handle the truth. If your SATs were low, blame bad genes , not your high school . Jewish holocast survivors came here with no monry or education and did very well for the most part . Asians from inner city schools get into Stanford without needing affirmative action . I got excellent grades at one of the best colleges in the world after a public school high school education .

[RhymeAndReason]

03:04 PM on 04/13/2012

I feel sorry for you—wonder what your story is, maybe the online name you picked for yourself is actually accurate. If you have everything going for you that you say, why so angry? Why are you still fighting the battle—I mean it's not changing anything. Go in peace.

[serdelp]

04:12 PM on 04/13/2012

You're greatly exaggerating the truth just to make a point. Latinos do not get into good colleges with low SAT's, where did you get that incorrect information...fox news? Affirmative action goes so far, they don't let you into a prestigious college just because of the color of your skin or your ethnic background, if your grades are low you're not getting in. You have to have good grades just like anyone one else. The advantage to affirmative action is that if you are a minority, like an African American, you stand a better chance of getting into a college over others, but you still need good grades. Right or wrong, that's up to the individual to decide. To ignorantly and may I add bigoted, come on this board and say that Latins are getting into college with low SAT's is blatantly false and shows pure racism by making that statement. Please don't come on these boards and spew your bigoted remarks about millions of different people from 21 different countries you know nothing about!

[FuriaRoja]

04:57 PM on 04/10/2012

Horrible.

[blueknight41]

09:42 AM on 04/11/2012

so is celebrity apprentice but its still on the air

[mira chancleta]

09:29 PM on 04/13/2012

yeah, cause the stereo-type of a bloated white ego-maniac with an addiction to younger, white blonde women, who also uses his power to dictate and destroy the lives of all others under him doesn't really happen in the American corporate cesspool...