Devious Maids, a new Lifetime series created by Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry and former Housewives star Eva Longoria, centers around a group of Latina maids working in Beverly Hills. Even before it premiered last night, the show had its fair share of critics bemoaning the fact that, in their opinion, this is simply more of the same from Hollywood. They argue that TV and film overwhelmingly portray Latinas as either maids or as spicy and hyper-sexualized. They insist that Latinas, when they are present, remain predominantly two dimensional in mainstream media.
Many, however, defend the show's Latina cast and underscore the fact that on the program the Latinas are portrayed as BOTH maids and overtly sexual, something rather groundbreaking. A source close to the production said, "It's no longer either/or for Latinas in Hollywood. Young Latinas growing up can now dream of playing a sexy maid. Just a few years ago you could be a maid or you could be sexy, but you could not be both."
Riding the popularity of the show, this fall NBC will air Treacherous Dishwashers -- a Devious Maids spinoff. The show will center around a band of drunk, lazy undocumented Latino dishwashers in a Beverly Hills restaurant who plot and scheme to exploit American social programs. Again, the creators hope to shatter preconceived stereotypes about Latinos in that the dishwashers will be shiftless and lazy but will also be undeniable Latin lovers.
Your handsome and humble servant --
El Guapo
NOTE: This piece is satirical. All quotations are fabrications for the purpose of satire.
El Guapo writes The Daily Refried, and is, without question, the foremost authority on all things sinvergüenza. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter @TheDailyRefried.