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Joey
Medina Tells It Like It Is If comic Joey Medina ever gets the keys to top star billing in Hollywood, the Bronx native is promising to unlock that door and let all his fellow struggling Latino comics, actors and writers in. "If things go well for me and I do well I'm going to open that door like a concert," Medina said. Along with Alex Reymundo, Medina's friend, former roommate and fellow 'Latin King,' Medina will be in Bakersfield Saturday at the Fox Theater. Despite being part of the successful "The Original Latin Kings of Comedy Tour," which featured Medina and Reymundo, along with George Lopez, Cheech Marin and Paul Rodriguez, Medina is still hungry for success. He's made his own films, he's even getting his own SiTV show. But Medina is still wanting, still not satisfied, still craving the entertainment industry power that has so far eluded him. And for those who are in power, including Medina's own fellow 'Latin King' TV sitcom star George Lopez, he has some tough words. "Look at 'Kings of Comedy,'" Medina said, talking about the original "Kings" tour which featured African-American comics Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, DL Hughley and Bernie Mac and was made into a film by Spike Lee. "Every one has a sitcom. 'Latin Kings of Comedy,' the only one who has a sitcom is George and there's no Latin comics on his show." Medina said he was frustrated by what he felt was a "crabs in a bucket" mentality pervasive among some Latinos who make it to the top and forget to reach back. Medina said he wished more Latinos would think like African-Americans when it comes to supporting entertainers and artists. "We're supposed to be the majority minority," Medina said. "We're so way behind. African-Americans have done so well and they're so way ahead. Latin people who could make a difference, they close their doors." Medina pointed out to how mainstream Latino films are few and far between, using the lukewarm response to movies like last year's "Chasing Papi" as an example. While he feels that many Latinos are happy to spend their money on rap music, buy clothes from African-American designer labels like Fubu and to go see so-called "urban" films (made by blacks but also marketed to Latinos), he said some Latinos are less than supportive when it comes to similar products pushed by Latino artists. "Latinos, we do that at the theater, why can't we do in show business?" he said. "We buy one ticket, open the back door and let everybody in, why can't we do that in show business?" Medina said this is further compounded by Latinos in the industry who see other comics and actors as their competition, rather than someone they could help support. "In any black movie there's a lot of talent," Medina said. "If you see one comedian, you see five comedians. See one singer, you see five singers. Five comedians, that's five potential other movies stars that African-Americans can have." As for Medina's feelings toward Lopez and his hit ABC show, he said he is happy for him, but wishes the comedic actor would reach out to other Latino entertainers more. "I think he's wonderful human being," Medina said. "I just wish he saw things differently. If I had a show, I'd have every Latin comic I could find on it. That's the way it should be done." As one of the two of the lesser-known comedians in the Kings tour, Medina said he wants to prove that there was a reason he was chosen to be there. "Now you've got to be really funny," Medina said. "If I get up there and if I'm (doing poorly), people would be like, 'Man, that guy's no Latin king.'" So Medina's out to prove a lot of things. That he deserves his crown he shared with Reymundo, Lopez, Marin and Rodriguez. That he has the talent to make it in the industry. That he should get a shot at that same power others have had in the past. "If you're not in a power position its not going to matter," Medina said. "My goal is to be in a power position. To have same ability George Lopez has. Right now he's the king. He's the guy who's doing his thing and I'm glad he is. "He's
the lord of the ring, I just want the ring now." Copyright © 2004, The Bakersfield Californian © Copyright 2002-2004 LatinoStandup.com |
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