Selena Gómez, Ricardo Montalbán (here with Esther Williams in the 1948 film “On an Island With You” ) and Lauren Vélez were were recognized at the 2009 Alma Awards ceremony

As an update to my previous post, here are my impressions of the Alma Awards. First, it was not live.  While I found this annoying in a way I loved how it shaved off show time. Usually award shows like this go on for way too long. This one was packed into two hours of nonstop acceptance speeches, video montages, and performances. The best performance was by a young singer called David Archuleta who I had never heard of before but since the tweens on Twitter were going crazy for him I looked him up and turns out he was last year’s American Idol finalist. He sang a timeless love song in español (Contigo en la Distancia- Together Across the Distance) effortlessly. Kudos to David! Shakira gave a disappointing overly sexual performace of She-Wolf. Shakira, you don’t need to do that, honey. Your talent transcends any body gyrations you can make onstage. Nelly Furtado sang Manos al aire (Hands Up) from her first album in Spanish (and I loved it). I think the only thing I really disliked about the Alma Awards was George Lopez’s sense of humor- repeatedly putting down your own people to get laughs really isn’t the best thing to do at a show that intends to transcend stereotypes. Lopez’s comments made me uncomfortable during the whole show. At least Eva Longoria was classy.

They didn’t present any winners to the “Year Behind the Scenes” category, so check the link below for the full list of Alma winners in case it was a separate ceremony. (It wasn’t up when I wrote this.) Here are some genre highlights from the awards ceremony:

• Edward James Olmos presented a special sports award to boxer Oscar de la Hoya for his boxing and philanthropy work. We all know Admiral Adama likes boxing, so he was a fitting presenter for this particular award. Before presenting it, Olmos blessed the audience and I swear was *this* close to saying “So Say We All!” Maybe not- but I like to think he wanted to!
• The gorgeous Salma Hayek, who has been in several genre films, was very gracious with her long time fans and dedicated her Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence to them. Thanks Salma!
  
• When Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place) accepted her best comedy actress award she said that there were many other nominated actresses more talented than she is. Perhaps, but this girl definitely has the potential of greatness and the fact that her show focuses on a Latino-heritage family makes it a win for families who watch Disney TV. Latino kids can watch other kids like them on TV, and other ethnicities can enjoy some Disney bubblegum with a Latino flavor. That’s inspiration right there.
  
• Rita Moreno presented a special recognition of Ricardo Montalbán and his work helping other Latino actors in the industry. They had a great video montage, and his role as Khan was singled out! I had no idea how hot he was when he was young and starting out. Wow.
• Dexter’s Lauren Velez won best TV drama actress. When she got up to accept her award I did a double take because there were TWO of her! Not really; it was her twin sister. Sweet of them to be together like that.

From one boxer to another

I don’t think the Alma Awards are very accurate in actually giving out awards; I suspect they are more image awards than performance awards, and they don’t like to repeat winners. It makes sense in a way because the Alma Awards is a concept created by the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. In the end, I suspect the award statuettes are an excuse to get together and celebrate Latinos in the business in one big fiesta. I’m OK with that to an extent, because awards might end up going to the same batch of excellent actors year after year, and that would get old fast. What we need then are more Latinos in the industry. When we become commonplace, award shows like this will become redundant.

Winners announced on the actual show were (full list here):

• TVACTOR, COMEDY: Oscar Nunez, The Office
• TVACTRESS, COMEDY: Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place
• TV ACTOR, DRAMA: Benjamin Bratt, The Cleaner, A&E
• TV ACTRESS, DRAMA: Lauren Vélez, Dexter, SHO
• ACTOR, FILM: John Leguizamo, Nothing Like the Holidays
• ACTRESS, FILM: Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

This Friday, September 18^th, I’m checking out the Alma Awards show! It’s Latino Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars all rolled into one. I admit I am an Alma Awards virgin, but this year it looks like several of my favorite genre peeps will be on the show as presenters or nominees (or both!). Here’s a list of the nominees for 2009.  I’ve highlighted genre shows or film. There are other categories like sports and music, but… yeah. You can see the full list at the Alma Awards website, along with the 2008 winners list to give you an idea of the categories that the Alma Awards focuses on. There will also be a tribute to Ricardo Montalban, presented by Rita Moreno. “Alma” means “soul” or “spirit” by the way.

I don’t want to make predictions because I don’t have a firm grasp on how the show votes BUT I can say who I’m rooting for!

TVACTOR, COMEDY

• I’m rooting for: James Roday, Psych, USA (OK, not really genre but the show’s too geeky to miss)
• Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men, CBS
• Demián Bichir, Weeds, SHO
• George Lopez, Mr. Troop Mom, NICK
• Horatio Sanz, In The Motherhood, ABC
• Jake T. Austin, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL
• Love> Joshua Gomez, Chuck, NBC
• Mark Indelicato, Ugly Betty, ABC
• Oscar Nunez, The Office, NBC
• Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Desperate Housewives, ABC
• Tony Plana, Ugly Betty, ABC

TVACTRESS, COMEDY

• I’m rooting for, but she won last year: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC
• Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty, ABC
• Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives, ABC
• Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Entourage, HBO
• Jessica Alba, The Office, NBC
• Joanna Garcia, Privileged, CW
• Judy Reyes, Scrubs, ABC
• >> Miss you, Reaper! Lupe Ontiveros, Reaper, CW
• Maria Canals-Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL
• Nadine Velazquez, My Name Is Earl, NBC
• Rosie Perez, Lipstick Jungle, NBC
• Salma Hayek, 30 Rock, NBC
• Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL

TV ACTOR, DRAMA

• Rooting for: Nestor Carbonell, Lost, ABC
• Rooting for, but won last year: Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica, SYFY
• >> LOVE. But won last year: Jorge Garcia, Lost, ABC
• Adam Rodriguez, CSI Miami, CBS
• Amaury Nolasco, Prison Break, FOX
• Benito Martinez, The Shield, FX
• Benjamin Bratt, The Cleaner, A&E
• Cristian de la Fuente, In Plain Sight, USA
• Danny Pino, Cold Case, CBS
• Enrique Murciano, Without a Trace, CBS
• Esai Morales, Jericho, CBS
• Jimmy Smits, Dexter, SHO
• Miguel Sandoval, Medium, NBC/CBS
• David Zayas, Dexter, SHO
• Carlos Bernard, 24, FOX

TV ACTRESS, DRAMA

• Rooting for: Lauren Vélez, Dexter, SHO
• Alana De La Garza, Law & Order, NBC
• Cote de Pablo, NCIS, CBS
• HATED the character>> Dania Ramirez, Heroes, NBC
• Eva La Rue, CSI Miami, CBS
• Francia Raisa, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, ABC Family
• Julie Gonzalo, Eli Stone, ABC
• Justina Machado, ER, NBC
• Laura Cerón, ER, NBC
• Michelle Rodriguez, Lost, ABC
• Paola Turbay, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, ABC Family; The Closer, TNT
• Paula Garcés, The Shield, FX
• Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace, CBS
• Sara Ramirez, Grey’s Anatomy, ABC

ACTOR, FILM

• Rooting for: Luis Guzmán, The Taking of Pelham 123
• Alfred Molina, Pink Panther 2
• Cheech Marin, Race To Witch Mountain
• Freddy Rodriguez, Nothing Like the Holidays
• Oscar Nunez, The Proposal
• Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek; Crank:  High Voltage
• Efren Ramirez, Crank:  High Voltage
• Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• Joaquin Phoenix, Two Lovers
• John Leguizamo, Nothing Like the Holidays
• Ramon Rodriguez, Transformers:  Revenge of The Fallen

ACTRESS, FILM

• Rooting LOUDLY for: Zoe Saldana, Star Trek
• Elisabeth Peña, Nothing Like the Holidays
• Sofía Vergara, Madea Goes to Jail
• Cameron Diaz, My Sister’s Keeper
• Eva Mendes, The Spirit, The Women
• Michelle Rodriguez, Fast & Furious
• Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• LOVE>> Rosario Dawson, Seven Pounds

YEAR BEHIND THE SCENES

• Rooting for: Guillermo del Toro, Director, Hellboy 2:  The Golden Army
• David Ortiz, Producer, Hellboy 2:  The Golden Army; Fast & Furious
• Kenny Ortega, Director, HSM3
• Linda Mendoza, Director, various productions, including Jonas; Scrubs
• Natalie Chaidex, Co-Executive Producer, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles
• Peter Murrieta, Writer/Executive Producer, Wizards of Waverly Place
• Rene Echevarria, Executive Producer/Writer, Medium
• Roberto Orci, Writer, Star Trek; Transformers 2; Executive Producer, The Proposal (TV: Fringe)
• Salma Hayek, Executive Producer, Ugly Betty
• Louis J. Horvitz, Director, Awards Specials
• YES.>> Claudio Miranda, Cinematographer, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Oscar Nominee)
• Mike Elizalde, Makeup, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Oscar Nominee)
• Jeanne Van Phue, Makeup, Twilight
• Mary Ann Valdes, Hair Stylist, Twilight; Ugly Betty
• Silvio Horta, Executive Producer/Writer, Ugly Betty
• LOVE>> Edward James Olmos, Director, Battlestar Galactica
• Moctesuma Esparza, Executive Producer/Executive, Independent Films
• Alfredo De Villa, Director, Nothing Like the Holidays
• Rick Najera, Writer, Nothing Like the Holidays