Finally: Strong Latina Characters Shine in FOX’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

Sep 29, 2013
4:39 PM

Much is being said about FOX’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, and it not surprising that the reviews of the show are fantastic. But what do you expect when you pair the creators of “Parks and Recreation” with talents such Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher?

The show is funny, very funny, but the best part of it all?

Brooklyn Nine-Nine characters Rosa Diaz (l) and Amy Santiago (r)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine characters Rosa Diaz (l) and Amy Santiago (r)

The characters of Rosa Diaz (played by Stephanie Beatriz),

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and Amy Santiago (played by Melissa Fumero).
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Where do we start? They are hilarious, they are tough, they are sassy, and (wait for it) they play detectives. Not maids. Not Charo-like characters. But detectives. We are winning.

Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz), by the way, actually played Sofia Vergara’s sister on a recent episode of “Modern Family.” Remember that mess? This is so so much better. No accents here. Fumero (@melissafumero) is a New Jersey cubana. Just catch the hot sauce bit from the show’s first episode. Enough said.

A Rebelde Kudos to “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” for creating these two (yeah, TWO!) real Latina characters to the show. No condescension. No “hot mamita” stereotypes here. Just real characters on a funny show who happen to be Latina. Yes, it’s that simple, and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” just earned some new fans.

Now we’re talking.

By the way, we guarantee you that someone will tell us that the success of “Devious Maids” is the reason why we are seeing stronger Latina characters on TV. Yeah, right, we are not buying that. You can keep your mediocre maids. We have detectives Diaz and Santiago, and we are already hoping that they get a spinoff.