The NCLR ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards is the largest Latino
awards show of its kind, promoting fair, accurate and balanced
portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry. The star-studded
event, hosted by Eva Longoria-Parker and George Lopez and presented by
PepsiCo, included performances by Shakira, David Archuleta, Pitbull,
Nelly Furtado and Sean Kingston. Presenters included Edward James
Olmos, Rita Moreno, Roselyn Sanchez, and Kat Von D, among others, and
special honors were presented to actor/producer Salma Hayek,
boxer/philanthropist Oscar de la Hoya, and Raul Yzaguirre.
Other special achievement awardees for "Nothing Like
the Holidays" included the film's director Alfredo de Villa and actor
John Leguizamo. The feel-good dramatic/comedic holiday film, which was
released nationally last December, is due out on DVD October 27, 2009.
Najera, a seasoned comedy writer (MADtv, In Living
Color), is one of the most sought after comedic talents in the industry
and one of the most powerful voices in the Latino world today,
recognized twice by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the "100 Most
Influential Latinos in America". Najera is the writer and creator of
Latinologues, the longest running and only showcase of its kind for
Latinos in America that made its Broadway debut in 2005 and in 2009
celebrates its 15th year of production.
Previous awards for Najera include two Writers Guild of
America award nominations for "Outstanding Script for a Comedy/Variety
Series," an ALMA Award nomination for "Best Writing in a Television
Series," an Imagen Award for Latinologues for "Best Live Theatrical
Production" and a 2009 Imagen Award nomination for his new one-man
show, DADDY DIARIES: Diary of a Dad Man.
Najera's upcoming performances include Latinologues at
Covina Center for the Performing Arts October 16, 17, 18, Covina, CA
and DADDY DIARIES at Rialto Center for the Arts - Georgia State
University, Atlanta, GA on October 22.
For more information on the ALMA Award, visit
http://www.almaawards.com. For more information on Rick Najera, visit http://www.ricknajera.com.