All language subtitles for Journey.Of.A.Female.Comic.2014.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]ENG

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(upbeat music)

(intense music)

- Our culture confuses
fame with greatness.

I wonder what made
me think that I could

come to Hollywood to
make my dreams come true.

I was born in a
developing country,

raised by a single immigrant
mother in New York City

from very humble beginnings.

But, ever since I can remember

I've always loved
to make people laugh

and I love to entertain.

Sometimes, the
rejections get to me.

The disappointments,
ah, are so often

and I just feel like giving up.

I look in the mirror and I
just wanna throw in the towel.

And I get this
gut-wrenching pain

and I can't decide
what is more painful

giving up or die trying.

Those people that know
me would never believe

that behind this hot body, baby,

there's a whole bunch
of fear, abandonment

and self-confidence issues.

And I hear dead people too.

(Latin music)

For years, I have documented
my travels through Hollywood,

where they're always
looking for Latinos,

but they can't seem to
find us among the millions.

Documented and undocumented.

Through all these
experiences I have learned

that you cannot have
immeasurable success

without a great deal of failure.

This is my journey,
all true, all real

from the heart.

And if you have a dream,
this is your journey too.

(Latin music)

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] Kiki moved from
New York City to Los Angeles

to pursue her dreams.

And in just three short
years, she had made

her biggest one come true

or at least she thought she did.

- Kiki, it's your lucky day.

The network approved
our new talk show.

- And we want you as our host.

- You, Kiki Melendez,
this is huge.

This is Jay Leno,
this is Oprah Winfrey.

This is.
- Ellen.

- Ellen, this is like amazing.

This is major.

- This is national, okay.

This is worldwide, baby.
- Yes.

- Oh please.
- What?

- We mean this, this is
really happening, Kiki.

- Listen guys, I
don't mean to be rude,

but every time I have one
of these network meetings

it's the same thing, we're
gonna make you a star.

We're gonna give
you your own show.

It's gonna be huge.

Blah blah blah blah blah.

- Okay Kiki, what do we have
to do to prove it to you?

- You know what,
put it in writing.

(clock ticking loudly)

- Okay, go.
- Okay, let's do it.

- There ya go.

(pipe organ tone)

- Okay great, so what's next.

- What's next is that we
start the business affairs.

So, you're gonna have
to get us in contact

with your lawyer and next week

we'll start picking
out your furniture

and building the
set for your pilot.

- We gotta start right away.

- They want your show now.

- Yeah.
- Yeah, they want it.

- Let's do this.

- Okay then, I'll
see you next week.

- Okay.
- Yes.

- Awesome.

This is awesome.

- Oh my god, oh my god,
I got a network deal.

I gotta call somebody,
I gotta call somebody.

Okay, I'll call my mother.

No, no, no. (speaking Spanish)

I'll call my assistant.

Wait, I don't have one.

I know, my best friend.

No, that bitch is
gonna be jealous.

Oh my god, I gotta
call somebody.

(phone ringing)

David, David, hello David.

Oh my god, you're not gonna
believe what happened.

I got a network deal, yes.

This is what it says, ahh.

(breathing heavily)

- [Man On Phone] Well it's
about time she has her own show,

don't you think?

(running footsteps)

Hello?

Hello, you there?

Hello?

(little boy laughing)

- Give me the letter,
give me the letter.

Give me, give it to me.

Give me the letter,
give it to me.

- It's mine, it's mine.
- Give it to me.

(knocking)

- Hi.

- Oh my god.
- How are you?

- Terrible, oh terrible.
- You tell these idiots

that are pulling all
of my projects, yes,

and they can shove
it up their asses.

- Wait
- That's right.

- I'm so sorry I'm late.

I was running through
traffic, you have no idea,

but I spoke to a
whole bunch of celebs

and they're willing
to do the pilot.

I wanna discuss it with you
and tell you all about it.

What's going on?

- We are done with
this network, done.

- Why?

- We got fired.
- We got fired.

- Oh my god, what?

What does this mean?

- It's kaput, Kiki, it's over.

You know what, do you
know what I'm going to do?

I'm gonna move to the
South and I'm gonna get

some peace and quiet
and I'm gonna get

the hell out of Hollywood.

- Tim, you're a New York Jew.

You'll die of boredom there.

- Oh my god, I'm desperate,
I don't know what to do.

(crying)

- What's gonna happen to me?

What's gonna happen to my show?

Who's gonna take over my show?

- We'll do lunch, but right now

we gotta get the
hell outta here.

(busy tone on phone)

- The phone's are cut off.

You know what that means.

They're gonna call security.

- [Tim] They cut us.

- No, I will not be humiliated.

- [Kiki] What, what happened?

- No, that's mine.

- Oh my god, we're outta here.

(Kiki sighing)

(xylophone music)

(birds chirping)

(snoring)

- What the hell
happened to my career?

(static buzzing)

♪ My name is Kiki

♪ Si, Senior

(singing in Spanish)

♪ You go girl.

(singing in Spanish)

♪ I want you all to lose control

- It's rice and beans
mi amour, your favorite.

- [Robert] Kiki Melendez,
actress, writer, comedian.

And one of the few Latina
producers in Hollywood.

CEO of Latin Hollywood Films

with a track record
of successful shows

in both the English
and Spanish markets.

(camera clicking)

Super Woman has nothing on Kiki.

She's also a housewife
and the mother of twins.

- Kiki Melendez is ballsy.

- She's a force of nature
to be reckoned with.

- Shy? (speaking Spanish)

- She's just this
ball of energy.

- You hear like a little,
ahh, (clapping) there's Kiki.

- Kiki like Oprah
Winfrey and Roseanne Barr

and Brett Butler
all mixed in one.

- Just when I thought I was free

Kiki drags me back in
to a stand-up routine.

- She's like too much,
you know what I'm saying?

She has to tone it down.

- She's a very
unique individual.

She doesn't stop.

I mean, she keeps on
the phone with you

until she gets what she wants.

- I think we're very similar.

We've become
producers, you know,

we've become actresses.

We've become co-hosts.

- There goes Kiki trying to
get all the attention again.

This is my dog Kiki.

She's not named after the Kiki,

but, you know, we'll
just say that she is

for the purpose of
this documentary.

This Kiki is a lot
quieter. (laughing)

- Kiki is such a loyal friend.

Let me put it this way,
if you have a dead body

in the back of your trunk
and you need to bury it

in the middle of
desert, call Kiki.

Because she actually knows
somebody that knows somebody

that has a cousin that
actually knows a guy

that actually buries
bodies in the desert.

Actually, I have his number.

- Kiki is like the Japanese.

The Japanese have no word for no

'cause they think it's impolite.

They just have degrees of yes.

When a Japanese
person tells you,

it's not likely, they mean no.

With Kiki, it's not likely
means, oh yeah, Tuesday.

We're gonna do that Tuesday.

- In this town it's not,
do you know Kiki Melendez?

No, it's, who doesn't
know Kiki Melendez?

She knows so many
people in Hollywood

she should be huge by now.

But, you know as they say,
it's not who you know,

it's who you.
- [Man] Blow.

Time for your blow, Bel.

(hair dryer blowing)

- As part of my job being
a Hollywood designer

I get to work with some
really great people

that want to wear my
jewelry, my handbags,

my clothing and accessories.

It's fantastic to work
with all the A-list stars

and then there's Kiki.

She wants everything for free.

- Come on Charlie, please.
- Give it back.

- Come on.
- Give it back.

- I need it for this premier.
- Kiki, give it back.

- I have to, please.

- I met Kiki at Mario
Lopez's birthday in 2007.

She was like, hi, I have
an HBO show and it's comedy

and I would love
for you to host.

I think you're amazing,
blah-blah-blah-blah.

I'm like, who is this woman?

Where did she come from?

What show am I hosting?

Because I'm sure
I'm gonna host it.

Like, what's going on?

Within 30 minutes,
I had agreed to do

this little spot in Vegas.

- I've seen Kiki around
at events, you know,

and she always had
something in production.

- You said, "I have a script
I'd like to interest you in."

And I said, sure, you
know, send it to me.

And then you said, "No,
I have it right here."

And I think it
was in your purse.

So I mean, the
woman was prepared.

I loved the script.

I read it and then there
was a moment there.

And the reason it
interested me is because

it was out of the
realm of the maid

and other stereotype
roles that I've done.

But this lady was, you
know, the script was good.

And I said, you know what, Kiki?

I have an idea, why don't you
send this to Martin Sheen.

Little did I know that
I did have a friend

who drove FedEx.

And I said, do you know
where Martin Sheen lives?

And she said, "Sure do."

I said, (speaking
Spanish) Martin Sheen.

And there she goes and she
delivered to Martin Sheen.

And he tells us, he tells
you, that he's interested

in doing the film.

And this fool here,
like everything else,

we open our mouth before
we know what we're doing.

She said, "I don't know
what to do with it."

Oh, my god, as we know
the scripts still there

on the table.

- The way I met Kiki Melendez
was through Lupe Ontiveros,

who introduced us and we had met

and I did her program then.

Well, she was actually
the pilot for her program,

"Kiki in Hollywood"
and ended up helping.

And you know, just going on
camera and she interviewed me.

- I met Kiki, I was
producing a show

called "Latinologues"
with Rick Najera

which ran nine months at
the Improv in Hollywood.

And I remember this woman
coming in, you know,

like a tornado and
she's like, Rick,

I have this wonderful actress.

This young actress,
she's here from Texas.

Her name is Eva Longoria
and she's gonna be a star.

And you gotta put
her in your show.

And nobody said no to Kiki
'cause it was like alright,

well, okay, I guess she's
gonna be in the show.

(sound of car speeding past)

(clock ticking)

- [Robert] 9:00 a.m.,
she cleans the house

and does the laundry.

- Hello, yes Latin
Hollywood Films.

Oh yeah, sure.
- [Robert] 10:00 a.m.

back-to-back business calls.

- Yes, this is
Kiki, how are you?

(children crying)

- Okay, yes, just tell
me when you wanna meet.

I have my schedule.

I know, I know you can hear
them, but they're fine.

No, no, no, don't hang up.

Oh my god, it only
took me a month

to get the network on the phone.

- [Robert] We never said
she was a perfect mother,

but she definitely
gives it her best shot.

- Who's my Dominican
little twin?

- Meeee.

- Who's my Scottish little twin?

- Meeee.

- [Robert] 11:00 a.m. arguments
with husband over money.

- I just wanna get one more
project off the ground.

I just need a couple
of grand to finish it.

That's all I'm asking
you for, please.

- [Robert] Her husband, who
would not sign the release

and so therefore, we cannot
have him appear on camera,

shares his views
on life with Kiki.

- You know it's really hard
to start your own company.

- Well, if you wanna
continue with your company

we can't afford to
live here anymore.

We're gonna have to
move somewhere cheaper.

- Move from L.A.?

Where would you take me?

Where would we move?

Where could we possibly move?

- Let's move to
Texas where I work.

- Texas? Are you serious?

- You promised me that
if this didn't work.

- I never promised I
would move to Texas.

There's too many
republicans there.

- [Robert] 12
noon, pitch meeting

with Cindy Cowan Entertainment
to make her feature film.

- Who's attached?

Just tell me who's attached.

- Well, I'm attached.

- Yeah but, real stars.

I just need an
A-list star attached

and then I can help you.

- I'm not A-list?
- I'm sorry.

- Somebody shoulda told me.

- You just, you're not.

- I went to a few stars, like
big names, A-listers okay?

And when I talk to
them they're like,

okay do you have the money?

- For me to get the
money, you need the stars.

- But I can't get the
star without the money.

- But I can't give you the
money unless you have the star.

- [Crows Voiceover] Aww.

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] 2:00 p.m.,
pick up Contraband hats

for auction items at
her non-profit gala.

4:00 p.m., go to her
charity, The Joy Foundation,

to plan event.

- And people are excited
that you're gonna come

because you're the spokesperson
for Jewels of Youth

and they're very very excited.

- I really love doing
it, so no worries.

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] 5:00 p.m.,
meeting with mentors

in comedy for advice.

- [Kiki] Who started
Black stand-up comedy?

- If you're asking me what
really put it on the map,

"Def Jam" had people staying
at home on Friday nights

waiting to watch Black comedy.

- See, that's what I
wanna do for Latinos.

You know, Latinos
that speak Spanish.

- Russell Simmons, the
creator of "Def Jam"

had that same principle with
Black urban stand-up comedy.

It had never been
done on that level

and he had to convince
HBO this will work

and it was phenomenal.

- Whenever no one has
done it they're like,

you know how Hollywood
is, if no one's done it

no one wants to do it.

- I can tell you
something all day,

but what your eyes see,
your heart must believe.

I was told that.

I think you should
just shoot it.

- [Kiki] Really?

- I think you should
get some comedians,

put 'em together, I mean.

- [Kiki] And prove it, right?

- And prove it.

You gotta prove it.
- [Kiki] I gotta prove it.

- [Robert] 7:00
p.m., meeting with

actress producer Shari Belafonte

for a possible role as
an actress in a film.

- The project I'm talking
about in particular

is a Western and oh, man,
it's gonna brilliant.

We're shooting.
- What kind of a Western?

- It's a true story
about Mary Fields

was the first Black stagecoach
driver in the world.

- First Black?

- First Black stagecoach driver.

- Oh my god.

- She's beautiful, but,
you know, you didn't know.

She's like.

So, there has to be that right
person to play that part.

I can't even begin to tell you.

- That's so exciting.

- It's like the best and,
you know, Whoopi is one.

- What part do you
think that I could play?

- Well, not her,
but I was hoping

you would like help me
find that character.

And just a few others that
are that are in the part too.

- So, you don't have a
part for me in the movie,

you just want me to like get
you people for the movie?

- Well, you can play
like a small part.

How do you look naked?

- [Male Voiceover] Huh?

(upbeat electronic music)

- [Robert] 8:00 p.m., a meeting

to package and finance
her feature film

with Grammy Award
winning music executive

and now, film producer,
Cecil Chambers,

CEO of Triumphant Entertainment.

- If you focus on being an
actor you'll starve to death.

- That's true.

- If you focus on being a
writer you'll starve to death.

- Well, you have to
look at it like this,

if it's your movie you
have to be the overseer

of hiring the right
crew, the right director,

making sure you have
the right tax incentive,

all those things.

Who else is gonna do it?

- [Kiki] Exactly, so
you gotta produce.

- Mm-hm, you have to produce.

And that means wearing 20 hats.

- Yeah.

(thunder crashing)

(child laughing)

- [Robert] She was born
Christian Delores Melendez

in Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic.

This is the house
where Kiki was raised

with her grandmother, Adjuana,
cousins Winston and Robert

and caretaker, Channa.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

Kiki's mother, Matilde
Almonte, and her father,

Nestor Ramon Melendez, separated

when Kiki was just a year old.

Her mother immigrated
to the U.S.

while Kiki remained behind.

- After my mom moved to New York

and for the first
six years of my life

I lived between two families.

One was extremely rich and the
other one was extremely poor.

- I think that's why
Kiki's so mixed up.

She doesn't know if
she's poor or rich,

but she likes to spend
a lot of money shopping.

- One part of my family
was a bit resentful

toward my father.

So, they always, you know,
kind of spoke about him

not seeing me and
not taking care of me

and not being around for me.

And so for many many years,
I resented my father.

I thought he had abandoned me

and I thought he
didn't care for me.

And it wasn't until
recently when I went back

to my country to visit Channa,
who was like a mother to me,

that I found that that
was not the truth.

(speaking Spanish)

Channa told me that
my father used to come

and visit me all the time.

And he used to
entertain everyone.

And he would sit in
the porch of the house

and tell jokes all night.

I must have been a
little kid watching him

basically do stand-up.

And I had no idea, I
mean, I get goosebumps

thinking about the
fact that maybe

that's where I got it from.

I joined my mother when
I was only six years old

in New York City.

- Matilde was very determined

that Kiki would have
a good education.

- Kiki's mom is an inspiration.

She worked two
jobs just in order

to get her through private
school in Manhattan.

Which, that's not easy.

- I learned courage and
risk taking from my mother.

I remember the other
day we were driving

through the gates of Bel Air.

I was taking her to the hospital

'cause she got unexpectedly ill.

And, you know, I
just looked at her

and I said, Mom, I'm so
grateful for what you did.

You sacrificed your life
to give me a better life.

So many times we forget
where we come from

and look, look at
where we are today

and it's all because of you.

And she was so proud.

And I couldn't tell
if she was proud of me

or proud of herself, but she
looked at me and she said,

"I just didn't want you to
grow-up the daughter of a maid."

(speaking Spanish)

- Kiki's mom just loved anybody
that spoke Spanish to her.

So I was like
(speaking Spanish).

And that was kind of
it (speaking Spanish)

and loved it and she had no clue

that I didn't even
speak Spanish that well.

- Kiki's mom is warm.

She treats you like you're
a child even if you're not.

She always wants
to please everybody

that comes into her house.

- Very gracious,
tall, very giving,

reminded me of my mother
and some of my aunts

that were just enveloping you.

- The first time I met her I
was like (speaking Spanish).

She was like, que, como?

I said Mohamed.

She goes, Obama?

I said, no, Mohamed.

She goes, Obama?

So, to this day,
after all these years,

she actually really thinks I'm

the President of
the United States.

So, I go with it.

- [Kiki] Obama,
(speaking Spanish)

- I gotta go.

- Latino Hollywood would
not be Latino Hollywood

without Matilde.

- And she don't care where
you come from, fancy-schmanzy,

you're gonna sit
down and eat, right?

- Every time you go over
there she feeds everybody.

And you're like, oh, no,
no, no, no I'm not hungry

and bam it's arroz con
pollo right in front of you

and you're like, oh my god,

I'm going for
seconds and thirds.

I attribute five to ten
pounds of weight gain

to Kiki's mom.

- You can just say, Kiki,
can I come over and just eat?

And she'll say, I'm
not home, but my mom is

and you come in and
there is a plate

of food waiting for you.

- Matilde was always
cooking for celebrities,

but when she wasn't
cooking for celebrities

the celebrities was
cooking for her.

One say she says, come
on, let's go to a barbecue

and guess who was there
doing the barbecue?

Guy Ecker, my
favorite, I loved it.

(applause)

- [Announcer] Kiki Melendez.

(audience cheering and clapping)

- The first thing I did when
I decided to get into acting

is I wanted to know if
I even had any talent.

So, I tried out for the best
schools in New York City

and I went to Lee
Strasberg and I kind of got

a really good
response right away.

- When she was
doing her monologue

Sophia Lauren was
coming into the school

to get a tour of the
school with her son.

She went over to Kiki
after her performance

and she says to
her, "You remind me

"of a young Sophia Lauren."

Kiki, whenever she's been
thinking of giving up

and not continuing, that's
what keeps her going.

She remembers that day.

- [Robert] It was this
classical training

that helped her conquer the
stage years later in L.A.

with the historical play
"Madres Y Heroinas".

- I needed somebody to
introduce the play that we did

which was called
"Madres Y Heroinas".

But, when I first came to
Kiki, I came to Kiki for help.

I needed her name.

I needed Kiki Melendez
to be a part of it

that way she could help me.

Then all of sudden, she can act.

Oh my god.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

Very hard to go from
stand-up comedian like Kiki

to go to a dramatic role.

- Now, I know Kiki
to be a comedian,

so it was shocking to me
that she would accept a role

as dramatic as the role was.

But, I'm telling you, she
reached down into her roots

and did and incredible,
unbelievable job.

Which made me feel that
as a dramatic actor myself

I could do comedy.

So, she really
inspired me that night.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

- "Madres Y Heroinas" was
fascinating for the respect

that it was on Dominicans
and this is L.A.

and if we were in New
York it would make sense,

but it was L.A. so it
was kind of fascinating

that it was happening
in the first place.

I was super impressed
with Kiki's performance.

I mean, she was passionate.

Her presence was super strong

and I could see her playing
in even a larger venue,

you know, off-Broadway.

- And it was actually
the very first

historical Dominican
play in Los Angeles

and we had standing ovations.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

(applause)

- [Robert] While she
was still in New York

pursuing acting, Kiki
found comedy by accident.

She lived around the
corner from the Comic Strip

and here friend,
veteran comic Joey Vega,

persuaded her to give it a try.

- And I said, well, why
don't you try stand-up?

It's a way of
getting into acting.

It's a way of getting into a
lotta avenues in show business.

And she did, so I'm
responsible, yet again,

for another success
in Hollywood.

Chris Rock, Adam Sandler,
Ray Romano, Kiki Melendez,

come on, I'm the wizard,
I'm the wizard of Hollywood,

but yet, I'm here doing an
interview for Kiki's film.

You go figure.

- [Kiki] I would just constantly
do shows all over New York.

I'd force all my friends
in New York to show up.

I would pack the house.

- [Robert] Kiki's very
first acting job was

on the set of "Miami
Vice" in Florida.

It was this experience that
inspired her to go forward

with her dreams of acting.

- I left New York
because the truth is

that there isn't that
many opportunities

in film and television.

And I knew that I had
to come to Los Angeles.

- [Robert] Kiki soon
became one of the first

and only Latinas
on morning radio.

- When I was given
the opportunity

to program a new radio
station in Los Angeles

I knew that that town was hungry

for a Latin crossover format
and I needed a secret weapon.

I found Kiki Melendez and
I put her on the mornings

and the rest is history.

She was the first
Latina female lead

in a general market
radio station.

- [Group of Men] Kiki Melendez
(cheering and clapping)

- [Kiki] How are ya?

- [Robert] Then,
she was discovered

and created the first
bilingual T.V. show in America,

"Kiki desde Hollywood."

- From the entertainment
capital of the world, Hollywood.

- You know, she was just
very funny, very personable,

made you laugh, I
mean, she was great.

- (speaking Spanish)
I'm with John Travolta.

Do you know that all the
Latino women just loved you

from the day they
saw you dancing on
"Saturday Night Fever?"

- Well, thank you very much.

- And you dance the best,
but I wanted to ask you

have you ever thought of
doing a salsa dance movie?

- Salsa dance is nice.
- Do you like it?

- I love Latin dancing.

- "Kiki desde Hollywood"
was a show I did with Kiki

where I executive produced
with Kiki and Paul Block

and it was an amazing experience

and the budgets we got
from Galavision were like

they thought we were
doing "Titanic."

I mean they were just, how
can we spend this much?

- Now, how did you feel
about Jack Nicholson?

My god, I just remembered.

- He's such a
pervert, I love him.

- Lupe, thank you for
sleeping over with me

on "Kiki desde Hollywood."

- Don't tell anybody ever
that I slept with you.

- I'm single.

- I'm just the only one
in your life right now?

- Right now, honey,
I know, seriously.

- This very minute.
- I'm not kidding.

(speaking Spanish)

- Congratulations, I really
wanna congratulate you.

I'm so happy for you.
- Thank you.

- You deserve it,
you know, you know.

Just good luck
and just god bless

and you can always count on me.

- Mario (speaking Spanish)
You can't leave yet.

- How are you doing?

- (speaking Spanish) Mario.

How could you leave without
being on "Kiki desde Hollywood?"

- I know, I don't know.

"Kiki desde Hollywood,"
I love Kiki.

It's the only
reason I'm stopping

'cause I'm stopping
to talk to Kiki

because I love "Kiki
desde Hollywood"

and Kiki's a personal friend,
so that's the only reason.

Other than that I'd
be out the door.

- Out the door, right?
- Out the door.

(speaking Spanish)

- She's bilingual and
we were all bilingual

and she reflected that in
"Kiki desde Hollywood."

- I'm 100% Spanglish and this
show comes out of nowhere,

"Kiki desde Hollywood"
and it was the first time

that I could connect
with somebody.

I mean, I would get together
with my girlfriends,

we would all sit there
and we would all try

to imitate her, but because
I'm the most fabulous

and I look the most like
Kiki (speaking Spanish)

I was all over that.

My name is Kiki
(speaking Spanish)

I want you all to
lose control, hey.

- [Robert] Kiki
Melendez had the cojones

to ask the king of American
television, Aaron Spelling,

- (speaking Spanish)
Why don't you have

a Latina on "Melrose Place"?

- We have had them as
recurring characters.

They come in for some episodes.

We haven't had a lead
yet, but we will.

- You know something,
Aaron, it's so funny

because in New York
when I was in Fox

I wanna be the Latina in Melrose

and they used to say there
goes the neighborhood.

(laughing)

- [Robert] A few months later

to everyone's shock and surprise

a casting call went
out for just that,

the first Latina
on "Melrose Place".

And two weeks after that
the show was canceled.

(speaking Spanish)

- Hey, stop clowning around.

- We are on the set of
the movie "The Wash"

it's a comedy staring Dr. Dre.

Do you feel a big responsibility

when you're writing your
songs and your lyrics?

- No, I only feel responsible
for making a good song.

- Do you think I
could learn how to rap

since I can't even
sing in the shower?

- Oh definitely.

- (speaking Spanish)
Right, you speak English.

- Yes.
- She's one of the hottest

stars on Univision
and have you thought

of going to Hollywood and
making it in the big screen?

- I've thought about
it. (speaking Spanish)

- [Kiki] "Kiki desde
Hollywood" was truly magical.

(speaking Spanish) more
than 100 celebrities.

Thank you so much.

- Adios.

- Hey Kiki, this is Jimmy Smits.

Rock it, rock it, rock
it like we know you can.

- Now you are playing the mayor.

- The mayor.

- So that's a
positive Latino role.

- Yes, but he's a corrupt mayor,

but he's positively corrupt.

- Isn't that redundant?

Latino, corrupt, politician.
- Latino, corrupt.

- "Kiki desde Hollywood"
was a pioneer show.

We knew about that and
when you wanted to come out

to Mexico to interview
us we were like great,

we will gladly do it.

Estella, my wife,
was just reminding me

that we did the interview
out on a tree that fell over

in the back of our house.

- [Kiki] And there were
like, it was like birds.

You were teaching me
about all your birds.

- [Guy] Oh, we had a
lot of birds, yeah.

- Yeah, and I was
in your backyard

and I was like oh my god,
and when I saw Estella

I was like, ugh, what does
she have to be here for?

(both laughing)

I had my plan.

- Hey, we weren't married yet,
you shoulda made your move.

(Kiki laughing)

- It's so funny,
last time I saw her

we were outside of
our friend's home

in a very nice area of
town and all of a sudden

some spaceship looking
like car rolls up

and I'm thinking, whoa.

Down comes the window
and it's Jay Leno

going, "Hey Kiki,
what's going on?

"How ya doing?"

And I'm like, hey, hi,
are you guys friends?

She goes, I haven't
seen him in years,

but he remembered my name.

- I remember my wife
telling me how popular

desde Kiki Hollywood was and
that was a great show, Kiki.

That was a great show
and nobody can ever

take that away from you.

- [Kiki] You thought it
was a porn movie didn't ya?

- I did, desde Hollywood, sounds
like Kiki doing Hollywood.

Any time you put doing
something in something

it's normally sexual.

- [Robert] Have you ever
heard of a Dominican on BBC?

- Live to L.A. and our show biz

correspondent, Kiki Melendez.

Kiki, are you there?

- Yes, I'm here,
how ya doing, Joe?

- [Joe] Excellent, you
look fantastic, Kiki.

- [Robert] Before long,
she walked into the offices

of Peter Engel, the
veteran T.V. producer

of such hits as
"Saved by the Bell"

and most recently,
"Last Comic Standing".

The veteran producer saw
Kiki as the Latina Oprah.

- When I discovered
Kiki Melendez in 2000.

It was, I was sitting
around my gang

and I said, it's time
for a Latina Oprah.

And I'm not talking
about a Spanish show.

I'm talking about someone who
brings the culture together

because we are all
the same, essentially.

We all want the same dreams
and aspirations and hopes

and we all have the same fears.

And I said, come back
to me with someone

and a week later they
said Kiki Melendez.

I said, anyone called
Kiki Melendez I want.

Get her in here.

- [Robert] But Kiki got
stuck in development hell.

And that's when she decided to
create her own opportunities.

- So what do you think?

- Oh my god, Kiki,
I can't get enough

of "My Mother Married a Gringo".

This is amazing, I love it.

So many like great
ideas, some many scripts,

what's happening?
- Nothing.

You know why?

Because it's easier to
win the lotto in this town

than to get a show on
network television.

- Is that right?

- Oh, I'm serious.

I mean, I need money.

I need money to develop these
things, to do sizzle reels.

- Oh my god, Kiki,
I have a great idea.

- [Kiki] What?
- I have a client at the bank

and he's always asking me
to find him new businesses,

new things to invest.

- You're kidding.
- Yes.

- Would he be interested?
- I don't know.

I can give him a call,
I can set up a meeting.

If he's interested
we'll go meet with him.

- Oh my god, that would great.

It pays off to have
a friend as a banker.

I love it, thank you so much.

- Let's do it, let's try it.

- Yes, I know, I know,
you already told me

10,000 times, okay.
- You cannot mess this up.

Rabbi Goldstein, it's
so great to see you.

Thanks for meeting with us.

This is my great
friend, Kiki Melendez

from Hollywood Latin Films.

- Latin Hollywood Films.
- Yes, Latin Hollywood Films.

- It's so nice to meet you.

Thank you so much
for meeting us.

- Well please, have a seat.

- So, this is what I
was gonna tell you.

I am so excited that you
gave us the time of day

because I know how
busy you are, Rabbi.

- Excuse me, excuse me Kiki,
Rabbi, I have a phone call.

I'll be right back, okay?

- Please, please.
- Hurry.

- Kiki, Kiki right?
- Yes.

Kiki, I read your proposal.

Tell me a little bit more
about Hollywood Latin Films.

- Latin Hollywood Films, Rabbi.

You're so funny.

Well, this is the thing, when
I first came to Hollywood

I realized that we
needed a company

that creates work of art
for Latinos in America,

but that everybody can enjoy.

Like "Cinema Paridiso" it's
an Italian movie in Italian,

but everybody loved it
and it even won an Oscar.

You know why, Rabbi?

Because it has passion.

Do you like passionate movies?

- I don't own a television set

and I have nine kids,
I have nine kids

and I don't even let
them go to the movies.

- (laughing) You are so
funny, that is so funny.

- No, no, no, I am
serious, I am serious.

The media is destroying
the youth of America.

- This is why you need to
invest in a company like me

because I wanna
make a difference

by creating work of art
that inspires people.

Because Latinos are emotional.

Latinos have strength.

Latinos have passion.

(Rabbi yelling while falling)

- Oh my god, I'm so sorry.
- Stop it, stop it.

- Kiki stop, stop.
- What?

- You need to stop, let go.

In the Jewish culture when
you touch the opposite gender

it's a sign of sexual act.
- Oh my god.

- Oh my god, Kiki please.

- I'm so sorry, I'm
so sorry, Rabbi.

Friend forever not
matter what, high five.

- Oi.

- My bad.
- Go, go Kiki, go, go, go.

- Are you kidding me, this
woman touched me here.

I'm embarrassed, I am
the one embarrassed.

I am ashamed, this
is blasphemous.

This is not suppose to
be one of those things.

Who, what do you want?

Oh, this?

This is for you.

- Oh my god.

I messed up, I messed up.

- Kiki, Kiki stop,
Kiki, Kiki stop.

- I don't wanna hear it.

I know, I'm sorry.
- Oh my god, I'm in shock.

- I know, I let you down.
- I can't believe this.

- I didn't mean to, I
really didn't mean to.

- You need to learn to do
business with the Rabbi.

- What's the point.
- Unbelievable, Kiki.

- I'm sorry.
- Because he said yes

and he's gonna
finance your company.

- What, what are
you talking about?

- Yes, and something about
passion, I don't know.

- Oh my god, oh my god.

Wait, uh, can I?

- Yes.

(both shouting joyfully)

- Oh my god.

- [Robert] And this, my friends,

is how Latin Hollywood
Films was born.

- I realized that I had
to prove to this town

that I was talented.

And the only way to
do it was to create

an opportunity for myself.

But at the same
time, I also noticed

there were very few launching
pads for female comedians.

And not just Latin,
but of all races.

- It's easier for men in comedy.

Even if you're a Black
man or a white man

or an Asian man to
make it in comedy

faster than a Latino woman.

Why? 'Cause we have a (bleep).

That's the big fact.

- There's always a stigma
of female comedians

of, oh, you're not funny.

So, think about it this
way, I'm a female comedian

and I'm ethnic and
this is after 9/11.

So people were looking
and being like,

okay, is she gonna
bomb on stage?

- Women don't really get
their fair share or fair shot

of actually trying to be funny

because people really don't
see women as being funny.

And the women that are
funny, they don't really,

I mean I hate to say this,

but they're not
really seen as women.

- Most male comics don't
think female comics are funny.

So, even though there's
camaraderie among comedians

the girls know
that a little bit.

They always have to prove
themselves a little bit more.

Before, almost like they
weren't taken seriously.

You couldn't be
pretty and do comedy,

but I feel like Kiki and
Eva both proved that wrong

when they were doing the
"Hot Tamales" shows here.

Because they're both
attractive women,

but they're up
there being funny.

- So when I started
stand-up in college

I was a biology major
because, of course,

like every other Persian
Iranian little girl

my parents wanted me to
be a doctor or a lawyer.

And I told my mom I did stand-up

and she's like,
you're telling jokes?

Are you a clown?

No good lady does jokes.

And I'm like trust me, I wanna
make a living out of this.

This is what I wanna do.

So, I get up on stage
and my mom's like,

this is a nice hobby,
when is medical school?

This is a nice hobby.

So, she started coming to
my shows and judging me.

Wouldn't say a word and sit
there and watch me and watch me.

And finally, she's like, don't
do any more jokes about me.

It's not good, you are a nice
lady, don't make fun of me.

I'm like, okay, fine.

And then 9/11 hits and all
a sudden my mom's like,

Nadine, we cannot
be Iranians anymore

because they're blaming
us, we are Mexicans.

So, overnight, my last
name changed from Rajabi

to Rodriguez, hola.

(sound of frying pan sizzling)

(audience laughing)

- So I decided,
hey, I'm gonna unite

all racists through laughter.

The club owners
thought I was crazy.

- I was in our offices for Latin
Heat in Burbank, California

and in walks this windstorm of
a personality, Kiki Melendez

and Eva Longoria, who at
that point was just in town,

just arrived into town
and they were doing

this project called,
"The Hot Tamales Live"

and they wanted help.

They wanted promotion,
they wanted,

and they told me all about
it and I'm like, of course.

- It feels good, it feels good.

Especially when
you're an actress.

Like Kiki's an actress
first and foremost.

I'm an actress
first and foremost.

So, it feels really good to
do something behind the scenes

and to create your
own avenue to success.

- [Robert] Kiki says
the greatest night

of her career, thus
far, was the premiere

of her first English
language project

launched by the prestigious
Showtime television.

- It's not 'cause I'm
speaking publicly,

but my non-streak bronzer
is starting to streak,

you know what I'm saying?

On behalf of Showtime
Networks I'd like to welcome

all of you to the world
premiere of Kiki Melendez's

"Hot Tamales Live."

(audience applause)

- God, there's a lot of people.

Thank you so much for
coming out tonight.

Kiki started this dream
about 20 years ago.

She was the first person
I met here in L.A.

and the minute she walks
into a room, as you know,

she just lights it up
with her personality

and you just immediately
gravitate toward her energy

and she took me under her wing.

I had no money, I
had no car, nothing.

I slept on her couch and
she's really resentful now.

(audience laughing)

- It's 70 shows later
for Showtime, you know,

one of the shows that
stands out in my mind is

Kiki Melendez's "Hot Tamales".

It was a great experience.

You know, Kiki, they say
that some people are crazy,

but crazy in a good way.

And, you know, I can of came
to the conclusion one day

that there's a difference
between being crazy

and being eccentric and
the difference is money.

- It was magical,
it was so exciting.

I mean, there wasn't one
empty seat in the house.

It was better than an orgasm.

I hope my husband
didn't hear me.

Anyway, I was kicked
out of my own premiere.

There was no where to sit.

- Finally, Kiki
was the one person

that was able to recognize
my talent and my friend Amy

and my friend Kira
and all these people,

And said, listen, you
guys are underrepresented.

We have to be on television.

And Kiki gave me my
first stand-up show

on television, on Showtime.

When I first started the
Tamales I was a total virgin

and Kiki loved it.

So she would always
introduce me on stage,

welcome to the stage
our Persian Tamale.

She's a virgin
everybody, Nadine Rajabi.

And I'd be like
ha-ha-ha I'm a virgin.

Two years later I
lose my virginity

and I go up to Kiki and
I go, Kiki, guess what?

I'm not a virgin anymore,
don't tell anyone.

Please don't tell anyone,
but I'm not a virgin.

It was so awesome.

So, lo and behold, you
can't tell Kiki anything.

She gets up on stage
and welcome to the stage

our Persian Tamale and she just
told me backstage everybody,

she's not a virgin anymore.

So, I come out on
stage and I was like,

hi Mom, hi Dad, surprise.

It's comedy, right?

Nope, I mean yeah
that happened, but.

- "Hot Tamales Live" on
Showtime was such a success

and my mother used to
love going to my shows.

I remember one time we
were watching a show

and we were packed that day and
she was sitting in the front

and Joey Vega was on stage.

- So we're doing the
show and I'm there

and I'm asking the
audience questions.

And I go, how many
people here like sex?

Come on raise your hand if
you wanna have sex with me?

Just to throw 'em off.

And all of a sudden I hear,
me, me, me, from the back.

This woman's jumping up
and down me, me, me, me.

And I look and I look and
I see it's Kiki's mom.

She didn't speak
a word of English,

but she thought I said
how many people like me?

- She thought he was
saying, who likes me?

Who likes my jokes?

So, I was like, hmm,
she's having so much fun,

I should create "Hot
Tamales en Espanol".

- When Kiki first came
to me with this idea

of Spanish stand-up comedy
I immediately Googled it

because there is no
such name in Spanish

for comedy en espanol.

And she said, I know,
I'm gonna make one.

I'm gonna call it "Comedia
En Vivo", brilliant.

- Being in Los Angeles,
being in America,

the Latino community, its impact

on the entire
entertainment industry.

It's important to be open
to find different ways

to bring these communities in.

"Hot Tamales" sounded
like a great idea,

but the thing with Kiki is
it's much more than that.

(drum music)

- The first person I
came to when I wanted

to do "Hot Tamales
en Espanol" was you.

I was like please, Guy, help me.

What do you think,
should I do it?

- I've always thought it
was an incredible idea.

I know what a go-getter you are

and so I thought if Kiki's
got her hands in this

it's gonna work.

- What did you think
when I told you,

I'm like, Monique, we gotta
do Spanish language stand-up.

What was the first
thing on your head?

- I thought, at least
we're not naked.

'Cause Kiki always has to
pick super difficult things

and then go, hey, do you
think we can do this?

And I go, sure, why not.

- And it's in Spanish,
we don't have that.

- The Latino comedy is much
richer, more delicious.

- Our people don't speak
Spanish or English well.

I mean, who's gonna
understand, ya know?

- My idea of Spanish
comedy was watching like

"Sabado Gigante" with my dad.

And it really wasn't
about the comedy,

it was all about watching
girls in bikinis.

There always selling
some kind of product,

Bambino.

- The Latin comedians
in Latin America

they're still kinda behind.

And I don't say
that in a bad way.

It's just, they're still
doing like Vaudeville stuff.

There's always a
gay guy in the joke

and a drunk guy in the joke
and a little boy in the joke.

And it's always like.
(speaking Spanish)

Here in America, the Latino
comedian we have a lot to say.

We talk about political issues.

We talk about home life.

- I was really worried about
doing comedy in Spanish

because do Mexicans and Cubans,

do they really
laugh at themselves?

- Laughing at oneself is
one of the strongest ways

of becoming whole.

And not taking oneself so
seriously that one cannot

smile and laugh is
really really dangerous.

Laughter is the
key to good health.

The more you laugh
the healthier you get.

And people don't
really understand that,

but it throws off enzymes
inside of your body

that are very
productive, very healthy.

- Sometimes you bring
actors from South America,

from Mexico, from
other countries,

but we have the
Latinos here already

so she's working,
she's helping to get

these actors recognized
here in the states

because they are from
here, they live here.

- We wanna see Mexican-American,
Cuban-American,

Salvadorian-American,
Latino-American.

We don't wanna
see, oh, this actor

he was awesome in Mexico,
but now he's in America.

(bleep) that guy, we
don't wanna see him.

- There's a lot of Latinos
that live in the United States,

in California, Miami,
New York, whatever, so.

(speaking Spanish)

- The thing is Latinos
here in the United States

have a different experience.

They have a different
life experience

and comedy can tell
that just as well

as anything else in life.

And so, there are great
comedians and great comedy

about our experiences
here in the United States.

(speaking Spanish)

- Do I think that comedy
in espanol will work

in the United States of America?

Of course, because
there's so many people

who speak Spanish here.

But, I think that the
bilingual comedian

will even work even more
because they'll be able

to relate to both
sides of the language.

- Spanish language stand-up
circuit, that' a big challenge.

I mean, you have Puerto
Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians,

Dominicans, U.S. Latinos,
that's a big challenge.

- I can see it opening
at the Grand Ole Opry.

I can see all the
cowboy, you know, espanol

as second language
schools popping up

all over the comedy circuit.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

- [Robert] Kiki's goal
with the new idea was

to unite Latin speaking
countries through comedy.

She tested the idea in Florida

and enjoyed great success with
the press and the audience.

- What a beautiful crowd Miami.

(audience clapping and cheering)

You know, I am your
(speaking Spanish)

I grew up in Miami.

(audience clapping and cheering)

I went to North Miami
Beach Senior High.

(speaking Spanish)

That place was still
Jewish when I came here.

(audience laughing)

Just to prove I'm from
Miami (speaking Spanish)

in Coral Gables, a diamond Rolex

and in 1989 when I left I
had a 2010 Mercedes, okay.

(audience laughing)

(dance music)

(audience clapping and cheering)

I'm too old for this shit.

(audience laughing)

Turning 29 is a bitch.

(audience laughing)

I am a gay man stuck
in Kiki's body.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

So now, you know, I got
married to a Scottish bloke,

like I told you before.
(speaking Spanish)

When he walked into the
wedding with a skirt.

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish) We spent
so much money on her education

how could she marry
(speaking Spanish)

You all had, you know,
all you Miami girls

probably had diamonds
and all that bullshit.

(speaking Spanish)

He sent me a picture
of a dozen roses.

You know what I did?

I waited for his
birthday and I sent him

a picture of a blow job.

(audience laughing)

You know what inspires me?

That Latinos in the U.S. have

the buying power
in the billions.

Yet, we're only 1% on
general market television,

but it's not the
general markets fault.

They feel we have so many
Spanish language channels

they don't have
to worry about us.

But all our Spanish
language channels

buy 90% of their
programming from Mexico,

Venezuela and all
of Latin America.

(speaking Spanish)

Yet, we consume
all the products.

- There's great programming
on Spanish Network.

Ask my mom, she'll tell you,

but my mom will also tell you,

and this is my
mom, okay, talking,

how come they never
do a show in Spanish

that was made here in America.

- The Latinos here in America
don't get the opportunity

to show what they can do,
to show their talents.

And we have an incredible
amount of talent

that's Latino based,
but it all comes from

South America, Mexico because
it's cheaply produced.

- We watch more films
than anybody else.

We watch up to
seven films a year,

which is about two to three
films more than anybody else.

We consume more hours television
of hours than anybody else.

More cell phone applications
than anybody else.

So, we're a very sizeable
consumption group

that every advertiser wants.

- For the last 20
years I've owned

a very successful
business and 80%

of my clientele are
Latinos, Latinos in America.

(speaking Spanish)

- I've been designing
accessories and fashion

for more than 20 years
selling to stores

all over the world, from
New York City to Dubai,

London, Hong Kong,
Paris, but one

of the most important
markets for me right now

is the Latin market.

Latinas take pride
in what they wear.

They love to get dressed up,
do their hair, their make-up,

wear beautiful clothing,
lots of bright colors,

lots of sparkle.

And that's why I created the
platform, Red Carpet Rumba,

so I could bring concepts
of fashion style trends

to all the Latinas showing them

how they can embrace Hollywood

and get that same
look the stars have.

- I think it's about time
that the U.S. Latinos

who've been supporting
both the Hispanic

and general market media
by spending, consuming

and supporting the
programming have a chance

to give their side of the story.

- We're never gonna get
Hollywood to do the story

that we want because we
know how we wanna do it

and sometimes when they
do our stories anyway

they don't get it right.

- All you have to
do is look at Argo.

Perfect example, it won the
best picture of the year.

One of the greatest
stories of a CIA agent ever

and nobody even knows
that it was Tony Mendez,

that the guy was
Mexican-American

and was born and raised
on the border of El Paso.

- I think it's important
that the younger generation,

young Hollywood up and
comers, really start

to write our stories
because there's more to us

than what people see.

- The only way we're that we're
gonna be able to see films

that are true to our culture
is for us to do 'em ourselves.

And we need more writers,
people behind the camera.

We need more executives.

- We need actually more
Latino-American writers,

producers, directors,
people with money.

- Nobody's gonna open
the door for you.

The thing that I gotta say
to Latinos, stop complaining.

I mean, here's the
thing, if you just do it,

figure out a way.

That's how everybody
else is doing it,

just figure out a way to do it.

- The only people that
don't make it in Hollywood,

whether you be
Latino or not Latino,

are the people who quit.

- Do you see a big difference
in the Black culture

and the Latino culture?

- Well, the biggest thing
that we have in common

is we're being shut
out of Hollywood.

You know what I'm saying?

(both laughing)

That's the biggest thing
that we have in common.

It's just like, you know, we
get one show on television.

We get one somebody and we're
just like oh, thank god.

- And if the show doesn't
work, it's like, it's over.

Like if they put a Latino
show and it bombs we're dead.

- Yeah, right, right, the whole
race is ridin' on that show.

We gave you a chance,
you begged for a show.

- And you blew it.
- We gave it to you.

And you blew it.

- When they were casting people
for "Moscow on the Hudson"

they saw the picture and
they're like, oh, she looks like

what we're looking for,
which was an Italian girl.

And then, that's how, I
went, I did the audition.

I arrive-acee speaka
like an Italiana

because, we talk, they
talka like athis, you know.

So, you know, anyway
that's how it happened.

And then things after
that, I don't know,

I got roles that were
not written for Latinas

or that were
written for Latinas,

but the great thing was
that I was able to open

a door there for us
to do more things

than just what Latinas.

- I wish I had an
opinion in that matter.

I don't really have
a strong opinion

about Latinos in Hollywood.

You can put a sign here
that's like terrible Latina.

And I feel like I'm an artist,
so I see myself as an artist.

- When you deal with
Latinos we are in the box

of the four H's of
Hispanic Hollywood.

And that is like you are
either overly too hostile.

Whatch you lookin' at
sucker, I'll cut you.

Too humble, we are a
poor people, senor.

Mister gringo please
helping to us.

We don't want no problems,
we don't want no trouble.

Or too hysterical, Lucy,
(speaking gibberish).

And then the last one of
course, everybody knows this,

we are overly hormonal.

Aye Kiki, I have to have you.

Come with me to the Casbar.

- The last great beige hope,
the last crossed over talent

was Freddie Prince.
- Yeah.

- "Chico and the Man" I can't
think of anybody since him

that had that mass appeal.

He was, we have not had a great
beige hope in three decades,

not in the '80s, not in the
'90s and not in the early 2000s.

That's kind of sad.

- So, it's just you and me, kid.

- Let's do this.

- I remember my first head
shots had a bandana, you know?

'Cause that's the roles
that were available

for kids of my age, I was 12 so.

It was always like the
street kid, the street thug.

- When you speak with
Spanish accent in English

automatically you
lose 20 I.Q. points.

It is like you are
a stupid idiot.

But, if you talk in
English you can be

the biggest rogue in the world.

As a matter of fact, you can
actually be quite criminal,

steal everyone's money and
they'll thank you for it.

They go, oh, oh, will
you come back again?

I love your accent.

- Any race has to sort of
overcome those stereotypes

that people pigeon hole them in.

And I'm the total opposite.

I mean you look Latina, I don't.

Even, I remember I
did a commercial for,

I won't name the brand,
but I put a mustache

and made my hair black because
I needed to look Latino.

And still everybody's
going you look weird.

You don't look Latino.

- If we show the Latinos
that are well educated,

that have class, that are
doctors, that are architects,

you know, all that.

And then you show a
whore or a drug addict

or a maid, that's fine.

But we have to show
everything that we are.

- This is a true story.

They asked a bunch of
kids to go dress up

like senores y senoras, like
gentlemen and ladies, Latino.

The next day all the kids
showed up, I swear to god,

they were dressed like cholos.

They were dressed
like gardeners.

Some of them show up pregnant.

And you know why?

Because that's how
we're portrayed on T.V.

- In Vietnam, a
Puerto Rican soldier

was the most highly
decorated soldier,

like 38 massive medals,

but why don't we
ever hear about that?

You know, how come
when it comes time

to make their movies
they're called "Rambo"

and somebody like a
Stallone or a Schwarzenegger

is cast as that.

We have heroes except we
can't play our own heroes.

We can play our own zeroes,
but not our own heroes

and that's a problem.

It's very important
because you have to show

the contributions of all
cultures in this country

and we don't do that.

And we keep on making
culture not necessary

to identify and to augment.

Then we're gonna lose a
lot of the self-esteem,

self-respect and
self-worth that people get

from seeing themselves
represented.

(camera clicking)

- Before you come to Hollywood,
my piece of advice is

you better save your
money so you can buy

a good pair of T and
A's, because that's

what's gonna get you
into the business.

I don't know that it's
gonna keep you there,

but at least, if you
can say your name

half way decent then you're in.

- [Robert] Kiki is
the only woman we know

that looked like this before
and looks like this after.

- [Kiki] I'm so excited,
today I'm gonna meet

with a Hollywood
image consultant.

She's gonna teach me how
to make Kiki a brand.

(doorbell ringing)

Hi, how are you?
- Hello.

- I'm Kiki, nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.

- I'm so excited you're here.

- Oh, what's that?

- Oh this is chicharron.
- Pork rinds?

- So tell me, how do I get
all that free designer gowns,

you know, like the ones
that the celebrity wears

on the red carpet,
you know, free rags?

- (laughing) Actually, we
need to get you to the point

where designers want you
to wear their clothes.

- Well, I thought we
were at that point.

- No, we got a long way to go.

We need to work on your body.

You need lipo, like
maybe a lot of lipo.

And we need to make
your lips more plump,

like a baby's bottom.

- There's nothing
wrong with my lips.

They used to call me
bubba lips in high school.

- Oh, we need you to go blonde.

- No, no, no (speaking Spanish)

- If Shakira can do it
and Beyonce can do it,

Kiki can go blonde.

- Jesus, this is a lot more
difficult than I thought.

All I want is free rags.

- Do you have a mirror?

Come on, I wanna
show you something.

- Here, there's a mirror here.

- Okay, now lift your chin,
pull your eyes, plump your lips.

That's the lunchtime
lift, a work of art.

- I look just like
an A-list celebrity.

I want, I want.

- I can do the whole
thing for 100,000.

- I'm a comedian, I don't
have that kind of money.

(phone ringing)

- Oops, goddess
calling, gotta go.

- I gotta get $100,000, John.

My friends all told
me that in 1.5 seconds

you become a instant
mega-celebrity on YouTube.

You can get millions of hits.

You can make money.

Maybe I can get the money
I need for my surgery.

I gotta try something.

- [Robert] Kiki has
tried everything.

This is her little
stunt on YouTube.

- Please help me,
you haven't seen him?

(child speaking Spanish)

- [Robert] She went on a
trip back to her country

to look for the Dominican Obama.

- It's Obama, it's
Obama, drive, go.

(tires squealing)

(upbeat Latin music)

(movie projector clicking)

(xylophone music)

- [Kiki] Finally, I think
I'm gonna make my movie.

I got two huge companies
that are both give me 80%.

So now I'm gonna go to
visit one of my dear friends

who's a top Hollywood producer.

'Cause all I need is 20%.

(knocking on door)

- Kiki, como estas, mija?

Oh, good to see you.
- Oh my god, I'm so tired.

That traffic.
- I know, I know.

I love your hair.

- Thank you, I got the
two color thing going.

- Ah, I can't deal with that,

I'm old school, I'm old school.

I love that beauty mark.

- Girl, that's not a beauty
mark, that's a pimple.

- Come on in, they're waiting
for you at the meeting.

- Yeah, we'll come on over
tomorrow and set it up.

Alright, terrific, sounds
like we're gonna have a deal.

We'll see ya then, alright,
take care, bye-bye.

- How ya doing, Richard?

- [Richard] Kiki, how are you?

You look beautiful,
you look great.

Doesn't she look great?

- Thank you for seeing me

'cause I know how
busy you guys are.

Did you get my email?

- Did we get the email?
- Yeah, we got the email.

- Yeah, we got the email.
- We got the email.

- You know, with the script
"Chase, Hope and Faith"?

Did you read it?

- I think, chase, ah, mm-mn?

- Yeah, we read it.
- Yes, of course we read it.

- [Kiki] Okay, cool, cool.

- Listen, Kiki, we
have some bad news.

- Are you guys okay?

- Oh no, no, we're fine.
- We're fine, we're fine.

- [Kiki] Oh my god, thank god.

- Yeah, it's.
- Your script isn't.

- You're script is uh.
- It's bad.

- It's terrible.

- It's an inspirational
story about believing in God.

What could possibly
be bad about it?

- That doesn't need to be made.

- That's the problem.

Nobody wants to see an
inspirational movie about God.

- Anybody that reads the
script says it has to be made.

You're telling me
the total opposite.

- Well honey, they lied to you

because it's bad.
- It's terrible.

They're not your friends.

- I already got
the financing guys.

This was a gift.

I mean, I got 80%,
I wanted to give you

an opportunity to be involved.

This is like, this is
like a gift already.

- This is a gift,
this is a gift for us

for the 20% we need. (laughing)

- A gift.
- She's funny,

that's how she does it,
that's how she does it.

She's so funny.

- [Kiki] I have
two real companies,

two people that are for real.

- You know what, you know what?

You know I love you.

You know what?

That's what your problem
is, you believe everybody.

- You do.
- Everybody.

- You do.
- I mean who are these people?

Who are these people?
- Yeah, who are?

- Let me know who
these people are.

- We'll check 'em out.

Because we love you,
he'll check 'em out.

- I will find out who they are.

- Look, it's Larry
Swift and George Duke.

They are for real.

- Okay, because we love you.
- Larry Smith.

- Call the reps.

- This is for you.

James, how are you? Richard.

Yeah, we wanted to check
out some financiers.

- George Duke.
- George Duke and Larry Swift.

Yeah, really, interesting.

So, if we shoot our
movie in the Caribbean

they'll pay for the whole thing.

Really?

Could you set up a meeting
with us next Friday?

- This Friday.
- This Friday.

- Yeah, that would be terrific.

Alright, I'll see ya
out on the course.

Alright, James,
alright, bye-bye.

Do you think we could shoot
our movie in the Caribbean?

- Our film?
- Yeah.

- Ah, I don't know, it
takes place in Texas.

- Do they have studios
in the Caribbean?

- Uh, yeah, I think so, yeah.

- Well, if they were gonna
shoot her shitty film

in the Caribbean, they
could shoot ours, why not?

- Why not?
- Why not?

- What? What film are
you talking about?

- [Together] "The Last
Mexican in Texas".

- Bang.
- Bang.

- What the?

- Great meeting.
- Thank you, Kiki.

- Kiki, we love you.
- Thank you, Kiki.

- So, when are we gonna
have that play date?

- Do the play date.
- Yes.

- I love your kids.

(xylophone music)

- Everybody's trying
to cross over.

I've crossed over, I've done it.

"Hot Tamales Live" and now I
think it's time to cross back.

We need to create "Hot
Tamales en Espanol".

- We just can't do
a mistake number two

and for playback.

- They always say that
Latinos don't help each other,

but "Hot Tamales Live en
Espanol" proved everybody wrong.

As soon as I put that
idea on the table

everybody came to help me.

We were able to do it at the
world famous Comedy Store.

A historical night.

- The Comedy Store
first started in 1972.

So then began the period
at the Comedy Store

which is still kind of
the way we function now.

She finds people and
then we develop them.

I mean David Letterman was one
of her first biggest people.

Come in in the early
'80s, Jim Carrey,

who became a movie star.

You get to the late '80s
you got Carlos Mencia,

Paul Rodriguez.

Then we get into the '90s and
Eddy Griffin and Chris Tucker.

So, that's what the
Comedy Store is.

It's a comedy club,
but it's also a place

where people learn their craft.

(speaking Spanish)

- Now, do you want the
Brazilian girls first

or we can have
Dollar Penny there.

- Oh, no, no, no,
Jackie has to go first

to set up everything.
- Okay.

- And then the
Brazilian dancers.

- So, Kiki came to us with this
idea and we were like okay.

She wanted to do an
all Spanish show.

I don't think it's
ever been done here

in Los Angeles before.

Maybe in isolated parts of it,

but not in West Hollywood
presenting to everybody

and at the Comedy Store.

And I tell you what,
once we put it out there

and we put it, the
phones are ringing.

People wanna buy tickets,
people are interested.

(speaking Spanish)

- It's a script.
- It's a script.

- It's a script, it's
blood, sweat and tears

and a little work.

(laughing)

- Really heavy, you cannot
believe how heavy it is.

(speaking Spanish)

- It's gonna be perfect.

(announcer speaking Spanish)

Relax, it's gonna be great.

(Samba music)

(speaking Spanish)

- Director, Errol Falcon
flew in from Miami

to support the idea.

Emmy Award winning
producers and lighting,

everybody came together.

Even gringos helped
us to make it happen.

I mean, honestly, it was
such a beautiful experience

for everybody involved.

We had the greatest Cuban,
the greatest Mexican,

Dominican, Puerto
Rican, Venezuelan,

everybody was represented
on that stage.

(speaking Spanish)

- I love her.

- First up is Dyana
Ortelli a pioneer

in bilingual stand-up comedy.

She's also one of the
greatest actors in Hollywood.

She's been on countless
movies, "Curb Your Enthusiasm".

She hates playing the maid.

(speaking Spanish)

- (speaking Spanish)
Monique Marvez

from "Latin Divas of
Comedy" on Showtime.

(speaking Spanish)
she can't tell

if she's Cuban or Venezuelan.

(speaking Spanish)

- She went from teaching
to being a comic

and everyone can
understand that nowadays

'cause I'm sure a comic makes
more money than a teacher.

Sara Contreras is from
"Latin Divas" on Showtime

and she is a Puerto
Rican from New York.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

- That's how I learned
to say it in Tijuana.

(speaking Spanish)

- [Kiki] Edgar Rivera, a
Puerto Rican that has survived

the streets of New
York brilliantly.

His parents still don't
take him seriously.

They don't think being
a comedian is a job.

His father's constantly
telling him, Edgar,

my dream for you is
for you to be the super

in a building in the Bronx.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

- (speaking Spanish) Ludo
Vika is from Barahona.

She used to be a Vegas show
girl. (speaking Spanish)

You know, acrobatics,
the stuff I try to do

in the bedroom, but
I break my back.

Ludo Vika's great.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

(speaking Spanish)

- Conrado Bonco mi
Cubanito from Miami.

He reminds me of the
Latino Eddie Murphy.

Conrado had to leave
Cuba and his biggest fear

is never being able
to see his children

or his ailing father again.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing and clapping)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

(speaking Spanish)

(all cheering)

- We did it.

The night that we filmed
"Hot Tamales Live en Espanol"

it was inspired by my mom
and she never got to see it.

I pretty much
broke down on stage

because she was suppose
to be sitting there

in the front row and
she died two weeks prior

to the taping of the first ever

"Hot Tamales Live En Espanol"
that I had created for her.

She never did a sex tape,
she never posed for Playboy

and she certainly
never got a DUI,

but everybody that ever
met her, Matilde Almonte,

they remember her
with greatness.

I dedicate my journey to her.

I thank her for
giving me the courage

to carry on her legacy
and to give my children

a better life.

Gracias, Mommy.

- [Robert] In March of 2012
Kiki received top honors

from Los Angeles' number one
Spanish language newspaper,

La Opinion, as a distinguished
woman in arts and culture,

Mujeres Destacadas 2012.

- Kiki Melendez.

(audience clapping and cheering)

Kiki's an award winning
comedian and producer.

This young Dominican
growing up in New York

she learned first-hand
just how hard it was

to get into this industry.

"Comedy," she says, "is
the glue that brings

"our Latino culture together."

Kiki Melendez.

(audience clapping and cheering)

- John, I got it, I got it.

I had to fight pendeja
for it, but I got it.

(both laughing)

- Nice work, nice work.

- Ah, it's days like this
that you mean, you know,

makes it kind of
worth it, you know?

- Yeah, well, I gotta say
I'm really proud of you

for your award today.

- Really?
- Yeah, you did good.

- Does that mean I can get
$100,000 for my plastic surgery?

- Uh, no.

- Will you sign the release?

- Alright.

- The hardest part of
being an entertainer

is never knowing when your
next paycheck is gonna come.

So many disappointments
and a lot of rejections.

But at the end,
it's all worth it

for that moment on
stage when you're

showcasing great talent,
telling your stories

and feeling the
love of the people.

As I live on I will
always try to remember

what my mother taught me,
that true success lies

in leaving behind a better
world than the one we found.

And offering unconditional
love to all those we encounter

on this journey we call life.

(soft inspirational music)

("Hollywood" by Mayden)

♪ I live in this town
called Hollywood

♪ Where you can dream
your life away

♪ Been through the crazy
life in Hollywood

♪ I've seen some things that
will make you run away

♪ And now I'm trying to
make something of my life

♪ I'm trying to have a home,
trying to have a wife

♪ I'm just an ordinary man

♪ Eh yeah eh eh eh eh yeah

♪ I met Tom Cruise
out in Hollywood

♪ And got a new job
that very same day

♪ Look at the hipsters
now in Hollywood

♪ Doing their thing
their very own way

♪ And I still don't live
out in Beverly Hills

♪ And now I got a Porsche
but it's got two wheels

♪ I hang on to my dreams
and I make them real

♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah
and never give up

♪ We never give up,
we never give up

♪ We can make it happen, yeah

♪ We never give up,
we never give up

♪ We can make it happen, yeah

♪ God is smiling over Hollywood

♪ Angels have walked
these streets all day

♪ Yes, there is lots
of love in Hollywood

♪ And if you're lost
you will find your way

♪ Let the music live
in your very soul

♪ I know that Hollywood
sure can take a toll

♪ Those that got your back
gotta keep them tight

♪ Everybody else gets
a knuckle fight

♪ The sun always
shines over Hollywood

♪ You can be what you want