News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Salma Hayek brings some color to television

Salma Hayek is one motivated lady. Aside from her work as an actress, activist and mother, Hayek is an executive producer for Emmy-award winning Ugly Betty and is working on not one, but two new television shows.

Hayek's latest feat will be producing a family comedy for Fox called The New McToms, in which a "conservative matriarch" has to deal with her three kids marrying "ethnically diverse" spouses.

Leave it to Hayek to bring diversity to the tired family-comedy format on Fox, which is usually whitewashed (think Married … With Children, Malcolm in the Middle and King of the Hill).

Hayek's production company, Ventanarosa, which has a deal with ABC Studios, is spearheading the project. The show is expected to carry "the trademark ethnic flavor seen in most projects on Hayek's TV slate," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

McToms is being penned by Boyce Bugliari and Jamie McLaughlin, the writing team behind 2004’s short-lived family comedy, Quintuplets. Hopefully, Hayek’s expertise will give the McToms some staying power.

The multitalented Hayek is also in talks with Merv Griffin Entertainment about a wedding-themed reality series. Bring us some gay weddings, Salma! We wouldn't put it past her: In 2003, Hayek publicly denounced the Catholic Church for their treatment of gays and lesbians. In 2005, she testified in front of the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (which was originally drafted by Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden). Hayek has also worked on an international level with UNICEF to help mothers and children in developing countries.

After Hayek’s portrayal of bisexual artist Frida Kahlo (and on-screen kiss with Ashley Judd), the bad taste in my mouth left by Fools Rush In quickly evaporated. After the 2002 release of Frida, the actress responded to The Advocate about Frida being hailed a “lesbian hero":

[Kahlo is a hero to lesbians] for the same reason that she is a hero to a lot of smart women: because she had the courage to be unique. She had the courage to be who she was and to not apologize for it. She never tried to please anybody’s fantasy of who she should be. Not society, not religion, not her family, not her friends. Not with her art. They didn’t like her art — she didn’t change it. She was herself, at any price. And she was bold about it.

Sound familiar? Hayek may not be a lesbian, but she is continually bold, strong and courageous — and did I mention super-hot? I’m looking forward to her work with Fox. As a gal without cable, I have to take what I can get.

  • jen sabella's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
  • piato's picture

    Careful with the King of

    Careful with the King of the Hill stuff, they’re more powerful than you think.  Remember in the debate when Vice Presidential Candidate Peggy Hill was all like, “I want to expand the powers of the VP, you betchya”.  Way scarier than the whole “I can see Mexico from my house” fiasco.  Seriously.

    klabunda's picture

    i second bold, strong, super hot

    who else could pull off this traditional bavarian dress they made her wear last night in a german bet-show ;)?

    raspberryswirl91's picture

    Hello *ladies*..

    She is hot.. but uhm she might want to tuck the ladies in.... ;)
    brazen's picture

    pardon me for being too obvious, but...

    I'd quite happily pull it off.... sigh
    KineticStillness's picture

    Will her new shows be

    Will her new shows be completely lesbian free just like Ugly Betty?

    Sorry but for a show that has literally had every other incarnation of sexuality known to humankind, this has been a huge disappointment for me.   It's made even worse by the fact that it has Hayek, who I know supports gays and lesbians, and is on ABC which is gay/bi woman central (no lesbians, though...shocker!) for network television.

    I wish one of the kids on that McTom's show would be a gay daughter who ends up married to the only sane one in the bunch but the "ethnically diverse" seems to point to race rather than sexuality being the difference. 

    greyday's picture

    I love her.

    And I respect what she is doing for women of color. She's actively trying to change the TV landscape.

     

    1. http://GreyDaySoul.blogspot.com
    2. http://RoseRollinsFanBlog.Blogspot.com
    SusanGabriel's picture

    The courage to be unique

    Selma Hayek, like Frida Kahlo, has the courage to be unique. I love that she's so ambitious, and has the savvy to get things done. And she's short, too, a tiny powerhouse. AND, she helps women get ahead. An impressive woman, in my book.  

    www.SeekingSaraSummers.com

    tight's picture

    Selma

    is really remarkable. That is all.

    User login

    Recent comments

    After Ellen home page on logo online