Cristela Alonzo
Cristela Alonzo | |
---|---|
social awkwardness | |
Partner(s) | Stephen Halasz (2008–present) |
Website | cristelaalonzo |
Cristela Alonzo (born January 6, 1979[1][2]) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, writer, and producer, who created and starred in the ABC sitcom Cristela.[3] This made Alonzo the first Mexican American woman to create, produce, write, and star in her own US primetime comedy.[4][5]
Early life
Cristela Alonzo was born on January 6, 1979 in Hidalgo, Texas. She was raised in San Juan, Texas, the youngest of four children of mother Natalia Gonzalez, who worked double shifts at a Mexican restaurant for about 20 years,[6] and father Adalberto Alonzo, both of whom were from Mexico. When Alonzo's mother was pregnant with Alonzo, Alonzo's mother left her abusive husband and raised the children alone.[3] Alonzo has explained that she never met her father, who died in 2009.[7]
She has three siblings, older sister Julisa Maria Alonzo and older brothers Eloy Eduardo Alonzo and Ruben G. Alonzo.
For the first eight years of Alonzo’s life, the family squatted in an abandoned diner, and were homeless and destitute, even with her mother working double shifts as a waitress.[3] She often went hungry, and had problems with skin pigment due to a lack of nutrition.[3] Alonzo said her mother often used humor to offset the abject poverty.[9] Alonzo learned English from watching TV as her family spoke only Spanish at home; her mother never learned to speak English.[3] Television was a way for the family to stay inside, avoiding the violence from drug trafficking in their neighborhood. Alonzo would translate American shows into Spanish and act them out for her mother.[3] Alonzo and her mother were inseparable. Alonzo and her mother shared a bed until Alonzo turned 18.[3]
Alonzo was raised in a very strict
At age 18, Alonzo left home to attend Webster University to study theater in St. Louis. However, Alonzo dropped out because she could no longer afford school.[12] She went back to Dallas and moved in with her sister, where she took care of her mother who was sick and her sister's children.[12] Alonzo's mother died in 2002.[3]
Career
In 2003, a year after her mother died, Alonzo got a job as an office manager at the Addison Improv[8] and started doing stand-up. Alonzo said that she started doing stand-up as a way to process her grief and talk about her mom and her family.[9] She was part of a small Dallas scene.[13] Alonzo eventually moved to Los Angeles to become a stand-up comedian.[3]
In 2006, Alonzo got her first break in Los Angeles when she was hired to write on a Comedy Central show.[14]
Alonzo spent two years traveling on a bus with the Honduran-born American comedian Carlos Mencia and several other comics.[3] Alonzo ended up leaving the tour. Alonzo then spent a lot of time on the road doing college comedy shows, where she found a lot of success.[3]
In 2010, Alonzo was a semi-finalist on the TV show Last Comic Standing, which raised her visibility and led to a May 2011 segment in the comedy showcase Legally Brown.[14]
Alonzo did a 30-minute segment of
Cristela
In 2013, with TV producer Becky Clements, Alonzo created her own semi-autobiographical comedy pilot
On May 10, 2014, ABC picked up the pilot to series for the 2014–15 television season.[19][20][21] After an initial order of 13 episodes, nine additional episodes were ordered, bringing the total count of episodes for season 1 to 22.[22][23][24] Cristela was a multi-camera show, shot in front of a live audience.[3] The series concluded on May 7, 2015, and has since been cancelled.[25]
Post-Cristela
In 2017, Alonzo voiced the character of Cruz Ramirez in the Disney-Pixar film Cars 3.[26] [1]
In 2017, Alonzo released a Netflix stand-up special called Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy.[27]
In 2019, Alonzo published a memoir called Music to My Years: A Mixtape-Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up.[28] The memoir release is accompanied by a stand-up tour called My Affordable Care Act.[29]
In 2020, in association with Vox Media Podcast Network, Alonzo hosted and voiced the 11-episode podcast Chicano Squad, which details the story of a five-man Latino homicide investigation squad who worked to resolve police injustice in the Houston area during the 1970s. The podcast first aired in December 2020 and recorded its final episode on March 16, 2021.
Alonzo is a frequent guest player on the game show 25 Words or Less.
In 2021, it was announced that Alonzo would host The CW's revival of the 1990s game show Legends of the Hidden Temple.[30]
In 2022, Alonzo released a Netflix stand-up special called Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy.[2]
Comedic style
Alonzo has a trademark, raucous laugh: "If I’m laughing, you know I’m either very happy or very sad", she said. "I cope with things with jokes."
Activism
After the 2016 election, Alonzo has stated that with the mentorship and encouragement of
Alonzo was criticized for celebrating the death of Rush Limbaugh on Twitter on February 17, 2021, when she tweeted out the post "Happy Rush Limbaugh is Dead Day. I didn’t even get the chance to put my tree up!"[35] She was further criticized for doubling down by saying that she was "Not sorry...".[36]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Hot Pursuit | Connie | Short film |
2016 | The Angry Birds Movie | Shirley | Voice |
2017 | Cars 3 | Cruz Ramirez | Voice |
2018 | That's Harassment | Costumer Dresser | Short film |
2019 | The Laundromat | Special Agent Kilmer | |
2020 | Coast | Debora Avila |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Mind of Mencia | Writer, 15 episodes | |
2011 | Sons of Anarchy | Latin Woman | Episode: "Fruit for the Crows" |
2012 | Ladies Room Diaries | Bathroom Attendant | producer, writer, 3 episodes: "Rubik's Cubicle", "Okey Dokey Karaoke", "Hide n' Cake" |
2012 | Hey It's Fluffy! | 4 episodes | |
2012 | The Book Club | Cobra Chai / Cristela | Episodes: "The Warrior Reads On", "All Valley" |
2014–15 | Cristela | Cristela | 22 episodes, creator, executive producer, writer |
2015 | General Hospital | Natalia Rodriguez | 1 episode |
2019–22 | His Dark Materials | Hester | Voice role; Recurring role |
2020 | The Casagrandes | Camila | Voice role; episode: "Grandparent Trap" |
2021 | The Upshaws | Anna | 2 episode |
2021–22 | Legends of the Hidden Temple | Host | |
2021 | Earth to Ned | Herself | Episode: "Growing Up Ned" |
2022 | Cars on the Road | Cruz Ramirez | Voice role; episode: "Gettin' Hitched" |
2023 | Is It Cake? | Herself / Judge | Episode: "S'more Cake Please" |
Video games
- 2017: Cars 3: Driven to Win, Cruz Ramirez
Shorts
- 2007: Carpet Diem, writer
- 2007: Cookie de Mayo, writer
- 2008: Life After, writer
- 2008: Recycled, writer
- 2009: TGIF: The Musical, writer, story
- 2011: The North Council, writer
- 2017: Miss Fritter's Racing Skoool, actor as Cruz Ramirez
Stand up
- 2007: Live at Gotham, episode: "Episode #2.7"
- 2009: Stand-Up 360: Muy Caliente Edition 2
- 2010: Ladies Night Out
- 2010: Last Comic Standing, episodes 7.7 and 7.1
- 2011: Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution, episode: "Cristela Alonzo/Larry Omaha/Maz Jobrani"
- 2011: Legally Brown
- 2012: Conan, episode: "Dracula Meets the Mummy, & the Two Hit It Off Swimmingly"
- 2013: The Half Hour
- 2014: @midnight, episode 2.5
- 2014: Just for Laughs: All-Access, episode: "Jimmy Carr"
- 2014: Conan, episode 4.80
- 2017: Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy Netflix standup special
- 2022: Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy Netflix standup special
Works and publications
- Alonzo, Cristela (2019). Music to My Years: A Mixtape-Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up. New York: Atria Books. OCLC 1121187767.
Recognition
In January 2014, Alonzo was named as one of "10 L.A. Comedy Acts to Watch in 2014" by
References
- ^ "Cristela Alonzo | Actress, Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ LA Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dominus, Susan (October 17, 2014). "Cristela Alonzo Wants to Make America Laugh". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021.
- ^ Fernandez, Maria Elena (October 10, 2014). "All Jokes Aside, Cristela Alonzo Makes TV History". NBC News.
- ^ a b Hinojosa, Maria (October 24, 2014). "Cristela". Latino USA. NPR.
- ^ Miller, Bruce R. (November 15, 2014). "Cristela Alonzo realizes a life-long TV dream". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Nichol Smith, Amy (June 14, 2010). "Comedian, San Juan native Cristela Alonzo is on her way to the big time". The Monitor.
- ^ a b Salamon, Jeff (October 2014). "Rio Grande Valley Girl". Texas Monthly.
- ^ a b Rosario, Daisy (October 24, 2014). "Cristela!" (Audio interview). Latino USA.
- ^ Alonzo, Cristela (February 14, 2014). "Valentine's Day Is Awkward For This Nerdy Tomboy..." Cristela Alonzo. Archived from the original (Blog) on October 30, 2014.
- ^ "The New York Times Magazine".
- ^ a b Alonzo, Cristela. "A Thousand Miles". Cristela Alonzo. Archived from the original (Blog) on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ Splitsider. Archived from the originalon December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Martin, Michel (August 8, 2012). "Cristela Alonzo, Making Funny Her Own Way". NPR.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 2, 2013). "Cristela Alonzo Latina Comedy From 21 Laps/Adelstein Lands At ABC With Penalty". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Blair, Iain (July 22, 2014). "10 Comics to Watch: Cristela Alonzo Scores a First With ABC Sitcom". Variety.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 26, 2014). "Cristela Alonzo Latina Comedy From 20th Century Fox TV Gets ABC Order". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 7, 2014). "Cristela Alonzo & Jerrod Carmichael Pilots: What They Say About TV Biz". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2014). "ABC & 20th TV Reach Deal: 'Cristela' & 'Fresh Off the Boat' Picked Up To Series, 'Last Man Standing' Renewed". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (May 10, 2014). "ABC Orders Comedies 'Cristela,' 'Fresh Off the Boat,' Renews 'Last Man Standing'". Variety.
- The Wrap. Archived from the originalon May 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Fox News Latino. November 25, 2014.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 24, 2014). "Cristela Snags Full-Season Pickup". TVLine.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (November 24, 2014). "ABC's 'Cristela' Gets Full-Season Pickup". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 2015). "'Forever' & 'Cristela' Cancelled By ABC". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Snetiker, Mark (January 5, 2017). "Cars 3 first look: Meet Pixar's new millennials". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Garcia-Navarro, Lulu (March 5, 2017). "From Mom Jokes To Trump-Era Racism, Cristela Alonzo Aims To Skewer Latino Stereotypes" (Includes audio interview). Weekend Edition Sunday. NPR.
- OCLC 1121187767.
- ^ Porter, Rick (July 15, 2019). "Cristela Alonzo Sets Stand-Up Tour, Memoir Release (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (July 14, 2021). "Cristela Alonzo To Host CW's Reimagining Of 'Legends Of The Hidden Temple'". Deadline. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ Terrero, Nina (October 10, 2014). "'Cristela' creator talks sitcom inspiration, 'Golden Girls'". Entertainment Weekly.
- OCLC 1121187767.
- LAist. Archived from the originalon October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
- ^ "Watch Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy | Netflix Official Site". Netflix.
- ^ "Hollywood Celebrities Celebrate Death of Rush Limbaugh". February 17, 2021.
- L.A. Weekly.
- L.A. Weekly.
- ^ Zulkey, Claire (January 1, 2014). "13 Funny Women to Watch in 2014". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ Cepeda, Paola (November 16, 2019). "Cristela Alonzo receives Key to the city of McAllen". KGBT. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Cristela Alonzo at IMDb
- Cristela Alonzo on Twitter