female announcer: The 37th annual Imagen Awards is made possible by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo; Disney Branded Television; HBO Max; Netflix; Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District; Campanario; Loud; Paramount.

Welcome to the highlights from the 37th annual Imagen Awards; the premiere event that celebrates Latinas and Latinos in television and film, featuring the biggest and brightest stars of today and tomorrow, recorded live at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, an historical-- in downtown Los Angeles.

♪♪♪ announcer: Let's catch up to the excitement with our first award, best voiceover actor.

From the Netflix miniseries "Maid," please welcome actress and Imagen nominee, Aimee Carrero.

Aimee Carrero: Hello.

I'm here to present the award for best voiceover actor, and the lovely people at the Imagen Awards have asked me to give a little quick advice since I am the voice of "Elena of Avalor."

My only--and I really thought about this very hard.

I swear this is the best advice I can give anybody wanting to get into voiceover.

Please do not drink coffee before your audition.

It will make your voice very dry and clicky, and you probably won't get the job.

And if you do have coffee, have a green apple.

That should help.

That's my advice, and now here are the nominees.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Aimee: And the winner is Summer Rose Castillo, "Alma's Way."

♪♪♪ Summer Rose Castillo: So, first and foremost, I just want to say everybody here looks fabulous and handsome.

I just have to announce that.

I would like to thank God for all of the work and blessings that he has given my family and I.

So this is just amazing.

And it's always been my dream to come and visit Hollywood, and I've been drawing about it and now here I am.

I would also like to thank everyone at the Fred Rogers Productions, every one at Pipelines Studios, Holly who is the director of Pipelines Studios.

Elaine del Valle, she is the best casting and director.

And of course Sonia could not be here, but she is a legend; Sonia Manzano.

And we should all know that she plays "Sesame Street."

She plays Maria.

She was like everybody's tieso.

She was amazing.

How could I forget this?

Okay.

I'm going to thank my parents.

I'm going to take this moment to thank my parents because they are also the ones who helped me and encouraged me to keep moving forward and to continue the work no matter how tired I was.

I love all of you, and God bless.

Aimee: It is an honor to present the award for best young actor.

This award has become a launching pad for new talent in the past and this year is no exception.

It's so important to cultivate young Latino and Latina talent and empower them to continue on their journeys as actors.

So here are the nominees.

♪♪♪ Aimee: Right.

And the winner is Nik Sanchez, "Safe Room."

♪♪♪ Nik Sanchez: Oh my God.

Jeez, this is insane.

I can't believe this.

This is so crazy.

Thank you so much to everyone, especially Lifetime, Astute Films, and Zuri Agency.

Thank you to Boris, Nicole, and Dominique, and also Leticia.

I love you guys so much.

Thank you to my mom for always being there for me and supporting me and being the best mom ever, like seriously.

She's always been there for me.

So I appreciate that well.

And every other actor that was nominated for this was honestly amazing, too.

Everyone was amazing.

And, you know, as a kid I used to be bullied for being autistic but also for not being Mexican enough.

So just thank you.

Thank you so much.

announcer: To present the award for best youth programming from Netflix's upcoming series "Blockbuster" and a nominee tonight on behalf of her performance in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," please welcome Melissa Fumero.

Melissa Fumero: Hi.

So when I was growing up I didn't see many families on television who looked like mine, but now I am so happy to report that my sons have so many amazing TV shows to choose from; shows that celebrate their culture and show them the world as they know it, diverse with Latinos and Latinas of all colors.

Here are the nominees for best youth programming.

♪♪♪ Melissa: And the winner is "Alma's Way."

♪♪♪ Summer: So hello, everybody, again.

Unfortunately Sonia couldn't be here, but she wanted me to tell you that none of this could have happened without Fred Rogers and me.

Neo Vela: And me.

male: Also--thank you, Summer.

Thanks, Neo.

Sonia would also like us to say a couple of words.

[speaking foreign language] This is great.

This is really nice.

Sonia would like to thank our executive producer Ellen Doherty and Fred Rogers Productions, our talented cast, writers, production team, and Pipeline Animation; and thank you, PBS, for giving us a platform to tell stories about a young Puerto Rican girl in the Bronx learning to think things through.

[speaking foreign language] Sonia Manzano.

We wouldn't be here without you.

You made this possible.

So did you two.

Thank you.

[speaking foreign language] Thank you.

announcer: Please welcome from Disney's "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series," Frankie Rodriguez, and from Hulu's "Plan B," Victoria Moroles.

Frankie Rodriguez: So, Victoria, I heard one of the nominees is an actual ghost.

Victoria Moroles: No, Frankie.

She just plays a ghost on TV.

So-- Frankie: So does that mean Melissa Fumero isn't actually a cop?

Victoria: Oh no, no, no.

She's someone with way more force: a Latina mom.

You know, 'cause police--in the force she got way more.

Frankie: And the nominees for best supporting actress in a TV comedy are... ♪♪♪ Victoria: All right.

Let's see.

It's Melissa Fumero.

♪♪♪ Melissa: Thank you.

Oh my God, legit.

Did not expect this at all.

I'm not prepared at all.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Imagen Foundation.

This is my first and last award for playing Amy Santiago.

Nine years ago when "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" started, everyone was freaking out about two Latinas being on a network television comedy; and now that's not weird, and we did that.

This is a character that will always be very near and dear to my heart.

So--and to the other women in this category, I'm a huge fan of all of you and I freaking love you so much.

So thank you.

Thank you so much.

♪♪♪ Frankie: So we were just talking backstage about how Victoria's film is all about plan B. Victoria: Yes.

And how Frankie plays the first openly-gay character in the High School Musical franchise.

Frankie: It's just really funny how just a few years ago these types of roles would not exist, or if they did they sure as heck were not comedies.

Victoria: Yeah.

So let's give it up for all the comedies out there and the roles that continue to push boundaries.

Frankie: Here are the nominees for best supporting actor in a TV comedy.

♪♪♪ Victoria: All right.

Frankie: Harvey Guillen.

Victoria: So Harvey couldn't be here tonight to accept the award.

So we're accepting the award on his behalf.

announcer: Here to deliver a special presentation, please welcome the president and co-founder of the Imagen Foundation, Helen Hernandez.

Helen Hernandez: Now, this is usually the part of the show where we honor some talented writer with Norman Lear Writer's Award, but this year we're trying to do something a little bit different.

Because I don't know if everyone is aware, but Norman Lear turned 100 years old this year.

Isn't that incredible?

Norman's long career in television started in the golden age of television with shows like "All in the Family," "Good Times," "One Day at a Time," "The Jeffersons," and "Diff'rent Strokes."

His career has even extended into our modern streaming age with the critically-acclaimed reimagining of "One Day at a Time," which followed a Cuban-American family, which of course Gloria Calderon Kellett was the showrunner.

Norman has always recognized the value of positive and accurate representation on television.

Norman actually founded the Imagen Awards because he understood the importance of recognizing Latino talent as a means to encourage more positive portrayals in entertainment.

Thank you so much for your extraordinary dedication, Norman.

You are not just an ally to the Latino community, you are a trusted confidant and accomplice in the fight for equitable representation for Latinos and Latinas.

So let's all together wish Norman a happy 100th birthday.

Happy birthday, Norman.

Unfortunately, Norman couldn't be here this afternoon.

And so I know that he has sent a very special message to all of you.

Norman Lear: It shouldn't be any secret that I love you, Helen Hernandez.

I have been proud and grateful for any small part I played at the beginning of the Imagen Awards, but it's you, Helen, who made it all come true and happen.

I bless you all for this award.

I cherish it and could not be prouder of anything or--of the Imagen community.

Bless you all, and thanks.

Helen: Thank you, Norman.

We love you, and thank you for giving us this great gift of the Imagen Awards.

announcer: In dedication to Norman Lear, please welcome singer/songwriter Irene Diaz performing "Anything For You."

♪♪♪ ♪ I bet our love could do anything ♪ ♪ 'cause I would do anything; ♪ ♪ oh, anything, anything for you.

♪ ♪ We could move mountains, ♪ ♪ then we could part the seas ♪ ♪ 'cause I would do anything; ♪ ♪ oh, anything, anything for you.

♪ ♪ Give me love to walk here.

♪ ♪ All these walls we could break ♪ ♪ 'cause I would do anything; ♪ ♪ oh, anything, anything for you.

♪ ♪ This world's crazy, but I'm going crazy for you.

♪ ♪ This world's crazy, but I'm going crazy for you ♪ ♪ 'cause I would do anything; ♪ ♪ oh, anything, anything for you.

♪ ♪ I would do anything, oh anything for you.

♪ ♪ I bet our love could do anything ♪ ♪ 'cause I would do anything; ♪ ♪ oh, anything, anything for you.

♪♪ announcer: To present the awards for best actor and actress feature film, please welcome from Amazon's "With Love," Emeraude Toubia, and from Netflix's "Ozark," Alfonso Herrera.

Emeraude Toubia: The nominees for best actor and actress in a feature film represent leaps our community has made in film this past year.

Alfonso Herrera: Whether it's cherished musical reimagined for new audiences or fresh stories highlighting complex family dynamics, these actors have taken center stage.

Emeraude: The nominees for best actor in a feature film are... ♪♪♪ Alfonso: And the winner is Eugenio Derbez, "CODA."

Ben.

Ben.

He's a friend of mine so can-- Emeraude: He's allowed to come up.

Ben: As you guys all know, Eugenio had a little accident so he couldn't make it, but I have him right here on speakerphone.

So go ahead, Eugenio.

Eugenio Derbez: Thank you, everyone there.

Thank you to the Imagen Awards.

I'm really, really sorry that I'm not there.

I was so excited about being in this ceremony.

I'm really sad I'm not there physically, but--well, the good thing is that I saved a lot of money on the rental of my tuxedo.

But thank you very much for this award.

"CODA" has been an amazing surprise for everyone, and I'm glad to be part of this beautiful, beautiful project.

Send you all my kisses, and I'm rooting for my Latino people.

Thank you very, very much.

Emeraude: I am lucky enough to be able to work with some exceptional Latinas in the industry and these actresses are no exception.

They embody the quirky, courageous, and imperfect women in all our lives, but most importantly they bring our humanity to audiences across the globe.

Alfonso: [speaking foreign language] Emeraude: [speaking foreign language] Alfonso: I agree 100%.

Emeraude: Perfect.

Alfonso: And the nominees for best actress in a feature film are.,, ♪♪♪ Emeraude: And the winner is Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story."

And unfortunately the winner couldn't be with us tonight, and we're accepting the award on her behalf.

Alfonso: You.

Emeraude: Okay, I'll take it.

Thank you guys.

Goodnight.

Alfonso: Bye.

announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, to present the award for best feature film director, please welcome via video Eugenio Derbez.

Eugenio: [speaking foreign language] No, no, no, no, no.

Unfortunately I could not be with you in person today as I'm currently recovering from surgery, but on the bright side I'm finally on vacation and getting some well-earned mandatory rest.

It's also given me the opportunity to catch up on all the films I've missed.

But enough about me and onto this year's incredible nominees.

They represent the most successful and talented directors working in Hollywood today.

Their films have entertained us through some tough days and delivered a vision for Latinos to see themselves represented on the big screen.

The nominees for best director are... ♪♪♪ Eugenio: I couldn't go.

I had to take care of my injury.

Last award show I went someone got slapped.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah.

And the winner is Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith, "Encanto."

♪♪♪ Charise Castro Smith: Thank you.

Thank you so much for this award.

I'm pretty sure my mom is never going to live down the fact that I won a best directing award when nominated against Steven Spielberg.

Serious bragging rights for her Zumba class.

So--but seriously I am so honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of myself, my brilliant directors that I worked with.

Byron Howard and Jared Bush, they really wanted to be here today.

And I'll just say, you know, when I was a kid growing up in Miami, I just--you know, the representation wasn't there.

I didn't see myself and I thought to myself, "Well, maybe Hollywood doesn't know that we exist."

Right?

"Maybe they just haven't heard of us."

And then I grew up and realized I wasn't exactly what was-- but I look out to this sea of beautiful faces and I'm so inspired and I feel so grateful to be among you and just--thank you.

Thank you for this.

announcer: To present the award for best feature film, please welcome to the stage the director of Disney's the Descendants franchise as well as the godfather of the Imagen Awards, Kenny Ortega.

Kenny Ortega: Good evening.

There are those inside the entertainment industry who still portray Latinas and Latinos as outsiders or foreigners; but despite what you may hear, Latinos vote, we create jobs, and we buy lots and lots of movie tickets.

The Imagen Awards holds a very, very special place in my heart.

It remains the premiere awards program in Hollywood, where Latino and Latina accomplishments are celebrated and new talent is cultivated.

The films nominated this afternoon are incredible examples that whether it's an indie film or a summer blockbuster our seat at the table is deserved.

Here are the nominees for best feature film.

♪♪♪ Kenny: The 37th annual Imagen Awards goes to "Encanto."

Accepting; Yvett Merino, producer.

Yvett Merino: Hi.

Wow, so nervous.

Okay.

Clark Spencer, my producing partner, and I, we want to thank the Imagen Foundation for--not only for this, but for really all the work that you're doing in highlighting these beautiful people that are here and that we see on the screen and continue to push and make sure that we are seen and represented.

Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and the amazing Charise Castro Smith are directors who created a crew that was inclusive and listened and heard voices in order to build this film.

Our amazing music team, Lin Manuel-Miranda and Germaine Franco led by Tom MacDougall--the awesome Tom MacDougall and all of the artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and then Jennifer Lee and Clark Spencer who lead up the studio who truly, truly understand what it is to create films that reflect the world that we live in and truly understand not about us without us.

Please they really, really want to build this inclusive studio, and so I'm so grateful for them for all they do.

Thank you.

Kenny: Nominated this afternoon for best actress in a drama, please welcome Judy Reyes.

Judy Reyes: I mean like Kenny Ortega, right?

Wait till I tell my kid about this.

It has been said that television is a writer's medium; but with the explosion of narrative storytelling on more channels and streaming services than we can name, the director has found a home in television as well.

In this new golden age, fresh opportunities have created space for brilliant directors to make their mark, including the nominees for best director in a television series.

Here are the nominees.

♪♪♪ Judy: And the Imagen Award goes to Jorge R. Gutierrez, "Maya and the Three."

Jorge R. Gutierrez: Oh my God.

I'm the only animation person in that category.

So this makes no sense.

I want to thank everybody at Netflix who made this show, but they're all been fired.

So thank you anyways.

And thank you to my parents for passionately making me, and I want to dedicate this to my wife Sandra.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I'm going to use this award to keep smashing doors down.

So thank you.

announcer: To introduce the lifetime achievement award, please welcome to the stage Los Angeles County supervisor, Hilda Solis.

Hilda Solis: Buenas noches.

Our next honoree is a living American legend, Luis Valdez.

He's known for his work in entertainment and as a lifelong advocate for farmworkers in California and across the nation.

Luis' accomplishments are an inspiration for my work as a member of the Kennedy Center board of trustees, creating opportunities for Latino and Latina storytellers to put on performances in communities, big and small, wherever in the USA.

His story is very close to my heart.

My parents were immigrants.

My father spent time as a farmworker.

He and my mother worked blue-collar jobs experiencing workplace inequities.

Along with their unions, they advocated for better working conditions and health benefits.

My parents' work ethic and sense of advocacy fueled me to be the first in my family to graduate from college and under President Barack Obama to be the first Latina ever in the United States cabinet to serve as US Secretary of Labor.

[speaking foreign language] Luis is always true to his vision sharing the Latino and Latina experiences to audience across this country.

Now it is my privilege to introduce someone very close to Luis' heart, his son Lakin Valdez.

Lakin Valdez: Tonight I have the distinct honor of introducing the recipient of Imagen's lifetime achievement award to my mentor, actor, writer, director, and a man who opens to--happens to be my father, Luis Valdez.

Throughout his career over the past 5 decades, Luis Valdez has remained steadfast in his determination to give voice to our history, our culture, and our humanity.

As a child born into a family of migrant farmworkers, my father knew too well the injustices faced by campesinos in the heart of our great state of California.

It was this background that galvanized his spirit, giving him the impetus to create El Teatro Campesino, the farmworkers theater in the midst of the great Delano grape strike led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

For nearly 5 years the company would act as the cultural arm of the united farmworkers movement, spreading the message of la casa.

In subsequent years his artistic vision would crystallize and grow into extraordinary heights; leading him to become the first Chicano playwright on Broadway, establishing a career in film and television, and maintaining El Teatro Campesino as a professional regional theater in its permanent home base location in San Juan Bautista.

And the work continues today as he just recently published his book on his theater methodology and practice called "Theater of the Sphere: The Vibrant Being."

Personally, my father has bestowed upon me tremendous wisdom and insight, but one core philosophy passed on to me early in life was his concept of work, which comes from minya the Mayan Yucateco word for work ethic and creative discipline.

[speaking foreign language] To believe is to create, is to do with love and pain.

The idea is if you're going to feel pain you're going to feel love, and if you're going to feel love you'll inevitably feel pain; but that's what makes the work we do so rewarding.

And through all of that the greatest equalizing factor between love and pain is humor, which my dad always found a way to express in all of his life's work.

With that, I am profoundly proud to invite my father and maestro in life to the stage, Luis Valdez.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Luis Valdez: Oh, please.

Thank you.

I want to thank my son.

I wanted him to introduce me because he's one of my life achievement awards here, and he's not the only one.

I want to thank my wife and companera and co-screenwriter for the last 53 years, Lupe Trujillo-Valdez.

Lupe, take a bow, please.

We met on the march to Sacramento in 1966 in a little town called Cutler in the Central Valley.

You may know it.

And I also have my other son here, and then we have three sons.

Kinan Valdez who's also a filmmaker, a director.

His works have been seen all over the country.

I want to accept this life achievement award to pass it on, to pass it on to the next generation.

I've been around awhile now.

[speaking foreign language] You know what I'm saying?

But the fact is that I have been privileged to see the panorama of progress of our people.

When we started--when I started as a playwright--I had my first play in 1960 and my first full-length play in 1964, "The Shrunken Head of Pancho Villa."

There wasn't even a single Chicano that I could cast at San Jose State College.

One brown guy was the only one.

His name was Dawood Ishmaili.

I think he was Palestinian.

But in the interim what has happened, I went to Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta and pitched them an idea of a theater up by and for farmworkers, and so that is where we began.

And my advice to all you young artists, you begin where you begin.

You bring your total talent.

You bring your intelligence.

You bring your creativity wherever you can do it.

Where your people are, that's where you need to be.

That's why El Teatro Campesino is still alive because it is a root; a root that it feeds everyone that is interested in the arts, and it's a root that has spread its tentacles out to embrace a whole tree of life in the Americas.

The names, the talents that we are witnessing here in the Imagen Awards are an Imagen of America.

It's not just a question of a single minority and a single barrio even in the great megalopolis of LA, it is the fact that we are now reflecting through our people the other forgotten face of America.

We are America.

And we need to continue what to do--we do, whether it's on a flatbed truck, in a community center, in the streets.

That will take you wherever you need to go.

El Teatro Campesino over the years, for the last 55 years, has performed on flatbed trucks and in the fields, but we also have been in ancient Rome and Greek amphitheaters in Europe.

We have been at the foot of the Pyramid of the Moon in San Juan Teotihuacan, we have been on Broadway, and we have been on the sound stages of Hollywood.

You can do it, rasa.

You can do it, people.

And so my advice to you is to go for it.

Us viejos we'll provide a perspective.

When I started there were no viejos in the arts, and now I'm privileged to be a signpost to you to say keep coming, keep going.

We're not going to go away.

We're here to stay.

The message is [speaking foreign language] announcer: Dedicated to Luis Valdez on the 35th anniversary of his film "La Bamba," please welcome the nation's premier Mexican folk dance company, Ballet Folkorico de Los Angeles.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ announcer: Please welcome from the upcoming NBC sitcom "Lopez vs. Lopez," Mayan Lopez, and from Disney's "Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion," Scarlett Estevez.

Mayan Lopez: For those of you who may not know me, my name is Mayan Lopez and I have a new show "Lopez vs. Lopez" with my father, George Lopez, premiering this fall on NBC.

Scarlett Estevez: Yes, and I cannot wait to watch.

Unfortunately, George could not be here this afternoon because he's out of town.

Mayan: Which usually means he's out playing golf.

Scarlett: Mayan, how would you describe your relationship with your father?

Mayan: You know, it's complicated.

But if I had to describe our father-daughter relationship in Hollywood terms, I'm still waiting for a call back.

Scarlett: Understood.

And the nominees for the best actor in television comedy are... ♪♪♪ Mayan: And the winner is Michael Cimino, "Love, Victor."

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Michael Cimino: This is James Martinez.

He's my TV dad.

He might as well be my real dad too, but-- James Martinez: So proud.

Michael: This is crazy, and of course today I win an award.

I'm like losing my voice, but I'd like to say thank you to my mom.

I'd like to say thank you to my manager Megan and my team at CAA.

Obviously we've made huge strides in representation in the past few years, but we have such a long way to go.

The Latin community is grossly underrepresented in film and television, whether that's behind the screen or in front of it.

I mean, there's been generations of people making it--like paving the way for us and on like in the--Jesus, if I could speak English.

Can you tell I'm a little nervous?

But, you know, we've made strides in this and ultimately the responsibility falls onto the young generation of creators, and we need to make a difference in this community.

So thank you to Imagen for this award, and I'll learn how to speak English a little bit better.

Thanks y'all.

Scarlett: It is such a joy for us to present the award for the best actress in a television comedy.

Mayan: Absolutely, especially after dealing the last few years of the pandemic and our wild national politics and don't even get me started on these heat waves.

Scarlett: But despite all the madness, it has been so reassuring to be able to put on our favorite TV shows and watch these hilarious Latinos bring back honesty, laughter, and heart back into our lives.

And the nominees are... ♪♪♪ Scarlett: And the winner is Victoria Moroles, "Plan B."

Victoria: Oh my gosh, I truly was not expecting this.

I didn't even really prepare anything to say.

All the other nominees in this category, so, so honored to be in--just beside you essentially.

And so, so wild to me that--you know, I grew up watching some of the people who are nominated tonight and just the fact that I'm even here surrounded by this community is so, so amazing and huge.

So I feel really, really grateful for all of you, and thank you to the Imagen Foundation for this.

This is so cool.

And everybody who is involved in "Plan B," it's such a vital story to be told right now more than ever.

So if you haven't watched it, you should.

Yeah, thank you to our producers American High, Counterbalance, LD Entertainment, and Hulu for just putting these voices forward.

And to our director Natalie Morales, who is also nominated tonight, is an angel on this earth and just held my hand throughout this, and my partner in crime.

You can't make a buddy comedy without having somebody who is by your side just making you feel seen.

So thank you so much.

And to my mom who is here with me tonight.

We were talking about--I told her that I was nominated, and she was like, "Oh."

We were freaking out, and she just reminded me of a saying that my grandparents used to say.

[speaking foreign language] To keep going, to see your vision and really believe in it.

So for anybody who needs to hear it tonight, [speaking foreign language] Keep going.

See your vision, and I hope you guys have a good time tonight.

Thank you.

announcer: Please welcome past Imagen Award winner and star of the new Peacock series "Leopard Skin," Ana de la Reguera, and from NBC's "This Is Us" past Imagen Award winner, actor, director, Jon Huertas.

Ana de la Reguera: Hola, buenas noches.

Jon Huertas: That means hi, hello.

Good evening.

Ana: We're very happy to be here.

[speaking foreign language] I hope to get a job here because there's so many talented people, right?

Jon: Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, keep asking.

Ana: The women nominated in this category delivered compelling performances and--on screen that have expanded the scope of Latina roles in television for audiences.

Jon: From compelling stories about motherhood, to tense crime dramas, and even the tejano music scene, the actresses nominated this afternoon prove that when it comes to television women rule.

Ana: And in life, too.

Jon: Yeah, that's right.

Ann: Yes.

And the nominees for best actress in a television drama are... ♪♪♪ Jon: And the winner is-- Ana: The winner-- Jon: Why don't you read this?

Ana: Judy Reyes, "Torn From Her Arms."

♪♪♪ Judy: Y'all.

Dominicans in the house?

I'm honored.

I'm truly honored.

I'm truly honored to be nominated in this company.

My comadre Justina Machado is here.

I'm honored to be representing Dominicans.

Linda, thank you so much for "Torn From Her Arms" and for--to Lifetime for giving us and always giving us the opportunity to tell the stories.

They don't sh--they're not as shy as a lot of people are.

Thank you to my husband and partner and my kid Ray for always being so supportive.

And I'm just proud to be here; proud to be here in this company, in the company of the nominees.

It really would--I'm just really surprised because all the actors that are in this category are so really amazing, but I'm glad to represent all of you and I'm looking forward to--as everybody was saying before, not even to name the names, to be part of making the change, right?

The change behind the camera so that there are more of us in front of the camera telling so many different stories that need to be told that we're exciting to tell.

And I feel like this creates another avenue, another outlet, another opportunity for me to continue to represent.

So thank you so much.

Ana: The nominees for best actor in a television drama represent the turning tide of roles available to Latino actors.

Jon: Latinos are gritty, and our honest portrayals push the boundaries of not only our community's representation on TV but the drama genre as a whole.

Here are the nominees.

♪♪♪ Jon: And the winner is... Ana: Oscar Isaac from "Scenes From a Marriage."

I can give you the award.

Jon: Unfortunately, Oscar could not attend this afternoon.

So Ana is going to accept this award on his behalf.

Ana: Of course.

Of course.

I'll try to, you know-- Jon: Thank you guys.

announcer: To present the next award of the evening, please welcome from Netflix's "Gentefied" actress and producer, Karrie Martin Lachney.

Karrie Martin Lachney: Good evening.

The nominees for best primetime program, special or movie, exemplify the high quality of our modern filmmaking.

The dramas tell the heart-wrenching stories of the past and present, while the comedies comfort us with the rom-coms we so desperately deserve.

Here are the nominees.

♪♪♪ Karrie: And the winner is "Book of Love."

male: Thank you so much, everybody.

I'm actually here on behalf of Analeine-- But thank you to our partners at Prime and Amazon, and this one is for BuzzFeed Studios.

Thank you so much.

Karrie: And now please welcome to the stage seven-time Imagen Awards host, Aida Rodriguez, and Imagen Awards nominee, Justina Machado.

Justina Machado: Hey, this is like the Puerto Rican twins Danny DeVito, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I have chanclas on today guys.

I have chanclas on and you're seeing the true height.

Aida Rodriguez: You're big on the inside, though.

You're real big on the inside.

Hey, I guess you--I guess the trick to winning is not showing up.

Justina: That's right, girl.

That's right.

Except for my comadre, Judy Reyes.

Let's give it up for Judy Reyes.

Aida: Judy.

And I want to say this, though.

I'm going to steal this moment.

I will tell you that I was so honored to be nominated because no woman, no Latina has ever been nominated for a comedy special in anything ever.

Justina: Are you serious?

Aida: Look it up.

Not in Emmy.

Not--nothing.

So I'm just honored that that happened.

No, I love you back.

All right, you know it's a pretty good pairing to present the best primetime drama and comedy.

You know, I'm a comedian, and, Justina, you're an excellent dramatic actress and the people who really know you know you funny, too.

Justina: Thank you.

Thank you.

I am in a lot of comedies.

You know, of course "One Day at a Time."

I mean, let's give it up for "One Day at a Time."

And I know you love to bring the drama.

I'm on my tippy toes, girl.

Aida: You know what?

When did truth become drama?

Oh my God, I've been known to cause a stir, but it's only because it comes from a place of love and I think as a comic it's my job to do it.

When George Carlin did it, nobody complained.

Justina: That's right, girl.

You're right.

I'm with you.

You know that.

Okay, well--and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Here are the nominees for best primetime drama.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Justina: And the winner is "Selena: The Series."

Accepting is Rico Martinez, executive producer; and Moises Zamora, executive producer and writer.

♪♪♪ Moises Zamora: Thank you, Imagen.

Thank you, everybody.

Biddi biddi bom bom.

This project--casting crew right there.

Yes, baby.

This project was made with a lot of love, a lot of hardships, but we made it.

And just like Selena said, "The impossible is possible," and this series could not be more truer than that.

Thank you, Selena, for blessing us.

Thank you to all these Latino beautiful faces that we have here.

We are working so hard to change those numbers.

We need to make more representation.

And it may be disheartening to see that our Latino shows are getting canceled, but by God I promise I will bleed to make that change.

Rico Martinez: And the most radical thing I think we did with Selena, which is a little bit sad to say but also very uplifting, is to say we tried to show a Latino family as human beings and people that everyone could relate to, which unfortunately you don't see very often on TV, and we feel like so proud to have represented a family and our community.

And thank you so much for everything.

Moises: We love you.

Adios.

Aida: We did it for Selenas.

Justina: Yes.

And now for the final award of the afternoon, best primetime comedy.

This year's phenomenon nominees showcased the wide breadth of comedic storytelling on television.

They bring out the humor and joy of family drama, explore friendly rivalries, and fulfill our wish of finally landing our dream crush.

Aida: Janina-- Justina: Janina.

We were drinking those bottles.

Yes--okay.

Aida: When was the last time you had a crush?

Justina: Oh, depends.

Does Rita Moreno count?

Aida: Absolutely.

Justina: Okay.

All right.

Aida: The nominees for best comedy--primetime comedy are.

♪♪♪ Aida: And the winner is "Love, Victor."

♪♪♪ Michael: James is going to take the lead on this one since I messed the last one up so bad.

James: Oh my God.

Thank you, Imagen.

It's my first time up here.

This is such a privilege.

Thank you, Colombia.

Michael: I just want to say thank you to the amazing cast and crew for making this show what it is.

Without all of those people, we are just parts--like cogs in a wheel.

We--without all these amazing people, we would not be here.

So thank you guys.

James: I got to say we've been receiving messages through DM from fans of the show.

LGBTQ, Latino parents of LGBTQ communities reaching out to us and telling us how much they feel heard, and that to us we made it already.

Like I feel so privileged and so honored to be a part of a show that's made such a deep impact on the Latino LGBTQ community; and we're here for you and we hope to speak up for you in the future with more programming like this, TV, theater, movies.

Let's make it happen.

Let's give these people a voice.

Come on.

Michael: Let's do it, y'all.

Love you guys.

Aida: Somehow they tricked me into hosting this again.

Justina: I guess I'm the co-host.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for the 37th annual Imagen Awards, and have a good night.

[speaking foreign language] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ announcer: The 37th annual Imagen Awards is made possible by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo; Disney Branded Television; HBO Max; Netflix; Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District; Campanario; Loud; Paramount.

♪♪♪