God, Finally: Introducing “Maid In Manhattan” - The TV Series

You can stop holding your breath: ABC is presenting “Maid in Manhattan,” the series. Molded after Jennifer Lopez’s cinematic treasure of the same name, the series will follow the exploits of a Bronx-born Latina hotel maid as she lives and loves and laughs and works for minimum wage in Manhattan. No longer will people have any right to complain about the lack of substantial roles for Latinas in the entertainment industry. Now, Latinas have the option of playing not only homely fashion magazine interns with a heart of gold, but also sexy cleaning women with hearts of gold. Sexy, you say? Golden-hearted? Why, that sounds kind of like a writer. According to the show’s writer:

“I imagine being a writer in Hollywood is often very similar to being a maid in Manhattan,” he said.

Indeed! And, just so there’s no confusion, we weren’t being at all facetious when we mentioned that, yeah, there are about two roles for Latinas on TV:

On ABC, “Maid” could be a suitable companion for the network’s dramedy “Ugly Betty,” which also centers on a hardworking young Latina in New York with big dreams.

Because, truly, Latinas are all hard-working, good-spirited, honest women who scuttle their way up from the bottom, much to the delight of their equally hard-working but impoverished families, which probably includes someone named “Paco” or “Tito.” We’re already working on our spec script.

Here’s the premise: Latina maid shows up for work. Snooty white lady nearly trips her in the hallway. White people! They’re so snooty! But the maid pulls herself up, looking sadly behind her, and keeps on pushing her little cleaning cart down the hall. Who will be behind the next hotel room door? The easy-going, but simple, white stoner? A mystical negro? A sympathetic prostitute with a sharp wit and a soft heart? Maybe a flamboyant gay man who’s really into fashion, has zero body fat and proclaims our Latina heroine to be “fierce?” A wise, old Chinese woman? Or a bumbling single neurotic Jewish guy with mother issues?

Oh, the hjinx that will ensue!

But, hey. Maybe the show will prove us wrong? [Laugh track. End scene.]

ABC dramedy is ‘Maid’ to order [Hollywood Reporter]