ADVOCATES SAY MUCH LEFT TO DO HISPANICS LEAST REPRESENTED ON TV.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

It wasn't so long ago that network television was found sorely lacking in representation of minority actors and actresses.

In 1999, there was not a single Hispanic-themed show on television networks, recalled Alex Nogales, president and chief executive officer of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, a group that advocates for diversity in the entertainment industry.

While Nogales is encouraged by the current slate of Hispanic-themed shows, he said in an interview this week that the entertainment industry still has a long way to go. He wants to see minority actors and actresses ``populate shows'' across the board, reflecting real-life diversity.

``Proportionally, we are the least represented,'' he said, noting that while Hispanics make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population, Latino performers held only 6 percent of the television and film roles in 2002, according to the Screen Actors Guild's casting statistics.

``Is there progress? Yes, incremental progress.''

San Fernando Valley actor Carlos Alazraqui, who stars in ``Reno 911'' on Comedy Central, said Hollywood still has a tendency to stereotype Latinos in ethnic roles.

``If we are indeed included in the nomenclature of Latino, there are not too many places for light-skinned Latinos. There are Mexicans with German and Irish background, blond hair and blue eyes. But if they are in Hollywood, they would not be considered Mexican,'' said Alazraqui, whose parents are from Argentina and whose last name is of Sephardic Jewish origin.

Television networks renewed their efforts to increase representation of minority performers on shows after they were slammed by the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, a consortium of civil rights groups from around the country.

But industry observers believe that it's ultimately the changing demographics of America that is forcing changes. The ratings of ``The George Lopez Show,'' they say, prove to entertainment companies it's worth it.

The Lopez show is the second most watched show in Hispanic households after ``The Simpsons,'' and last season ranked a respectable 53rd out of 178 television programs.

``I think the opportunities are increasing. That's just due to the demographics,'' said Alazraqui. ``It's reality. We don't take it personally. It's business.''