Rick Najera is an award-winning writer-actor-director and producer with credits in film, television, theatre and Broadway.  Najera is a true pioneer of comedy and an innovator of humor in the U.S. and internationally as well, honored twice by Hispanic Magazine as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Latinos in America’. Most notably, his writing credits include LATINOLOGUES™ on Broadway, his newest comedic stage play Sweet 15, and groundbreaking television comedies such as MAD TV and In Living Color. 

On the corporate side, Najera is currently Vice President of Development for LATV, a bilingual television network that launched nationally with Post Newsweek in April 2007, and is responsible for creating new original content to this network.  Najera recently created, developed and executive produced three new cutting edge comedies for the LATV network: ‘The Homies Hip-Hop Show’, ‘Ceasar and Chuy’(co-creator), and Mas Comedy  which have already proven themselves to be ratings winners.  ‘The Homies Hip-Hop Show’ is a half hour sketch comedy and hip-hop show using the internationally popular two-inch ‘Homies’ figurines, and is the first nationally syndicated Latino stop-motion animation series on LATV.  ‘Ceasar and Chuy’ is a half hour series based on two animated characters that provide comedy relief to a host of today’s popular videos. Mas Comedy is a half-hour compilation of Latino stand-up comedians and hilarious comedy sketches. Najera lends writing and vocal talents to the series and has led efforts in creating a new genre for this network television station.

For the third consecutive year Najera will direct the popular CBS Multicultural Sketch Comedy Talent Showcase, and currently stars in (writes and executive produces) his own comedy ‘BBQ Bill’ on CBS.com’s Innertube. Najera is most notably recognized for his highly successful award-winning play, LATINOLOGUES™ which was recently featured at the 2007 Latino Laugh Festival and ran on Broadway in New York City at the Helen Hayes Theatre for 16 weeks, (137 performances with an extension), a historical achievement for a Latino oriented show. The Broadway version of LATINOLOGUES was directed by Cheech Marin and has toured the country with more than 75 different guest actors performing in the show making it the only showcase of its kind.  Najera’s latest comedy, “Sweet 15 – Quinceañera”, which he wrote, created and performs in, is already another theatrical success with standing ovations and sold out houses. A full production of this play is currently being performed November 17-December 16, 2007 at San Diego REPertory Theatre, making it Najera’s fourth play produced at this theater. With numerous productions of his work produced at venues across the country, Najera is one of the most produced Latino playwrights in the country.
 
Najera grew up on the stage and graduated from The American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) and the Warner Bros. Comedy Writing Program. From there, he landed writing assignments such as the groundbreaking comedy sketch show, In Living Color, as well as Robert Townsend Television and Culture Clash for FOX. He moved on to Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and Ponderosa for Pax Television, for which he was nominated for and ALMA Award for Best Writer. He also wrote a comedy special with Whoopi Goldberg that was filmed in San Diego and a telenovlea (soap opera) for the Spanish network Televisa, which was filmed in English. In addition, other writing credits include MAD TV, for which he was nominated for two consecutive Writers Guild of America Awards in 2004 and 2003. Najera has written four pilots for the major networks, animated pilots for Disney and for ‘Condorito’ (Latin America’s #1 cartoon) and more.  He recently wrote a dramatic screenplay for State Street Productions and a comedy for Panamax Films.

Najera stars in the upcoming film ‘Universal Remote’ written and directed by Gary Hardwick and can also be seen in the upcoming Spanish-language movie ‘Ladron Que Roba A Ladron’ by Panamax Films.  Najera co-starred in National Lampoon’s, ‘Pledge This!’ with Paris Hilton and played a lead role in ‘How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer’, screened at the Sundance Film Festival.  He also appeared in the feature film ‘A Day Without a Mexican, guest starred on NBC’s West Wing, and was an original cast member on the WB pilot, “The Help” with Tori Spelling.  Najera was also a featured actor in the HBO Latino special, ‘Habla’.  Najera has appeared in numerous television shows as well.

Najera has authored numerous plays including, Latin’s Anonymous, Peculiar People, A Quiet Love, The Pain of the Macho, Latinologues™, and most recently Sweet 15 - Quinceañera.  Three of his playsare compiled into his book, ‘Pain of the Macho’ which is required reading in several universities. His award-winning comedy, Latinologues™ ran on Broadway in New York City and has been featured at Showtime’s Latino Laugh Festival, HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival, at the Big Stinking’ Comedy Fest in Austin and has had successful runs at major theatres across the country including The Bailiwick Theatre in Chicago, South Coast Rep, San Diego REP, Coronet Theatre, Alley Theatre and dozens others which can be found on the www.latinologues.net website.

Awards and Recognition:

• ‘Hispanic Pioneer of America’ - Discovery Channel en Español  (2006)
• ‘Top 10 Celebrities to Watch’, San Diego Latino Film Festival (2006)
• ‘Father of the Year’ – Telemundo, Miami (2006)
• ‘100 Most Influential Latinos in America’ - HISPANIC Business Magazine (2005 and 1996)
• Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award Nomination, Best Writing in a Comedy / Variety (2004)
• Image Award, Best Live Theatrical Production, LATINOLOGUES™ (2004)
• Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award Nomination, Best Writing in a Comedy / Variety (2003)
• ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Award Nominee, Best Writer for a Television Drama, ABC
• Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, Best Writer, Latino Laugh Festival for Showtime
• ‘50 Most Influential in Hollywood’ - VARIETY

Rick Najera has been featured in publications such as Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Hispanic Magazine, Hispanic Business, Latino Leaders Magazine, Latina Magazine, Bello, Latin Style, Latin Heat, Sister Cities, Hispanic Outlook and on television shows such as A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts, PBS’s Life and Times, NBC’s Hispanics Today, Univision’s Aqui y Ahora, Despierta America, Escandalo TV, Primer Impacto, El Gordo y La Flaca, LATV, Mun2, Perfect Image TV, American Latino among others.  During his four month run on Broadway, Rick Najera joined Broadway’s brightest, most influential and well-loved personalities when his caricature was placed on Sardi’s exclusive ‘Wall of Fame’ in midtown Manhattan.

For more information on Rick Najera visit www.myspace.com/ricknajera or contact
Scott Montoya at The Collective at 310-288-8181.