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(electronic music)

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(upbeat music)

(intense music)

- Our culture confuses fame with greatness.

I wonder what made me think that I could

come to Hollywood to make my dreams come true.

I was born in a developing country,

raised by a single immigrant mother in New York City

from very humble beginnings.

But, ever since I can remember

I've always loved to make people laugh

and I love to entertain.

Sometimes, the rejections get to me.

The disappointments, ah, are so often

and I just feel like giving up.

I look in the mirror and I just wanna throw in the towel.

And I get this gut-wrenching pain

and I can't decide what is more painful

giving up or die trying.

Those people that know me would never believe

that behind this hot body, baby,

there's a whole bunch of fear, abandonment

and self-confidence issues.

And I hear dead people too.

(Latin music)

For years, I have documented my travels through Hollywood,

where they're always looking for Latinos,

but they can't seem to find us among the millions.

Documented and undocumented.

Through all these experiences I have learned

that you cannot have immeasurable success

without a great deal of failure.

This is my journey, all true, all real

from the heart.

And if you have a dream, this is your journey too.

(Latin music)

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] Kiki moved from New York City to Los Angeles

to pursue her dreams.

And in just three short years, she had made

her biggest one come true

or at least she thought she did.

- Kiki, it's your lucky day.

The network approved our new talk show.

- And we want you as our host.

- You, Kiki Melendez, this is huge.

This is Jay Leno, this is Oprah Winfrey.

This is. - Ellen.

- Ellen, this is like amazing.

This is major.

- This is national, okay.

This is worldwide, baby. - Yes.

- Oh please. - What?

- We mean this, this is really happening, Kiki.

- Listen guys, I don't mean to be rude,

but every time I have one of these network meetings

it's the same thing, we're gonna make you a star.

We're gonna give you your own show.

It's gonna be huge.

Blah blah blah blah blah.

- Okay Kiki, what do we have to do to prove it to you?

- You know what, put it in writing.

(clock ticking loudly)

- Okay, go. - Okay, let's do it.

- There ya go.

(pipe organ tone)

- Okay great, so what's next.

- What's next is that we start the business affairs.

So, you're gonna have to get us in contact

with your lawyer and next week

we'll start picking out your furniture

and building the set for your pilot.

- We gotta start right away.

- They want your show now.

- Yeah. - Yeah, they want it.

- Let's do this.

- Okay then, I'll see you next week.

- Okay. - Yes.

- Awesome.

This is awesome.

- Oh my god, oh my god, I got a network deal.

I gotta call somebody, I gotta call somebody.

Okay, I'll call my mother.

No, no, no. (speaking Spanish)

I'll call my assistant.

Wait, I don't have one.

I know, my best friend.

No, that bitch is gonna be jealous.

Oh my god, I gotta call somebody.

(phone ringing)

David, David, hello David.

Oh my god, you're not gonna believe what happened.

I got a network deal, yes.

This is what it says, ahh.

(breathing heavily)

- [Man On Phone] Well it's about time she has her own show,

don't you think?

(running footsteps)

Hello?

Hello, you there?

Hello?

(little boy laughing)

- Give me the letter, give me the letter.

Give me, give it to me.

Give me the letter, give it to me.

- It's mine, it's mine. - Give it to me.

(knocking)

- Hi.

- Oh my god. - How are you?

- Terrible, oh terrible. - You tell these idiots

that are pulling all of my projects, yes,

and they can shove it up their asses.

- Wait - That's right.

- I'm so sorry I'm late.

I was running through traffic, you have no idea,

but I spoke to a whole bunch of celebs

and they're willing to do the pilot.

I wanna discuss it with you and tell you all about it.

What's going on?

- We are done with this network, done.

- Why?

- We got fired. - We got fired.

- Oh my god, what?

What does this mean?

- It's kaput, Kiki, it's over.

You know what, do you know what I'm going to do?

I'm gonna move to the South and I'm gonna get

some peace and quiet and I'm gonna get

the hell out of Hollywood.

- Tim, you're a New York Jew.

You'll die of boredom there.

- Oh my god, I'm desperate, I don't know what to do.

(crying)

- What's gonna happen to me?

What's gonna happen to my show?

Who's gonna take over my show?

- We'll do lunch, but right now

we gotta get the hell outta here.

(busy tone on phone)

- The phone's are cut off.

You know what that means.

They're gonna call security.

- [Tim] They cut us.

- No, I will not be humiliated.

- [Kiki] What, what happened?

- No, that's mine.

- Oh my god, we're outta here.

(Kiki sighing)

(xylophone music)

(birds chirping)

(snoring)

- What the hell happened to my career?

(static buzzing)

♪ My name is Kiki

♪ Si, Senior

(singing in Spanish)

♪ You go girl.

(singing in Spanish)

♪ I want you all to lose control

- It's rice and beans mi amour, your favorite.

- [Robert] Kiki Melendez, actress, writer, comedian.

And one of the few Latina producers in Hollywood.

CEO of Latin Hollywood Films

with a track record of successful shows

in both the English and Spanish markets.

(camera clicking)

Super Woman has nothing on Kiki.

She's also a housewife and the mother of twins.

- Kiki Melendez is ballsy.

- She's a force of nature to be reckoned with.

- Shy? (speaking Spanish)

- She's just this ball of energy.

- You hear like a little, ahh, (clapping) there's Kiki.

- Kiki like Oprah Winfrey and Roseanne Barr

and Brett Butler all mixed in one.

- Just when I thought I was free

Kiki drags me back in to a stand-up routine.

- She's like too much, you know what I'm saying?

She has to tone it down.

- She's a very unique individual.

She doesn't stop.

I mean, she keeps on the phone with you

until she gets what she wants.

- I think we're very similar.

We've become producers, you know,

we've become actresses.

We've become co-hosts.

- There goes Kiki trying to get all the attention again.

This is my dog Kiki.

She's not named after the Kiki,

but, you know, we'll just say that she is

for the purpose of this documentary.

This Kiki is a lot quieter. (laughing)

- Kiki is such a loyal friend.

Let me put it this way, if you have a dead body

in the back of your trunk and you need to bury it

in the middle of desert, call Kiki.

Because she actually knows somebody that knows somebody

that has a cousin that actually knows a guy

that actually buries bodies in the desert.

Actually, I have his number.

- Kiki is like the Japanese.

The Japanese have no word for no

'cause they think it's impolite.

They just have degrees of yes.

When a Japanese person tells you,

it's not likely, they mean no.

With Kiki, it's not likely means, oh yeah, Tuesday.

We're gonna do that Tuesday.

- In this town it's not, do you know Kiki Melendez?

No, it's, who doesn't know Kiki Melendez?

She knows so many people in Hollywood

she should be huge by now.

But, you know as they say, it's not who you know,

it's who you. - [Man] Blow.

Time for your blow, Bel.

(hair dryer blowing)

- As part of my job being a Hollywood designer

I get to work with some really great people

that want to wear my jewelry, my handbags,

my clothing and accessories.

It's fantastic to work with all the A-list stars

and then there's Kiki.

She wants everything for free.

- Come on Charlie, please. - Give it back.

- Come on. - Give it back.

- I need it for this premier. - Kiki, give it back.

- I have to, please.

- I met Kiki at Mario Lopez's birthday in 2007.

She was like, hi, I have an HBO show and it's comedy

and I would love for you to host.

I think you're amazing, blah-blah-blah-blah.

I'm like, who is this woman?

Where did she come from?

What show am I hosting?

Because I'm sure I'm gonna host it.

Like, what's going on?

Within 30 minutes, I had agreed to do

this little spot in Vegas.

- I've seen Kiki around at events, you know,

and she always had something in production.

- You said, "I have a script I'd like to interest you in."

And I said, sure, you know, send it to me.

And then you said, "No, I have it right here."

And I think it was in your purse.

So I mean, the woman was prepared.

I loved the script.

I read it and then there was a moment there.

And the reason it interested me is because

it was out of the realm of the maid

and other stereotype roles that I've done.

But this lady was, you know, the script was good.

And I said, you know what, Kiki?

I have an idea, why don't you send this to Martin Sheen.

Little did I know that I did have a friend

who drove FedEx.

And I said, do you know where Martin Sheen lives?

And she said, "Sure do."

I said, (speaking Spanish) Martin Sheen.

And there she goes and she delivered to Martin Sheen.

And he tells us, he tells you, that he's interested

in doing the film.

And this fool here, like everything else,

we open our mouth before we know what we're doing.

She said, "I don't know what to do with it."

Oh, my god, as we know the scripts still there

on the table.

- The way I met Kiki Melendez was through Lupe Ontiveros,

who introduced us and we had met

and I did her program then.

Well, she was actually the pilot for her program,

"Kiki in Hollywood" and ended up helping.

And you know, just going on camera and she interviewed me.

- I met Kiki, I was producing a show

called "Latinologues" with Rick Najera

which ran nine months at the Improv in Hollywood.

And I remember this woman coming in, you know,

like a tornado and she's like, Rick,

I have this wonderful actress.

This young actress, she's here from Texas.

Her name is Eva Longoria and she's gonna be a star.

And you gotta put her in your show.

And nobody said no to Kiki 'cause it was like alright,

well, okay, I guess she's gonna be in the show.

(sound of car speeding past)

(clock ticking)

- [Robert] 9:00 a.m., she cleans the house

and does the laundry.

- Hello, yes Latin Hollywood Films.

Oh yeah, sure. - [Robert] 10:00 a.m.

back-to-back business calls.

- Yes, this is Kiki, how are you?

(children crying)

- Okay, yes, just tell me when you wanna meet.

I have my schedule.

I know, I know you can hear them, but they're fine.

No, no, no, don't hang up.

Oh my god, it only took me a month

to get the network on the phone.

- [Robert] We never said she was a perfect mother,

but she definitely gives it her best shot.

- Who's my Dominican little twin?

- Meeee.

- Who's my Scottish little twin?

- Meeee.

- [Robert] 11:00 a.m. arguments with husband over money.

- I just wanna get one more project off the ground.

I just need a couple of grand to finish it.

That's all I'm asking you for, please.

- [Robert] Her husband, who would not sign the release

and so therefore, we cannot have him appear on camera,

shares his views on life with Kiki.

- You know it's really hard to start your own company.

- Well, if you wanna continue with your company

we can't afford to live here anymore.

We're gonna have to move somewhere cheaper.

- Move from L.A.?

Where would you take me?

Where would we move?

Where could we possibly move?

- Let's move to Texas where I work.

- Texas? Are you serious?

- You promised me that if this didn't work.

- I never promised I would move to Texas.

There's too many republicans there.

- [Robert] 12 noon, pitch meeting

with Cindy Cowan Entertainment to make her feature film.

- Who's attached?

Just tell me who's attached.

- Well, I'm attached.

- Yeah but, real stars.

I just need an A-list star attached

and then I can help you.

- I'm not A-list? - I'm sorry.

- Somebody shoulda told me.

- You just, you're not.

- I went to a few stars, like big names, A-listers okay?

And when I talk to them they're like,

okay do you have the money?

- For me to get the money, you need the stars.

- But I can't get the star without the money.

- But I can't give you the money unless you have the star.

- [Crows Voiceover] Aww.

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] 2:00 p.m., pick up Contraband hats

for auction items at her non-profit gala.

4:00 p.m., go to her charity, The Joy Foundation,

to plan event.

- And people are excited that you're gonna come

because you're the spokesperson for Jewels of Youth

and they're very very excited.

- I really love doing it, so no worries.

(xylophone music)

- [Robert] 5:00 p.m., meeting with mentors

in comedy for advice.

- [Kiki] Who started Black stand-up comedy?

- If you're asking me what really put it on the map,

"Def Jam" had people staying at home on Friday nights

waiting to watch Black comedy.

- See, that's what I wanna do for Latinos.

You know, Latinos that speak Spanish.

- Russell Simmons, the creator of "Def Jam"

had that same principle with Black urban stand-up comedy.

It had never been done on that level

and he had to convince HBO this will work

and it was phenomenal.

- Whenever no one has done it they're like,

you know how Hollywood is, if no one's done it

no one wants to do it.

- I can tell you something all day,

but what your eyes see, your heart must believe.

I was told that.

I think you should just shoot it.

- [Kiki] Really?

- I think you should get some comedians,

put 'em together, I mean.

- [Kiki] And prove it, right?

- And prove it.

You gotta prove it. - [Kiki] I gotta prove it.

- [Robert] 7:00 p.m., meeting with

actress producer Shari Belafonte

for a possible role as an actress in a film.

- The project I'm talking about in particular

is a Western and oh, man, it's gonna brilliant.

We're shooting. - What kind of a Western?

- It's a true story about Mary Fields

was the first Black stagecoach driver in the world.

- First Black?

- First Black stagecoach driver.

- Oh my god.

- She's beautiful, but, you know, you didn't know.

She's like.

So, there has to be that right person to play that part.

I can't even begin to tell you.

- That's so exciting.

- It's like the best and, you know, Whoopi is one.

- What part do you think that I could play?

- Well, not her, but I was hoping

you would like help me find that character.

And just a few others that are that are in the part too.

- So, you don't have a part for me in the movie,

you just want me to like get you people for the movie?

- Well, you can play like a small part.

How do you look naked?

- [Male Voiceover] Huh?

(upbeat electronic music)

- [Robert] 8:00 p.m., a meeting

to package and finance her feature film

with Grammy Award winning music executive

and now, film producer, Cecil Chambers,

CEO of Triumphant Entertainment.

- If you focus on being an actor you'll starve to death.

- That's true.

- If you focus on being a writer you'll starve to death.

- Well, you have to look at it like this,

if it's your movie you have to be the overseer

of hiring the right crew, the right director,

making sure you have the right tax incentive,

all those things.

Who else is gonna do it?

- [Kiki] Exactly, so you gotta produce.

- Mm-hm, you have to produce.

And that means wearing 20 hats.

- Yeah.

(thunder crashing)

(child laughing)

- [Robert] She was born Christian Delores Melendez

in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

This is the house where Kiki was raised

with her grandmother, Adjuana, cousins Winston and Robert

and caretaker, Channa.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

Kiki's mother, Matilde Almonte, and her father,

Nestor Ramon Melendez, separated

when Kiki was just a year old.

Her mother immigrated to the U.S.

while Kiki remained behind.

- After my mom moved to New York

and for the first six years of my life

I lived between two families.

One was extremely rich and the other one was extremely poor.

- I think that's why Kiki's so mixed up.

She doesn't know if she's poor or rich,

but she likes to spend a lot of money shopping.

- One part of my family was a bit resentful

toward my father.

So, they always, you know, kind of spoke about him

not seeing me and not taking care of me

and not being around for me.

And so for many many years, I resented my father.

I thought he had abandoned me

and I thought he didn't care for me.

And it wasn't until recently when I went back

to my country to visit Channa, who was like a mother to me,

that I found that that was not the truth.

(speaking Spanish)

Channa told me that my father used to come

and visit me all the time.

And he used to entertain everyone.

And he would sit in the porch of the house

and tell jokes all night.

I must have been a little kid watching him

basically do stand-up.

And I had no idea, I mean, I get goosebumps

thinking about the fact that maybe

that's where I got it from.

I joined my mother when I was only six years old

in New York City.

- Matilde was very determined

that Kiki would have a good education.

- Kiki's mom is an inspiration.

She worked two jobs just in order

to get her through private school in Manhattan.

Which, that's not easy.

- I learned courage and risk taking from my mother.

I remember the other day we were driving

through the gates of Bel Air.

I was taking her to the hospital

'cause she got unexpectedly ill.

And, you know, I just looked at her

and I said, Mom, I'm so grateful for what you did.

You sacrificed your life to give me a better life.

So many times we forget where we come from

and look, look at where we are today

and it's all because of you.

And she was so proud.

And I couldn't tell if she was proud of me

or proud of herself, but she looked at me and she said,

"I just didn't want you to grow-up the daughter of a maid."

(speaking Spanish)

- Kiki's mom just loved anybody that spoke Spanish to her.

So I was like (speaking Spanish).

And that was kind of it (speaking Spanish)

and loved it and she had no clue

that I didn't even speak Spanish that well.

- Kiki's mom is warm.

She treats you like you're a child even if you're not.

She always wants to please everybody

that comes into her house.

- Very gracious, tall, very giving,

reminded me of my mother and some of my aunts

that were just enveloping you.

- The first time I met her I was like (speaking Spanish).

She was like, que, como?

I said Mohamed.

She goes, Obama?

I said, no, Mohamed.

She goes, Obama?

So, to this day, after all these years,

she actually really thinks I'm

the President of the United States.

So, I go with it.

- [Kiki] Obama, (speaking Spanish)

- I gotta go.

- Latino Hollywood would not be Latino Hollywood

without Matilde.

- And she don't care where you come from, fancy-schmanzy,

you're gonna sit down and eat, right?

- Every time you go over there she feeds everybody.

And you're like, oh, no, no, no, no I'm not hungry

and bam it's arroz con pollo right in front of you

and you're like, oh my god,

I'm going for seconds and thirds.

I attribute five to ten pounds of weight gain

to Kiki's mom.

- You can just say, Kiki, can I come over and just eat?

And she'll say, I'm not home, but my mom is

and you come in and there is a plate

of food waiting for you.

- Matilde was always cooking for celebrities,

but when she wasn't cooking for celebrities

the celebrities was cooking for her.

One say she says, come on, let's go to a barbecue

and guess who was there doing the barbecue?

Guy Ecker, my favorite, I loved it.

(applause)

- [Announcer] Kiki Melendez.

(audience cheering and clapping)

- The first thing I did when I decided to get into acting

is I wanted to know if I even had any talent.

So, I tried out for the best schools in New York City

and I went to Lee Strasberg and I kind of got

a really good response right away.

- When she was doing her monologue

Sophia Lauren was coming into the school

to get a tour of the school with her son.

She went over to Kiki after her performance

and she says to her, "You remind me

"of a young Sophia Lauren."

Kiki, whenever she's been thinking of giving up

and not continuing, that's what keeps her going.

She remembers that day.

- [Robert] It was this classical training

that helped her conquer the stage years later in L.A.

with the historical play "Madres Y Heroinas".

- I needed somebody to introduce the play that we did

which was called "Madres Y Heroinas".

But, when I first came to Kiki, I came to Kiki for help.

I needed her name.

I needed Kiki Melendez to be a part of it

that way she could help me.

Then all of sudden, she can act.

Oh my god.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

Very hard to go from stand-up comedian like Kiki

to go to a dramatic role.

- Now, I know Kiki to be a comedian,

so it was shocking to me that she would accept a role

as dramatic as the role was.

But, I'm telling you, she reached down into her roots

and did and incredible, unbelievable job.

Which made me feel that as a dramatic actor myself

I could do comedy.

So, she really inspired me that night.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

- "Madres Y Heroinas" was fascinating for the respect

that it was on Dominicans and this is L.A.

and if we were in New York it would make sense,

but it was L.A. so it was kind of fascinating

that it was happening in the first place.

I was super impressed with Kiki's performance.

I mean, she was passionate.

Her presence was super strong

and I could see her playing in even a larger venue,

you know, off-Broadway.

- And it was actually the very first

historical Dominican play in Los Angeles

and we had standing ovations.

(Kiki speaking Spanish)

(applause)

- [Robert] While she was still in New York

pursuing acting, Kiki found comedy by accident.

She lived around the corner from the Comic Strip

and here friend, veteran comic Joey Vega,

persuaded her to give it a try.

- And I said, well, why don't you try stand-up?

It's a way of getting into acting.

It's a way of getting into a lotta avenues in show business.

And she did, so I'm responsible, yet again,

for another success in Hollywood.

Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Kiki Melendez,

come on, I'm the wizard, I'm the wizard of Hollywood,

but yet, I'm here doing an interview for Kiki's film.

You go figure.

- [Kiki] I would just constantly do shows all over New York.

I'd force all my friends in New York to show up.

I would pack the house.

- [Robert] Kiki's very first acting job was

on the set of "Miami Vice" in Florida.

It was this experience that inspired her to go forward

with her dreams of acting.

- I left New York because the truth is

that there isn't that many opportunities

in film and television.

And I knew that I had to come to Los Angeles.

- [Robert] Kiki soon became one of the first

and only Latinas on morning radio.

- When I was given the opportunity

to program a new radio station in Los Angeles

I knew that that town was hungry

for a Latin crossover format and I needed a secret weapon.

I found Kiki Melendez and I put her on the mornings

and the rest is history.

She was the first Latina female lead

in a general market radio station.

- [Group of Men] Kiki Melendez (cheering and clapping)

- [Kiki] How are ya?

- [Robert] Then, she was discovered

and created the first bilingual T.V. show in America,

"Kiki desde Hollywood."

- From the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood.

- You know, she was just very funny, very personable,

made you laugh, I mean, she was great.

- (speaking Spanish) I'm with John Travolta.

Do you know that all the Latino women just loved you

from the day they saw you dancing on "Saturday Night Fever?"

- Well, thank you very much.

- And you dance the best, but I wanted to ask you

have you ever thought of doing a salsa dance movie?

- Salsa dance is nice. - Do you like it?

- I love Latin dancing.

- "Kiki desde Hollywood" was a show I did with Kiki

where I executive produced with Kiki and Paul Block

and it was an amazing experience

and the budgets we got from Galavision were like

they thought we were doing "Titanic."

I mean they were just, how can we spend this much?

- Now, how did you feel about Jack Nicholson?

My god, I just remembered.

- He's such a pervert, I love him.

- Lupe, thank you for sleeping over with me

on "Kiki desde Hollywood."

- Don't tell anybody ever that I slept with you.

- I'm single.

- I'm just the only one in your life right now?

- Right now, honey, I know, seriously.

- This very minute. - I'm not kidding.

(speaking Spanish)

- Congratulations, I really wanna congratulate you.

I'm so happy for you. - Thank you.

- You deserve it, you know, you know.

Just good luck and just god bless

and you can always count on me.

- Mario (speaking Spanish) You can't leave yet.

- How are you doing?

- (speaking Spanish) Mario.

How could you leave without being on "Kiki desde Hollywood?"

- I know, I don't know.

"Kiki desde Hollywood," I love Kiki.

It's the only reason I'm stopping

'cause I'm stopping to talk to Kiki

because I love "Kiki desde Hollywood"

and Kiki's a personal friend, so that's the only reason.

Other than that I'd be out the door.

- Out the door, right? - Out the door.

(speaking Spanish)

- She's bilingual and we were all bilingual

and she reflected that in "Kiki desde Hollywood."

- I'm 100% Spanglish and this show comes out of nowhere,

"Kiki desde Hollywood" and it was the first time

that I could connect with somebody.

I mean, I would get together with my girlfriends,

we would all sit there and we would all try

to imitate her, but because I'm the most fabulous

and I look the most like Kiki (speaking Spanish)

I was all over that.

My name is Kiki (speaking Spanish)

I want you all to lose control, hey.

- [Robert] Kiki Melendez had the cojones

to ask the king of American television, Aaron Spelling,

- (speaking Spanish) Why don't you have

a Latina on "Melrose Place"?

- We have had them as recurring characters.

They come in for some episodes.

We haven't had a lead yet, but we will.

- You know something, Aaron, it's so funny

because in New York when I was in Fox

I wanna be the Latina in Melrose

and they used to say there goes the neighborhood.

(laughing)

- [Robert] A few months later

to everyone's shock and surprise

a casting call went out for just that,

the first Latina on "Melrose Place".

And two weeks after that the show was canceled.

(speaking Spanish)

- Hey, stop clowning around.

- We are on the set of the movie "The Wash"

it's a comedy staring Dr. Dre.

Do you feel a big responsibility

when you're writing your songs and your lyrics?

- No, I only feel responsible for making a good song.

- Do you think I could learn how to rap

since I can't even sing in the shower?

- Oh definitely.

- (speaking Spanish) Right, you speak English.

- Yes. - She's one of the hottest

stars on Univision and have you thought

of going to Hollywood and making it in the big screen?

- I've thought about it. (speaking Spanish)

- [Kiki] "Kiki desde Hollywood" was truly magical.

(speaking Spanish) more than 100 celebrities.

Thank you so much.

- Adios.

- Hey Kiki, this is Jimmy Smits.

Rock it, rock it, rock it like we know you can.

- Now you are playing the mayor.

- The mayor.

- So that's a positive Latino role.

- Yes, but he's a corrupt mayor,

but he's positively corrupt.

- Isn't that redundant?

Latino, corrupt, politician. - Latino, corrupt.

- "Kiki desde Hollywood" was a pioneer show.

We knew about that and when you wanted to come out

to Mexico to interview us we were like great,

we will gladly do it.

Estella, my wife, was just reminding me

that we did the interview out on a tree that fell over

in the back of our house.

- [Kiki] And there were like, it was like birds.

You were teaching me about all your birds.

- [Guy] Oh, we had a lot of birds, yeah.

- Yeah, and I was in your backyard

and I was like oh my god, and when I saw Estella

I was like, ugh, what does she have to be here for?

(both laughing)

I had my plan.

- Hey, we weren't married yet, you shoulda made your move.

(Kiki laughing)

- It's so funny, last time I saw her

we were outside of our friend's home

in a very nice area of town and all of a sudden

some spaceship looking like car rolls up

and I'm thinking, whoa.

Down comes the window and it's Jay Leno

going, "Hey Kiki, what's going on?

"How ya doing?"

And I'm like, hey, hi, are you guys friends?

She goes, I haven't seen him in years,

but he remembered my name.

- I remember my wife telling me how popular

desde Kiki Hollywood was and that was a great show, Kiki.

That was a great show and nobody can ever

take that away from you.

- [Kiki] You thought it was a porn movie didn't ya?

- I did, desde Hollywood, sounds like Kiki doing Hollywood.

Any time you put doing something in something

it's normally sexual.

- [Robert] Have you ever heard of a Dominican on BBC?

- Live to L.A. and our show biz

correspondent, Kiki Melendez.

Kiki, are you there?

- Yes, I'm here, how ya doing, Joe?

- [Joe] Excellent, you look fantastic, Kiki.

- [Robert] Before long, she walked into the offices

of Peter Engel, the veteran T.V. producer

of such hits as "Saved by the Bell"

and most recently, "Last Comic Standing".

The veteran producer saw Kiki as the Latina Oprah.

- When I discovered Kiki Melendez in 2000.

It was, I was sitting around my gang

and I said, it's time for a Latina Oprah.

And I'm not talking about a Spanish show.

I'm talking about someone who brings the culture together

because we are all the same, essentially.

We all want the same dreams and aspirations and hopes

and we all have the same fears.

And I said, come back to me with someone

and a week later they said Kiki Melendez.

I said, anyone called Kiki Melendez I want.

Get her in here.

- [Robert] But Kiki got stuck in development hell.

And that's when she decided to create her own opportunities.

- So what do you think?

- Oh my god, Kiki, I can't get enough

of "My Mother Married a Gringo".

This is amazing, I love it.

So many like great ideas, some many scripts,

what's happening? - Nothing.

You know why?

Because it's easier to win the lotto in this town

than to get a show on network television.

- Is that right?

- Oh, I'm serious.

I mean, I need money.

I need money to develop these things, to do sizzle reels.

- Oh my god, Kiki, I have a great idea.

- [Kiki] What? - I have a client at the bank

and he's always asking me to find him new businesses,

new things to invest.

- You're kidding. - Yes.

- Would he be interested? - I don't know.

I can give him a call, I can set up a meeting.

If he's interested we'll go meet with him.

- Oh my god, that would great.

It pays off to have a friend as a banker.

I love it, thank you so much.

- Let's do it, let's try it.

- Yes, I know, I know, you already told me

10,000 times, okay. - You cannot mess this up.

Rabbi Goldstein, it's so great to see you.

Thanks for meeting with us.

This is my great friend, Kiki Melendez

from Hollywood Latin Films.

- Latin Hollywood Films. - Yes, Latin Hollywood Films.

- It's so nice to meet you.

Thank you so much for meeting us.

- Well please, have a seat.

- So, this is what I was gonna tell you.

I am so excited that you gave us the time of day

because I know how busy you are, Rabbi.

- Excuse me, excuse me Kiki, Rabbi, I have a phone call.

I'll be right back, okay?

- Please, please. - Hurry.

- Kiki, Kiki right? - Yes.

Kiki, I read your proposal.

Tell me a little bit more about Hollywood Latin Films.

- Latin Hollywood Films, Rabbi.

You're so funny.

Well, this is the thing, when I first came to Hollywood

I realized that we needed a company

that creates work of art for Latinos in America,

but that everybody can enjoy.

Like "Cinema Paridiso" it's an Italian movie in Italian,

but everybody loved it and it even won an Oscar.

You know why, Rabbi?

Because it has passion.

Do you like passionate movies?

- I don't own a television set

and I have nine kids, I have nine kids

and I don't even let them go to the movies.

- (laughing) You are so funny, that is so funny.

- No, no, no, I am serious, I am serious.

The media is destroying the youth of America.

- This is why you need to invest in a company like me

because I wanna make a difference

by creating work of art that inspires people.

Because Latinos are emotional.

Latinos have strength.

Latinos have passion.

(Rabbi yelling while falling)

- Oh my god, I'm so sorry. - Stop it, stop it.

- Kiki stop, stop. - What?

- You need to stop, let go.

In the Jewish culture when you touch the opposite gender

it's a sign of sexual act. - Oh my god.

- Oh my god, Kiki please.

- I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Rabbi.

Friend forever not matter what, high five.

- Oi.

- My bad. - Go, go Kiki, go, go, go.

- Are you kidding me, this woman touched me here.

I'm embarrassed, I am the one embarrassed.

I am ashamed, this is blasphemous.

This is not suppose to be one of those things.

Who, what do you want?

Oh, this?

This is for you.

- Oh my god.

I messed up, I messed up.

- Kiki, Kiki stop, Kiki, Kiki stop.

- I don't wanna hear it.

I know, I'm sorry. - Oh my god, I'm in shock.

- I know, I let you down. - I can't believe this.

- I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to.

- You need to learn to do business with the Rabbi.

- What's the point. - Unbelievable, Kiki.

- I'm sorry. - Because he said yes

and he's gonna finance your company.

- What, what are you talking about?

- Yes, and something about passion, I don't know.

- Oh my god, oh my god.

Wait, uh, can I?

- Yes.

(both shouting joyfully)

- Oh my god.

- [Robert] And this, my friends,

is how Latin Hollywood Films was born.

- I realized that I had to prove to this town

that I was talented.

And the only way to do it was to create

an opportunity for myself.

But at the same time, I also noticed

there were very few launching pads for female comedians.

And not just Latin, but of all races.

- It's easier for men in comedy.

Even if you're a Black man or a white man

or an Asian man to make it in comedy

faster than a Latino woman.

Why? 'Cause we have a (bleep).

That's the big fact.

- There's always a stigma of female comedians

of, oh, you're not funny.

So, think about it this way, I'm a female comedian

and I'm ethnic and this is after 9/11.

So people were looking and being like,

okay, is she gonna bomb on stage?

- Women don't really get their fair share or fair shot

of actually trying to be funny

because people really don't see women as being funny.

And the women that are funny, they don't really,

I mean I hate to say this,

but they're not really seen as women.

- Most male comics don't think female comics are funny.

So, even though there's camaraderie among comedians

the girls know that a little bit.

They always have to prove themselves a little bit more.

Before, almost like they weren't taken seriously.

You couldn't be pretty and do comedy,

but I feel like Kiki and Eva both proved that wrong

when they were doing the "Hot Tamales" shows here.

Because they're both attractive women,

but they're up there being funny.

- So when I started stand-up in college

I was a biology major because, of course,

like every other Persian Iranian little girl

my parents wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer.

And I told my mom I did stand-up

and she's like, you're telling jokes?

Are you a clown?

No good lady does jokes.

And I'm like trust me, I wanna make a living out of this.

This is what I wanna do.

So, I get up on stage and my mom's like,

this is a nice hobby, when is medical school?

This is a nice hobby.

So, she started coming to my shows and judging me.

Wouldn't say a word and sit there and watch me and watch me.

And finally, she's like, don't do any more jokes about me.

It's not good, you are a nice lady, don't make fun of me.

I'm like, okay, fine.

And then 9/11 hits and all a sudden my mom's like,

Nadine, we cannot be Iranians anymore

because they're blaming us, we are Mexicans.

So, overnight, my last name changed from Rajabi

to Rodriguez, hola.

(sound of frying pan sizzling)

(audience laughing)

- So I decided, hey, I'm gonna unite

all racists through laughter.

The club owners thought I was crazy.

- I was in our offices for Latin Heat in Burbank, California

and in walks this windstorm of a personality, Kiki Melendez

and Eva Longoria, who at that point was just in town,

just arrived into town and they were doing

this project called, "The Hot Tamales Live"

and they wanted help.

They wanted promotion, they wanted,

and they told me all about it and I'm like, of course.

- It feels good, it feels good.

Especially when you're an actress.

Like Kiki's an actress first and foremost.

I'm an actress first and foremost.

So, it feels really good to do something behind the scenes

and to create your own avenue to success.

- [Robert] Kiki says the greatest night

of her career, thus far, was the premiere

of her first English language project

launched by the prestigious Showtime television.

- It's not 'cause I'm speaking publicly,

but my non-streak bronzer is starting to streak,

you know what I'm saying?

On behalf of Showtime Networks I'd like to welcome

all of you to the world premiere of Kiki Melendez's

"Hot Tamales Live."

(audience applause)

- God, there's a lot of people.

Thank you so much for coming out tonight.

Kiki started this dream about 20 years ago.

She was the first person I met here in L.A.

and the minute she walks into a room, as you know,

she just lights it up with her personality

and you just immediately gravitate toward her energy

and she took me under her wing.

I had no money, I had no car, nothing.

I slept on her couch and she's really resentful now.

(audience laughing)

- It's 70 shows later for Showtime, you know,

one of the shows that stands out in my mind is

Kiki Melendez's "Hot Tamales".

It was a great experience.

You know, Kiki, they say that some people are crazy,

but crazy in a good way.

And, you know, I can of came to the conclusion one day

that there's a difference between being crazy

and being eccentric and the difference is money.

- It was magical, it was so exciting.

I mean, there wasn't one empty seat in the house.

It was better than an orgasm.

I hope my husband didn't hear me.

Anyway, I was kicked out of my own premiere.

There was no where to sit.

- Finally, Kiki was the one person

that was able to recognize my talent and my friend Amy

and my friend Kira and all these people,

And said, listen, you guys are underrepresented.

We have to be on television.

And Kiki gave me my first stand-up show

on television, on Showtime.

When I first started the Tamales I was a total virgin

and Kiki loved it.

So she would always introduce me on stage,

welcome to the stage our Persian Tamale.

She's a virgin everybody, Nadine Rajabi.

And I'd be like ha-ha-ha I'm a virgin.

Two years later I lose my virginity

and I go up to Kiki and I go, Kiki, guess what?

I'm not a virgin anymore, don't tell anyone.

Please don't tell anyone, but I'm not a virgin.

It was so awesome.

So, lo and behold, you can't tell Kiki anything.

She gets up on stage and welcome to the stage

our Persian Tamale and she just told me backstage everybody,

she's not a virgin anymore.

So, I come out on stage and I was like,

hi Mom, hi Dad, surprise.

It's comedy, right?

Nope, I mean yeah that happened, but.

- "Hot Tamales Live" on Showtime was such a success

and my mother used to love going to my shows.

I remember one time we were watching a show

and we were packed that day and she was sitting in the front

and Joey Vega was on stage.

- So we're doing the show and I'm there

and I'm asking the audience questions.

And I go, how many people here like sex?

Come on raise your hand if you wanna have sex with me?

Just to throw 'em off.

And all of a sudden I hear, me, me, me, from the back.

This woman's jumping up and down me, me, me, me.

And I look and I look and I see it's Kiki's mom.

She didn't speak a word of English,

but she thought I said how many people like me?

- She thought he was saying, who likes me?

Who likes my jokes?

So, I was like, hmm, she's having so much fun,

I should create "Hot Tamales en Espanol".

- When Kiki first came to me with this idea

of Spanish stand-up comedy I immediately Googled it

because there is no such name in Spanish

for comedy en espanol.

And she said, I know, I'm gonna make one.

I'm gonna call it "Comedia En Vivo", brilliant.

- Being in Los Angeles, being in America,

the Latino community, its impact

on the entire entertainment industry.

It's important to be open to find different ways

to bring these communities in.

"Hot Tamales" sounded like a great idea,

but the thing with Kiki is it's much more than that.

(drum music)

- The first person I came to when I wanted

to do "Hot Tamales en Espanol" was you.

I was like please, Guy, help me.

What do you think, should I do it?

- I've always thought it was an incredible idea.

I know what a go-getter you are

and so I thought if Kiki's got her hands in this

it's gonna work.

- What did you think when I told you,

I'm like, Monique, we gotta do Spanish language stand-up.

What was the first thing on your head?

- I thought, at least we're not naked.

'Cause Kiki always has to pick super difficult things

and then go, hey, do you think we can do this?

And I go, sure, why not.

- And it's in Spanish, we don't have that.

- The Latino comedy is much richer, more delicious.

- Our people don't speak Spanish or English well.

I mean, who's gonna understand, ya know?

- My idea of Spanish comedy was watching like

"Sabado Gigante" with my dad.

And it really wasn't about the comedy,

it was all about watching girls in bikinis.

There always selling some kind of product,

Bambino.

- The Latin comedians in Latin America

they're still kinda behind.

And I don't say that in a bad way.

It's just, they're still doing like Vaudeville stuff.

There's always a gay guy in the joke

and a drunk guy in the joke and a little boy in the joke.

And it's always like. (speaking Spanish)

Here in America, the Latino comedian we have a lot to say.

We talk about political issues.

We talk about home life.

- I was really worried about doing comedy in Spanish

because do Mexicans and Cubans,

do they really laugh at themselves?

- Laughing at oneself is one of the strongest ways

of becoming whole.

And not taking oneself so seriously that one cannot

smile and laugh is really really dangerous.

Laughter is the key to good health.

The more you laugh the healthier you get.

And people don't really understand that,

but it throws off enzymes inside of your body

that are very productive, very healthy.

- Sometimes you bring actors from South America,

from Mexico, from other countries,

but we have the Latinos here already

so she's working, she's helping to get

these actors recognized here in the states

because they are from here, they live here.

- We wanna see Mexican-American, Cuban-American,

Salvadorian-American, Latino-American.

We don't wanna see, oh, this actor

he was awesome in Mexico, but now he's in America.

(bleep) that guy, we don't wanna see him.

- There's a lot of Latinos that live in the United States,

in California, Miami, New York, whatever, so.

(speaking Spanish)

- The thing is Latinos here in the United States

have a different experience.

They have a different life experience

and comedy can tell that just as well

as anything else in life.

And so, there are great comedians and great comedy

about our experiences here in the United States.

(speaking Spanish)

- Do I think that comedy in espanol will work

in the United States of America?

Of course, because there's so many people

who speak Spanish here.

But, I think that the bilingual comedian

will even work even more because they'll be able

to relate to both sides of the language.

- Spanish language stand-up circuit, that' a big challenge.

I mean, you have Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians,

Dominicans, U.S. Latinos, that's a big challenge.

- I can see it opening at the Grand Ole Opry.

I can see all the cowboy, you know, espanol

as second language schools popping up

all over the comedy circuit.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

- [Robert] Kiki's goal with the new idea was

to unite Latin speaking countries through comedy.

She tested the idea in Florida

and enjoyed great success with the press and the audience.

- What a beautiful crowd Miami.

(audience clapping and cheering)

You know, I am your (speaking Spanish)

I grew up in Miami.

(audience clapping and cheering)

I went to North Miami Beach Senior High.

(speaking Spanish)

That place was still Jewish when I came here.

(audience laughing)

Just to prove I'm from Miami (speaking Spanish)

in Coral Gables, a diamond Rolex

and in 1989 when I left I had a 2010 Mercedes, okay.

(audience laughing)

(dance music)

(audience clapping and cheering)

I'm too old for this shit.

(audience laughing)

Turning 29 is a bitch.

(audience laughing)

I am a gay man stuck in Kiki's body.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

So now, you know, I got married to a Scottish bloke,

like I told you before. (speaking Spanish)

When he walked into the wedding with a skirt.

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish) We spent so much money on her education

how could she marry (speaking Spanish)

You all had, you know, all you Miami girls

probably had diamonds and all that bullshit.

(speaking Spanish)

He sent me a picture of a dozen roses.

You know what I did?

I waited for his birthday and I sent him

a picture of a blow job.

(audience laughing)

You know what inspires me?

That Latinos in the U.S. have

the buying power in the billions.

Yet, we're only 1% on general market television,

but it's not the general markets fault.

They feel we have so many Spanish language channels

they don't have to worry about us.

But all our Spanish language channels

buy 90% of their programming from Mexico,

Venezuela and all of Latin America.

(speaking Spanish)

Yet, we consume all the products.

- There's great programming on Spanish Network.

Ask my mom, she'll tell you,

but my mom will also tell you,

and this is my mom, okay, talking,

how come they never do a show in Spanish

that was made here in America.

- The Latinos here in America don't get the opportunity

to show what they can do, to show their talents.

And we have an incredible amount of talent

that's Latino based, but it all comes from

South America, Mexico because it's cheaply produced.

- We watch more films than anybody else.

We watch up to seven films a year,

which is about two to three films more than anybody else.

We consume more hours television of hours than anybody else.

More cell phone applications than anybody else.

So, we're a very sizeable consumption group

that every advertiser wants.

- For the last 20 years I've owned

a very successful business and 80%

of my clientele are Latinos, Latinos in America.

(speaking Spanish)

- I've been designing accessories and fashion

for more than 20 years selling to stores

all over the world, from New York City to Dubai,

London, Hong Kong, Paris, but one

of the most important markets for me right now

is the Latin market.

Latinas take pride in what they wear.

They love to get dressed up, do their hair, their make-up,

wear beautiful clothing, lots of bright colors,

lots of sparkle.

And that's why I created the platform, Red Carpet Rumba,

so I could bring concepts of fashion style trends

to all the Latinas showing them

how they can embrace Hollywood

and get that same look the stars have.

- I think it's about time that the U.S. Latinos

who've been supporting both the Hispanic

and general market media by spending, consuming

and supporting the programming have a chance

to give their side of the story.

- We're never gonna get Hollywood to do the story

that we want because we know how we wanna do it

and sometimes when they do our stories anyway

they don't get it right.

- All you have to do is look at Argo.

Perfect example, it won the best picture of the year.

One of the greatest stories of a CIA agent ever

and nobody even knows that it was Tony Mendez,

that the guy was Mexican-American

and was born and raised on the border of El Paso.

- I think it's important that the younger generation,

young Hollywood up and comers, really start

to write our stories because there's more to us

than what people see.

- The only way we're that we're gonna be able to see films

that are true to our culture is for us to do 'em ourselves.

And we need more writers, people behind the camera.

We need more executives.

- We need actually more Latino-American writers,

producers, directors, people with money.

- Nobody's gonna open the door for you.

The thing that I gotta say to Latinos, stop complaining.

I mean, here's the thing, if you just do it,

figure out a way.

That's how everybody else is doing it,

just figure out a way to do it.

- The only people that don't make it in Hollywood,

whether you be Latino or not Latino,

are the people who quit.

- Do you see a big difference in the Black culture

and the Latino culture?

- Well, the biggest thing that we have in common

is we're being shut out of Hollywood.

You know what I'm saying?

(both laughing)

That's the biggest thing that we have in common.

It's just like, you know, we get one show on television.

We get one somebody and we're just like oh, thank god.

- And if the show doesn't work, it's like, it's over.

Like if they put a Latino show and it bombs we're dead.

- Yeah, right, right, the whole race is ridin' on that show.

We gave you a chance, you begged for a show.

- And you blew it. - We gave it to you.

And you blew it.

- When they were casting people for "Moscow on the Hudson"

they saw the picture and they're like, oh, she looks like

what we're looking for, which was an Italian girl.

And then, that's how, I went, I did the audition.

I arrive-acee speaka like an Italiana

because, we talk, they talka like athis, you know.

So, you know, anyway that's how it happened.

And then things after that, I don't know,

I got roles that were not written for Latinas

or that were written for Latinas,

but the great thing was that I was able to open

a door there for us to do more things

than just what Latinas.

- I wish I had an opinion in that matter.

I don't really have a strong opinion

about Latinos in Hollywood.

You can put a sign here that's like terrible Latina.

And I feel like I'm an artist, so I see myself as an artist.

- When you deal with Latinos we are in the box

of the four H's of Hispanic Hollywood.

And that is like you are either overly too hostile.

Whatch you lookin' at sucker, I'll cut you.

Too humble, we are a poor people, senor.

Mister gringo please helping to us.

We don't want no problems, we don't want no trouble.

Or too hysterical, Lucy, (speaking gibberish).

And then the last one of course, everybody knows this,

we are overly hormonal.

Aye Kiki, I have to have you.

Come with me to the Casbar.

- The last great beige hope, the last crossed over talent

was Freddie Prince. - Yeah.

- "Chico and the Man" I can't think of anybody since him

that had that mass appeal.

He was, we have not had a great beige hope in three decades,

not in the '80s, not in the '90s and not in the early 2000s.

That's kind of sad.

- So, it's just you and me, kid.

- Let's do this.

- I remember my first head shots had a bandana, you know?

'Cause that's the roles that were available

for kids of my age, I was 12 so.

It was always like the street kid, the street thug.

- When you speak with Spanish accent in English

automatically you lose 20 I.Q. points.

It is like you are a stupid idiot.

But, if you talk in English you can be

the biggest rogue in the world.

As a matter of fact, you can actually be quite criminal,

steal everyone's money and they'll thank you for it.

They go, oh, oh, will you come back again?

I love your accent.

- Any race has to sort of overcome those stereotypes

that people pigeon hole them in.

And I'm the total opposite.

I mean you look Latina, I don't.

Even, I remember I did a commercial for,

I won't name the brand, but I put a mustache

and made my hair black because I needed to look Latino.

And still everybody's going you look weird.

You don't look Latino.

- If we show the Latinos that are well educated,

that have class, that are doctors, that are architects,

you know, all that.

And then you show a whore or a drug addict

or a maid, that's fine.

But we have to show everything that we are.

- This is a true story.

They asked a bunch of kids to go dress up

like senores y senoras, like gentlemen and ladies, Latino.

The next day all the kids showed up, I swear to god,

they were dressed like cholos.

They were dressed like gardeners.

Some of them show up pregnant.

And you know why?

Because that's how we're portrayed on T.V.

- In Vietnam, a Puerto Rican soldier

was the most highly decorated soldier,

like 38 massive medals,

but why don't we ever hear about that?

You know, how come when it comes time

to make their movies they're called "Rambo"

and somebody like a Stallone or a Schwarzenegger

is cast as that.

We have heroes except we can't play our own heroes.

We can play our own zeroes, but not our own heroes

and that's a problem.

It's very important because you have to show

the contributions of all cultures in this country

and we don't do that.

And we keep on making culture not necessary

to identify and to augment.

Then we're gonna lose a lot of the self-esteem,

self-respect and self-worth that people get

from seeing themselves represented.

(camera clicking)

- Before you come to Hollywood, my piece of advice is

you better save your money so you can buy

a good pair of T and A's, because that's

what's gonna get you into the business.

I don't know that it's gonna keep you there,

but at least, if you can say your name

half way decent then you're in.

- [Robert] Kiki is the only woman we know

that looked like this before and looks like this after.

- [Kiki] I'm so excited, today I'm gonna meet

with a Hollywood image consultant.

She's gonna teach me how to make Kiki a brand.

(doorbell ringing)

Hi, how are you? - Hello.

- I'm Kiki, nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you too.

- I'm so excited you're here.

- Oh, what's that?

- Oh this is chicharron. - Pork rinds?

- So tell me, how do I get all that free designer gowns,

you know, like the ones that the celebrity wears

on the red carpet, you know, free rags?

- (laughing) Actually, we need to get you to the point

where designers want you to wear their clothes.

- Well, I thought we were at that point.

- No, we got a long way to go.

We need to work on your body.

You need lipo, like maybe a lot of lipo.

And we need to make your lips more plump,

like a baby's bottom.

- There's nothing wrong with my lips.

They used to call me bubba lips in high school.

- Oh, we need you to go blonde.

- No, no, no (speaking Spanish)

- If Shakira can do it and Beyonce can do it,

Kiki can go blonde.

- Jesus, this is a lot more difficult than I thought.

All I want is free rags.

- Do you have a mirror?

Come on, I wanna show you something.

- Here, there's a mirror here.

- Okay, now lift your chin, pull your eyes, plump your lips.

That's the lunchtime lift, a work of art.

- I look just like an A-list celebrity.

I want, I want.

- I can do the whole thing for 100,000.

- I'm a comedian, I don't have that kind of money.

(phone ringing)

- Oops, goddess calling, gotta go.

- I gotta get $100,000, John.

My friends all told me that in 1.5 seconds

you become a instant mega-celebrity on YouTube.

You can get millions of hits.

You can make money.

Maybe I can get the money I need for my surgery.

I gotta try something.

- [Robert] Kiki has tried everything.

This is her little stunt on YouTube.

- Please help me, you haven't seen him?

(child speaking Spanish)

- [Robert] She went on a trip back to her country

to look for the Dominican Obama.

- It's Obama, it's Obama, drive, go.

(tires squealing)

(upbeat Latin music)

(movie projector clicking)

(xylophone music)

- [Kiki] Finally, I think I'm gonna make my movie.

I got two huge companies that are both give me 80%.

So now I'm gonna go to visit one of my dear friends

who's a top Hollywood producer.

'Cause all I need is 20%.

(knocking on door)

- Kiki, como estas, mija?

Oh, good to see you. - Oh my god, I'm so tired.

That traffic. - I know, I know.

I love your hair.

- Thank you, I got the two color thing going.

- Ah, I can't deal with that,

I'm old school, I'm old school.

I love that beauty mark.

- Girl, that's not a beauty mark, that's a pimple.

- Come on in, they're waiting for you at the meeting.

- Yeah, we'll come on over tomorrow and set it up.

Alright, terrific, sounds like we're gonna have a deal.

We'll see ya then, alright, take care, bye-bye.

- How ya doing, Richard?

- [Richard] Kiki, how are you?

You look beautiful, you look great.

Doesn't she look great?

- Thank you for seeing me

'cause I know how busy you guys are.

Did you get my email?

- Did we get the email? - Yeah, we got the email.

- Yeah, we got the email. - We got the email.

- You know, with the script "Chase, Hope and Faith"?

Did you read it?

- I think, chase, ah, mm-mn?

- Yeah, we read it. - Yes, of course we read it.

- [Kiki] Okay, cool, cool.

- Listen, Kiki, we have some bad news.

- Are you guys okay?

- Oh no, no, we're fine. - We're fine, we're fine.

- [Kiki] Oh my god, thank god.

- Yeah, it's. - Your script isn't.

- You're script is uh. - It's bad.

- It's terrible.

- It's an inspirational story about believing in God.

What could possibly be bad about it?

- That doesn't need to be made.

- That's the problem.

Nobody wants to see an inspirational movie about God.

- Anybody that reads the script says it has to be made.

You're telling me the total opposite.

- Well honey, they lied to you

because it's bad. - It's terrible.

They're not your friends.

- I already got the financing guys.

This was a gift.

I mean, I got 80%, I wanted to give you

an opportunity to be involved.

This is like, this is like a gift already.

- This is a gift, this is a gift for us

for the 20% we need. (laughing)

- A gift. - She's funny,

that's how she does it, that's how she does it.

She's so funny.

- [Kiki] I have two real companies,

two people that are for real.

- You know what, you know what?

You know I love you.

You know what?

That's what your problem is, you believe everybody.

- You do. - Everybody.

- You do. - I mean who are these people?

Who are these people? - Yeah, who are?

- Let me know who these people are.

- We'll check 'em out.

Because we love you, he'll check 'em out.

- I will find out who they are.

- Look, it's Larry Swift and George Duke.

They are for real.

- Okay, because we love you. - Larry Smith.

- Call the reps.

- This is for you.

James, how are you? Richard.

Yeah, we wanted to check out some financiers.

- George Duke. - George Duke and Larry Swift.

Yeah, really, interesting.

So, if we shoot our movie in the Caribbean

they'll pay for the whole thing.

Really?

Could you set up a meeting with us next Friday?

- This Friday. - This Friday.

- Yeah, that would be terrific.

Alright, I'll see ya out on the course.

Alright, James, alright, bye-bye.

Do you think we could shoot our movie in the Caribbean?

- Our film? - Yeah.

- Ah, I don't know, it takes place in Texas.

- Do they have studios in the Caribbean?

- Uh, yeah, I think so, yeah.

- Well, if they were gonna shoot her shitty film

in the Caribbean, they could shoot ours, why not?

- Why not? - Why not?

- What? What film are you talking about?

- [Together] "The Last Mexican in Texas".

- Bang. - Bang.

- What the?

- Great meeting. - Thank you, Kiki.

- Kiki, we love you. - Thank you, Kiki.

- So, when are we gonna have that play date?

- Do the play date. - Yes.

- I love your kids.

(xylophone music)

- Everybody's trying to cross over.

I've crossed over, I've done it.

"Hot Tamales Live" and now I think it's time to cross back.

We need to create "Hot Tamales en Espanol".

- We just can't do a mistake number two

and for playback.

- They always say that Latinos don't help each other,

but "Hot Tamales Live en Espanol" proved everybody wrong.

As soon as I put that idea on the table

everybody came to help me.

We were able to do it at the world famous Comedy Store.

A historical night.

- The Comedy Store first started in 1972.

So then began the period at the Comedy Store

which is still kind of the way we function now.

She finds people and then we develop them.

I mean David Letterman was one of her first biggest people.

Come in in the early '80s, Jim Carrey,

who became a movie star.

You get to the late '80s you got Carlos Mencia,

Paul Rodriguez.

Then we get into the '90s and Eddy Griffin and Chris Tucker.

So, that's what the Comedy Store is.

It's a comedy club, but it's also a place

where people learn their craft.

(speaking Spanish)

- Now, do you want the Brazilian girls first

or we can have Dollar Penny there.

- Oh, no, no, no, Jackie has to go first

to set up everything. - Okay.

- And then the Brazilian dancers.

- So, Kiki came to us with this idea and we were like okay.

She wanted to do an all Spanish show.

I don't think it's ever been done here

in Los Angeles before.

Maybe in isolated parts of it,

but not in West Hollywood presenting to everybody

and at the Comedy Store.

And I tell you what, once we put it out there

and we put it, the phones are ringing.

People wanna buy tickets, people are interested.

(speaking Spanish)

- It's a script. - It's a script.

- It's a script, it's blood, sweat and tears

and a little work.

(laughing)

- Really heavy, you cannot believe how heavy it is.

(speaking Spanish)

- It's gonna be perfect.

(announcer speaking Spanish)

Relax, it's gonna be great.

(Samba music)

(speaking Spanish)

- Director, Errol Falcon flew in from Miami

to support the idea.

Emmy Award winning producers and lighting,

everybody came together.

Even gringos helped us to make it happen.

I mean, honestly, it was such a beautiful experience

for everybody involved.

We had the greatest Cuban, the greatest Mexican,

Dominican, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan,

everybody was represented on that stage.

(speaking Spanish)

- I love her.

- First up is Dyana Ortelli a pioneer

in bilingual stand-up comedy.

She's also one of the greatest actors in Hollywood.

She's been on countless movies, "Curb Your Enthusiasm".

She hates playing the maid.

(speaking Spanish)

- (speaking Spanish) Monique Marvez

from "Latin Divas of Comedy" on Showtime.

(speaking Spanish) she can't tell

if she's Cuban or Venezuelan.

(speaking Spanish)

- She went from teaching to being a comic

and everyone can understand that nowadays

'cause I'm sure a comic makes more money than a teacher.

Sara Contreras is from "Latin Divas" on Showtime

and she is a Puerto Rican from New York.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

- That's how I learned to say it in Tijuana.

(speaking Spanish)

- [Kiki] Edgar Rivera, a Puerto Rican that has survived

the streets of New York brilliantly.

His parents still don't take him seriously.

They don't think being a comedian is a job.

His father's constantly telling him, Edgar,

my dream for you is for you to be the super

in a building in the Bronx.

(speaking Spanish)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

- (speaking Spanish) Ludo Vika is from Barahona.

She used to be a Vegas show girl. (speaking Spanish)

You know, acrobatics, the stuff I try to do

in the bedroom, but I break my back.

Ludo Vika's great.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

(speaking Spanish)

- Conrado Bonco mi Cubanito from Miami.

He reminds me of the Latino Eddie Murphy.

Conrado had to leave Cuba and his biggest fear

is never being able to see his children

or his ailing father again.

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience laughing and clapping)

(speaking Spanish)

(audience clapping and cheering)

(speaking Spanish)

(all cheering)

- We did it.

The night that we filmed "Hot Tamales Live en Espanol"

it was inspired by my mom and she never got to see it.

I pretty much broke down on stage

because she was suppose to be sitting there

in the front row and she died two weeks prior

to the taping of the first ever

"Hot Tamales Live En Espanol" that I had created for her.

She never did a sex tape, she never posed for Playboy

and she certainly never got a DUI,

but everybody that ever met her, Matilde Almonte,

they remember her with greatness.

I dedicate my journey to her.

I thank her for giving me the courage

to carry on her legacy and to give my children

a better life.

Gracias, Mommy.

- [Robert] In March of 2012 Kiki received top honors

from Los Angeles' number one Spanish language newspaper,

La Opinion, as a distinguished woman in arts and culture,

Mujeres Destacadas 2012.

- Kiki Melendez.

(audience clapping and cheering)

Kiki's an award winning comedian and producer.

This young Dominican growing up in New York

she learned first-hand just how hard it was

to get into this industry.

"Comedy," she says, "is the glue that brings

"our Latino culture together."

Kiki Melendez.

(audience clapping and cheering)

- John, I got it, I got it.

I had to fight pendeja for it, but I got it.

(both laughing)

- Nice work, nice work.

- Ah, it's days like this that you mean, you know,

makes it kind of worth it, you know?

- Yeah, well, I gotta say I'm really proud of you

for your award today.

- Really? - Yeah, you did good.

- Does that mean I can get $100,000 for my plastic surgery?

- Uh, no.

- Will you sign the release?

- Alright.

- The hardest part of being an entertainer

is never knowing when your next paycheck is gonna come.

So many disappointments and a lot of rejections.

But at the end, it's all worth it

for that moment on stage when you're

showcasing great talent, telling your stories

and feeling the love of the people.

As I live on I will always try to remember

what my mother taught me, that true success lies

in leaving behind a better world than the one we found.

And offering unconditional love to all those we encounter

on this journey we call life.

(soft inspirational music)

("Hollywood" by Mayden)

♪ I live in this town called Hollywood

♪ Where you can dream your life away

♪ Been through the crazy life in Hollywood

♪ I've seen some things that will make you run away

♪ And now I'm trying to make something of my life

♪ I'm trying to have a home, trying to have a wife

♪ I'm just an ordinary man

♪ Eh yeah eh eh eh eh yeah

♪ I met Tom Cruise out in Hollywood

♪ And got a new job that very same day

♪ Look at the hipsters now in Hollywood

♪ Doing their thing their very own way

♪ And I still don't live out in Beverly Hills

♪ And now I got a Porsche but it's got two wheels

♪ I hang on to my dreams and I make them real

♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah and never give up

♪ We never give up, we never give up

♪ We can make it happen, yeah

♪ We never give up, we never give up

♪ We can make it happen, yeah

♪ God is smiling over Hollywood

♪ Angels have walked these streets all day

♪ Yes, there is lots of love in Hollywood

♪ And if you're lost you will find your way

♪ Let the music live in your very soul

♪ I know that Hollywood sure can take a toll

♪ Those that got your back gotta keep them tight

♪ Everybody else gets a knuckle fight

♪ The sun always shines over Hollywood

♪ You can be what you want