Eugenio Derbez, famously known for brilliant comedy stand up in Mexico, as well as his Spanish voice over roles for such movies as Shrek’s donkey and Mulan’s, Mushu. Derbez stands as one of Mexico’s best known actors. Now, he has taken over CBS as he plays Hector in the new hit show !Rob!, opposite Rob Schneider. TheCelebrityCafe.com had the opportunity to catch up with the ever busy Derbez, shortly after his plane from Mexico landed in sunny California.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Are you surprised about the success that !Rob! has received so far?
ED: Oh, yeah, a little bit!! We were told that this was the biggest ratings in the last two year's time slot for CBS. So we are really, really happy and a little bit surprised. At the same time, I think we were expecting a lot of viewers because we were having a mix of the American audience with the Latin audience. I think that’s the result of both markets watching the shows.
TCC: You’re right; the ratings truly skyrocketed, which is amazing for you!
ED: I’ve been touring and doing a lot of promotions, and I think that’s one of my strengths and I already have a built in audience, so I am trying to attract that Latin audience and it looks like it’s working! I am happy!
TCC: Can you tell me about Hector, the character you play in !Rob!?
ED: First off, I love my character. I really, really love it because [he]’s kind of a trouble maker, but a nice guy and he’s very very funny guy. He’s often there for entertainment purpose. He’s really easy going, and that’s why I love him for my character. He can ask for money just because he doesn’t care what people think. And this is just the way he is. He is very honest, and I love that for my character.
TCC: The show is still new, so obviously so are the characters. Can you tell me what the dynamic is like on set with your other colleagues so far?
ED: We really…I’m being honest when I say this, we really have such a good relationship with both the staff and the production. We get along because we are family inside and out, we get along really well. I love the way we get along and we love each other. Everyone is really funny. Cheech [Marin], he is a nice guy, he is the master, I am learning a lot from him and Rob [Schneider]. It shows when watch on TV and see that we really are a family and we get along so well and it shows on screen.
TCC: On tonight’s show, you plan a bachelor party for Rob, what was that like?
ED: Well, tonight’s episode, it is so funny; it’s called “Second Wedding.” The family wants to plan a second wedding for Rob because they weren’t there for the first time, and they are trying to have another wedding... it’s very funny...I can’t tell you the whole story, but Maggie’s father is calling it off, but the mother wants the second wedding, and I am planning a bachelor party for Rob and it’s really funny, you will see.
TCC: How do you use your skills as a comedian to coincide with your ability to act on camera?
ED: It’s hard; comedy is really, really, hard. There is a saying that it is way easier to make somebody cry than make people laugh. It’s true because the comedy, you have to be really, really accurate and your timing, in your pop, in your rhythm and your pace…it’s pretty much the same in English. The delivery is a little bit different, and, I am still struggling with my English as you can see.
TCC: I think you’re doing fantastic!
ED: Thank you, but I am still struggling with the English and that is the only concern I have, but when I have the lines already learned it’s easy, but I do have trouble with the pronunciation. I do need to speed up my pace and in order to say some lines faster than other ones, there are some things I’d like to say faster than I can, but I am getting better. Maybe in the next season, I will be one hundred percent!
TCC: What can fans expect to see on the upcoming episodes of !Rob!?
ED: Well, actually if you like the first episode you will really like the rest. The first episode is hard because you have to tell the story of what it’s going to be about and you have to have the characters make sense and the actors, so it’s a little hard, but if you loved the pilot, believe me the rest are WAY funny.
For example, tonight’s “Second Wedding” is funny and there is a part coming up where Cheech and I teach Rob Spanish and it’s hilarious. You will see, and there is another where Rob is trying to find a secret from Maggie’s dad and I help him peak into his stuff. All of them really are very funny, great writers.
TCC: I’m sure working on !Rob! takes up a lot of your time, but I’m curious, if you are currently working on any other projects at the same time?
ED: Well yes, I am doing my own show...in Mexico. I have a sitcom; it has a similar to theme [of Rob!], a dysfunctional theme. That sitcom is airing in March; right now I am mass producing the show so I have to go back and forth from Mexico so I can finish my show. I am doing both things at the same time.
And, also I am doing a film with Eva Mendes called Girl in Progress. The premiere is going to be on April 27.
I am also shooting a film between March and July, so I am kind of busy right now! I am happy and really thrilled to start a new career in the U.S., it completely new for me, but I am so happy to be doing this crossover.
Catch Eugenio on !Rob! tonight at 8:30pm ET on CBS.