An Interview with Al Madrigal from ‘Lopez vs Lopez’

LOPEZ VS LOPEZ -- "Lopez vs Wedding" Episode 301 -- Pictured: (l-r) Brice Gonzalez as Chance, Al Madrigal as Oscar -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

Al Madrigal is an accomplished actor and comedian, who has appeared in a bevy of shows and movies over the years. Currently he stars as Oscar on the hit NBC series, Lopez vs Lopez, and in anticipation of tonight’s season three premiere, we sat down with Al to discuss all things Lopez vs Lopez.
John Betancourt: I'd love to start by getting to know what does it mean for you, to be back for a third season.
 
Al Madrigal: I mean, it's huge. It's… getting season three of a TV show these days is very tricky. Network sitcom season three, it's like next to impossible to get that done. So, it's a huge accomplishment for the show, and I think it says a lot about the show and what they've been able to do in terms of like, producing a product that has real heart and tons of jokes. like it really is delivering on so many different levels. I tell my friends, watch season two on Netflix and the entire thing, and just you could jump in there. It's a great show. And they're really learning how to use us. And these, a lot of the stories are mined from George and Mayan’s life. So, there's a lot of truth that goes along with all this stuff. And a lot of you know, again, real life hurt. You know, this father, daughter, relationship.
 
John Betancourt: I want to expand on that a little further, if we can, because I think that's one of the big reasons that people tune in. I know that I do -- there's a real personal connection that goes with this for me. But also, I'm curious why you think, just as a whole, audiences resonate with the show and can't get enough of it.
 
Al Madrigal: I mean, yeah, like, there's a little something for everybody in it. You know, there's, there's a lot of jokes. Obviously, you know, there's the people that are huge fans of George, there's, you know, Salinas (Leyva) and Brice (Gonzalez) come with their own fans/ I might be responsible for, like, one or two (Laughter), and then they, they're very well put together. And, like I said, in terms of the emotional connection that you feel with these characters, like you really do care about these characters. You care about this relationship. Is there a George, Rosie, “Will they, won’t they?” going on, and what's going to happen with Mayan, and you know, Quinten’s relationship as they move forward. So, it's you really do care about the characters. You're invested in their future.
 
John Betancourt: You bring up a really good point, actually, about the characters being one of the big focal points of this. There's a real sense of realism with every single character on this show, which is a testament to your work and a testament to everybody's work on the show as well. But I'm very curious how you as an actor, ground Oscar, the way that you do, because he feels like someone that we either know or have known or will know.
 
Al Madrigal: Yeah, um, I just, you know, it's putting this together… I think I haven't given a lot of thought to like… this all-encompassing. You know, Oscar? What does it mean to be Oscar? It's like you gotta think about that kind of stuff. I always get myself to an Oscar place right before I start every scene, which is a little bit dopey eyed, but very aware, like letting a ferret into your house, like, remember, Rizzo from the Muppets? That little rat? Like it’s like letting that guy into your house and he's looking, and he might take something, and I'm always looking for an angle, “you gonna eat that?” it's always like Oscar’s needs. Is Oscar hungry? So, you know, I start there, and I play around with it. But what's great about this character is I can do anything, you know, I can be mischievous. I can be, you know, a little bit, you know, indulged in “the vitamins,” a little bit, you know. And then I could also be very sensible and deliver some heartfelt advice at the same time. So, I love the flexibility of this character, and I'm just figuring it out as I go along, they surprise me with new stuff all the time.
 
John Betancourt: That’s incredible, and now I have to follow up on that, because I love learning how actors do what they do. So, I have to ask, how then do you just get into the moment. Get into Oscar’s head so quickly.
 
Al Madrigal: So, the writers crack up when they're behind the camera because they're in video village. Because they see me get into Oscar, and I don't even know what it means, but once I put on that beanie, really settle into it, you can… I don't know what it is, I'm really not even sure what's going through my head, but they immediately all crack up because I'm physically changed. I become him, and they can all tell that I've made the transition. And then they see me offstage with these glasses on and talking like this, and, you know, or doing one of these things, and they all crack up because it's such a different person. But yet, you know, Oscar lives inside me, for sure. So, to let him out, and the beanie helps a lot, and I just sort of transform once that thing goes on. I'm immediately that guy.
 
John Betancourt: There it is. The beanie is the key.
 
Al Madrigal: And the beanie, to let you know, a little secret, is a product of me doing a tremendous amount of TV and not wanting to go to hair. I’m in and out of the makeup trailer in about 10 minutes.
 
John Betancourt: On a broader level. This is… this is a show that I think is very important in a lot of ways, representation, speaking, just in having a Latinx family on television. And I want to know what it means to you on personal level, be part of what is such an important and pioneering show.
 
Al Madrigal: Oh, it's, it's, it's huge. And I love to be on it… but I don't love that it's, you know, alone. I don't love that there are so few shows that we have to draw attention to it. I'd love there to be... I remember doing this diversity award show with a big ad agency. Right after I left The Daily Show, it was IPG, and I'm sitting with the CEO of IPG, and he looks at me and he goes, “Can I ask you a question, just if, if everything was equal, shouldn't this just be an award show?” So, why? Why are there separate award shows? Why are there so, you know, like, why is there the Latin Grammys or the ALMA awards? Like, why don't we? Can't we just all be there? There’s enough of us to be involved in the Emmys, you know? Like, we shouldn't have to break out our own award show because, you know, so eventually, I'd love to see it in a place where we're just like, Lopez vs Lopez is just a comedy, and we're not even asking this question. So that's where we want to be ideally. Is just a really popular, common family comedy on TV.
 
John Betancourt: You know, that's a really, really good point.
 
Al Madrigal:  You know, like, sometimes when you develop television, they we, as a creator, you hear, because I do a lot of that, and you hear, “Oh, there's another Latino show.” So, it's between us and them. And I remember writing a letter to a network. I'm like, “Why not both? Why not both? If they're both good, why don't we just pick up both of those?” And so, yeah, that's where you want to be.
 
John Betancourt: I so agree with you. Now season three is on the horizon. Without giving away any spoilers, what are you most excited for fans to experience now in season three.
 
Al Madrigal: I think we're going to continue to see the relationship between George and Rosie evolve. Will they get back together? I'm not sure, maybe not, probably not, but it's always going to be a lot of intrigue, which is interesting in a multi cam. Because they've really embraced the sort of telenovela of it all, and that's fun. And so, it's lightly serialized for the people that are watching every single episode. And I think again, you're going to watch this show just continue to evolve and get better and better and better. And that's a testament to the Universal people and NBC for keeping it on air.
 
John Betancourt: And that's saying something, because it's already very impressive as it is. So that's a huge point there.
 
Al Madrigal: But again, you know when you watch -- there's great episodes in season one, but season two, there's 10 great episodes back-to-back, and those are on Netflix right now. Season one and two are Netflix if you want to catch up, and then you're going to watch those before October 18, feeding into this season. It's all going to make sense. You can start with this season, October 18, Fridays, 8:30pm right after Happy’s Place, which is the new Rebe McEntyre show. So yeah, we're, we're excited to be back on Fridays. No WWE to contend with, which is huge. And hopefully we come in there and own Friday comedy on NBC.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, what are you most proud of so far when it comes to your work on this show?
 
Al Madrigal: I am most proud of again, this is like… it really is a dream fulfilled for me, and I dreamt big. As a little kid, my dad would always make fun of me… are you Mexican?
 
John Betancourt: I am.
 
Al Madrigal: So, I had a little Mexican, dad, he used to say, and it wasn't a compliment, “Here comes the dreamer.” And this has always been a big dream of mine, to become this done, not shish, you know, comic relief on a comedy. So, I am definitely living a dream, and I'm really proud of myself for not working in an office and doing something I hated all my life and following my bliss. So, I am patting my back, and I've just gotten started because I got other dreams too. “The Dreamer” has more dreams, but this is a major one.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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