In the latest episode of NPR's Latino USA podcast, the show focuses on the legacy and nostalgia of Taina. The show, which premiered in January 14, 2001, was about a 15-year-old Latina from Queens who attended the Manhattan High School of the Performing Arts and constantly daydreamed of being a star. She’s portrayed by Christina Vidal.
The show touched on themes of family, culture and what it’s like being a Nuyorican teen living in between two worlds. While the show only ran for 26 episodes over two seasons, Taina is seared into the memories of many who grew up watching it, because at the time it was rare to see an authentic portrayal of what it was like to be a Nuyorican teen.
“Taina for me was my alter ego,” says creator Maria Perez-Brown. “I felt that Taina reflected the dreams that every young Latina has to aspire to be something and that something doesn’t only have to be an athlete or a movie star. She had a passion for something and she wasn’t going to stop at anything until she accomplished her goals.”
Maria Hinojosa sits down with the award-winning show creator to talk about the show’s surprisingly long legacy and about working to diversify children’s television in the early aughts.
Listen to the latest episode of NPR's Latino USA podcast below, followed by Taina's catchy theme song!
In 2001, Nickelodeon started airing "Taina," a show about a Latina teen who attends a performing arts high school in NYC and daydreams of being a star. While the show only lasted two seasons, "Taina" is seared into the memories of many who grew up watching it, because at the time it was rare to see an authentic portrayal of what it was like to be a Nuyorican teen in the early 2000s. Maria Hinojosa talks to the show's award-winning creator Maria Perez-Brown, who is Nuyorican herself, about jumping into the world of children's television after being a tax lawyer.
Life can be tough when you're a teenager. There's so much to think about: school, homework, clothes, friends and parents. But things get even more complicated when you're determined to become famous as well.
Welcome to the world of Taina Morales, a student at the Manhattan School of the Arts who dreams of stardom, and loves music and dance. But her journey to fame and fortune isn't an easy one as she deals with love troubles, difficult auditions and pressures from her Puerto Rican family.
Yes, it's tough getting to the top, but she's determined to get there. And with the help of best mates Renee, LaMar and his partner-in-crime Daniel McDaniel, she definitely stands a good chance, even when arch-rival Maritza is trying to steal the limelight for herself!
Taina stars Taina Morales as Christina Vidal, Khaliah Adams as Renee, Chris Knowings as Lamar, David Oliver Cohen as Daniel, and LaTangela as Maritza. Recurring cast includ Lisa Lisa as Gloria Elana Morales, Cristina Saralegui as Principal Rojas, Josh Cruze as Eduardo Morales, Manolo Villaverde as Gregorio "Abuelo" Sanchez, Brandon Iglesias as Santito Morales (season 1), Selenis Leyva as Titi Rosa, Joseph Bertot as Hector Colon, Ruben Rabasa as Papito, and Jacob Urrutia as Santito Morales (season 2). Guest stars include: Nick Cannon (All That, The Nick Cannon Show, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, HALO Awards, Vice President of TeenNick) as LaTanya, Jaci Velasquez as Yvette, Luis Fonsi, Shakira, Carlos Alazraqui (Fairly OddParents, Rocko's Modern Life) as Stan LaBlan, Kelly Rowland as Nicole Burke, Melanie Chartoff as Sasha Simmons, Tina Landon, Jackie, Dream, Lil' Romeo (Romeo!), C-Note, and the girl group 3LW as Blue Mascara.
More Nick: The Under-‘Doug’: The Story of Nickelodeon’s Enduring Cartoon!
Additional sources: Wikipedia (II), Wayback Machine, Google.co.uk, CINEMUR.
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