Nico Santos – Superstore

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) We love Mateo’s relationship with Cheyenne. What is it about these two that make them such BFFs?

A) They are just on the same wavelength. Everybody has that friend that is going to be an enabler and instigator. Your partner-in-crime, so to speak. And Cheyenne (Nichole Bloom) and Mateo are that for each other. So, I think audiences and the fans would get a kick out of their relationship because you know they have each other’s backs no matter what and they have fun doing it.

Q) The store tried to fit Mateo in where they could after his return from the detention center. What did that storyline mean to you?

A) It means a lot. I’m really touched by the relationships that have developed on the show, but also the way we show them. We’re just really trying to show the dynamics of what it is like to truly work at a big box store like Cloud 9. We all know that when you work somewhere your work family tends to act like your real family sometimes. And for a lot of us we spend more time with our work family than our actual family. So, we really wanted to show that relationship – that love between all the coworkers. I have retail experience and my mom works at a big box store. It’s the way that people show up for each other in these environments. We are just showing the truth of how these workplaces really are. My mom was sick with COVID and she had coworkers who would really take care of her and drop food for her while she was sick at home trying to recover. I’m glad that we’re able to share this side of not just a workplace drama, but that we also love each other and take care of each other. Especially in these times it’s important to share that message.

Q) We love Mateo’s salty quips. Is there much room to improv in scenes?

A) We do improvise a lot, but we have amazing writers that give us that base of where to start from, which is amazing. Also, having done this show for five seasons, going on six seasons now, we know the characters so well already that it becomes second nature the call and response and the banter we do has become second nature. That’s always been my goal for Mateo. He is that salty, snarky employee, but he does have a big heart and he does have some great qualities to him. Because otherwise he wouldn’t be a real person. Why would you tolerate someone who was that mean all the time? I wanted to show…At first people were like, “He’s such a stereotype. He’s the catchy, bitchy employee. Gay guy. That’s such a stereotype.” I was like, “No, that’s not a stereotype. That’s a real person. Those people exist.” And if you show that multi-dimensional quality about that person you can see they are a real person. Nobody would tolerate an insufferable person like that if you didn’t really love that person, relate to that person or didn’t care for that person.

Q) It’s incredible to see such topical issues not often covered. “Superstore” is great at taking on these types of stories with a message. What is it about the series that makes it a priority for these themes to be as significant as the comedy?

A) Just where we’re set. I really feel like our show is a little slice of America. When you walk around the street, in most parts of the country anyway (I know some parts aren’t as diverse as others) … For the most part, our store is what America looks like. It is a diverse group of people with diverse backgrounds. That also speaks to the cast we have. We wouldn’t be able to do this show and the kind of show that we do if we were just eight straight white guys. The fact that we have one of the most diverse casts on television means there are all these stories that we can draw from and pull from, which makes for amazing storytelling. I think that’s what really sets our show apart is we can tell all these amazing stories because of the makeup of this show. And we’re so lucky that we are this show that can tackle every day topics and every day issues that effect every day Americans. We’re really excited to really get into Season 6 with everything that is going on. At first it was disheartening, like, “Oh my God! What are we going to do?! The pandemic is going on and the protests are happening.” But we are one of the few shows that is out right now that could really sort of address that and address it in a humorous way, which I think is the best way to change peoples’ perceptions and teach them a lesson is through comedy because it’s comedy insidious that way you don’t know…Because you’re laughing and you sort of don’t realize that you’re getting this message because it’s packaged in this package of humor. So, once you are laughing along with this message, you’re like, “Oh!” By the end of the end of the episode you realize you’ve learned something.

Q) We continually talk about how much representation on screen means, and “Superstore” is a series that really showcases such a spectrum of characters that you can love, laugh at, but also really relate to. Talk about how the series really balances so well with the complexity we see but with the innate humor that is such a hallmark?

A) I think we just try to do it in an organic way. Nothing is too forced. That’s what I really like about it. Our show is this great…The way we represent people is so great. But I think the way we do that is we don’t try to force ethnicity and do it in this sort of organic way. There was this great article by Ikoo Kang, this amazing journalist, who sort of broke down the Asian representation in the show. It was a really thoughtful, insightful article about how “Superstore” shows the spectrum of what Asian-American characters can look like. Other than our show, you had “Fresh Off the Boat,” which is now off the air. But we have a lot of Asian characters on our show. It’s not like, “Hey! There is this Asian family!” We have Mateo, Cheyenne (who is half Asian), Kaliko [Kauahi] plays Sandra and Chris [Grace] plays Jerry. Jerry is Chinese and Kaliko is Pacific Islander. Ninety-nine percent of the time when we talk about diversity and representation it’s tokenism. I really love the fact about our show that you can take the same group of people and represent them in a different way and they are all represented well and intelligently and with heart and humor.

Q) We have gotten to see Mateo and his relationship with Amy’s brother Eric evolve on screen and it’s been so nuanced and built up. We don’t often see POC represented so naturally and positively, especially in comedy without them being the punchline. What has being able to be a part of that important significant stride on screen meant to you?

A) It’s been incredible. It’s certainly something that I did not set out to do. When I first started out in the industry my goal was just to work. It was difficult to be able to find a job as an actor and to maintain being a working actor for so long as well. I’m really just counting my blessings. I can’t believe that I’ve had this job for this long. That I’ve been able to build this amazing career from this show and it has opened other doors to be a part of other projects like Crazy Rich Asians. It’s not something that I set out to do, but I’m so proud of the fact that I am part of the show and I am part of a show that speaks to experiences that really move people and are significant and relevant to people. It’s always sort of like in the back of my head where you dream about being a part of that project that has relevance. I’m really happy that I feel like I won the lottery with this show. Not only are we a show that means a lot to people and says something about society, but I also work with the most amazing people. They really have become my family and are so great. I just wake up with gratitude every day that I’m part of it.

Q) June is pride month and in many ways It’s being celebrated and recognized differently this year. What are ways that we can all keep the spirit going and that you have been doing to make sure the spirit of Pride is still being acknowledged in all its forms while still respecting and supporting the movement?

A) Pride has been difficult this year. [chuckles] It’s been up and down for the LGBT community. We had that recent decision by the Supreme Court, which was a big win. It was a huge, unexpected win. We want to respect the roots of pride and I think for a lot of people still don’t know that the first Pride was a riot. It was the OR liberation to black, trans, queer people and I think with everything that is going on now it’s a really important aspect of our history to remind people and teach people we wouldn’t be here – our liberation, our freedom that we enjoy – wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for those people. We stand on their shoulders and that’s the only reason we’re able to lift our heads up high now. I think with everything that is happening in our country we really just need to look back into our history because that’s the only way we are going to learn from our mistakes and our victories of the past as well.

Q) We are seeing so many more Tv series provide their platform for diversity in their LGBT characters, especially trans – “Euphoria,” “911: Lonestar,” “Pose,” “Supergirl,” etc. and making important strides without falling into tropes. What does this say about where we are in the film/television with inclusivity and the value of telling these important stories especially at this time?

A) I think that’s what representation does. The more people you represent from a certain community then the more stories you can tell and you realize you start to break down those stereotypes that you see. There is an amazing documentary out now called Disclosure that is about trans representation on TV and film that my amazing boyfriend is a part of and he is so articulate and eloquent in it. But there is another trans person Jen Richards who talks about the occasional clumsy representation wouldn’t matter and that we’re just so much more. I think that documentary speaks not only to the trans experience, but also representation in general. Clumsy representation in the media, whether your are trans, gay, Asian, African American or Latino – will exist, but it wouldn’t really matter if we had a hundred more stories to draw from and see that we’re not one thing that this clumsy representation is trying to show. I think the more the merrier. We just need more stories out there.

Q) As we continue to see the administration attempt to roll back LGBTQ rights, what are ways that we can get involved and work towards making sure we ensure their rights aren’t impeded especially during this pandemic?

A) Well, first of all vote, vote, vote. It’s important to vote these people out because we just have to exercise our rights. That’s the best sure-fire way to make change happen – to vote these people out. And not just in the big elections. We have to start small. But I think to ensure that we continue to fight for our community and we continue to make that change it’s important to start small. And it’s important to start in your own community and start local. Every town, no matter how big or small, has some sort of outlet or organization that sort of outreaches for a certain community. I would sort of reach out to those small local organizations and see how you can help. Any little bit of kindness or an act of trying to help really adds up to the bigger picture. So, I think starting small and don’t think, “Oh, it’s just this tiny little thing that I’m doing is not going to make a difference.” It will make a difference. If every single person in the country did that one tiny thing it all adds up. That’s how you create a movement.