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JACK RICO Journalist || TV HOST || PODCASTER

I am the host of Consumer 101, a nationally broadcast family show which aired on NBC and Telemundo (Taller del Consumidor) for two seasons. It is the first-ever television show from Consumer Reports and I'm happy I got to make history with such a great institution. The show is now available on streaming.

Because I have such an intense curiosity for how film, television, media, and pop culture work, life led me to appear for the last decade on the TODAY show, four years on VH1's morning show 'Big Morning Buzz', as well as many appearances on Univision, Telemundo, and MSNBC. I also appeared as a film critic for seven years on Univision Radio's 'Luis Jimenez Show' and People En Español magazine and was a contributor-at-large at NBCNews.com. I also have moderated Hollywood studio Q&A panels with Jessica Chastain, Gael Garcia Bernal, and many other luminaries. Recently, I was asked to host a film series for Remezcla.com called Scouting Nueva York. It was something I always wanted to do and I am very proud of it. I hope you'll give it a look.

I currently co-host our 2023 Webby Nominee 'Brown & Black' podcast with my colleague Mike Sargent, and an Apple-featured Latinx pop culture podcast called 'Highly Relevant'. On 'Highly Relevant,' I converse with the top Latinx names about the challenges and triumphs of living a bilingual and bicultural life in Hollywood. I've gone one on one with Robert Rodriguez, Eugenio Derbez Juanes, Javier Bardem, Alfonso Cuarón, Kate del Castillo, Tanya Saracho, and more. On 'Brown & Black,' Mike and I distill our professional opinions on race and pop culture and how it affects Latinos and Blacks in the media and the entertainment we consume. We also have great guests like Riz Ahmed and Spike Lee. I think they are both great listens. You can also hear me hosting an original Spotify episode called 'Beat by Beat' from Spotify's Music + Talk: Unlocked series.

Amongst some of the other great joys of my life was sharing my multi-media experience with students at Montclair State University where I taught two semesters on entertainment journalism. Gen-Z's are the real deal.

New York City is my birthplace and hometown. I achieved some proud milestones in this city: in 1999, I became one of the founding anchors of Al Despertar, Univision’s first Spanish-language morning newscast, and created and chaired ¡Viva Broadway! the first Hispanic initiative of The Broadway League.

I am a member of the Television Academy, the IADAS (International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences), and the Critics Choice Association (the largest film critic organization in the US). I have been honored by the Associated Press, been the recipient of El Diario's 'EL' Award, a Latin Ace Award, and have been honored by the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“They say that the best thing in life is to marry the thing you’re the best at with the thing you love the most.” - JR

RECENT APPEARANCES

Univision (El Gordo y La Flaca) Junio 2023

(WPIX11 'New York Living') 2023 Summer Movie Preview

(WPIX11 'New York Living) 2023 Oscar nominations: Snubs and Surprises

PaleyFest Fall TV Previews 2022 (Lopez vs. Lopez)

24 Hours in Kingston (The Mountains Magazine)

2022 Emmy Nominations (WPIX11 'New York Living')

HBOMax's 'The Flight Attendant' S2 Premiere Event Interview

Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen (April 2022)

'The Changeup' Jackie Hernandez & Jack Rico, 'New Majority Ready'

Listen to our conversation about our agency 'New Majority Ready'

(Latino USA Podcast) Lights, Camera, ¡Acción! A Latino Take on the 2022 Oscars

(TODAY SHOW) Get Inspired With These 2022 Podcast Recommendations

Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen January 2022

I hosted this Spotify Original episode.

SNAPSHOTS

(L to R: Hoda & Kathie Lee, Consumer 101, Megyn Kelly, Nick Lachey, NBCNews.com, MSNBC, Fusion, NY1, Arise Network, moderating Jessica Chastain, Josh Radnor, HBO Latino, HBOMax)

I THINK, I WRITE, I SAY

(NBC News) 'A Radio Icon Who Helped Usher Latin Music's Rise Is Remembered'

NBC News, March 14, 2023.
“When you talk about radio history, and the birth of salsa and being a DJ and promoter at same time, that was Polito Vega,” entertainment reporter Jack Rico told NBC News. Rico noted that Vega was especially instrumental in promoting salsa music in the 1970s. Vega gave a big platform to legendary musician Johnny Pacheco, whose Fania All-Stars became synonymous with salsa music and who recorded with icons such as the late Celia Cruz and Hector Lavoe through his label Fania Records.
Vega was also a trailblazer in the way that he blended DJ and live events, Rico said, such as his salsa concerts at Madison Square Garden. "You can call him the godfather of young Latin musicians — that was a template that a lot of young people started emulating," Rico said.

(NBC News) 'Raquel Welch Was A 'Stealth' Latina Until She Wasn't'

NBC News, Feb. 17, 2023
“She rediscovered her roots, embraced her roots when the times changed,” said the entertainment journalist and podcast host Jack Rico. “There must have been layers she had to work through, a kind of suppression of self that she didn’t need or want to hide anymore. And the market was certainly ready for her.”
Had Welch pursued her career from the start as a Latina, Rico mused, she might have had a career more like Rita Moreno. But although Moreno became the first Latina to win an acting Oscar for “West Side Story” in 1962, he pointed out that Moreno usually played supporting roles. In contrast, he said, “from the beginning, Welch was an icon. She achieved classic, one-of-a-kind genuine Hollywood stardom, which is an incredible feat.”

(NBC News) 'Several 2023 Golden Globe Nominees Are Young and Latino'

NBC News, Jan. 9, 2023
"The conversation this year is, we made it into the lead," said Latino film critic Jack Rico. If enough Latinos win in their respective categories, it could set the tone for the rest of the awards season. "We could have one of the best years for Hispanic actors," said Rico.

(The Washington Post) 'What’s next for Latin music after the summer of ‘Despacito’?'

The Washington Post (Aug. 2017)
The success of “Despacito” and “Mi Gente” also has to be coupled with other mainstream media appearances and opportunities for visibility, explains Jack Rico, the host of the Latin pop culture podcast Highly Relevant. He points out that “Despacito,” with all its record-breaking accolades, was left out of this year’s Video Music Awards nominations. Rico says mass-media moments like these are critical blows to Latin representation.
“We need the help of people like MTV to ease that consumer acceptance,” he says. “If media embraces language and particular artists and says, ‘You’re gonna love this,’ we’re going to be okay with it. But this can’t be about one person who is the ambassador of a culture. This has to be an all-hands approach,” he said.

(Bloomberg) ‘Crazy Rich’ Success Leaves Latinos Waiting for Their Moment

Bloomberg News (Aug 2018)
“The people in charge, mostly, are non-Hispanic people and they are the ones with the power to approve and greenlight Latino stories,” said Jack Rico, a film critic and podcaster. “They decide not to.”

Here's a look at some other outlets I have written for.

(L to R: People En Español Magazine, ShowBizCafe.com, NBCNews.com, VarietyLatino)
HIGHLY RELEVANT PODCAST

I host the Apple featured Highly Relevant podcast. A Latinx pop culture show whose premise is to identify and explain how Latinx creatives are influencing and reshaping American pop culture. I do that by speaking with the most highly relevant newsmakers of the week, along with the nation's most respected and influential journalists about what they see and why it matters. You can expect incisive and insightful commentary, thought-provoking interviews and curated recommendations about what you should watch, read and listen to. This is a podcast for people who want an inside glimpse at what American pop culture really looks like in 2020. Have a listen via iTunes, Spotify Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, or Pandora, and of course, all in your phone 🎧!

My Podcast Guests

Guests of the podcast (L to R: Director Sebatian Lelio, Mark Consuelos, Juanes, Dolores Huerta, Coco's Adrian Molina to name a few)

Much like 'Highly Relevant,' our Brown & Black podcast has also achieved national attention. We were featured on Forbes.com and we couldn't be more excited for the future of both diverse podcasts. Take a listen via iTunes, SpotifyAmazon Music, iHeart Radio or Pandora, and of course, all in your phone 🎧!

IN CLOSING...

Let's connect!

If you'd like a look at my most recent work (interviews, think pieces, podcast shows), you can request that in the email below.

Email: jrico@showbizcafe.com

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Jack Rico
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