The little comedy that could, Superstore, is winding up its 4th season on NBC, with a 5th season deal already secured. The show gets not just laughs, but also gets praise for the way it tackles larger issues of today. Superstore’s Nico Santos had some thoughts on that when he and Betsy Kling chatted recently in New York City.
Betsy: “Superstore has been a little bit of a surprise to people. It’s such a smart comedy!”
Nico Santos: “Yeah, it’s amazing. It’s NBC’s number one comedy. It’s a great show wand I am not just saying that because I am a part of it. It really is a wonderful, wonderful comedy and I think that is a testament to the type of cast that we have. We have one of the most diverse casts on television, if not the most diverse, which allows us to tell really dynamic, compelling story lines.”
Santos plays Mateo Fernando Aquino Liwanag. One of the first actors signed to the show, he is also coming off the box office hit, Crazy Rich Asians.
On Superstore, Mateo is from the Philippines and is openly gay. Parallels to Santos own life. “Yeah, this is why I went to theater school,” Santos said with a wry laugh. “Yes, he’s gay, he’s Filipino and he’s undocumented, which is such a great character. I never thought I would have a career like I have right now. But more so I never thought I would have a career in acting where I have never had to compromise my identify to portray the roles that I portray. It’s very important to me that my community is represented because roles like Mateo and roles like Oliver in Crazy Rich Asians don’t come very often if ever at all. So the fact that I have been able to be a part of such an amazing television show and an amazing movie, to portray a complex, rich, nuanced character such as Mateo and Oliver, yeah is sort of like (motions to head, blowing up) is mind blowing to me. I’ve always thought in this industry that I am going to have to down play my Asian-ness. Play different parts and not be Out. But I haven’t had to compromise my identity and that’s been a real gift,” Santos explained.
He has no plans to hang up his blue apron and walk away from Superstore. But Santos still hopes to build on his film career.
Betsy: “What’s it like doing movies versus a tv show? Biggest differences in filming?
Nico: “Well, doing movies is like doing summer camp. You are with a cast and crew for like 3 or 4 months and you are super tight and then everybody leaves. And then it’s gone and you kind of try to keep touch. The television show is more like a 9 to 5 thing, not in a bad way. Not in a bad way. It’s a lot more structured, it’s easier to plant a life around. Because I know we are filming 22 episodes. I know I am working Monday through Friday. It may vary per week, but at least I have a sense of… doing television I love because I feel like I have a 9 to 5 that I clock in to,” he said.
Betsy: “That’s got to be a great feeling, just to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Nico: “Oh my gosh, it’s also lovely to have a job that doesn’t feel like a job. You are doing what you love and that is an amazing feeling,” he said.
Superstore airs Thursday nights at 8 pm on WKYC, with the season finale set for Thursday, May 16th.