Cristela Alonzo

“The chances of anyone of any race getting their own show are, like, .001 percent.”

“I grew up in a very Catholic household. We were pretty conservative.”

“It might sound dramatic and a little grandiose, but as a Latina, I would like to be someone that gives a voice to my culture.”

“We don't have enough Latinos on TV just getting cast in supporting roles; the idea of having your own show named after you seemed like such a long shot.”

“I used to love 'Murphy Brown' as a kid. I didn't even understand half of the jokes that were going on, but I loved the character so much that they stood out.”

“That's what makes a good show. It doesn't target one group. It tells a story everyone gets.”

“To me, a multi-cam is just like the feeling you get from the audience.”

“My family doesn't understand trying to chase your dreams because they were all about survival.”

“Looking back, I remember my family laughing a lot. We were never the kind of people that dwelled on hard times. My family laughs when things are tough. Growing up like that, I got used to making jokes about things that were difficult. So when I started doing stand-up, that's what I went towards.”

“My favorite movie is 'Die Hard.' It doesn't have pinatas and mariachis. It's just a good movie.”

“We grew up devout Catholics, so my trips to San Juan always include going to the churches that we used to go to and lighting candles and everything. Everything I do in San Juan is what I used to do with my mom, kind of as a tribute to her.”

“I did the 'Wizard of Oz' in third grade, and I was a witch.”

“I love basketball. I love football. And to me, I think that's a dimension that you don't see with a lot of female leads, especially. I have a genuine love for it, and I always thought it was very interesting to show that side of me.”

“I love the Rio Grande Valley. I always say it's home - Texas is home. I've been out in L.A. a little over ten years, and I still get so excited when I go back home. It just feels comfortable; it makes me smile.”

“When you have a different name, people just kind of take the liberty to spell it how they want.”

“I love multi-cam. I grew up in a border town in South Texas right next to Mexico, a million miles away from this world... and to me, multi-cams are just like theater.”

“As a kid, I really wanted to have my own show. But when you grow up in poverty, people tell you nothing is possible. So I kind of gave up on that dream.”

“The Texas thing is such a big deal because whenever I see Texas in a TV show, they always show slow-moving cattle and cowboys with the hats. I wanted to show that Texas isn't a stereotype.”

“My stand-up has a lot of performance in it, and I loved doing it so much that, after years, I put the idea of having a show on the back burner.”

“I always knew, even as a kid, that my mom had a really rough life, and I always wanted to make her feel happy and to make her feel good.”