Perez, Ferrera, Lopez Among 2009 ALMA Award Nominees

CLR (National Council of La Raza)-the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization-today announced that this year's revamped 2009 ALMA Awards® will showcase more Latino talent in more arenas than ever before. NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía and Executive Producer Eva Longoria Parker made the announcement at a news conference at Beso Restaurant, Longoria Parker's Latin-themed restaurant in Hollywood. Among the major changes to this acclaimed show is the addition of a co-host, the actor, comedian, and talk show host George Lopez.

"The 2009 ALMA Awards" will tape September 17 at the Royce Hall Auditorium at UCLA and will air FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 (8:00 to 10:00 p.m., ET/PT), on the ABC Television Network.

"If you like the ALMA Awards, you will love this year's show because we're bringing you more of what you love most, unique musical pairings and the best Latino entertainment," said Murguía. "The ALMA Awards is one of the few opportunities in primetime to spotlight the Latino presence in entertainment, and we want to celebrate the impact Latinos had last year not only in film and television, but also in music and sports television."

"I am proud that we will be able to pay tribute to a record number of Latino performers and just thrilled to have one of the funniest men on the planet, George Lopez, as my co-host this year. If you know me and you know George, anything can happen so tune in!" continued Longoria Parker.

The show will have a significant format change with specially produced packages highlighting Latinos in their entertainment field. One of the Latino performers in each category will be honored for Special Achievement. This year's categories and honorees are as follows:

2009 ALMA AWARDS (as of 8/25/09)

YEAR IN TELEVISION
Special Achievement Honorees

COMEDY

Actor
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men, CBS
Demián Bichir, Weeds, SHO
George Lopez, Mr. Troop Mom, NICK
Horatio Sanz, In The Motherhood, ABC
Jake T. Austin, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL
James Roday, Psych, USA
Joshua Gomez, Chuck, NBC
Mark Indelicato, Ugly Betty, ABC
Oscar Nunez, The Office, NBC
Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Desperate Housewives, ABC
Tony Plana, Ugly Betty, ABC

Actress
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC
Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty, ABC
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives, ABC
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Entourage, HBO
Jessica Alba, The Office, NBC
Joanna Garcia, Privileged, CW
Judy Reyes, Scrubs, ABC
Lupe Ontiveros, Reaper, CW
Maria Canals-Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL
Nadine Velazquez, My Name Is Earl, NBC
Rosie Perez, Lipstick Jungle, NBC
Salma Hayek, 30 Rock, NBC
Selena Gomez, Wizards of Waverly Place, DISNEY CHANNEL

DRAMA

Actor

Adam Rodriguez, CSI Miami, CBS
Amaury Nolasco, Prison Break, FOX
Benito Martinez, The Shield, FX
Benjamin Bratt, The Cleaner, A&E
Cristian de la Fuente, In Plain Sight, USA
Danny Pino, Cold Case, CBS

Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica, SYFY
Enrique Murciano, Without a Trace, CBS
Esai Morales, Jericho, CBS
Jimmy Smits, Dexter, SHO Jorge Garcia, Lost, ABC
Miguel Sandoval, Medium, NBC/CBS
Nestor Carbonell, Lost, ABC
David Zayas, Dexter, SHO
Carlos Bernard, 24, FOX
Actress
Alana De La Garza, Law & Order, NBC
Cote de Pablo, NCIS, CBS
Dania Ramirez, Heroes, NBC
Eva La Rue, CSI Miami, CBS
Francia Raisa, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, ABC Family
Julie Gonzalo, Eli Stone, ABC
Justina Machado, ER, NBC
Laura Cerón, ER, NBC
Lauren Vélez, Dexter, SHO
Michelle Rodriguez, Lost, ABC
Paola Turbay, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, ABC Family; The Closer, TNT
Paula Garcés, The Shield, FX
Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace, CBS
Sara Ramirez, Grey's Anatomy, ABC

YEAR IN FILM
Special Achievement Honorees

Actor
Alfred Molina, Pink Panther 2
Cheech Marin, Race To Witch Mountain
Freddy Rodriguez, Nothing Like the Holidays
Oscar Nunez, The Proposal
Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek; Crank: High Voltage Efren Ramirez, Crank: High Voltage Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Joaquin Phoenix, Two Lovers John Leguizamo, Nothing Like the Holidays Luis Guzmán, The Taking of Pelham 123 Ramon Rodriguez, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

Actress
Elisabeth Peña, Nothing Like the Holidays
Sofía Vergara, Madea Goes to Jail
Cameron Diaz, My Sister's Keeper
Eva Mendes, The Women, The Spirit
Michelle Rodriguez, Fast & Furious
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rosario Dawson, Seven Pounds
Zoe Saldana, Star Trek

YEAR IN MUSIC
Special Achievement Honorees

Music
David Archuleta-Male Rising Star
Enrique Iglesias
Maxwell
Pitbull-Hot Track Christina Aguilera
Demi Lovato
Kat DeLuna-Female Rising Star
Lynda Carter
Black Eyed Peas

YEAR BEHIND THE SCENES
Special Achievement Honorees

David Ortiz, Producer, Fast & Furious; Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Guillermo del Toro, Director, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Kenny Ortega, Director, HSM3
Linda Mendoza, Director, various productions, including Jonas; Scrubs
Natalie Chaidex, Co-Executive Producer, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles
Peter Murrieta, Writer/Executive Producer, Wizards of Waverly Place
Rene Echevarria, Executive Producer/Writer, Medium
Roberto Orci, Writer, Star Trek; Transformers 2; Executive Producer, The Proposal (TV: Fringe)
Salma Hayek, Executive Producer, Ugly Betty
Louis J. Horvitz, Director, Awards Specials
Claudio Miranda, Cinematographer, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Oscar Nominee)
Mike Elizalde, Makeup, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Oscar Nominee)
Jeanne Van Phue, Makeup, Twilight
Mary Ann Valdes, Hair Stylist, Twilight; Ugly Betty
Silvio Horta, Executive Producer/Writer, Ugly Betty
Edward James Olmos, Director, Battlestar Galactica
Moctesuma Esparza, Executive Producer/Executive, Independent Films
Alfredo De Villa, Director, Nothing Like the Holidays
Rick Najera, Writer, Nothing Like the Holidays

YEAR IN SPORTS TELEVISION
Special Achievement Honorees

Albert Pujols, Baseball, St. Louis Cardinals
Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, New York Yankees
Bobby Martinez, Surfing
Carmelo Anthony, Basketball, Denver Nuggets
Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Soccer, Chicago Fire
Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili, Basketball, San Antonio Spurs
Evan Longoria, Baseball, Tampa Bay Devilrays
Helio Castroneves, Racecar Driving, IndyCar
Juan Manuel Marquez, Boxing
Juan Pablo Montoya, Racecar Driving, NASCAR
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Luis Castillo, Football, San Diego Chargers
Mark Sanchez, Football, University of Southern California (USC)
Miguel Cotto, Boxing
Milka Duno, Racecar Driving, IndyCar
Ovidio DeLeon, Windsurfing
Pau Gasol, Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers
Paul Rodriguez Jr., Skateboarding
Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Rey Mysterio, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Tony Gonzalez, Football, Kansas City Chiefs (recently traded to Atlanta Falcons)
Tony Romo, Football, Dallas Cowboys
Dara Torres, Swimming, Olympian

Other special tributes and honors:

Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence
Salma Hayek

Special Achievement in Sports Television
Oscar De La Hoya

Tribute to Ricardo Montalban
Presented by Rita Moreno

Fashion Icon Award
(online voting)

"With NCLR's goal of broadening the work they honor in mind, the show has been restructured to reflect the breadth of amazing performances we saw this past year," said Bob Bain, the new Executive Producer.

Along with these changes, the NCLR ALMA Awards will continue its most popular segments, such as performances from the some of the top acts in music today, including David Archuleta, Luis Fonsi, Nelly Furtado, Selena Gomez, Sean Kingston and Pitbull. In addition, Adam Rodriguez, Amaury Nolasco, Benjamin Bratt, Dania Ramirez, Enrique Murciano, Eva La Rue, James Roday, Joanna Garcia, Kat VonD, Nadine Velazquez, Roselyn Sanchez, Efren Ramirez, Sofia Vergara, Michelle Rodriguez, Oscar Nunez, and Rey Mysterio will be presenting awards. The NCLR ALMA Awards will also bestow special honors upon two Latino superstars, actor/producer Salma Hayek and boxer/philanthropist Oscar de la Hoya, as well as host a special tribute to the late Ricardo Montalban, who passed away earlier this year, led by Oscar-, Grammy-, Tony-, and Emmy Award-winning actress Rita Moreno.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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