Mexican comedian gets role in Hollywood sitcom

Miami: Eugenio Derbez, known as Mexico`s "king of comedy", debuts on US television with a regular part in the "Rob" series with comedian Rob Schneider.

On the show that premieres Jan 12 on CBS, Derbez plays a distant relative of Rob, an Anglo married to a Mexican-American. The comedy is based on the title character`s often unsuccessful struggles to fit into his big Latino family. "When they offered me the part, I didn`t think twice. Americans are the kings of situation comedy and this project is by the same people who make `Two and a Half Men`, one of the big hits on TV," Derbez told EFE in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. Known as one of Latin America`s most popular comedians, he got started in Hollywood in some notable productions. This year he acted in the film "Jack & Jill" with Adam Sandler, and has just wrapped up the romantic comedy "Girl in Progress", in which he plays the "romantic interest" of Eva Mendes. "It was hard, because it`s a type of comedy I never do. I even had to change my physical appearance for the film. And I had to do exercises to acquire the image of the guy in love with Eva`s character. I never played a part like that before and I doubt if I would ever be offered one in a Latin country where I`m stereotyped as a comic," the son of the late Silvia Derbez, one of Mexico`s great dramatic actresses, said. IANS