Aida Rodríguez's Comedy Remix Turns The Ford Into Hollywood's Biggest Open Mic Night
Produced in partnership with De Mi Alma Productions, the event featured D-Nice, Frankie Quiñones, and a host of celebrity guests.
I come from the last generation to treat talent shows like a rite of passage; a childhood defined by botched rehearsals, MC Hammer pants, and bad nerves that determined whether you’d bask in your classmates’ applause or spend the rest of the weekend hiding from the tetherball court.
It’s a tradition in Black and Brown communities that’s faded into memory, but comedian Aida Rodríguez set out to recapture that magic with Comedy Remix—a literal celebrity open mic night—at The Ford Theater in Los Angeles on Friday night. Produced in partnership with Marissa Herrera’s De Mi Alma Productions, the event lived up to its promise of an “unforgettable live show experience,” providing Latino talent with the spotlight they deserve.
Kicking off the festivities was the debut of The Mary Juanas, comprised of Ana Ortiz, Justina Machado, Judy Reyes, and Marlyn Ortiz—stars of both screen and stage—who slithered, sang, and tantalized their way through a sultry rendition of The Mary Jane Girls’ 1983 hit “All Night Long.” As chants of “Wepa!” filled the air, the ladies took turns circling the stage in leather shorts and high heels as they serenaded the audience.
Next up was Tony Award winner Sarah Jones, who unleashed her critically acclaimed, multi-character “one-woman global village.” As she effortlessly transformed into everything from a prim and proper Brit to a gritty New Yorker disgusted at being “the only guy up here,” the crowd erupted in raucous laughter. But before leaving the stage, she made it a point to deliver a mic drop: “This evening is about showing up with our authentic voices!”
Macy Gray is world-renowned for the damage she’s done to the Billboard charts, but apparently, comedy might be her new calling. After being welcomed with a standing ovation, she spouted some Dad jokes to loosen up the crowd before digging into the meat of her set: whimsical storytelling and her disdain for abbreviated profanity. Black Hollywood’s secret weapon, Chris Spencer, followed soon after, recalling a particularly hilarious summer camp—and a Down syndrome bit that almost brought me to tears—after touting all the smiling faces looking up at him in the crowd.
“Look at all this diversity!” he joked. “It’s like a Greyhound bus station.”
One of the highlights of the night came when Marissa and Aida returned to the stage to introduce D-Nice—“We got him at a discount!”—who immediately brought everyone to their feet. As Aida waved the Puerto Rican flag while couples salsa danced in the aisles, D-Nice transformed the entire Ford Theater into a dance floor, effortlessly bouncing between everything from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” to Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente.” But because the Bronx native’s turntable wizardry knows no bounds, it was a particularly nasty blend of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” over Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle” that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Finally, it was Aida’s turn to deliver her stand-up set after a brief intermission, and she joked about going viral for being accused of sleeping with Keenan Ivory Wayans. (He was a judge during her 2014 season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and called her a “stunning woman” who he considered a “distraction.”) After going full Bill Clinton and denying any sexual improprieties occurred, she naturally poked fun at the ordeal: “I’m insulted. Y’all really think I would sleep my way to the middle?”
Closing out the show was comedian Frankie Quiñones, of Hulu’s This Fool fame, who incorporated beatboxing into his set and leaned heavily into both the similarities and differences within the Latino community: “I’m Chicano. Can you talk slower?”
In an industry severely lacking in Latino representation, Aida and Marissa continue to break down barriers. More importantly, by inspiring others to follow their lead, these platforms and opportunities will only continue to grow.
Pulling off an open mic under the stars with their celebrity friends is a remarkable feat, but it’s only the beginning.
“We’ve got to continue to find our joy,” Marissa told the crowd. “It’s hard to get here, but when you leave here, your spirit is gonna get lifted.”