By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
I grew up in an American town where my high school was 99
percent white,” said Filipino-American “Mixology” actress, Ginger Gonzaga
during a recent phone interview. “My dad is Filipino and he has about five
brothers who live where we live. So we were kinda the Filipino family of my
town.”
Gonzaga’s father hails from
Gonzaga performed in Los Angeles
comedy clubs and in US
military bases in South Korea ,
sometime after gaining a BA in Political Science and a minor in Chinese.
She eventually appeared in the Seth MacFarlane film “Ted,” had parts in the
shows “In Gayle We Trust” and “Legit,” and guest-voiced a few times in
MacFarlane’s animated series “Family Guy.”
What was it like
growing up as a half-Filipino? Do you know the customs?
It was great growing up … it made me feel really special and
it was a very big part for me. Even when I was getting into college, that’s
what my essay was about, being Filipino and being mixed. With the customs, I
don’t know if I know everything but I definitely know how to make a lot of the
food. I know how to roll the lumpia and all that. It’s funny, the last time I
went to the Philippines ,
you know when you take someone’s hand and put it on your forehead? I forgot
what that was called but when I did that to one of my relatives, they all
thought that I was so old-fashioned. I was so embarrassed because I was trying
to be respectful. We laughed and I was like, “We’re not doing this anymore!”
But yeah, I’ve been to the Philippines
twice and hopefully I would be able to go again. When my family goes, they go
for about a month. I’m lucky enough to have a lot of cousins … we have a lot of
big celebrations. It was fun. And I know how to karaoke!
Who are your comedic and acting influences, and which of
their works are favorites?
I love Sacha Baron Cohen and I love “Borat.” I’ve never
tried doing what he did in “Borat” but he’s definitely someone I love. Gene
Wilder in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” And [the late] Philip
Seymour Hoffman—I really love “The Master.” And I love Cate Blanchett in “Blue
Jasmine.”
What makes “Mixology”
different and to whom will it appeal to?
It takes place in one night. In this show, the pacing is
really fast and it has to focus on different characters every episode. It’s
very fresh and new, fun for us as actors, and I think also for the audience.
But as far as the audience goes, you don’t have to be in our age group to love
this show.
It really is just anyone who has had trouble or who have
tried or have experience in trying to find a date, or love. It’s so funny to
me, the way that people become whenever they’re approaching people at bars or
when they’re trying to hook up with someone. Everyone embarrasses themselves …
and I think everyone can relate to that.
How would you
describe Maya, your lawyer character?
She’s definitely edgy throughout the show but she softens up
a little bit and it’s very unique to see what makes her do that, which is what
I love about the progression of her character. I think she’s really
well-rounded because she’s fierce but she still has humanity to her because
she’s lonely.
How authentic are the
dating situations in the show?
What’s funny about the show is that we heighten everything
that happens in real life. However, even when watching it, and I see some of
the really outrageous things that happen in our show, it’s almost true to real
life … it actually becomes funnier because even characters that are super-weird
or those behaving totally inappropriately, as much as it seems over-the-top, I
have seen it in person! Some [parts] are definitely blown out of proportion but
some of the craziest things are actually grounded on way too much truth!
(Laughs.)
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