See Also: Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis) People Guide

After a three-year absence the Alma Awards will make a return to ABC, and will be fronted by Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis).

The Alma Awards (standing for American Latino Media Arts) honor actors and directors who promote positive portrayals of Hispanics in the media, and Longoria will also co-produce the event according to Variety. "I wanted to produce it so I could control what I was wearing," she joked at a relaunch dinner held last week.

The event is organized Hispanic rights group the National Council of La Raza, and producer David Chavez said they were going to "rethink" how to better produce the awards show. "Eva's ability to draw attention from the TV audience and her high-level peers will make a difference," he said. NCLR CEO Janet Murguia said "we want to take the Alma Awards to a whole new level."

The reemergence of the awards show comes up a time when ABC is trying to embrace its Latino viewers. In September last year ABC announced that its entire primetime lineup would have either closed captioning or dubbing in the Spanish language. In the same month, Michelle Rodriguez joined the cast of Lost. She later claimed she declined a part on Desperate Housewives.

The dinner was also attended by Lupe Ontiveros (Juanita Solis) and Maria Conchita Alonso, who has been cast as Gabrielle's mother. The awards will be held on May 7 and will air on ABC on June 5.

The original report can be found over at Variety.

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