Wilmer Valderrama is paying tribute to one of television’s most influential pioneers, Desi Arnaz, in his new 10-part podcast series Starring: Desi Arnaz & Wilmer Valderrama. The project not only celebrates the Cuban American icon’s achievements but also explores how his groundbreaking work continues to shape Hollywood—and Valderrama’s own life—as a Latino actor and producer today.
The first three episodes of the series premiered on October 15, perfectly timed with the 74th anniversary of I Love Lucy, the beloved sitcom that forever changed American television. Starring real-life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the series aired from 1951 to 1957 and became a cultural phenomenon. It redefined what a television family could look like—anchored by a Cuban husband and bandleader who loved, laughed, and argued with his fiery redheaded wife in front of a live audience.
But behind the laughter, Arnaz’s story was one of resilience and reinvention. As a Cuban refugee who arrived in the U.S. with nothing, he built a career that transcended stereotypes and reshaped the entertainment industry. Through Starring: Desi Arnaz & Wilmer Valderrama, Valderrama seeks to reintroduce audiences to the man who quietly revolutionized Hollywood.
“In a world that didn’t quite get him or the richness of his culture, Desi Arnaz carved out a space, not just for himself, but for all of us who felt like outsiders,” Valderrama says in the podcast’s opening episode. “He didn’t just fit in—he redefined what it meant to belong.”
For Valderrama, Arnaz’s journey is deeply personal. Born in Miami to Venezuelan parents, Valderrama spent his childhood in South America before returning to the U.S. as a teenager. He recalls learning English by watching I Love Lucy, and realizing that Arnaz, with his accent and charisma, sounded just like him.
“I’m pretty sure if it weren’t for Desi, I would have stopped trying a long time ago,” he admits in the episode titled “The Man Who Invented Hollywood.”
Through humor and heart, Valderrama draws parallels between Arnaz’s story and his own. Both men navigated cultural barriers, challenged Hollywood’s narrow perceptions, and ultimately found success by embracing—not erasing—their heritage.
Arnaz’s impact, Valderrama argues, is far greater than most realize. His production company, Desilu Productions, not only developed I Love Lucy but also revolutionized the business side of television. By filming on high-quality film stock and in front of a live audience, Arnaz paved the way for syndication—ensuring I Love Lucy could be re-run endlessly, a model that later evolved into today’s streaming landscape.
“Desi’s fingerprints are everywhere,” Valderrama says. “From the way sitcoms are filmed to how shows are distributed—he built the foundation of modern television.”
Despite his visionary contributions, Arnaz often lived in the shadow of Lucille Ball, both professionally and personally. Hollywood, as Valderrama points out, was eager to celebrate Ball as the comedic genius but rarely acknowledged Arnaz as the architect behind their empire.
“What Hollywood got wrong about Desi,” Valderrama explains, “is that he was the man who made I Love Lucy possible. He was the structure, the vision, and the blueprint.”
The podcast—produced by Valderrama’s company WV Sound in partnership with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura Podcast Network—functions as both a biography and a love letter. Each episode blends archival audio, narrative storytelling, and Valderrama’s reflections on identity, immigration, and legacy. It also continues the actor’s mission to amplify Latino voices through media that educates as much as it entertains.
“At a time when our culture risks being paraphrased or forgotten, we must keep telling these stories,” he says. “If we don’t, the next generation won’t know who paved the way for us.”
Valderrama knows something about representation and responsibility. For years, he was one of the few Latino actors in a leading role on network television, playing Fez on That ‘70s Show and later starring as Special Agent Nick Torres on CBS’s NCIS. He acknowledges that playing a character with a heavy accent was both a challenge and an opportunity to shift perceptions.
“I fought friendly battles about how we could make Fez feel real and cohesive,” he recalls. “We could joke about cultural misunderstandings, but it couldn’t just be that Fez was being mocked. That wasn’t something I would stand for.”
Now, as both an actor and a producer, Valderrama continues to follow Arnaz’s blueprint—using entertainment as a tool to build bridges and challenge narratives.
Upcoming episodes of Starring: Desi Arnaz & Wilmer Valderrama will delve deeper into Arnaz’s struggles with discrimination, his entrepreneurial ventures, and the personal toll of fame. But at its heart, the podcast is about more than one man’s success—it’s about the universal immigrant experience, about finding belonging in a place that doesn’t always understand you.
“Desi’s story doesn’t just mirror mine,” Valderrama says, “it mirrors the story of millions who move anywhere to start from scratch.”
For listeners, Starring: Desi Arnaz & Wilmer Valderrama serves as both history lesson and inspiration—reminding us that some legacies aren’t just meant to be remembered, but reignited.
New episodes drop every Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app and all major streaming platforms.
