NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas sat down with actor John Leguizamo for Friday’s “Great Americans” segment to help him promote both his far-left identity politics and his appearance in The Odyssey. However, neither man appeared to realize the hypocrisy inherent in that.
Llamas recalled how Leguizamo has over 100 screen credits but wondered, “You've been so successful, but it's rejection. It’s auditioning, not getting a role, people tell you, ‘We're not into you,’ or whatever, you're too Latin, you're not Latin enough. How did you deal with that?”
Leguizamo replied, “You have to have tough skin, but luckily for me, coming from the ghetto and underprivileged, I felt everything was a success. Every crumb, every tiny molecule of success was a huge win.”
NBC's Tom Llamas helps actor John Leguizmo push his identity politics game, "it’s auditioning, not getting a role, people tell you, 'We're not into you,' or whatever, you're too Latin, you're not Latin enough. How did you deal with that?"
Later, after ironically promoting his… pic.twitter.com/1Ar74aItBD— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) July 18, 2026
Llamas then transitioned to promoting Leguizamo’s role in The Odyssey. Interestingly enough, there weren’t too many Colombian-born immigrants in ancient Greece. Most people wouldn’t have a problem with that when it comes to adapting The Odyssey, but for Leguizamo such considerations are sometimes so important that he will boycott a film if he doesn’t approve of casting choices. Therefore, it is interesting to note some Greeks have voiced frustration that Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey doesn’t have any Greek actors in it.
After recalling how Leguizamo landed the role of Eumaeus, Llamas returned to identity politics, “But even with all his success, Leguizamo has never forgotten where he's come from, delivering this message to Hollywood at the 2024 Emmys.”
In a clip, Leguizamo was shown declaring, “For years I didn't complain about the limited roles my people were offered: the spicy sexpot, the Latin lover, the maid, the gangbanger. Turns not complaining doesn't change anything.”
Llamas then wondered, “So, you're at the podium behind that mic and you light the place on fire. Why?”
Hollywood may be one of the most liberal places in the country, but Leguizamo insisted it was “Because of the world we're living in, man. I see myself as an artist, and artists are political. Artists take risks. I think you have to risk things in life to get more things, especially for your people.”
In a voiceover, Llamas added, “And for Leguizamo, that's all part of being an American.” Back with Leguizamo, he asked, “What is an American?”
The bitterly divisive Leguizamo claimed a true American helps unite people, “An American is a person who is considerate, respectful, who believes in others, who protects the vulnerable, who helps others achieve their dreams. Who unites, who saves the world, and keeps peace.”
Leguizamo may live in a world of identity politics, but when the opportunity to make some money provided itself, he did not hold himself to the same standards he demands of everyone else. One would hope he would learn from his experience, but he’ll probably just go back to cursing at President Trump while torturing a piñata and calling it comedy.
Here is a transcript for the July 17 show:
NBC Nightly News
7/17/2026
6:56 PM ET
TOM LLAMAS: Today, he has more than 100 screen credits.
100, that's a big number, and you've been so successful, but it's rejection—
JOHN LEGUIZAMO: Oh, absolutely.
LLAMAS: —it’s auditioning, not getting a role, people tell you, "We're not into you," or whatever, you're too Latin, you're not Latin enough. How did you deal with that?
LEGUIZAMO: Absolutely, you have to have tough skin, but luckily for me, coming from the ghetto and underprivileged, I felt everything was a success. Every crumb, every tiny molecule of success was a huge win.
MATT DAMON [As Odysseus]: Let's go!
LLAMAS: And his biggest success could happen this weekend. Starring in The Odyssey produced by NBC Universal and made by Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan.
LEGUIZAMO: We spent two hours at lunch, told me about his life, his career, which was incredible. And then he told me, I'm doing The Odyssey, and he got this character, Eumaeus, he goes, “He's the most loyal character in Western literature,” and I was like “Oh, that's a heavy lift, I like it.”
And then at dessert time he said you have the role, and I was like, “Excuse me?” because I thought I misunderstood him. “You got the role.” “Oh, wow.”
LLAMAS: Did you say yes or did you have to, kind of, wait?
LEGUIZAMO: No, I said yes. Of course I said yes. As soon as he left I ran home, you know, hugged my wife, kissed my children, called my friends, because it was the most exciting thing ever.
LLAMAS: But even with all his success, Leguizamo has never forgotten where he's come from, delivering this message to Hollywood at the 2024 Emmys.
LEGUIZAMO [2024]: For years I didn't complain about the limited roles my people were offered: the spicy sexpot, the Latin lover, the maid, the gangbanger. Turns not complaining doesn't change anything.
LLAMAS: So, you're at the podium—
LEGUIZAMO: Yeah, yeah.
LLAMAS: —behind that mic—
LEGUIZAMO: Right.
LLAMAS: —and you light the place on fire.
LEGUIZAMO: Oh, yeah.
LLAMAS: Why?
LEGUIZAMO: Because of the world we're living in, man. I see myself as an artist, and artists are political. Artists take risks. I think you have to risk things in life to get more things, especially for your people.
LLAMAS: And for Leguizamo, that's all part of being an American.
What is an American?
LEGUIZAMO: An American is a person who is considerate, respectful, who believes in others, who protects the vulnerable, who helps others achieve their dreams. Who unites, who saves the world, and keeps peace.
