Created and directed by George Valencia, with Reyes as one of the executive producers, the story interlaces the history of freestyle music: a Latin hip-hop and pop hybrid genre popularized in the 1980s by acts like Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, George Lamond and Judy Torres.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur very existence is political no matter what. Our joy is a problem for a lot of people,\u201d said Reyes. \u201cIt\u2019s really important for us to tell our stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Between the passion project and two highly-rated<\/a> Hulu shows, which continue to stream on the platform despite eventual plans to merge into the Disney+ app<\/a>, Reyes is not taking her spotlight for granted \u2014 especially amid a sinking Hollywood industry model<\/a> that\u2019s made it difficult for some to find work \u2014 \u201cI\u2019m milking it for all it\u2019s about,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.<\/p>\n How were you able to film both the \u201cScrubs\u201d reboot and Season 2 of \u201cHigh Potential\u201d? <\/b> \u201cI\u2019m so honored and so thrilled to be part of what I consider a television history,\u201d said Judy Reyes of her role as Carla Espinosa on the ABC medical sitcom \u201cScrubs.\u201d <\/p>\n (Jeff Weddell \/ Disney)<\/p>\n \u200aDid it feel natural to return as your character Carla on \u201cScrubs\u201d? <\/b> \u200aWhat has changed in Carla \u2014 and what hasn\u2019t changed? <\/b> In season 2 of \u201cHigh Potential,\u201d your character Lieutenant Soto faces a moment of defeat when she\u2019s not chosen to be captain. What thoughts popped into your head as you rehearsed the scene? <\/b> Judy Reyes portrays Lieutenant Selena Soto in \u201cHigh Potential,\u201d leading a top-notch team of crime solvers opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata.<\/p>\n (Jessica Perez \/ Disney)<\/p>\n There are some moments in \u201cHigh Potential\u201d when your character is holding up a mug with the Dominican Republic flag. How do you find other ways to incorporate your Latinidad in the story? <\/b> The other stuff is just being me, which is the purpose of being an artist. I don\u2019t know how much sense it makes to throw in the Spanish word, unless you have other Latino people with you.<\/p>\n Latinos <\/b>haven\u2019t historically been represented<\/b><\/a> as leaders in Hollywood. Has it evolved? <\/b> \u200aWhat has changed in Hollywood and what has not changed in your perspective?<\/b>
ABC was willing to make it work. \u201cScrubs\u201d had been in the works for a long time. From Zach Braff and Donald Faison doing their podcast [during the pandemic], to the T-Mobile commercials … A whole new generation became interested in and got hitched to \u201cScrubs.\u201d] It just so happened at the same time that \u201cHigh Potential\u201d was happening. My manager was wonderful about making sure [filming] was accommodating. <\/p>\n![\""Scrubs"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774997550_964_.jpeg\")
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\u200aIt did. They did right by making all these characters older. We were all older with each other. We\u2019re all friends that don\u2019t necessarily talk to each other every day [except] Zach and Donald \u2014 they\u2019re pretty much married \u2014 but it was like we never left.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s changed in Carla is that she\u2019s got four kids and she\u2019s tired and she\u2019s older. The consuming passion of her work is not what it used to be because it\u2019s physical. Life is catching up. Her kids are older, so everything changes and she\u2019s not able to work her ass off the way she used to and she has to confront that.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s extremely well-written. Defeat is very relatable as a woman \u2014 [and] as a woman of color, as a woman of a certain age and as a woman of a certain position. I think we can all, as actors, relate to not getting something you are sure you deserved. But there\u2019s also the surrendering. It\u2019s opening up to all the [possibilities] because if you don\u2019t do that, then you get paralyzed. It stops you in your tracks. \u201cWell, what if I feel this defeat again?\u201d You might, you know, but what\u2019s your alternative? \u200aYou gotta eat s\u2014 to move ahead.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774997551_421_.jpeg\")
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When we did the \u201cHigh Potential\u201d pilot, the props department said I got a mug in the scene and if I wanted anything on it. I was like, \u201cHmm, no one ever asked me before. Can you do a Dominican flag?\u201d That was in Vancouver and I\u2019ve had it since. The Dominicans lose their f\u2014 minds on social media and I love it. It fills my heart.<\/p>\n
Things progressed before DEI collapsed. There was an active attempt and pursuit of putting people of color in leadership roles. I\u2019m grateful it\u2019s happened. I\u2019m sad it\u2019s retreated a little bit, but I think it has to start behind the camera. We need to champion writers, directors, producers and the stories or get risky and daring with casting.<\/p>\n
Many things have changed from the way we view television. Everything is streamed. Now everything is a limited series. There\u2019s such a political impact in what gets seen and what doesn\u2019t. It\u2019s very hard for people right now and I feel challenged to say how it is better, because I\u2019m working. I see how hard it is. The best thing I can do is seize the platform and connect with other creatives who want to go ahead and take a chance and make investments in stories.<\/p>\n