Theresa Russo on Playing Disney's First Latin American Mom | Ep 23 

What is your favorite Theresa Russo moment? 🪄

How does everyone in this cast NOT AGE look how stunning everyone looks!!! AGH I’M SO HAPPY MARIA CAME ON SQUEEEEE

A Disney channel mother figure staple. Always a class act!

Theresa Russo is one of my favorite moms on Disney Channel ❤ She still looks the same after the show ended.

“I love being half Mexican and half whatever he is” “ITALIAN, ITALIAN, I tell you that everytime you order pineapple on your pizza” 😂😂😂 the writers and cast did such an amazing job

i think one of the most special and overlooked things about wizards was theresa and alex’s relationship. the moments in the movie and where shes comforting her after she breaks up with mason are some of the most heartfelt and touching in the series and part of what made wizards stand out from every other kids show. her and selenas chemistry was unmatched.

Sorry to say this but we are going to need at least 10 more podcast with Maria ! She’s so fun

Being a first-generation Latino, having Maria as the mom was great to see. I finally saw a representation of myself, my family, and culture.

My favorite scene with her is when Alex locked herself in the mirror and was pretending to be Theresa’s reflection and Theresa bought it 😂 and Alex snapped and said “OH mom we’re not even dressed the same” 😂

“You’re one heartbreake closer to happily ever after.” Got me through so many breakups, crushes and the endings of friendships. Thank you for having Maria on! She was, and still is a mother figure to us all!

My favorite episode with Maria playing Theresa was the Quinceñera Episode! Such a nostalgic and iconic episode!!! ❤❤❤

The Cher impersonation 😂 Maria absolutely KILLED that omg

The family game night episode is iconic. I love Theresa's nervous laugh "see we're not fighting, so stop fighting!" 😂😂😂

Maria is so beautiful!!! Literally none of you have changed since your time on Disney. And Maria not just with Wizards, but Camp Rock and Princess Protection Program 😊 Thanks for being a mother figure in so many of our lives Maria 🖤

She hasn't aged so gorgeous 😍 the best mom ever

She gives such positive vibes

Somehow Maria discovered how to stop aging.🤯 They've all been aging beautifully. They gotta do their reunion and give them a bigger budget because they're all gold ❤

“✊🏽 KNOCK IT OFF” and “Mija” , her iconic lines

I loved her as Theresa and also in Camp Rock. Also, very underrated performance in ‘Larry Crowne’ as Celestina.

I had a feeling Maria would come on soon!!! Can’t wait to listen and hear her thoughts on Wizards being the first Latino cast on Disney ❤

my favorite theresa moments are the little things she does like in this one scene where alex is like “ok max is gone, time to pack up and move” and theresa starts to stand up but then sits back down and shakes her head like “nah”. makes me laugh every time.

As a Mexican-American, I agree with Maria. I felt so relatable and made me happy to see characters like Theresa ❤️❤️

We love Maria ❤

Omg Maria even went in person. So nice to see her

Seeing Theresa and Jerry Russo together again makes me cry. To me they were my disney channel parents. Los quiero mucho! 💜💕🥺🔮✨

Oh my god with every guest star I feel like it’s a reunion of my childhood! ❤

Can we bring Maria back whenever she’s available 🤣 She’s such a great fit fot the podcast I love her insight! 🙌🫶💖

Coming from a Puerto Rican-American mom and an Italian-American father, living in NY, and a family of 5, I felt this show was made for me lol. I loved the family dynamic and comedy. For sure always will be one of my favorite shows from my childhood.

she hasn’t aged a day!!!! I love her sm. such a calming presence 🥺

Teresa’s speech to Alex when Mason broke her heart got me through my heart breaks 😌 I found so much comfort in the show and more from the parents 🥺🫶🏼

I adore the scene between Theresa and Alex when Alex is heartbroken and she tells her: one broken heart is closer to your true love. As a child I didn't think much about it, just thought it was cute, but as I got older and have went through a few breakups I understood how warm and beautiful that scene was. When heartbroken I put that episode on since I feel comforted by those words, I love that show so much.

I loved Maria’s character! They always made her a bit like a Kris Jenner type mom, trying to stay young and like a sister. I laughed so hard when she was giving Alex advice in an episode and Alex to herself says, “I am raising myself!” 😂😂😂

I actually have a vague memory of Theresa talking about hispanic heritage month on Disney in between shows and I remember feeling so included. Muchas gracias Theresa, por ser la mama que a muchos le gustarían a tener ❤ Sending a lot of love to you all!!!

My fave aspect of representation on the show was when Theresa was gonna go out to eat and Max was like "what am i going to eat? And Theresa was like"There's a pot of beans on the stove.." 😂😂 I felt so seen

I like what she said about not being casted for a role you wanted. Not being casted doesn’t mean you weren’t great, it just means you fit a different puzzle and story. so don’t be hard on yourself. Also, I just wanted to say that Jennifer is truly a wonderful woman ❤

Seeing Theresa, Jerry & Harper in the same room on the pod brings me back to my childhood we ❤U Maria

MARIA REALLY RAISED ME FR ! Theresa and Alex's relationship made me feel so seen and represented during a time when there was a huge lack of latin american representation in media.

Theresa Russo was one of my absolute favorite characters growing up. And having a fellow Latina on a HUGE platform made me so happy and excited. Especially the quinceañera episode, I used to feel really shy and awkward whenever people would being up my Hispanic heritage, but Maria and Selena both helped me feel so comfortable with it 🖤.

It was so wonderful to see Maria on the show. You all always make my Mondays. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s so apparent how much you all love and care for each other and it’s such a joy to watch you all interact with each other

This episode made me so emotional. "Theresa" spoke so highly of everyone that worked on this magic show. I'm 25 years old and to this day I still watch it AND had introduce your show to my nieces and nephews. Safe to say they love it just as much as I do

My best friend growing up was Mexican and I practically lived at their house on weekends. After they moved far away Maria playing Theresa brought me back to my childhood with that Mija love I missed so much. I love you all thank you for everything you do!

Is it possible to love her even more? 😍😭 I’ve been hoping & waiting for Maria’s appearance my heart is so happy

I loved all the behind the scenes stories. I hope Maria comes back soon with more

Maria yay! She hasn't aged a day.

my family was literally the Russo family, but we had a food truck instead of the sub station and no magic obviously😂😂 it was great seeing that on TV😊

How did she not age AT ALL?!

That Cher moment was ✨ICONIC✨ Maria is all of our mom

God she’s like fine wine so much better as she ages

It's true what she said, the writers did a great job introducing the culture not being overloaded but just like a normal life situation

wow Maria hasn't aged a single day! looking forward to watching this ep

I believe the whole cast of Wizards found the fountain of youth. They all look amazing til this day!

Maria was always hilarious and touching as Theresa. Would love to see her back for more episodes of the podcast! Haha, I loved the running gag with her lamp getting broken over and over again. (Although it wasn't mentioned here)

i’m so glad to see her on here!! can’t wait to watch this fully

Theresa was one of my ALL time favorite Disney moms. 😂 she can do comedy so well and perfectly timed, her and Leigh-Allen Baker who plays the mom on Disney channels Good luck Charlie are two of my favorite Disney moms 😂 when Disney was in its PRIME 😂❤

While rewatching I realized Theresa is my favorite character. She nailed it while looking gorgeous every time.

They all have aged like fine wine :)

Such a good episode! Wizards means a lot to me and my little brother since it was THE only show where we felt represented and could relate to a bit more. Maria’s comment on how she had to translate things for her mom at a young age is something me and my brother laughed hard at cause we had to do the exact same thing! Muchas gracias por todo lo que hacen!

Finally someone in the show looking at the camera!! Feels so disconnected when they don’t occasionally break the fourth wall in a pod

Watching this episode podcast has really opened my eyes. As a Mexican/Italian/American I didn’t realize just how much this cast made me feel GOOD. I’m so happy that now it makes sense to me. I’m so proud of my AMERICAN/ITALIAN/MEXICAN background. Thank you all for doing this podcast

Clicked so fast!! So happy to see her again, its like being apart of an old friend group & getting to hear about how everyones been doing. Jen, David - Love her, love you two, love this podcast! Thank you. ❤

Maria is such a warm person she is lovely I just wanna hug her

Maria was so sweet to my husband and I so humble and down to Earth, I was waiting for an episode where you talked with her about Wizards. I enjoy your podcast and going back down memory lane, thank you David and Jennifer for taking the time to put something together that all of us can relate to. Looking forward to the next episode.

Theresa Russo is one of my favorite Disney channel moms! She reminds me a ton of my mom!!!! I love it!

I actually cried! I love Maria. The way she was on the show, expressed my reality of being Hispanic American so much. The reason why I fell in love with this show as a young child. I felt so much closure and comfort in the dynamics and how it represented my family and I. ♥️♥️♥️

maria canals barrera is my favorite mother figure because she was the first mom who really encapsulated the warmness of a mom plus Latina Mother ughhh she was the perfect choice !

Maria has not aged! GORGEOUS 😍

Yesss it’s about time for Maria to grace us with her presence ❤❤

My fav eps with Maria was when Alex got her heartbroken by mason & she was trying to console her🥹🩷 and her always calling her “Mija”🥲

It’s amazing how everyone from the cast of Wizards has not aged at all! Mrs. Russo was one of my favorite tv moms on Disney! Thanks for having her on!

Maria has such a power in her calm positivity that just listening to her is bringing me to tears

the way you guys look at her while telling her story of her mom ❤ the love you guys share with each other is just so special and unique 🥹

i love it when a show gets representation right by doing it organically. there was absolutely no fuss made about Wizards being a Latin/Italian-American family. Same thing about Selena as Alex, there was no fuss made about a Latina being the lead character. Even in the show itself, there is no fuss about them being mixed-heritage. To me personally it was about a family of wizards who just happened to be half-Latin and half Italian American and that they stuck to the logics of how ethnic heritage works. Sure heritage makes up a part of who you are, but it does not define you as a person. This is especially relevant in the Quinceñera episode, where we get to see Alex embrace her Latina-side (well kinda), while keeping to her usual sardonic personality. Plus the part where she immediately removes her heels when she and Theresa snap back into their bodies is so cool. Cuz a lot of shows would include the character "just because they are gay, or black, etc", and then that becomes the crux of the character's identity. Like it doesn't matter how useless the character is, if they are part of a minority, then they get more screen time (but still no actual character development). Alex wasn't like that, Alex openly ignored her Latin-side, not because she had a vendetta or something, but simply cuz she was to lazy too care about her heritage, something that a lot of mixed-heritage families can relate to.

It’s nice to have a fresh take and different view of the show from a former cast mate to expand upon the experience for everyone involved. Loved this episode!

I will always remember the “ KNOCK IT OFF” episode 😂😂😂😂

I'm so happy that Maria is on this weeks episode I love her character so much!!!

Omg thank you SO much for getting Maria on the show!

The whole "dysfunctional family that loved each other" was the biggest thing for me. Really resonated with me because it was SO SO realistic and wasn't trying to make lessons out of it or turn it into anything it was not.

She was giving so much insight about the show I was like no jen I’m invested don’t stop her 😭

I always thought till this day that they were the perfect Disney parents .. loved watching them be a family Lol she is truly the mom ! So sweet and full of inspirational speeches and he is the dad u can rely on to make u laugh and feel comforted then they come together to teach u the ways of life and feel loved💜💜💜

maria really feels like all of our mamas 😭❤️ happy to be here!!

Maria wow she’s aged so beautiful. Love her work I know her from Mexican movie “mi familia” & “proud family” & ofc “wizards” !!! Such a great actress.

Thanks for raising us im sure half of us are over 20 now you guys really built our childhood❗️❗️❗️❗️

I'm so glad you had Maria on and with you in person. She's awesome, as are both of you.

She is just so classy, graceful and lovely. Brought some peace to the show, not negativity love it

This was by far the best episode of wizards of waverly pod . Please have more guest of the show like this like physicaly there with you guys not on zoom

Wow way to make my whole morning ❤ seeing you three together makes my heart melt!!

What a healing and cozy episode ^^ i love hearing about actors gushing about their craft and how it intertwines with their lives so this was very lovely to see

She is so smart the way she talks about culture

I could listen to Maria talk for hours 😍 she has such an amazing way of storytelling it captivates you 🥰

Maria needs to come back ASAP. I mean, it feels like she barely scratched the surface of the bts stories that she could share and this episode was insanely good altogether

Maria's Cher impersonation was SPOT ON 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Eyyyyyy yes! I’ve been anticipating this one. Maria and y’all are treasures.

Happy Monday, Wizards fam!

Y’all have not aged at all, feels like it’s still 2007-2012, haha. Guess that’s magic! lol 🪄

DOES ANYONE remember when she turned invisible and ran through the door that got me dead she went WEEE chaotic energy at its finest

She has such an amazing calming voice! She is a treasure this was lovely

Maria has not aged a day she looks so so stunning! Loved Theresa Russo so much

This was such a treat! It was a pleasure to get to know Maria better.

we’re in a relatively great time in terms of latino representation in media, but we know that latinos used to be practically nonexistent in television. it’s because of wizards that i had at least one show growing up where i could see people like me. me and my mom would watch and joke all the time that i was like alex and she was like theresa, so i will forever be thankful to maria and selena. their representation was genuinely formed me as a person.

A mother, a sister, a lover, a legend, a queen, a superstar and an icon walk into a bar. The bartender says, “table for one, Maria?”