EXCLUSIVE | 'Mr. Iglesias' Season 2: Fabrizio Guido explains his 'honest and heartfelt' Mikey and Gabe moment

Spoilers for Season 2 'Mr. Iglesias'

Fabrizio Guido is a huge fan of comedian Gabriel Iglesias – the "Fluffy guy" who shot to added fame with his 2019 Netflix special 'One Show Fits All'.  So, when Guido had the chance to be part of 'Mr. Iglesias', a production revolving around Iglesias – playing pretty much himself but as a good-natured history teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach – he didn't think twice. With Season 2 newly premiered on the streaming platform, Guido's character Mikey is the lovable, clueless good guy with a soft corner for his classmate, Marisol (Cree Cicchino). But more than anything, Guido says that working with Iglesias "filled him with gratitude" and he was also able to convey this emotion in one of the scenes in Season 2.

That's not all, the 21-year-old goes on to spill more about the latest season of the comedy web series exclusively to MEA WorldWide and he's quite generous with Marisol updates too.

"I've always been a huge fan of Gabe since I was a kid," Guido reminisces, reflecting on what it's like to work with his favorite comedian for two years now. "I remember watching all his specials growing up, so much so that I knew his jokes by heart. I’ve always been a proud fan, he means a lot to me, so you could imagine what it must be like for me now, getting to know him at a personal level. He’s become someone I not only look up to as an artist but as a person too," Guido tells MEAWW.

When asked to pick his favorite Mikey moment from the show, he picked one from the Season 2 premiere, where Mikey, freaks out about college, finally opening up to the titular Mr. Iglesias about how his guidance is the only thing keeping him calm. 

Spoiler alert for those yet to catch up with Season 2: Guido teases, "Early on in Part 2 of Mr. Iglesias, Mikey gets to thank him for always being there for him and believing in him – a scene that just felt extra honest and heartfelt. It felt great as an artist and as the character to be able to give thanks to someone you have that admiration for. Mikey is constantly trying to figure out his place in school, academics aren’t his strong suit. But by having someone like Mr. Iglesias, he’s able to achieve more than he could’ve imagined. Motivation and guidance can make such a difference."

Guido's list of fondest memories are peppered with his moments of Gabe, he tells MEAWW. "I love when I get the chance to be creative and improv with Gabe in a scene. I love watching him interact with the crowd during scenes and surprise us with his improvisations. I really love the way he interacts with our studio audience and creates a very inclusive environment between us and the audience."

When Guido received the opportunity to play Mikey, he was "over the moon." His favorite part about the role? "I loved the fact that it took place in long beach and made many references to Southern California culture along with Mexican-American culture – two things I really connected to. I knew I would have the opportunity to bring that to the screen and it was very exciting. It just felt like a character I knew, the moment I read the script! I got the references and understood where and how this character grew up. I’ve been around Mikey my whole life, you could say."
 
But an equally important part of Mikey's character is his crush on the class genius, Marisol. "As far as (Mikey's) arc in Season 2 is concerned, we get to see him explore his feeling for Marisol even more," Guido teases. "It’s a huge storyline this time around as well."

Do we get a kiss? Do Mickey and Marisol go off to college together? Only watching the six-part new season will tell. But for those wondering if you should give 'Mr. Iglesias' a shot, Guido insists, "Mr. Iglesias does a great job of preserving the essence of classic sitcoms." While the setting might be a high school, the comedy focuses on issues like alcoholism, sobriety and peer pressure too. "I’m glad these are very present topics on our show," Guido says, noting the same. "Including topics like this lets viewers know they’re not alone. It also educates people unfamiliar with topics surrounding alcoholism and sobriety. In life these are things that are very common, they deserve their place on TV," he adds. 
 
On lighter notes, Season 2 will see the show pick up where they left off. "Mr. Hernandez (Oscar Nunez) takes hold of the drama department at school, 'Romeo and Juliet' is set as the school play, and we also get a glimpse of Gabe’s love life and his struggles of balancing a career and newfound romance. Part 2 is heartfelt and full of humor," Guido has you believe. 

Outside the screen, Guido's life amidst the lockdown has been quite artistically beneficial. "I have had time to pursue passions and hobbies that are either new or that I didn't have the time to tend to. It is a very new experience and I have never been through something like this before," he tells us, adding, "I would also like to take the time to thank essential and front line workers. They have made this time easier to get through. We can’t do this without them." 

'Mr. Iglesias' Season 2 is now available for streaming on Netflix.