INDIANAPOLIS — My admiration for "Palm Royale" is no secret.
In the Apple TV+ dramedy, Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Kristen Wiig) will do whatever it takes to be accepted into a high-society resort club in the late 1960s – but not everyone is on board with welcoming her in with open arms.
"'Palm Royale' is the most amazing project that I've ever been a part of," said two-time Grammy winner and Emmy nominee Ricky Martin, who plays Robert Diaz in the show. "This is the first time I immersed my life into comedy, and I was really nervous, but then, to be able to work with Carol Burnett, Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney – people that mastered the genre like goddesses – it's been the most amazing school."
Martin, whose career started when he was 12 years old, drew a lot of experiences from his own life for his character, who has secrets of his own as he works as a bartender at the club and is the caretaker of Norma (Burnett), who is in a coma.
"Even though Robert is very quiet and secretive – and in my life, I've had to be a little bit more open and exposed – we deal with very similar emotions," Martin said. "I was a singer that wanted to be an actor, and in my industry, for many years, they told me, 'No. Either you're one or the other. You cannot do both.' For me, that was something I struggled with for many years."
Fans are eagerly anticipating Apple TV+ renewing "Palm Royale" for a second season — and the creative team is already on board after Burnett said she'd return.
"I think the second season is a must — numbers don't lie," Martin said. "Abe Sylvia, the creator of the show, was asked the other day about my character, and they asked him, 'So, are you going to kill him? Did you kill him?' And he said, 'No I didn't. Who said I did?' I don't know. Anything can happen, but I'm very happy to be part of this show."
All episodes of "Palm Royale" are now streaming on Apple TV+.