On Nov. 8, comedian Erik Rivera's first stand-up special will air on NUVOtv. With a reputation at famous comedy clubs like Gotham Comedy Club and The Laugh Factory, appearances on landmark shows and an NBC series on the way, "Erik Rivera: I'm No Expert" is just in time to introduce the comedian to those who haven't yet gotten the chance to catch a glimpse of this rising star.

With "Erik Rivera: I'm No Expert," the comedian can cross another achievement off his bucket list.

"It feels amazing," Rivera said in an interview with Latin Post. "This is what every comic works for; at some point you want to have the one-hour special as your milestone. Not only am I getting it, but I get to share it with my family at NUVO."

Rivera's relationship with NUVOtv, which boasts superstar Jennifer Lopez as chief creative officer, isn't new. The Hispanic-targeted cable network gave Rivera some of his earlier work and selected him to be their Hispanic Heritage Month spokesperson.

For Rivera, having his first special air on a network that has shown faith in him is "very important."

"They have a few people in the beginning who took a chance and believed in me," Rivera said. "I'm glad it's paying off for both of us."

There are many reasons why NUVOtv should have faith in Rivera.

In addition to being a favorite at various famous comedy clubs in New York City and Los Angeles, Rivera has presented and been a spokesperson for The National Council of La Raza and the ALMA Awards. He has also appeared on major networks including TV Guide, MTV and Comedy Central and was chosen to be part of NBC's revival of "Last Comic Standing."

One of Rivera's most promising achievements, however, was his appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," which puts him with the likes of Roseanne, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld.

"Erik Rivera: I'm No Expert," will tell the comedian's story, from his background and his "crazy" family, to his relationships, marriage, having a child and ultimately just "trying to be an adult."

"Every comedian's material is their baby," Rivera said. "I've been nurturing this baby, raising this baby, doing every show possible and I get to unveil this to the world."

As a Latino (his mother is Guatemalan and his father is Puerto Rican), Rivera's culture often comes up in his routines. Embracing his culture wasn't always easy for Rivera, however, who as a child went by "Erik Rivers" for some time.

"I have a son, and my main goal is to make sure he doesn't lose his culture," Rivera said. "He's American, but I want him to still know where he came from. My Mom tried to do it when I was little. I thank her now. At the time I hated it. ... I got to a point where I didn't want to speak Spanish."

Rivera was forced to accept his culture and forget about blending in when his mother took him to Guatemala for two months, where he was forced to "sink or swim" with his Spanish.

"'How dare you force me to speak Spanish and learn about our culture?" Rivera asked his mother at the time.

Now, however, Rivera looks at that period as a blessing that helped him keep in touch with his roots.

Still, in an industry that studies have proven offers Latinos a lack of diverse roles, Rivera avoids being typecast. His trick? He doesn't really fit the part.

"I have gone out for auditions to be a Latino gangster or Thug #2, but I smile too much and my hair's too pretty to be a Latino thug," Rivera said.

Instead, Rivera is crafting his own role with actress Eva Longoria. Currently, the two are working on a NBC family sitcom produced by Longoria's UnbeliEVAble Entertainment based on Rivera's life and stand-up routines, according to Deadline.

Rivera and Longoria are working on avoiding "pitfalls," Rivera said, by neither minimizing his culture nor turning it into a stereotypical "Latino sitcom."

"That's who I am, that's what I am, I don't try to play it up or downplay it," Rivera said of his background. "You don't look at me and say, 'I wonder if he's maybe Irish.'"

The two are hoping to create a show that appeals to all audiences, and according to Rivera, the former "Desperate Housewives" actress is the perfect woman for the job.

"She's a great advocate for Latinos everywhere. She gets my vision and comedy," he said.

Rivera's NUVOtv special "Erik Rivera: I'm No Expert" premieres Nov. 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

"I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have. ... A lot of hard work and tears went into this -- mostly the tears are mine," the comedian said.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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