Greetings from Tucson
Encyclopedia
Greetings from Tucson is a television sitcom which aired on The WB during the 2002-2003 season
. The series was executive produced by Rob LaZebnik, Peter Murrieta, Howard Klein and David Miner.
Though reviews were mixed, critics applauded the abilities of the mostly-Latino cast, calling the show "a welcome addition to TV's largely white landscape," and compared its premise to I Love Lucy
, The Jeffersons
and the thought-provoking 1970s comedies of Norman Lear
.
.
Greetings from Tucson was based on the life of series creator Peter Murrieta. The stories were seen through the eyes of 15-year-old David Tiant (Pablo Santos), the oldest son in an ethnically-mixed, upwardly mobile family. His father Joaquin (Julio Oscar Mechoso
) was a proud, pragmatic Mexican-American; his mother was a feisty Irish-American. His older sister (Aimee Garcia) was a socially-active cheerleader who rejected her Mexican roots and insisted she was Spanish.
In the pilot episode, the audience was told that Joaquin was awarded a major promotion at the copper mine, enabling him to move his family to a better neighborhood. The Tiants' last house was in such an impoverished area that it had bars on the windows and was subject to frequent police helicopter flyovers. The pilot episode took place six months after the Tiants moved.
Greetings from Tucson attempted to examine the themes of cultural identity, family and class. For example, in one scene, a Caucasian neighbor tells Ms. Tiant, "We were thinking of getting some work done in our yard, and I saw those Mexicans building a wall for you. I hear they're really good, and those guys look trustworthy. Maybe I could get their number from you." "Those guys," in fact, are Joaquin and his brother.
The series lampooned stereotypes of Mexican culture and used them self-deprecatingly. In one episode, young David enters a clothing store, family in tow, and proclaims, "Of all the parts of my Mexican heritage that I'm most proud of, taking the extended family to the mall in one car to buy one item is probably my favorite." When Ms. Tiant hears that her daughter has been telling people that her family is Spanish, she replies, "She lies like a Spaniard."
2002-03 United States network television schedule
This was the United States broadcast television schedule on all six commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 2002. All times are Eastern and Pacific.New series are highlighted in bold....
. The series was executive produced by Rob LaZebnik, Peter Murrieta, Howard Klein and David Miner.
Though reviews were mixed, critics applauded the abilities of the mostly-Latino cast, calling the show "a welcome addition to TV's largely white landscape," and compared its premise to I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
and the thought-provoking 1970s comedies of Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
.
Plot
The show's title was meant to imitate the caption of a postcard, and the title sequence displayed the cast and credits on a series of postcards. The same visual device was used to transition between scenes. The exterior shot of the daughter's apartment building is a photograph of a real Tucson apartment complex, Casa Royale. The show's theme song was performed by Los LobosLos Lobos
Los Lobos are a multiple Grammy Award–winning American Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños.-History:The...
.
Greetings from Tucson was based on the life of series creator Peter Murrieta. The stories were seen through the eyes of 15-year-old David Tiant (Pablo Santos), the oldest son in an ethnically-mixed, upwardly mobile family. His father Joaquin (Julio Oscar Mechoso
Julio Oscar Mechoso
Julio Oscar Mechoso is an American actor. He is occasionally credited as Julio Mechoso.Mechoso is a character actor in both television and film. He has appeared in several high-profile films, such as Grindhouse, Bad Boys and the controversial Ken Park. His television credits include Miami Vice,...
) was a proud, pragmatic Mexican-American; his mother was a feisty Irish-American. His older sister (Aimee Garcia) was a socially-active cheerleader who rejected her Mexican roots and insisted she was Spanish.
In the pilot episode, the audience was told that Joaquin was awarded a major promotion at the copper mine, enabling him to move his family to a better neighborhood. The Tiants' last house was in such an impoverished area that it had bars on the windows and was subject to frequent police helicopter flyovers. The pilot episode took place six months after the Tiants moved.
Greetings from Tucson attempted to examine the themes of cultural identity, family and class. For example, in one scene, a Caucasian neighbor tells Ms. Tiant, "We were thinking of getting some work done in our yard, and I saw those Mexicans building a wall for you. I hear they're really good, and those guys look trustworthy. Maybe I could get their number from you." "Those guys," in fact, are Joaquin and his brother.
The series lampooned stereotypes of Mexican culture and used them self-deprecatingly. In one episode, young David enters a clothing store, family in tow, and proclaims, "Of all the parts of my Mexican heritage that I'm most proud of, taking the extended family to the mall in one car to buy one item is probably my favorite." When Ms. Tiant hears that her daughter has been telling people that her family is Spanish, she replies, "She lies like a Spaniard."
Cast
- Pablo Santos as David Tiant
- Aimee Garcia as Maria Tiant
- Sara PaxtonSara PaxtonSara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
as Sarah Tobin - Bobby Chavez as Daniel Tiant
- Rebecca CreskoffRebecca CreskoffRebecca Creskoff is an American actress.-Career:Creskoff graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before attending New York University where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree....
as Elizabeth Tiant - Julio Oscar MechosoJulio Oscar MechosoJulio Oscar Mechoso is an American actor. He is occasionally credited as Julio Mechoso.Mechoso is a character actor in both television and film. He has appeared in several high-profile films, such as Grindhouse, Bad Boys and the controversial Ken Park. His television credits include Miami Vice,...
as Joaquin Tiant - Lupe OntiverosLupe OntiverosLupe Ontiveros is an American film and television actress. Ontiveros has acted in numerous films and television shows, most often playing a maid or, more recently, an all-knowing grandmother; she estimates she has played a maid between 150 and 300 times on screen.-Early life:Ontiveros was born...
as Magdalena Tiant - Jacob VargasJacob Vargas-Early life:Vargas was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California, since 1971. He was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family.-Career:...
as Ernesto Tiant - Brian ScolaroBrian ScolaroBrian Scolaro is an American comedian, actor, voice actor and producer. He first established himself as a stand up comedian in Manhattan and appeared in Montreal's Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 1999...
as Larry Janetti
External links
- Review by Steve Lutz, TeeVee.org, October 15, 2002
- Review by Tracy McLoone, September 23, 2002