"a.k.a. Pablo" (1984) TV series

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Paul (aka Pablo) is a Mexican-American living with his family in California as he struggles to break his way into the world of stand-up comedy...

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Stand Up Comedy | Latino | Sitcom | Spanish

Cast

Paul Rodriguez	...	Paul Rivera (6 episodes, 1984)
Joe Santos	...	Domingo Rivera (4 episodes, 1984)
Hector Elizondo	...	Jose Sanchez / ... (3 episodes, 1984)
Katy Jurado	...	Rosa Maria Rivera (3 episodes, 1984)
Alma Cuervo	...	Sylvia Rivera (2 episodes, 1984)
Arnaldo Santana	...	Hecto Del Gato / ... (2 episodes, 1984)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in TV's Illest Minority Moments Presented by Ego Trip (2004) (TV)

No One Else Has Commented On This Show?

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It was awful.

It was about a son in a latino family who wanted to be a stand-up comic and when he did things like told jokes about his family, they became upset with him.

Now everyone from "The Andy Griffith Show" to "Grounded For Life" has used this plot.

Pablo's family consisted of his parents, two brothers, two sisters, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law and several kids.

The show clearly sought to verify some stereotypes while breaking others.

The mother was the biggest miss. There was no intention of getting the caring, thoughtful, soft-spoken mother of wisdom, but what we had here with her constantly pushing two bands of hair back like Shemp Howard's do, it was bewildering.

The father actually got a little better moments and dialogue.

Of the siblings and in-laws, they were all rather good. The brother-in-law was a big burly fellow who wore a tank top. I think Pablo's brother was a little Billy Crystal looking fellow.

Alma Cuervo as sister Sylvia who was slightly overweight was the best gem here.

When Pablo starts talking about his family on a late night program and the family is offended, Syvlia defends her brother, . . . . until her name comes up. Then she gets wide-eyed and shocked.

One episode would touch on a granddaughter's coming of age moment, whatever that may be, and we are treated to all of this ceremony. The brother-in-law must deal with his little girl growing up.

So here comes the moment and, all in the living room, everyone parades thru, then slowly here comes the little girl, adorned in a pretty dress and flowers. What is she getting married? Is she entering a church? It's grandma's living room, for crying out loud.

Needless to say, the sincerity of this moment was lost on me.

Above all else, the show struggled with making Pablo lovable. Clearly he thought he was going to smile and you would fall for him. Was this Pablo Rivera or was it Paul Rodriguez? He wasn't as quick as Freddie Prinze Sr. with the lines, I remember that, but clearly Rodriguez has remained much more gregarious, thank goodness.

Later, Bea Arthur would be added as an agent to flesh the show out.

Her funniest bit, actually the funniest thing I recall from the show, was her entering the Rivera home and going very serious, "Pablo, what your family has done with velvet and plastic. I love it!" Arthur wasn't needed was the problem. The siblings and in-laws were enough.

They could have actually broken out into much Spanish on the show and seemingly shut out the anglo audience, but the flavor would have carried the show.

I'm just surprised no one else commented on this thing.

Maybe that is for the best.