It is for good purpose that “The George Lopez Present” has change into so iconic within the 20 years because it first premiered. It has change into a shared piece of popular culture, conjuring nostalgia and satisfaction. It aired on community TV for six seasons and drew in thousands and thousands, which continues to be virtually extraordinary for a present with a predominately Latinx solid coping with Latinx points. We are the era of the cancelation in spite of everything.
A large portion of that viewers was Latinx — around 14 percent, on the time. “The George Lopez Present” is certainly for us — with in-jokes stemming from cross-national teasing, the occasional Spanish, and nods to la cultura like our love of baseball together with a number of the actual struggles that include being Latinx and residing within the States. However it’s also a present with mainstream ambitions. The Lopez household rock all of the mainstays of white, US sitcom households — the good suburban home, the mother who does not (all the time) work, the 2 youngsters, the canine, and the upwardly cellular financial prospects. This positioning certainly made them extra relatable to their Anglo viewers members, inviting cross-ethnic viewing.
They’re an American household that occurs to be Latinx, and the present is cautious to deal with every of its characters, and their Latinidad, with dignity.
However after all, the Lopez members of the family aren’t white (though a number of the actors are). They’re an American household that occurs to be Latinx, and the present is cautious to deal with every of its characters, and their Latinidad, with dignity. George, Angie, Carmen, and Max are relatable, goofy, and flawed individuals. Their major points are household ones, elevating the youngsters as greatest they will, supporting one another, and rising collectively and individually. Now, there are occasions when “The George Lopez Present” fell into stereotypes. Season 4’s “George’s Excessive Makeover: Holmes Version” involves thoughts. George will get some outdated associates (together with one performed by Danny Trejo) to assist him transform his storage, pays them in beer, and jokes about how “lazy” they’re. The writers’ room joins in on the “joke” with the Chicanos’ workmanship being so shoddy as to get condemned. Clearly, that’s not reflective of who we’re with 13 percent of Latinos working construction within the US and doing a rattling good job of it.
However the occasional misstep apart, “The George Lopez Present” typically makes us proud. For one, it is simply so good. I used to be laughing out loud watching it on Peacock, even in spite of everything these years. And it is surprisingly touching, mining advanced points with coronary heart and sensitivity. I consider George’s combined emotions and quest to reunite along with his estranged father. That is a fairly heavy topic for a sitcom, particularly to hold throughout a complete season. However “The George Lopez Present” does it proper, discovering the humor within the scenario along with the guts. Consider Constance Marie’s Angie calling all of the “Manny Lopezes” within the cellphone ebook (this was pre-Fb) and sharing their varied preoccupations and occupations. However there’s additionally George’s character struggling along with his feelings and his mom who lied to him about his father all these years.
The specificity issues — it reveals that we’re not a monolith and that our tradition is as wealthy and fascinating as anybody else’s.
It is a successful mixture, this occasion of a sitcom’s character’s humanity. That is the method we see within the profitable heirs to “The George Lopez Present,” like “Abbott Elementary” — placing individuals of shade within the middle and letting them be full, sophisticated, hilarious people. “The George Lopez Present” will get plenty of mileage out of the household’s Los Angeles house, George’s Mexican-American id, and Angie’s Cuban background. The specificity issues — it reveals that we’re not a monolith and that our tradition is as wealthy and fascinating as anybody else’s.
This yr, we’re getting a brand new Lopez present, starring George and his real-life daughter Mayan Lopez in “Lopez vs. Lopez.” I am hoping it continues the custom of valuing its characters’ humanity and its market success. Hopefully, in one other 20 years we’ll be wanting again on it with nostalgia in the identical method we do “The George Lopez Present.”
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