Saturday, March 18, 2006

Rare 1970's PBS Sitcom "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" Available on DVD

¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? La Completa Collection
¿Qué Pasa, USA? was America's first bilingual situation comedy. The program explored the trials and tribulations faced by the Peña family of Miami as they struggled to cope with a new country and a new language. The series focused on the identity crisis of the members of the family as they were pulled in one direction by their elders - who wanted to maintain Cuban values and traditions - and pulled in other directions by the pressures of living in a predominantly Anglo society.

The series was bilingual, reflecting the mix of language often heard in Cuban-American neighborhoods - from Spanish in the home and English at the supermarket to the inevitable combining of both into "Spanglish."

¿Qué Pasa, USA? aired on PBS nationwide from approximately 1977-1981. A total of 39 episodes were produced over 3 seasons. The show was produced and taped live before a studio audience at PBS affiliate WPBT in Miami, Florida. In recent years, the series has been shown on Galavisión.

The cast included Manolo Villaverde as Pepe, Ana Margarita Martin-Casado as Juana, Luis Oquendo as Antonio, Velia Martinez as Adela, Rocky Echevarria (now known as Steven Bauer) as Joe, and Ana Margarita Menéndez as Carmen.

¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? La Completa Collection is available to purchase on the official site via their store. The 5-Disc Collector's Edition includes all 39 episodios of the ground-breaking comedy series. It will set you back mucho dinero: $99.95 plus $6 shipping and handling. This seems like an internet-only offer. You won't be able to order it on Amazon.com or buy it in stores.

The site, owned and operated by WPBT Channel 2, includes a number of other goodies including a photo album, desktop wallpapers, video clips, and an addicting Qué Pasa Concentration Game.

Related Links:

  • ¿Qué Pasa, USA? Official Site
  • TV.com Episode Guide
  • Internet Movie Database
  • Wikipedia
  • Jump The Shark
    Posted by Todd -- SitcomsOnline.com at 3:03 AM

    • Sitcoms Airing Tonight

    Tuesday, August 4

    Modern Family - "Finale Part 1" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    In part 1 of the series finale, Mitchell and Cam settle in on their new normal, and Phil and Claire decide that one of the kids needs to move out in order to take control of the house again. Meanwhile, as Gloria becomes more successful at work, she notices Jay, Manny and Joe don’t seem to need her as much.

    Modern Family - "Finale Part 2" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    In part 2 of the series finale, the entire family discovers saying goodbye is much harder than it seems.

    black-ish - "You Don't Know Jack" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Jack joins the robotics club and Dre worries it might be a detrimental failure for him after already being cut from the basketball team. Ruby embellishes a story for Diane’s school project.

    mixed-ish - "Doctor! Doctor!" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
    Rainbow’s friend Rebecca gets mono (“the kissing disease”), and after helping her out, she becomes interested in the medical field. Alicia fibs to Paul about getting a flu shot, and when Denise gets sick, their distrust of the medical community comes to light. Meanwhile, Johan and Santamonica go to live with Harrison while Denise is sick and start to enjoy his lavish lifestyle.

    Complete TV Listings

    Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 3)

    Tuesday, August 4

    • Billy Eichner (Friends from College/Difficult People/Parks and Recreation) - Billy guest hosts a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
    • Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) - Stephanie is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
    • Joel McHale (Community/The Great Indoors) - Joel appears on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
    • Sean Hayes (Will & Grace/The Millers/Sean Saves the World) - Sean is a guest on Watch What Happens: Live at 11pm on Bravo. He will also be on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
    • J. B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm/The Millers/Bent/'Til Death) - J. B. appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
    • Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm/Son of Zorn/Suburgatory) - Cheryl is a guest on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
    • Olivia Holt (I Didn't Do It/Kickin' It) - Olivia appears on a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
    • Tisha Campbell (Dr. Ken/Rita Rocks/My Wife and Kids/Martin) - Tisha guest co-hosts a repeat of The Real, so check your local listings.
    • Jeff Foxworthy (The Jeff Foxworthy Show) - Jeff is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings. He also talks about What It's Worth on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on People Now at 1pm.
    • Candace Cameron Bure (Fuller House/Full House) - Candace talks about Fuller House on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
    • Jamie Lee Curtis (Anything But Love/Operation Petticoat) - Jamie Lee will be on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and in the 9am hour.

    New on DVD/Blu-ray (April/May/June/July/August)

    Step by Step - The Complete Seventh and Final Season The Good Place - The Final (Fourth) Season Head of the Class - The Complete First Season Modern Family - The Eleventh and Final Season Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Seven

    04/07 - Cheers - The Complete Series (2020 Release)
    04/14 - Police Squad! - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
    04/14 - The Righteous Gemstones - The Complete First Season
    04/21 - Step by Step - The Complete Seventh and Final Season (WBShop.com)
    05/05 - Kidding - Season 2
    05/19 - The Good Place - The Final (Fourth) Season
    05/19 - The Good Place - The Complete Series - Collector's Edition (Blu-ray)
    05/26 - Silicon Valley - The Complete Sixth and Final Season
    05/26 - Silicon Valley - The Complete Series
    06/02 - Work in Progress - Season 1
    06/09 - Head of the Class - The Complete First Season (WBShop.com)
    06/09 - How to Be a Gentleman - The Complete Series
    06/09 - Letterkenny - Seasons 3 & 4
    06/09 - Modern Family - The Eleventh and Final Season
    06/09 - No Activity - Season 1
    06/09 - Superior Donuts - Season Two
    06/23 - Bob's Burgers - The Complete 10th Season
    06/23 - Fresh Off the Boat - The Complete Sixth and Final Season
    06/23 - Last Man Standing - The Complete Seventh Season
    06/23 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Third Season (Blu-ray)
    06/30 - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season Seven
    07/07 - Will & Grace - The Revival - Season Three - The Farewell Season
    07/21 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Tenth Season
    07/21 - The Unicorn - Season One
    08/11 - Final Space - The First and Second Seasons (Blu-ray)
    More TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest

    Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

    08/04 - Laff TV Acquires How I Met Your Mother; Lifetime Announces Stars for It's a Wonderful Lifetime for 2020
    08/03 - Fox Sets Premiere Date for Monday Fall Dramas; Jim Belushi Gets Discovery Series
    08/02 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 3, 2020)
    08/01 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Damon Wayans Jr. Set to Star in Comedy for Peacock; Production to Restart for S.W.A.T.
    07/31 - Fri-Yay: Emmy Nominations Thoughts; Leah Remini to Host Game Show Network Game Show
    07/30 - Netflix Acquires Black Sitcoms from 1990s and 2000s; A 4 Sitcom Crossover Event Coming Soon to Netflix
    07/29 - The 72nd Emmy Awards Nominations; Live with Kelly and Ryan Pays Tribute to Regis
    07/28 - Freeform's Love in the Time of Corona Gets Premiere Date; ABC Remembers Regis with Primetime Special Tonight (July 28)
    07/27 - Archer Gets Season 11 Premiere Date on FXX; The Fugitive Reboot on Quibi Trailer
    07/26 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 27, 2020)
    07/25 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Chase Considered for ABC Primetime Lineup; Plex Adds 80 Free Linear Channels
    07/24 - Fri-Yay: Two More COVID-19 Remote Reunions: 30 Rock and Happy Endings; Netflix Renews Top 10 Series Sweet Magnolias for Season 2
    07/23 - Fox Announces Fall 2020 Premiere Date for Animated Comedies; Syfy Acquires John Cena & Kat Dennings Animated Comedy
    07/22 - HBO Orders Bridget Everett Comedy Series; Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Cast to Reunite on YouTube
    07/21 - Happy Endings Cast Reunite, See Episode Here; Jake Johnson Shooting Hoops on Netflix
    07/20 - Netflix Is About to Get Even with Comedy; ABC's United We Fall Gets Encore
    07/19 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 20, 2020)
    07/18 - SitcomsOnline Digest: NBC Affiliates Refuse to Air 30 Rock: A One Time Special; Golden Girls House For Sale
    07/17 - Fri-Yay: Peacock Launches, Thoughts So Far; Stay Calm with New Series with A-Listers
    07/16 - Hallmark Channel Announces Renewals and Slate for 2021; Michael Che Coming to HBO Max for Improv Series
    07/15 - ABC Names Tyra Banks as New Dancing with the Stars Host; CBS Fall 2020 Schedule Change for Wednesdays
    07/14 - Emily in Paris Moves to Netflix; Ravi Patel's HBO Max Comedy Docuseries Premieres Aug. 27
    07/13 - Get Woke on Hulu with New Comedy; Trailer for Tig n' Seek Released by HBO Max
    07/12 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 13, 2020)
    07/11 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews The Moodys for Second Season; NBC Preparing to Put Peacock Into Flight
    07/10 - Fri-Yay: Never Have I Ever, Netflix's Best Sitcom; Ramy Gets Season 3 on Hulu
    07/09 - NBC Reviving Weakest Link; truTV's I'm Sorry Gets Charitable
    07/08 - HBO Max Orders Series Based on Hair Love; Comedy Central Inks Deal with John Mulaney
    07/07 - Dead to Me Picked Up for Final Season on Netflix; CBS All Access Orders Star Trek Animated Comedy
    07/06 - ABC to Rebroadcast Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times Episodes on Tuesday (July 7); Anthony Anderson and Billy Eichner to Guest Host ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! This Week
    07/05 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of July 6, 2020)
    07/04 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Amazon Gets Streaming Rights to Mad Men; Too Close for Comfort on Pluto TV