Los Americans

Last updated

Los Americans
Los Americans.jpg
Written byDennis Leoni
Directed byDennis Leoni
Starring Esai Morales, Lupe Ontiveros, JC Gonzalez
Production
Executive producerRey Ramsey
Producers Robert Townsend, Lydia Nicole
Production locationsSanta Monica, California
CinematographyJohn L. Demps Jr.
EditorRobert Pergament
Production companyV Studio
Original release
Network Pic.TV
ReleaseMay 26, 2011 (2011-05-26)

Los Americans is an eight-part series that focuses on a multi-generational, middle-income Latino family living in Los Angeles. The show was written and directed by Dennis Leoni and released in 2011.

Contents

Plot

The Valenzuela family live together in a multi-generational household in Los Angeles. The series centers on the tensions between Lee and his mother Lucia as they navigate issues including alcoholism, teenage rebellion, and immigration. [1] The series follows the Valenzuela family, headed by Leandro Valenzuela, who goes by "Lee," a fully assimilated Mexican-American living in Los Angeles who has largely abandoned Spanish and his cultural heritage. The series explores the tensions this creates alongside broader social issues the family faces, including unemployment, homelessness, alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, and immigration. A central theme is Lee's estrangement from his cultural roots and native language, and the consequences of that distance for his sense of identity.

Episodes

NumbertitleDescription
1"Happy Birthday"Leandro (or "Lee" as he prefers to be called) Valenzuela's idyllic suburban world is shaken as he deals with losing his job, his mother's alcoholism and three new houseguests - his homeboy cousin Memo, who he hasn't seen in thirty years, Memo's undocumented wife and their overweight son. Written and directed by Dennis E. Leoni.
2"Fish and House Guests"The Valenzuelas try to adjust to a houseful of strange relatives living in their home, Lucia's growing problem with alcohol and Lee's struggle with prospect of his future unemployment and loss of income. Pilar, Memo's undocumented wife, surprises Lee with her generosity.
3"The Legacy"Memo gets a job before Lee does, prompting a celebration that goes awry. with the parents out, Lucia has too much to drink, passes out, and seventeen-year-old Jennifer invites some male friends over for a party, which leads to her drinking too much and also passing out, leaving her vulnerable...to whatever the boys want to do.
4"Family Heirloom"Lee, Alma, Memo and Pilar return to find an unconscious Jennifer in the hands of the boys she invited over. Lee and Alma are angry with Jennifer for inviting boys over and then drinking until she passed out, but they're furious with Lucia for getting drunk, passing out and leaving the children unprotected. Hard lessons are learned about the problems alcoholism has always created for the Valenzuela family.
5"Lead Us Not Unto Temptation"When Lee helps beautiful new neighbor Victoria get her car started, a gift of chocolate chip cookies sets off a chain of guilt, deception, lies, jealously and hypocrisy. all of it seems fairly trivial when Lee and Alma discover that Paul's fifteen-year-old friend Ariel is pregnant. But none of it compares with what they feel when Paul hits them with a revelation of his own.
6"Secrets"In an attempt to protect Ariel from her abusive mother, the Valenzuelas take in another house guest. but that doesn't stop Ariel's mother from challenging Alma, which escalates into a physical confrontation in full view of the neighbors. Lee meets Victoria's husband Jack, who has a problem with Lee helping his wife, the number of people who are living in the Valenzuela home and the disturbances all those people seem to be creating in their peaceful neighborhood.
7"The Truth Hurts"In an attempt to protect Ariel from her abusive mother, the Valenzuelas take in another house guest. but that doesn't stop Ariel's mother from challenging Alma, which escalates into a physical confrontation in full view of the neighbors. Lee meets Victoria's husband Jack, who has a problem with Lee helping his wife, the number of people who are living in the Valenzuela home and the disturbances all those people seem to be creating in their peaceful neighborhood.
8"Going to Mexico"While everyone worries about the challenges Ariel's pregnancy presents for the family, Lee has finally lined up his perfect dream job. Things go from bad to horrible when Pilar is taken away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, apparently turned in by Victoria's husband Jack. Pouring salt into the wound, Lee's dream job interview becomes a nightmare.

Cast

Awards and recognition

Alan Greenlee, Vice President of Programs, One Economy stated "this series is an engaging drama that will help millions of riders take action to improve their lives and make informed decisions." [4]

References

  1. "Web-based series "Los Americans"". July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  2. ""Los Americans". LatinHeat Entertainment". www.latinheat.com.
  3. Los Americans - IMDb , retrieved August 27, 2019
  4. "News 101: When a story is 'news'". Daily Breeze. May 7, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2019.