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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Colleen Wright
December 19, 2001
Marketing Communications Account Executive
Telephone: (410) 581-4293
E-mail: colleenwright@mpt.org
MPT. This is bigger than television
The first original primetime PBS American episodic in
decades
debuts onMaryland Public Television
American Family is everyman's family
OWINGS MILLS, MD: American Family, the first Latino drama
series ever to air on broadcast television and the first original primetime
American episodic drama on PBS in decades, premieres on Maryland Public
Television Wednesday, January 23, 2002, 8:00 p.m., with a second episode
airing on Thursday, January 24, 8:00 p.m. The series then continues on
Wednesdays, beginning January 30, 2002, 8:00 p.m.
"The series is about an American family, living in Los Angeles, that
happens to be Latino," says Academy Award-nominated director Gregory
Nava (El Norte, Selena.) "I wanted to create a show that will make
the audience laugh and cry as it chronicles the daily struggles and triumphs
of a family. American Family is about everyone's family."
American Family reveals the enduring strength of family in America
today as it chronicles the lives of the Gonzalez family, residents of
East Los Angeles. Jess Gonzalez (Edward James Olmos), the conservative
patriarch, and his daughter Nina (Constance Marie), a feminist attorney,
are constantly at odds with each other. Nina dreams of a career in Washington,
DC. Esteban (Esai Morales) struggles to rebuild his life after serving
time in prison. Flamboyant Aunt Dora (Raquel Welch), Jess' sister who
lives next door, adds some spice to everyone's life. Cisco (A.J. Lamas),
the youngest sibling, secretly videotapes the family's antics and posts
the "family drama" on his Web site.
Jess is constantly struggling against the ever-changing modern world.
As American Family begins, the siblings, including Vangie, a professional
woman married to an "Anglo," and Conrado (Kurt Caceres), a doctor,
want Jess and Berta to move away from the old family home in East Los
Angeles and offer to buy them a condominium. Nina has just landed a plum
job as a congressional aide in Washington and plans to leave the area.
Esteban, the black sheep of the family, is trying his best to take care
of his six-year-old son, Pablito (Austin Marques).
Just as Jess and Berta are getting ready to move into their West Side
condo, tragedy strikes. Social services comes to take away Pablito and
the family is thrown into further upheaval. Seeing her family start to
unravel, Nina elects to forego her Washington job and stay in Los Angeles
with her loved ones.
The stage is set for the ongoing daily adventures of an American Family.
Underwriters: Public Television Viewers, PBS and Corporation for Public
Broadcasting. Producers: El Norte Productions and KCET Hollywood in association
with the Greenblatt Janollari Studio and Fox Television Studios. Copyright:
2001 Twentieth Century Fox film Corporation. Executive producer and creator:
Gregory Nava. Executive producers: Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari
and Eric Gold. Supervising producer: Barbara Martinez-Jitner. KCET executive
in charge: Mary Mazur. Format: CC STEREO NTSC Letterbox/HD where available.
Online: PBS.org
Maryland Public Television is a not-for-profit, state-licensed public
television station which serves the citizens and communities of Maryland
and beyond through a variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast activities.
MPT is a national leader in the production of broadcast programming for
public television. MPT's local/regional television credits include public
affairs, original performance, documentary, and entertainment programs
for the citizens of Maryland.
Beyond broadcast, MPT creates instructional videos, develops training,
and builds Internet sites that serve tens of thousands of students, teachers,
and child-care providers annually. MPT outreach activities, especially
relating to arts, culture, and history, take place in all areas of the
state to further fulfill MPT's mission to engage, enlighten, and entertain.
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