¿Qué pasa, U.S.A.?

Actually, this show was intended to help newly-arrived Cubans learn how to speak English. The show was in Englsih and Spanish musch like Cuban-American households. The children on the show spoke mostly English and the parents mostly Spanish. The older characters spoke as much Enmglish as they could and _wanted_ to learn English, but as we all know it is easier to learn a language when you are younger than when you are older. The fun of the show was in the way the older characters tried to deal with the younger characters in a new land and everyone's attempts at becoming American while remaining Cuban.

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

I come from a Cuban family and i can relate to this show and the comedy and highly recommend this show to anyone that enjoys a good laugh.

"¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" is much more than a TV sitcom. It is a veritable documentary of life in 1970's Miami, before Mariel, drug wars and the information age. It provides glimpses into the many cultures that make up our city, from the obvious transplanted Cubans to the blacks to the Jews, upper and middle class (we have no lower class in Miami ;-),old and young, every character represents a familiar relative, neighbor or acquaintance. At that time, most Cubans had been in Miami for less than 20 years, and the hope of a return to a free Cuba still burned in our hearts. In a bittersweet way, that explains the strong resistance of the first generation to assimilate into the culture and the amusing conflicts between them and the second generation. With its universal themes and unique local flavor, it is a definite "must see", especially now that the entire series has been released on DVD.

I have to tell you that growing up in Miami when this show was new was kind of freaky as elements of character and certain episodes could have been plucked right out of my life or the life of those around me. Even being Puerto Rican (not Cuban), I felt such a kinship with the Peñas, I felt Cuban by osmosis. If it wasn't the drama of the kids' identity crisis of being American and Hispanic at the same time, it was the insane drama Papa Peña went through when they thought Joe might be gay mirrored my own coming out trauma. Still one of my favorite shows, holding its own alongside some all-time classics, despite its miniscule budget and supposedly limited appeal. I've turned on many a non-Spanish speaker onto the bilingual show and hope that more people outside of South Florida will learn about this show and it's surprisingly universal message.

I do not speak Spanish but I enjoyed watching this show about a close knit family living in Miami. The great thing, for me at least, is that half the language spoken here was English and Half Spanish. This meant a wider viewing audience, but it also was a lesson in learning. The young latin kids (who were born in America) who wanted to speak English. Their Parents had to speak both languages and their elders who only knew (and wanted to only speak) Spanish. Just by watching (with your eyes) and listening (with your head), you could understand what was going on, even if you could not understand what was being said.

The storylines were interesting and funny. The whole cast was great, especially the one who played the Grandmother! I was happy to see that Steven Bauer made it big time. I wish I could see these shows again. I use to watch them on the Public Television station from Orlando, back in the '70's. If TV could be as good as this now a days!