Season 2 of Leguizamo Does America Returns Sunday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET
REVIEW By Bel Hernandez Castillo
Leguizamo Does America is back for Season 2, and its return couldn’t be more timely. At a moment when harmful rhetoric and misinformation about Latinos is dominating headlines, this six-episode series flips the narrative. Instead of portraying Latinos as takers, Leguizamo Does America showcases what U.S. Latinos have always been: builders, innovators, and culture shapers.
In these times the MSNBC TV series becomes more than a docuseries—it becomes an antidote, a cultural resistance providing visibility and celebration wrapped in a bold, funny, and fiercely loving package.
Leguizamo Does America, is an NBC News Studios and Casa NOHO Production, created and hosted by Emmy and Tony award-winning actor John Leguizamo. “For season two, I wanted to go deeper into America and put a magnifying glass on Latino exceptionalism, Latino ingenuity, and Latino genius,” says Leguizamo.
Under director Ben DeJesus guidance and the excellent production skills of showrunner Carolina Saavedra the audience is taken on a cultural journey of Latino excellence in six stunningly shot and powerful episodes filmed in New Orleans, Philadelphia, Denver, Phoenix, Raleigh, and San Antonio. Leguizamo meets the artists, chefs, activists, and cultural entrepreneurs—who are making an undeniable impact across the U.S.
The opening episode takes us to Philadelphia, the birthplace of the USA where we learn of the major role Latinos played in the American Revolution. We find out the famous Philly cheesesteak has been Latinized and people are loving it…and literally “eating it up”.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, home to Academy Award winning actress Ariana deBose, we learn, among other things, how immigrants were brought into the US by corporations to help save the poultry industry there; how the Flor de Hidalgo dance group is keeping Mexican folklorico alive — and giving Leguizamo the host, a change to show off his “zapateado”. This episode drives home the notion that whether honoring or correcting historical erasure, Latinos in America are living examples of what it means to own our story while shaping America’s future.
In San Antonio, we meet the Castros—Congressman Joaquin Castro and his mother Rosie Castro, a lifelong activist and community organizer who helped lay the groundwork for modern Chicano politics in San Antonio. We’re also introduced to Shelly Lares, the legendary Tejano artist whose career has not only been preserving traditional music but passing it on with a Tex Mex twist to new generations with pride and purpose.
In Phoenix, Leguizamo goes head to head with WNBA’s great Diana Taurasi in a round of “hoops”. While in Denver Leguizamo explores the birthplace of the Chicano Movement, while also suiting up for a “lucha libre” bout at Hugo’s Lucha Libre cultural landmark arena.
Throughout the series, we meet musicians, chefs, artists, and entrepreneurs who are not just surviving—but thriving. And let’s talk about the food. From Mexican carnitas to Venezuelan arepas to Tex-Mex fajitas the series celebrates Latino culinary excellence. Several featured chefs are James Beard Award winners and nominees, further proving what we’ve always known—Latinos are impacting cuisine in a most delicious way.
Think about it: tomatoes, vanilla, avocados, chocolate —these and so many other staples of global food culture are gifts from the Americas, cultivated and cherished by Indigenous and Latin communities for centuries. Leguizamo Does America honors that legacy, and reminds us of the central role Latinos play in the culinary world globally.
This is part of our resistance showing Latin joy, Latin success, Latin excellence, Latin genius, Latin exceptionalism and innovation” — John Leguizamo.
The historical context, too, is essential. The episodes filmed in New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Antonio underscore that Latino roots in America run deep—long before the arrival of the European immigrants. These are not stories of outsiders or newcomers; these are stories of indigenous peoples and Latinos who helped build this nation.
At the recent MSNBC LA premiere for Leguizamo Does America, Leguizamo spoke to a who’s who of Hollywood executives, actors, directors, producers and executives about the upcoming series. “This is part of our resistance showing Latin joy, Latin success, Latin excellence, Latin genius, Latin exceptionalism and innovation” he said. That is exactly what Leguizamo Does America does once again in season 2. The series shines an undeniable bright light on a community that has been here longer than America itself. Latinos in the U.S. are 65 million strong, they are American and they are here to stay.
WHERE TO WATCH:
- MSNBC: The series airs on MSNBC on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
- Peacock: You can also stream the show on Peacock.
- Roku: The Roku Channel offers access to the show, with options to buy episodes or watch through streaming services that carry MSNBC.
- Other Streaming Services: Check platforms like Fubo, Sling TV, DIRECTV, Xumo Play, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video for availability.