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. 

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Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo follows up his brilliant one-man show, Latino History for Dummies (2018), with a Master Class in the three-part historical documentary for PBS VOCES. American Historias: The Untold History of Latinos, Leguizamo’s panoramic, kaleidoscopic landscape exalting the centuries long contributions of Latinos to the Americas is a colorful, dramatic and illuminating cinematic wall mural worthy of Diego Rivera.

American Historias, co-written and directed by Ben de Jesus, proudly chronicles the Latino legacy from the great indigenous ancient Meso-American empires, the Conquest, the Latinization of the Americas and the Caribbean. It reminds us of our military heroism, patriotism, political activism for social justice, our cultural influences in the arts, music, film, theater and not the least of which is our world class cuisine.

Leguizamo points out Latinos are an ethnic mixture with roots in Europe, Africa an  Meso America. We are a complicated multi-layered and delicious ethnic dish like traditional Mexican mole, a blend of native and several ingredients from all over the world.

American Historias bursts, con mucho argullo Latinim like a busted piñata. Each one of the tasty historias is excellent material for movies, like Walkout and Stand and Deliver. We must have our own all Latino streaming network like Netflix. We must have a MEXFLIX streaming network to tell and share nuestro American Latino historias with the world.
American Historias is currently streaming Prime Video, Hulu & YouTubeTV.  You can also watch it free on pbs.org/VOCES

American Historias: The Untold History of Latinos is executive produced by Jill Kirkorian and produced by Alessandra Quest and Belinda Salazar Kizy among

Currently Steaming on Hulu, Prime Video and on PBS.org/Voces. Or to purchase the three hourlong episodes go to Amazon CLICK HERE.

The post Fideo Loco Quick Review: PBS’ American Historias first appeared on .

Los Angeles, CA – On on the most anticipated events of the year is once again brought to you by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) will host their annual Latino Media Fest presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, from October 2-4, 2019 at the AMC Century City 15. This three-day showcase of U.S.-based Latinx content and filmmakers will feature nine narrative shorts across two programs. 

“NALIP’s work on the ground-level, as well as its role as an industry partner, has successfully implemented programs and resources with the purpose of increasing inclusion and three-dimensional, authentic portrayals of this community,” says Benjamin Lopez, Executive Director of NALIP. “There is a well of untapped Latino talent in this industry that we are working to bring to the forefront, and our programs exist for that exact purpose.”

The Latino Media Fest works to advance the state of representation in the entertainment industry by featuring various speakers, workshops, panels, mixers, and an award ceremony highlighting Latinx excellence in the United States.

NALIP recently co-presented a new study with USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which highlights the lack of equal representation with 4% of 1,200 top-grossing films from 2018 were directed by Latinx. 

Latino Media Fest sessions include:

• How to Package, How to Produce: Sandra Condito (SVP of Production & Development | Sony Pictures International Productions)
• PARENT in HOLLYWOOD: Balancing the Best of Both Worlds (Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo): SJ Main Muñoz (Director | Tica Productions), Michael Perri (Writer | The Blacklist, State of Affairs, Teresa)
• Party of Five (Presented by SONY): Michal Zebede (Co-Executive Producer, Writer | Party of Five)
• Emerging Content Creators Workshop (Presented by Warner Bros.): Danny Fernandez (Writer | Love, Simon: The Series; Grand Hotel); Tania Lotia (Writer | Swamp Thing, The Dark Tower); Grasie Mercedes (Actress + TV Writer | Perfect Harmony)

To conclude the second day of programming, NALIP will honor the following awardees (more awardees to be announced soon):

• Best Latin American Filmmaker: Issa Lopez (Writer, Director) – Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017), Todo Mal (2018)
• Best Latinx Film: Ben DeJesus (Director, Co-Founder of NGL Studios) – John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway (2018), Raúl Júlia: The World’s a Stage (2019)
• Excellence in Entertainment Journalism: Carlos Aguilar (Film Critic/Journalist) – TheWrap, REMEZCLA
• Best Latinx TV Show: Gloria Calderon Kellett (Writer/Actress) – One Day at a Time (Season 3)

NALIP serves the needs of diverse content creators including, producers, performers, writers, directors, and industry professionals with the tools and mentorship they need to advance in their careers within the entertainment industry. 

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