A.K.A. Pablo: Paul Rodriguez - Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries

A.K.A. Pablo aired from March until April 1984 on ABC.

Norman Lear was the Executive-Producer of this short-lived comedy about a struggling young Hispanic comedian and his large, noisy family, who rooted for his success, while wanting him to treat his Mexican-American heritage with almost solumn dignity. Paul Rivera (Paul Rodriguez)-still called Pablo by his family-used a lot of ethnic jokes in his act, which sometimes offended his traditionalist parents Domingo and Rosa Maria ( Joe Santos, Katy Jurado). But every Mexican joke he used seemed to spring from his home situation, whether it was about sister Lucia and her swaggering husband Hector (Martha Valez, Arnaldo Santana), stuffy brother Manuel and his coquettish wife Carmen (Bert Rosario, Maria Richwine), or unmarried ( but anxious)sister Sylvia ( Alma Cuervo). Jose ( Hector Elizondo) was Paul's fast-talking but inexperienced agent, while the rest of the regulars consisted of the Rivera/Del Gato children They included Edie Marie Rubio as Linda Rivera; Antonio Torres as Nicholas Rivera; Claudia Gonzalez as Anna Maria Del Gato; Martha Gonzalez as Susana Del Gato; Mario Lopez as Tomas Del Gato; Beto Lovato as Mario Del Gato and Michelle Smith as Elana Del Gato.

A Review From The New York Times

NORMAN LEAR'S 'PABLO'
By JOHN J. O'CONNOR
Published: March 6, 1984

RETURNING to television after a voluntary absence of a few years, Norman Lear is once again trying to nudge open the boundaries of situation comedy. His latest project begins a weekly run on ABC tonight at 8:30.

In ''a.k.a. Pablo,'' a young comedian named Paul Rodriguez plays a young comedian named Paul Rivera who, at home in his parent's house, is ''also known as'' simply Pablo. Evidently, the fictional Rivera bears more than a passing resemblance to the real Rodriguez. Both are Mexican-Americans on the verge of success in show-business careers. that were launched in places like Hollywood's Comedy Store and developed on such standard circuits as television talk shows. The resulting ''biography'' is one of those fantasy- reality whirligigs worthy of a giddy French existentialist.

The first three episodes of the series indicate that a strong emphasis will be placed on generation gaps, especially the one between sassy, anything-for-a-laugh Pablo and his serious, man-of-the-house father Domingo (Joe Santos). Domingo is not elated over the fact that his 25-year- old son, the first member of the family to graduate from college, wants to spend his life telling jokes. Furthermore, like some of the Jewish fathers in Philip Roth's novels, Domingo is convinced that his son's ''ethnic'' humor will only reinforce the prejudices of bigots.

That's the serious undercurrent running through ''a.k.a. Pablo.'' The bulk of the programs deals with more typical sit-com material. The Rivera home in Los Angeles is a family beehive that, with assorted spouses and grandchildren, encompasses 16 full- time members, not including Ramon, the parrot. Half of tonight's premiere has Pablo's doting mother Rosa Maria (Katy Jurado) trying unsuccessfully to keep everybody quiet so that he can get some sleep after his appearance the night before at the Comedy Store.

While mama finishes his laundry - Pablo insists she's a member of a secret cult called the Sock Ironers - the rest of the family begins gathering to watch his appearance on television's ''Entertainment Tonight.'' Everybody is happy and excited except papa who says that he does not want Pablo to wind up like the late Freddie Prinze, television's Hispanic ''Chico'' who was destroyed by drugs. But the truth is more complicated.

Papa is afraid of losing his position of authority within the family. Pablo, now the center of attention, gets a check from the ABC network to develop an idea for a comedy series. He is puzzled about his father's glum reaction. Mama recalls the Spanish saying ''la verdad es en el bosillo (the truth is in your pocket).'' She explains: ''What does your father have in his pocket? Lint.''

The basic situation in this new series is certainly servicable, right down to the details that include watching daytime ''novelas'' or soap operas and having a portrait of John F. Kennedy, painted on blue velvet, displayed in a prominent place. With Hispanic-Americans well on their way to becoming the nation's largest minority, ''a.k.a. Pablo'' represents an admirable effort to bring them into the mainstream of popular entertainment as far more than a convenient excuse for a ''funny'' accent. However, at least in these early stages, the show has its problems the most glaring, awkwardly enough, is Paul Rodriguez. He may be a very funny performer but he is also a terribly wooden actor. His more dramatic scenes are rather painful. And he is nearly always outclassed by the veterans surrounding him, especially Hector Elizondo as Pablo's agent.

Created by Mr. Lear and Rick Mitz, ''a.k.a. Pablo'' does take the kind of chances that merit encouragement in a medium best known for timidity.

For more on A.K.A. Pablo go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.k.a._Pablo

for Paul Rodriguez's Official Website go to http://www.paulrodriguez.com/home.htm