'George Lopez' Surpasses Original Concept - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-12-2003, 10:05 PM

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30479

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - When Sandra Bullock and friend Jonathon Komack Martin got the wild hair to try and get a Latino comedy on network television, they didn't start with the highest concept.

"It wasn't my idea," Bullock insisted multiple times Saturday (March 8) at the Museum of Television and Radio's William S. Paley Festival, before finally confessing, "It was a horrible idea about a Latino 'Beverly Hillbillies.'"

"So we went looking for Jethro."

That search lead her and Martin to the comedy clubs, and ultimately George Lopez, at which point Bullock realized that Lopez's family-rooted comedy was "far funnier than the idea that wasn't mine."

Thus, the ball started rolling on ABC's "George Lopez." Already renewed for the 2003 fall season, it's the most successful Latino series since "Chico & the Man" which went off the air in 1978, and whose star, Freddie Prinze, was coincidentally discovered by Martin's father, producer James Komack ("The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Welcome Back, Kotter").

Bullock, who claims to currently enjoy producing a little more than her acting career, puts a lot of the credit on the shoulders of executive producer Bruce Helford ("The Drew Carey Show," "Roseanne"). In an example of Hollywood networking, the two were put in touch with each other via their shared lawyer.

"That's how I know he's good," Helford jokes.

While The WB's "Greetings from Tucson" uses its half hour each week to delve into the comic possibilities of blending the cultural baggage inherent in having a Mexican-American father and a mother of Irish descent, "George Lopez" goes the opposite direction. All involved are happy that the stories could apply to any family, no matter their skin color, basing it on Lopez's own experience of "not having had a father, but trying to be a father."

The comedian relishes retelling the story of an early note they received from ABC executive expressing concern that the primary kitchen set didn't contain anything that tipped off the audiences that the house belonged to a Latino family.

"What about the Mexicans standing in it?" Lopez counters, assuring the audience that he has "issues we can talk about hopefully for eight years."

As to why Bullock was compelled to get a story not her own to the air, she admits, "It's kind of boring sitting around watching pasty, white people. What more do we have to say? We've said it all."

Pitooey · 03-13-2003, 10:15 AM

Thanks TJ... I love this show....... I love the characters too. It's so different and the jokes are awesome.

There aren't many new shows that I can watch and laugh to. So I'm glad this show is on.

I love those meddling mother in law shows like Everybody loves Raymond. George Lopez is a gifted comedian just like Freddie was.

hue_mee · 09-28-2004, 09:14 PM

I agree Pitooey The George Lopez Show is a timeless classic. I laugh each and every week. George is a gifted comedian.

Quote:

Originally posted by Pitooey
Thanks TJ... I love this show....... I love the characters too. It's so different and the jokes are awesome.

There aren't many new shows that I can watch and laugh to. So I'm glad this show is on.

I love those meddling mother in law shows like Everybody loves Raymond. George Lopez is a gifted comedian just like Freddie was.

03-12-2003, 10:05 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,677	'George Lopez' Surpasses Original Concept http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30479 LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - When Sandra Bullock and friend Jonathon Komack Martin got the wild hair to try and get a Latino comedy on network television, they didn't start with the highest concept. "It wasn't my idea," Bullock insisted multiple times Saturday (March 8) at the Museum of Television and Radio's William S. Paley Festival, before finally confessing, "It was a horrible idea about a Latino 'Beverly Hillbillies.'" "So we went looking for Jethro." That search lead her and Martin to the comedy clubs, and ultimately George Lopez, at which point Bullock realized that Lopez's family-rooted comedy was "far funnier than the idea that wasn't mine." Thus, the ball started rolling on ABC's "George Lopez." Already renewed for the 2003 fall season, it's the most successful Latino series since "Chico & the Man" which went off the air in 1978, and whose star, Freddie Prinze, was coincidentally discovered by Martin's father, producer James Komack ("The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Welcome Back, Kotter"). Bullock, who claims to currently enjoy producing a little more than her acting career, puts a lot of the credit on the shoulders of executive producer Bruce Helford ("The Drew Carey Show," "Roseanne"). In an example of Hollywood networking, the two were put in touch with each other via their shared lawyer. "That's how I know he's good," Helford jokes. While The WB's "Greetings from Tucson" uses its half hour each week to delve into the comic possibilities of blending the cultural baggage inherent in having a Mexican-American father and a mother of Irish descent, "George Lopez" goes the opposite direction. All involved are happy that the stories could apply to any family, no matter their skin color, basing it on Lopez's own experience of "not having had a father, but trying to be a father." The comedian relishes retelling the story of an early note they received from ABC executive expressing concern that the primary kitchen set didn't contain anything that tipped off the audiences that the house belonged to a Latino family. "What about the Mexicans standing in it?" Lopez counters, assuring the audience that he has "issues we can talk about hopefully for eight years." As to why Bullock was compelled to get a story not her own to the air, she admits, "It's kind of boring sitting around watching pasty, white people. What more do we have to say? We've said it all."

03-13-2003, 10:15 AM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Thanks TJ... I love this show....... I love the characters too. It's so different and the jokes are awesome. There aren't many new shows that I can watch and laugh to. So I'm glad this show is on. I love those meddling mother in law shows like Everybody loves Raymond. George Lopez is a gifted comedian just like Freddie was.
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