Viva Valdez is an American sitcom starring Carmen Zapata and Rodolfo Hoyos that aired on ABC from May 31 to September 6, 1976.[2][3]

Viva Valdez
Title card
GenreSitcom
Created byStan Jacobson
Bernard Rothman
Jack Wohl
Based onThe Plouffe Family by Roger Lemelin
Developed byMichael Elias
Frank Shaw
Directed byAlan Rafkin
StarringCarmen Zapata
Rodolfo Hoyos
James Victor
Nelson D. Cuevas
Lisa Mordente
Claudio Martinez
Jorge Cervera, Jr.
ComposersJulius Wechter
Shorty Rogers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producersBernard Rothman
Jack Wohl
Stan Jacobson
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesRothman/Wohl Productions
Stan Jacobson Productions
Columbia Pictures Television[1]
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMay 31 (1976-05-31) –
September 6, 1976 (1976-09-06)

Cast

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Synopsis

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The Valdezes are a closeknit Mexican-American family living in East Los Angeles, California. The parents, Luis and Sophia, try to maintain traditional values, while their four children – Victor, Ernesto, Connie, and Pepe – are more attuned to the latest trends in mid-1970s American life. Luis runs a plumbing business with Victor, Ernesto is an artistic young man who is in training to work for the telephone company, Connie is an irrepressible teenager, and Pepe is a 12-year-old baseball fanatic. Jerry Ramirez is a cousin who has recently arrived in the United States and has trouble with the English language. Inez is Connie's friend.[2][3][4]

Production

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Bernard Rothman, Stan Jacobson, and Jack Wohl created Viva Valdez and were its executive producers.[2][5][6] Alan Rafkin directed all twelve episodes.[5] Earl Barret wrote for the show.[6]

Broadcast history

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Viva Valdez premiered on May 31, 1976, as a summer replacement series and aired on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. through July 5, 1976. After a four-week hiatus, it returned to the same time slot on August 2, 1976. Its twelfth and final episode aired on September 6, 1976.[2][3]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Father and Son Day"UnknownUnknownMay 31, 1976 (1976-05-31)
Pepe concludes that his birth was neither expected nor wanted.
2"My Fair Jerry"Alan RafkinEarl BarrettJune 7, 1976 (1976-06-07)
Sophia decides to become a matchmaker for cousin Jerry, and the Valdez family becomes obsessed with finding him a girlfriend.
3"The Nurse's Pipes"UnknownUnknownJune 14, 1976 (1976-06-14)
While Luis and Victor perform a plumbing repair job at the home of a divorced nurse named Gladys Gettys, Gladys makes romantic overtures to Luis. After they leave Gladys's home, Luis guiltily confides to Victor that he was attracted to Gladys. He does not tell Sophia, but he does decide to take Sophia out to dinner to ease his conscience. As they are leaving for dinner, Gladys calls about a plumbing emergency and the unsuspecting Sophia tells her that Luis will be right over – causing Luis to panic and insist that he cannot go unless Victor comes with him. Doris Roberts guest-stars as Gladys.
4"Nervous Break-Up"Alan RafkinHoward Albrecht & Sol WeinsteinJune 21, 1976 (1976-06-21)
Jerry begins sleepwalking – keeping the Valdez family up all night – and acting strangely, and the Valdezes try to figure out why.
5"Pilot"Alan RafkinMichael Elias & Frank ShawJuly 5, 1976 (1976-07-05)
Victor demands that his father take him on as a partner in the plumbing business.
6"Mama Doesn't"UnknownUnknownAugust 2, 1976 (1976-08-02)
Sophia refuses to do housework until Luis permits her to use the house for a women's liberation meeting. Teresa Hoyos guest-stars.
7"Pick Up"UnknownUnknownAugust 9, 1976 (1976-08-09)
Victor accuses Jerry's girlfriend of cheating.
8"Papa's Legacy"UnknownUnknownAugust 18, 1976 (1976-08-18)
A close friend dies, panicking Luis into composing his own will.
9"Mama Sees a Thief"UnknownUnknownAugust 18, 1976 (1976-08-18)
Victor discovers that he has been unknowingly fencing stolen goods.
10"Brothers' Rivalry"Alan RafkinPhil Mishkin & Julie RussoAugust 23, 1976 (1976-08-23)
Ernesto and Victor become hotheaded rivals for the favor of an attractive young woman. Maria Grimm guest-stars.
11"Weekend"UnknownUnknownAugust 30, 1976 (1976-08-30)
The Valdez children give their parents a chance at a second honeymoon. David L. Lander guest-stars.
12"The Apprentice"Alan RafkinBernard M. KahnSeptember 6, 1976 (1976-09-06)
Luis hires the bumbling Jerry as an apprentice. Dick Bakalyan guest-stars.

Sources[7][8][9]

References

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  1. ^ IMDb Viva Valdez Company Credits
  2. ^ a b c d McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, p. 887.
  3. ^ a b c Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present, Sixth Edition, New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, ISBN 0-345-39736-3, p. 1098.
  4. ^ tvguide.com Viva Valdez
  5. ^ a b IMDb Viva Valdez Full Cast and Crew
  6. ^ a b tv.com Viva Valdez Cast
  7. ^ tvguide.com Viva Valdez Episode List
  8. ^ imdb.com Viva Valdez (TV series 1976)
  9. ^ tv.com Viva Valdez Episode Guide
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