Greetings from Tucson

Overview

The Tiant family is the focus of this series, told from the perspective of their fifteen-year-old son, David. His father Joaquin is a proud and practical Mexican-American man, while his mother Elizabeth is a spirited and direct white woman of Irish descent. Their older daughter Maria is a well-liked cheerleader. The household also includes Joaquin’s unreliable brother Ernesto, Ernesto’s son Daniel, Joaquin’s mother Magdalena, and David’s new neighbor and friend Sarah Tobin.

The story picks up half a year after Joaquin got a promotion at the local copper mine, which let the family relocate to a nicer area. The show, inspired by creator Peter Murrieta’s own experiences, explores themes of cultural identity, family, and social class. The family’s old neighborhood was poor, with barred windows and frequent police helicopter patrols. The series pokes fun at stereotypes of Mexican-American culture, often using self-deprecating humor.

The show’s name mimics a postcard greeting, and both the opening credits and scene changes use postcard-style images. The exterior of the daughter’s apartment building is actually a photo of Tucson’s Casa Royale apartment complex. Los Lobos performed the theme song.