Developed by Michael Rubiner, co-executive produced by Miguel Puga and premiering in 2019 on Nickelodeon, The Casagrandes follows Ronnie Anne Santiago and her family after they move to Great Lakes City to live with their titular extended family. The next episode of the series, "Mexican Makeover," will explore how the kids love and live their culture when Mama Lupe -- Abuela Rosa's mother -- comes to visit from Mexico. In the episode, Abuela fears her grandchildren have become Americanized and are not upholding the family's traditions. Afraid of Mama Lupe's judgment, and wanting her to see that all is well, Rosa enlists the kids in putting on a show for Mama Lupe.
Legendary cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, who won an Eisner Award in 2001 for La Plumilla de Plata, makes a guest appearance in "Mexican Makeover," where he'll play Paco, a parrot who accompanies Mama Lupe everywhere. CBR talked with Casagrandes producer and cultural consultant Lalo Alcaraz about bringing Aragonés into the mix.
Himself the creator of the satirical comic strip La Cucaracha and an award-winning editorial cartoonist, Alcaraz said he has long admired Aragonés, famed for his work with MAD magazine and Groo the Wanderer. He said he and Casagrandes co-executive producer Miguel Puga frequently meet Aragonés at comics conventions, and Alcaraz always gets his picture taken with the comics legend. Inviting Aragonés to do the show naturally followed. "We thought it would be hilarious to bring in people we love and admire," Alcaraz said.
As for Aragonés' role in "Mexican Makeover," Alcaraz said, "The thing is, he is an icon and he has a really cool voice and he plays this old Mexican parrot and he's spot on." The Casagrandes family itself has a scarlet macaw -- Sergio -- who is named after Aragonés and may be Paco's cousin. As Alcaraz noted, "[...] There's nothing more Mexican than having a parrot."
In terms of Aragonés' performance, Alcaraz said he was pleased with the work the legendary cartoonist did for The Casagrandes, adding, "We didn't have to dress up the accent. He's got a beautiful voice."
Alcaraz said the door is open for another appearance from Aragonés. "I always get in trouble when I try to reveal too much, but I think we do have a script where Mama Lupe, the great-grandmother character, returns," he said. "Hopefully, he will return for a command performance."
New episodes of The Casagrandes air Fridays on Nickelodeon. The show stars Izabella Alvarez, Alex Cazares, Sonia Manzano, Carlos Alazraqui, Ruben Garfias, Carlos PenaVega, Leah Mei Gold, Roxana Ortega, Jared Kozak, Alexa PenaVega, Sumalee Montano and Dee Bradley Baker. "Mexican Makeover" guest stars Sergio Aragonés as Paco and Angelica Aragon as Mama Lupe.