History Series / QuePasaUSA

* DoNotCallMePaul: Joe quickly corrects a TV interviewer who introduces him "José Peña" before the man asks him about being Cuban-American.

* TheDitz: Sharon, one of Carmen's two best friends. Unlike Carmen or her other friend Violeta, she is not of Cuban or even Latin ancestry. Her Spanish is limited to a few words or expressions, which leads to her spouting all sorts of nonsense, and the occasional truth.

* PutOnABus: When Creator/StevenBauer (credited as Rocky Echevarría) left after the third season, Joe was written out as going off to attend Miami University in Ohio.

* TokenWhite: Carmen's friend Sharon. Speaking only English and not being of Cuban or any other Latin/Hispanic origin makes her stand out more than her race.

* LanguageBarrier: Grandparents Antonio and Adela speak Spanish, knowing only a couple of words of English, and often complain of always being left out of conversations. Joe was brought over from Cuba when he was three and Carmen was born in the US; they speak both languages but sometimes stumble in Spanish. Pepe and Juana's English skills are adequate but sometimes they still struggle.

** Deliberately averted when Carmen and Violeta plan to go out, but pretend they are having a girls' night in while Carmen's parents are out on a date. Violeta arrives in a raincoat but throws it off when the Peñas leave, revealing a halter top and Carmen likewise is dressed to party under a modest button-down shirt.

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: The theme song for ''Series/QuePasaUSA'' was written by the head writer Luis Santeiro, and performed by Paquito Hechevarría and the Fly Outs Band. Just like the show featured {{bilingual dialogue}}, the song featured lyrics in both English and Spanish.

-->'''Antonio''' ''(in Spanish)'': Those who wait too long have to settle for choosing among the discarded ones or...the so-so ones[[note]]Original: "Las que esperan mucho tienen que conformarse con escoger entre los descartados... o los "medio-medios"[[\note]].

** When the TV interviewer comes to interview the family, Carmen comes in a perfectly decent sundress. Right on camera, Pepe tells her she must be cold and drapes the couch afghan over her shoulders like a shawl. The afghan comes in handy when Pepe denounces modern youth and announces that his daughter will remain a virgin till her wedding day and she drapes it over her head out of embarrassment.

-->'''Milagros''': Ustedes saben lo que es perder, los zapatos de Gucci, la cartera de Pierre Cardin, el vestido de Dior, y la bufanda de Givenchy? (Do you know what is like to lose, the shoes from Gucci, the purse from Pierre Cardin, the dress from Dior, and the Givenchy scarf?)\\

'''Pepe'''[[BluntNo No]]. It only means that it is more "not OK" for Joe than it is for you.

** Adela and Antonio complaining when the rest of the family has conversation in English about being left out.

* UnusualEuphemism: "Einstein's theory of relativity", for TheTalk or any related topic.

** The Peñas' American neighbor has come over to complain about someone parking on her lawn, and only finds Adela at first (she has been teaching English to Adela and Antonio, but they are not fast learners):
--->Look, somebody in this house has park-o their car-o in front of mi-o lawn-o.

* MistakenEthnicity: A burglar in a ski mask breaks in while Adela is home. As the Peñas (plus Violeta and Sharon) arrive, they all end up tied up while the robber steals their stuff. Fortunately a neighbor (not busybody Marta) calls the police and the robber is caught. When the family sees the unmasked robber's blonde hair and fair skin, they make some disparaging about him being American. The robber retorts that he is "more Cuban than sugar".

'''Pepe''': Juana, he is not like that. But if he is confused, I will find him a female woman that will ''disconfuse'' him!

** Marta dropping in with a smirk, knowing exactly how annoying they find him, but that courtesy prevents them from not opening the door.

* ElSpanishO: While Joe and Carmen speak Spanish, sometimes they resort to turning English words into Spanish, like Carmen reporting that the dentist found she had "caberías" instead of "caries" (cavities), or Joe reporting his teacher had "flonkeado" (flunked) his class.
* FauxFluency: Averted – the principal actors were all actual Cuban refugees/transplants, many of whom had acted in their native country prior to fleeing Castro's regime.

* ParentalFashionVeto: Pepe and Juana frequently get on Carmen's case about what she wants to wear.

* MistakenForGay: In the aptly titled episode, "Is Joe Gay?", Juana find a stack of Joe's textbooks with titles like "El homosexual latente", "Behavior Patterns of the Modern Homosexual", and "Homosexuality Throughout The Ages". She tries to convince herself that the books don't mean anything, but then tells her husband and they both drive the other one nuts. Pepe accuses Juana of buying him dolls for Christmas. Juana points out [[ActionFigureJustification they were G.I. Joes]]. Not a spoiler: Joe is not gay.
-->'''Juana''': Tell me, what are we going to do if our little boy is like... this?
'''Pepe''': Juana, he is not like that. But if he is confused, I will find him a female woman that will disconfuse him!
%%** On top of that, Adela and Antonio are eavesdropping, and thanks to only understanding the Spanish half of the conversation, conclude that ''Pepe'' is the gay one.

** Another time, Carmen and Violeta plan to go out, but pretend they are having a girls' night in while Carmen's parents are out on a date. After Juana and Pepe leave, Violeta throws off her raincoat to reveal a skimpy halter top and Carmen unbuttons her own modest shirt to reveal party clothes as well.

* ImmediateContradiction: In the "The Cuban Funeral" episode, Adela's friend Caridad decides to rest before leaving and asks Adela for some coffee. While Adela is off in the kitchen complaining of how Caridad is a pain in the ass, Antonio comes in, finds Caridad has passed away, and tells the rest of the family. Adela immediately bursts out with "[[BigOMG ¡AY DIOS MIO!]] ¡Mi amiga del alma[[labelnote:translation]]My closest friend![[/labelnote]]!"

* MoodWhiplash: In the "The Cuban Funeral" episode, Adela's friend Caridad decides to rest before leaving and asks Adela for some coffee. While Adela is off in the kitchen complaining of how Caridad is a pain in the ass, Antonio comes in, finds Caridad has passed away, and tells the rest of the family. Adela immediately bursts out with "[[BigOMG ¡AY DIOS MIO!]] ¡Mi amiga del alma[[labelnote:translation]]My closest friend![[/labelnote]]!"