‘Family’ races to Emmy eligibility

It took a major effort to ensure that the PBS miniseries “American Family” would be eligible for Emmy Award consideration.

When Gregory Nava learned that his 13-episode drama about a Mexican American family wouldn’t conclude as required within the May 31 Emmy eligibility period, he and others jumped into action. “It was a tough pill to swallow. And so people said we’re not going to take this lying down, we’re going to find a way to make it work,” Nava said.

PBS executives hastily arranged a marathon showing of the final five episodes of the miniseries this weekend on most of its stations, as needed under Emmy rules. Nominations are announced in July.

“To get everyone to change their programming on short notice like that is an amazing thing to do,” Nava said. “PBS isn’t a network. It’s all these independent stations, so they had to talk to everyone.”

The show will stick to its planned weekly 7 p.m. Sunday airings through July, but viewers will be able to learn the drama’s ending on many PBS stations this weekend. In Los Angeles, for example, KCET-TV Channel 28 will show three episodes Sunday and the final two Monday.

The effort to meet revised Emmy rules also required Nava to rush postproduction on the final episodes. He considered it a worthwhile effort, especially given the timeliness of one story line: the danger a member of the fictional Gonzalez family faces serving in Iraq, and the family’s reaction to the war.

“So many people sacrificed so much to make this project,” said Nava, whose films include “El Norte” and “Selena.” “American Family,” which debuted last year as a series, is the first broadcast drama about a Latino family.

The series stars Yancey Arias (“Kingpin”), Edward James Olmos (“Miami Vice,” “Stand and Deliver”), Constance Marie, Esai Morales and Rachel Ticotin.

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‘American Family’

Where: KCET

When: Sunday 7-10 p.m., Monday 8-10 p.m.

Rating: The network has rated it TV-PG (may be inappropriate for young children).