Comedy meets cultural celebration in a one-night-only virtual event as George Lopez, Jesse Garcia, and Al Madrigal join an all-immigrant and children-of-immigrants cast for a reimagined table read of the 2007 teen comedy classic Superbad. The event will stream live on Sunday, August 24 at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET via the Immigrant Defenders Law Center’s official YouTube channel, with proceeds benefiting ImmDef’s Bond Fund to help immigrants in detention reunite with their families.
Alongside Lopez, Garcia, and Madrigal, the cast includes:
- Hasan Minhaj
- Cobie Smulders
- Harvey Guillén
- Melissa Fumero
- Chris Estrada
- Julissa Calderon
- Leo Gonzalez
The event is created by Gentefied co-creator Marvin Lemus and produced with Gloria Calderón Kellett, showrunner of One Day at a Time and With Love. Both are children of immigrants and say the project is deeply personal.
“Right now, so much of what fills our feeds is pain, fear and uncertainty,” said Calderón Kellett. “We wanted to carve out a little space for joy—to laugh together, to feel community, and to remind people that they are seen, valued, and not alone”.
The original Superbad, written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, is a coming-of-age comedy that captured a generation. This reimagined reading offers a fresh lens on the story, highlighting the comedic brilliance and lived experiences of immigrant performers. Rogen, Goldberg, and Judd Apatow have voiced their support for the event.
Founded in 2015, ImmDef is one of California’s largest nonprofit providers of deportation defense and immigrant legal services. The table read aims to raise awareness and funds for their Bond Fund, which helps detained immigrants secure release and reunite with loved ones.
“If you wanna help immigrants, tell everyone you know about this live read,” Lemus said. “This is going to be the best live read of a teen comedy ever attempted since the pandemic ended”.
This event blends laughter, legacy, and advocacy—proving that comedy can be a powerful tool for change.
