Telemundo and its companion channel mun2 unveiled their upcoming slate of new programs at its upfront presentation in New York on Tuesday, including the music competition “Yo Soy El Artista” and a host of telenovelas such as the “Les Miserables” adaptation “Los Miserables.”
“Yo Soy El Artista” will challenge contestants with demanding auditions and hellish days of massive eliminations in order for them to earn a place in the school of music. Once they are accepted into the school, they must work to coexist, learn and grow along with the best instructors.
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The unscripted series “Miss Latina Universo,” meanwhile, will give 14 Hispanic women the chance to compete in the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant representing all U.S. Latinas. Each week, contestants will participate in elimination galas, runway competitions and challenges that will test their physical abilities, talent and determination. At the end of the competition, the winner will take the stage alongside the world’s beauty queens for the chance to become Miss Universe 2014.
On the telenovela front, “Los Miserables” will offer a modern-day take on the classic Victor Hugo tale. The series will star Mexican actress Aracely Arambula (“La Patrona”) as Lucia “Lucha” Duran, an innocent woman wanted by the law, who has to fight fiercely and hide cleverly, until she is able to prove her innocence to her pursuer — the harsh chief detective of the narcotics unit, a man whom she will love as she has never loved anyone else before.
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Among the other new telenovelas, “Señora Acero” (Mrs. Acero) , which is written by Roberto Siopello, the writer of the Telemundo hit “La Reina del Sur,” follows Sara Aguilar Bermudez (played by Blanca Soto), a woman who goes from being a housewife living an ordinary life to being the person capable of shaking the foundation of the Mexican government. After her husband, Vicente Acero, is killed at their wedding, our heroine finds out Vicente was not the man she thought he was and, in fact, lived a double life. Her life becomes a race to evade the authorities and her husband’s enemies, and along the way, becomes the “queen of organized crime.”
Returning series include the singing competition “La Voz Kids,” as well as “El Señor de Cielos” (The Lord of the Skies), the network’s highest-rated scripted program last season, which will go into a third season.
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Beginning next year, Telemundo and mun2 will also become the Spanish language home of the FIFA World Cup.
As announced earlier Tuesday, Luis Silberwasser has been tapped as the new president of Telemundo Network, beginning in August.
“With our continued commitment to high-quality content and innovation, new leadership at the helm of the Telemundo network and mun2, and the power of NBCUniversal, no other media company is better positioned now and for the future to grow and super serve our audience, our advertising partners and our distributors,” NBCUniversal Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content Joe Uva said.
See Telemundo and mun2’s new additions and returning shows below.
NEW TELENOVELAS
“Señora Acero” (Mrs. Acero), written by Roberto Stopello, the writer of Telemundo’s blockbuster hit “La Reina del Sur,” tells the story of Sara Aguilar Bermudez, played by acclaimed Mexican actress Blanca Soto. Sara is a woman who goes from being a housewife living an ordinary life to being the person capable of shaking the foundation of the Mexican government. After her husband, Vicente Acero, is killed at their wedding, our heroine finds out Vicente was not the man she thought he was and, in fact, lived a double life. Her life becomes a race to evade the authorities and her husband’s enemies, and along the way, becomes the “queen of organized crime.”
“Los Miserables” is an original story by Valentina Parraga, inspired in the literary work Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. The modern day spin on the classic tale stars top Mexican actress Aracely Arambula (“La Patrona”) as Lucia “Lucha” Duran, an innocent woman wanted by the law, who has to fight fiercely and hide cleverly, until she is able to prove her innocence to her pursuer–Daniel Ponce–the harsh chief detective of the narcotics unit, a man whom she will love as she has never loved anyone else before.
“Dueños del Paraíso” (Owners of Paradise), an original story by Pablo Illanes, inspired by real-life events during the height of the 1980s drug trade era in Miami, marks the return to Telemundo of renown actress Kate Del Castillo (“La Reina Del Sur”) as Anastasia Cardona, the widow of a well-known Mexican drug lord who has become psychologically disturbed by the violence that has surrounded her. When she partners up with two local cocaine traffickers to take on the Santa Norma cartel, they become the target of the so-called “drug wars,” transforming the streets of South Florida into a terrifying battlefield.
“Tierra de Reyes” (Land of Kings), an adaptation of the successful novela “Pasión de Gavilanes” by Julio Jimenez, tells the story of the Gallardo brothers as they search for truth and justice after tragically and mysteriously losing their sister. On their journey, each falls in love with the daughters of the man suspected to be responsible for their sister’s death.
“El Jardinero” (The Gardener) tells the story of Carlos Martinez, an illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles. Carlos is an honest, hard-working man who aspires to offer his two sons a better future so that they can enjoy the opportunities he never had. In their quest for the American dream, father and sons will face the hatred and dangers within a city where the glamour of Hollywood often contrasts with the difficult life of the millions of undocumented Hispanics in the area. “El Jardinero” is a production inspired by an original story created by Roger L. Simon, an accomplished novelist and writer who has been involved in many successful projects, including the following films: “A Better Life” (2011), “Scenes for a Mall” (1991) and “Enemies, a Love Story” (1989).
NEW REALITY
“Yo Soy El Artista,” the weekend primetime musical competition series produced in partnership with Spain’s Reset TV, is set to premiere in the 2014-15 season. The show will challenge contestants with demanding auditions and hellish days of massive eliminations in order for them to earn a place in the school of music. There, they must work to coexist, learn and grow along with the best instructors. Week after week, they will have to demonstrate their talent on stage to earn the support and respect of the jury, the instructors and the audience and eventually become the ultimate artist and winner of the competition.
“Miss Latina Universo” will give 14 beautiful and talented Hispanic women the chance to compete in the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant representing all U.S. Hispanics. Each week, contestants will participate in elimination galas, runway competitions and challenges that will test their physical abilities, talent and determination. At the end of the competition, the winner will take the stage alongside the world’s most gorgeous beauty queens, for the chance to become Miss Universe 2014.
NEWS
Noticias Telemundo will expand its news programming with new, half-hour weekend editions of “Noticiero Telemundo,” featuring breaking news, health and consumer segments, in-depth analysis of the top stories of the past week and a preview of the upcoming week’s events most relevant to our viewers.
RETURNING SERIES
“El Señor de Cielos,” (The Lord of the Skies) the network’s highest-rated scripted program last season, averaging 2.3 million total viewers, will return for an unprecedented third season, making it the first super series in the network’s history to continue its run past a second season. “El Señor de los Cielos” is a fictional and action-packed story full of raw passion and emotions, greed, suffering, intrigue and suspense. Inspired by true events, the series tells the story of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya), one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 90s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.
The record-breaking hit “La Voz Kids,” will return for a third season of young vocalists between the ages of seven and 15 competing for a recording contract and cash prize to support their education. Produced out of Universal Orlando Resort, “La Voz Kids” will once again give Telemundo’s audience the opportunity to witness how the stars of the future are discovered and developed.
“Top Chef Estrellas,” the first-ever Spanish-language original version of Bravo Media’s hit culinary competition series, returns for a second season with new Hispanic celebrities competing for the crown and a cash prize for their preferred charities. The series will feature celebrities cooking their favorite dishes under the guidance and coaching of professional chefs. Celebrity contestants must use all of their culinary know-how to impress the chef judges and survive round after round of the competition to determine which celebrity takes home the grand prize.