More Disney surprises with the announcement that Disney-ABC and Univision will be partnering on the U.S. Hispanic version of Desperate Housewives. Yes…it will be coming to Univision affiliates near you next season. Production is said to begin in July in Argentina by Pol-ka Produtions in Buenos Aires and will be titled “Amas de Casa Desesperadas” and are expected to cast the remake with high-profile Latin American and U.S. Hispanic actors. Wisteria Lane will never be the same…that I know.
This move, I believe, is promoted by the increasing pressure on Univision to free itself from the Televisa content-addiction. Much like the U.S.’s dependency on foreign oil, tensions between the two broadcasting giants came to a head last summer when Televisa lost its bid to purchase Univision.
In a trial set for October 30th, Univision could lose access to its primary provider of telenovelas that have helped keep the broadcasting giant on top. Licensing agreement expires in 2017, but Univision’s only other attempt at producing original programming was the ill-fated telenovela “Te amare en silencio,” which former Univision chairman and CEO Jerrold Perenchio produced through his own production company. Can you say Halliburton?
No, not on a raft under the Biscayne Bay Bridge. These Cubans are rich and coming to CBS’s Prime Time in a new show called Cane. A drama about a well-to-do Cuban-American family torn by “male tension” as its sugar and rum businesses are passed down to the next generation, is part of the new fall schedule presented at the upfront in NYC last week.
With Miami as its backdrop, the show has a star-studded Latino cast — including Jimmy Smits, Rita Moreno, Hector Elizondo, Nestor Carbonell and Miami local Paola Turbay — and executive producer Jonathan Prince says that the script will be as exceptional.
Once again, Disney had a surprise for the Hispanic market this week when they announced (just in time for the upfront) that GLo. would not be returning for an 8th season. And the high profile Hispanic sitcom star is not sitting around and laughing about it.
Tuesday, ABC President Steve McPherson announced that the network’s fall schedule would no longer be home to “The George Lopez Show,” a G-rated family show starring the stand-up comedian as “a guy who has made lemonade from lemons at every turn.” Four new sitcoms are on the horizon at ABC, including “Cavemen,” inspired by the Geico insurance spokes-Neanderthal.
“We’re heading into the new season with a strong lineup of returning shows that we’ve developed and nurtured over the past few years,” McPherson said in a release. “… We’re dedicated to working hard week after week to deliver the best stories and most memorable characters on TV.” Ratings and cost have been cited in the decision to axe “The George Lopez Show,” which is produced by Warner Bros. Television.
A huge step back for Hispanic women? Completely. Offensive and derogatory? On almost on every level. Shame on you TDoT.
But then I watched the general market version and I realized that these people were suffering an overall marketing death-wish and and a case of bad creative.
I wonder how the agency was able to sell this concept to the client. It must have gone something like this…”Our strategy is to remain top of mind by further stereotyping TX as home to beauty pageant rejects and Latina ho’s. Our secondary strategy is to isolate both of these segments by upsetting them so much they will never forget to register their vehicle again.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tomorrow is May 5th, which to many Mexican-Americans commemorates the Battle of Puebla - the site where Mexican troops defeated the French army in 1862. Nothing really to celebrate since Mexicans celebrate “El Grito” - Mexican Independence Day on September 16th from Spain right?
Wrong, cinco de mayo has become big business for American companies especially in the general market. This Mexican holiday has joined the ranks of other “not-so-holidays” like St. Patrick’s Day and Fat Tuesday with American party-goers overindulging on Tex-Mex food and themed drinks. The holiday has become an urban legend of sorts which people celebrate, but don’t really know why. A great excuse to party. So again I ask the question…who is the party for?
‘La Fea’ Meets ‘Ugly Betty’ In The Month Of May.- A month-long parade of Spanish television stars on ABC’s “Ugly Betty” will culminate with the May 17th appearance of Angélica Vale - none other than the star of Univision’s “La Fea Más Bella.”
Vale’s presence in the season finale of “Ugly Betty” features the actress as Angélica, the assistant to Diane (played by Kristin Chenoweth). Angélica is an orthodontic technician who loves romantic comedies and becomes overly involved in her patients’ lives - including that of Betty (played by América Ferrera).
Other guest stars include telenovela star Cristian de la Fuente, appearing in tomorrow night’s episode.
This blog was developed to discuss issues affecting Hispanic marketing today. It is also intended to offer a fresh perspective different from the scripted media coverage currently being offered in the industry.
