MyNetworkTV has announced there line up and they outlined what the 8 series that will air under the titles of "Desire" and "Secret Obsessions". I'm surprised that they are actually planning to air both series for the entire year. I really expected them to drop one of the titles in December and trying to create a non-soap line up at either 8 or 9 while still airing just one of the novela series.

The three novelas sound rather blah, but there really isn't that much of a description of the three. The best ones sound like "Art of Betrayal", "Fashion House", and "Watch Over Me". I really wish that they would release the names of the original serieses that the latest 5 have come from. Especially since they are direct translations.

Has anyone else noticed that the launch date for MyNetworkTV is September 5, a Tuesday . It seems strange to launch in the middle of the week.

from http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_di...t_id=1002503467

DESIRE

TABLE FOR THREE (4th Quarter 2006)

Two brothers (Nate Haden and Zack Silva) on the run from the mob head from New Jersey to Los Angeles, where they both fall passionately in love with the same woman (Michelle Belegrin). When one brother is believed to be murdered by the mob, only to resurface later, the other brother seeks comfort with the woman they both competed for.

ART OF BETRAYAL (1st Quarter 2007)

After the ex-wife (Sean Young) of a successful and heartless businessman attempts to destroy her former lover’s career, she sets up a scheme to have her two sons seduce his daughters, marry them, and take their money.

RULE OF DECEPTION (2nd Quarter 2007)

Two best friends (Annalynne McCord and Rachelle Woods) who hail from entirely different worlds find their relationship shattered after they meet a handsome and dashing engineer (Dylan Bruce) who seduces both women…one for love, and one for money.

FRIENDS & ENEMIES (3rd Quarter 2007)

A woman who pretends to be a psychiatrist falls in love with her patient and begins a hot and heavy affair with him, until his family reveals the other life she lives.

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SECRET OBSESSIONS

FASHION HOUSE (4th Quarter 2006)

Set in the competitive fashion world, former “10” Bo Derek plays a powerful fashion icon who will stop at nothing to destroy the woman (Natalie Martinez) who tries to romance her son (Taylor Kinney).

WATCH OVER ME (1st Quarter 2007)

Julia (Dayannara Torres) and her fiancé Sebastian were meant to have a perfect marriage, but the dangerous world they inhabit makes it necessary for a third party to enter their relationship--Jack, a bodyguard hired to protect them. Unfortunately, Jack's arrival is the catalyst for an intense love triangle that may destroy them all.

A DANGEROUS LOVE (2nd Quarter 2007)

Two very different families – the Olivera and the Mazzoni clans – struggle with a bitter feud that has plagued them for years. Maria Conchita Alonso stars.

TO LOVE & DIE (3rd Quarter 2007)

After a plane crash, an heiress falls in love with the pilot against the wishes of her family.

So the entire line-up of MyNetworkTV consists of telenovelas?! Wow.

Art of Betrayal sounds interesting... and A Dangerous Love premise sounds familar. I think I might have saw it on Telemundo or some other channel like it. If it's what I think it is, then I totally can't wait for that one if it stays true to the orginal.

I guess the plans for "Catwalk" and "Celebrity Love Island" have been scrapped. That initial press release seemed cobbled together, anyway.

MNTV is taking a risk with an all-telenovela line-up in primetime. I haven't heard any recent news about the CBS telenovela project, perhaps they are waiting to see how these perform?

Fashion House and Art of Betrayal seem the most interesting to me but I don't know if I'll have the time to invest in these.

All I ever watch is soap operas, so MyNetworkTV has a DREAM schedule, IMO. It's practically a second soap opera channel!

One thing that would really make this network sweet is if NewsCorp(which bought New World Television in the mid-to-late 90's) acquired SB reruns for affiliates.

I'm excited about these novelas and I hope they REALLY take off.

Yeah, the only ones I'm interested in are "Fashion House" and "Art of Betrayal." The others sound too...I don't know what the word is...lame?

So the entire line-up of MyNetworkTV consists of telenovelas?! Wow.

I'm shocked too. I think that the reason for this would because of the Nielson's ratings for Univision and Telemundo (Nielson just started covering them in December). There have been multiple times where their lineups (which are all novelas) have beaten the lineups of the WB and UPN. I think there putting a lot of hope that these shows will cross over because they will be available to English language speakers now.

A Dangerous Love premise sounds familar. I think I might have saw it on Telemundo or some other channel like it. If it's what I think it is, then I totally can't wait for that one if it stays true to the orginal.

Interesting. If you remember anymore about the possible original novela, I would be interesting in hearing about it. I find it interesting that the initial three novelas the network is airing aren't based on the Mexican novelas. I know that a lot of people talk about how Telemundo and Univision have stuck to the Mexican novelas because of the amount of Mexican-Americans in the United States. A lot of the humor in the other Latin American soaps don't always translate so they turn off the core audience of Telemundo and Univision.

I personally think it's good though that they are trying the soaps from the other countries. A lot of people think that they are more interesting than the Mexican novelas. It should be interesting to see if the translation becomes a problem. I know that the Writers Guild is all ready hounding MyNetworkTV for using now unionized writers. The network states that since they aren't actually writing anything, just translating, that they don't have to do anything. Still, I think that it will be interesting to see if they physically translate well.

MNTV is taking a risk with an all-telenovela line-up in primetime. I haven't heard any recent news about the CBS telenovela project, perhaps they are waiting to see how these perform?

MyNetworkTV is really going for the younger demographic. There are a lot of articles out there talking about the network's planned tie ins with MySpace. They will even be doing online voting for the viewers to chose the people that will appear in the next novela as well as allowing viewers to send in audition videos I think. I think that the all novela lineup will either sink or swim. I don't see there be much of a middle ground.

CBS wanted there twice a week novela to air during the summer, but I don't that anything was ever picked up. ABC seems to still be unsure what they want to do with "Ugly Betty", and there was talk of stripping it over five days a week but that was before the upfronts. I know USA has two twice a week novelas on their development slate. NBC says they are going to take it slowly with their development of "El Cuerpo del Deseo".

I was thinking the same thing though, that most of these plans for novelas did come out before MyNetworkTV came about. I cannot help but wonder if the other nets want to see how they do before they jump on the bandwagon. However, I think it's better as it is now, oversaturation would destroy the product.

Here's a description of "Desire: Table for Three" from the MyNetworkTV press release that can be found on Futon Critic:

This daily, one-hour drama stars a wonderfully talented ensemble cast including Michelle Belegrin as Andrea Zavatti, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy restaurateur who quickly becomes the object of affection for the Thomas brothers Alex and Louis. Alex, played by Zack Silva, is the unpretentious, handsome chef who loves Andrea with a pure heart. Louis, portrayed by Nate Haden, is the charming and ambitious older brother who falls in love with Andrea and wages a bitter war with his brother when he realizes that he is already after her heart. Vivian Gray portrays Andreas best friend Suzy Edwards, who quickly turns villainous when she seduces Andreas scheming boyfriend George played by Tomy Dunster. Along with the help of his equally manipulative half-sister Victoria, played by Sofia Milos, George works to take control of the Zavatti fortune. Eliana Alexander portrays Rita Thomas, Alex and Louis mother, who is left to raise her two sons by herself after her husband Peter, portrayed by Al Bandiero, abandons her. Chris DeRose is mob boss Joey Gamarra who seeks retribution after catching Louis in bed with his daughter Cara, played by Kelly Albanese. Desire also stars Derika Abraham as Kate, one of Andreas closest friends who innocently becomes embroiled in a sinister plan to steal Andreas family fortune; and Ron Gilbert is Harold Zavatti, the loving father of Andrea Zavatti who thinks he knows what is best for his daughter.

I don't like the idea of verbatim translations especially since the storylines are going to be shortened.

What I'm most interested in is what the production value of these shows will be. Soap fans are used to the indoor soundstage format while telenovelas do lots of location shooting and don't seem receive as much post-production. I've read US soap fans criticize the telenovelas for looking too cheap.

I've read US soap fans criticize the telenovelas for looking too cheap.

Really? The one thing that telenovelas have over US soaps are their "sets." They look a lot better and more true to real life versus US soaps. The post production is somewhat bad on telenovelas, that I highly agree with. The music is repetive and sounds bad... though it always fits what's happening; and sometimes the lighting and sound is bad. But it doesn't take away from what happened. One of the best thing about telenovelas is that they end, so they don't have the problem that all US soap have... rewriting (or disreguarding) history to fit the present; which is my biggest complaint about soaps.

I don't like the idea of verbatim translations especially since the storylines are going to be shortened.

Yeah. I don't know how the translation is really going to work, but I'm going to stay optimistic. I think they said that a lot of subplots are being cut, and often those novelas prolong the romance between the lead couple anyway. I think they'll probably just cut down on flashbacks and repetitive scenes, though I'm not really sure.

What I'm most interested in is what the production value of these shows will be.

Supposedly they are very good from the reports from the Upfront presentation. I know a lot of people weren't impressed with the story though.

those affiliates that chose this over The CW must be going mad! This is garbage! These telenovelas all sound incredibly lame!

those affiliates that chose this over The CW must be going mad! This is garbage! These telenovelas all sound incredibly lame!

Quite honestly, Drew, I think MyNetworkTV is for all those that got screwed out of CW. I don't think an affiliate would choose this over the more profitable CW. I think they knew this was gonna be an all-telenovela primetime network. If it bombs, MyNetworkTV can do reality and FOX News Magazines next season.

I hope it works out.

nobody got screwed that didn't want to be. They could have paid what they wanted to for it, they chose not to, enjoy your crappy telenovelas no one will be watching, suckers!

One of the new MY affiliates has released more info about the programming. Some casting news: Daytime alum Marc Mernard (AMC), Scott Bailey (GL), and Jack Krizmanich (PASS) are attached to several of the projects.

http://wtnh.tv/blogs/index.php/wctx/2006/05/25/p202#more202

FASHION HOUSE

Cast: Bo Derek (Maria Zianni), Natalie Martinez (Michelle Miller), Taylor Kinney (Paul Zianni), Mike Begovich (Lance Miller), Donna Feldman (Gloria Thompson), Nicole Pulliam (Nikki Clark), Joel Berti (William Chandler), Tony Tripoli (Hans), Garrett Swan (Harold), James Black (Rodney), Tippi Hedren (Doris Thompson)

Summary: A beautiful young housewife embarks on a journey of _self-discovery after uncovering her husband's infidelity. Michelle Miller divorces her overbearing husband and takes a job at the illustrious Fashion House, while finally realizing a lifelong dream of becoming a successful clothing designer.

Soon, Michelle, meets Paul, a painter, who is the son of the owner of Fashion House, and the two fall deeply in love. When Paul's mother, Maria, and Michelle's ex-husband, Lance, catch wind of their romance, all hell breaks loose. Maria will stop at nothing to destroy Michelle while maintaining her status as a powerful fashion icon. When Maria's countless manipulations finally push Michelle too far, Michelle turns her back on Paul and slowly climbs her way to the top of the fashion world, while losing sight of all things that had mattered most to her in life...happiness...friendship...and love.

Will Michelle become the spitting image of Maria Zianni, or will the promise of love conquer all of her fears? In the end, nothing will remain the same...

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WATCH OVER ME

Cast: Dayanara Torres (Julia Martin), Marc Menard (Michael Krieger), Todd Cahoon (Jack)

A beautiful psychology student, Julia, is engaged to be married to Sebastian, a wealthy but ruthless man. Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian's business enterprise is involved in nefarious activities. Because of this, Sebastian hires a bodyguard, Jack, to protect himself and his one true love, yet Julia has no suspicion that the very person she must ultimately be shielded from is her own fiancée. An intense attraction forms between Julia and Jack. Jack tries not to let his growing feelings for Julia cloud his judgment on the job, but he is torn between duty and desire. Despite their attempts to hide their genuine feelings for one another, rumors begin to spread among the staff regarding their undeniable attraction. Neither one of them realizes just how much peril they are in. As the lovers struggle with their feelings for each other, they begin to uncover the web of deceit and murder that Sebastian has woven around their lives. These shocking revelations release Julia from her self-imposed prison, and her love for Jack is free to bloom. But is it too late? Now, Jack must risk his life to expose Sebastian's wicked intent and save the woman he loves.

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A DANGEROUS LOVE

Cast: Scott Bailey (Roman Mazzoni), Julissa Miro (Ameilia Olivera), Maria C. Alonso (Conchita Olivera)

Summary: In one neighborhood, a fierce rivalry has been burning for years. Two families - Olivera and Mazzoni - own competing businesses directly across the street from each other. Their smoldering feud explodes into tragedy when Edward Olivera is found dead and Roman Mazzoni is accused of his murder. As a result, the Olivera family is forced to shutter their business and soon plunged into poverty while the Mazzoni's fortunes continue to rise. On the day Roman Mazzoni is released from jail, he encounters a woman at a party who ignites his passion. Not knowing that this is Amelia Olivera, the sister of his sworn enemy, Roman falls madly and passionately in love. Amelia finds him irresistible as well, even though he has been imprisoned for the alleged murder of her brother. He proves to Amelia that he is innocent and love blossoms between them. But, both families find this relationship repugnant and Amelia's family will stop at nothing to uncover the truth of her brother's death. Will age-old feuds keep these lovers apart, or will passion keep them together?

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TO LOVE & DIE

Cast details TBA.

Summary: After a terrifying crash, an heiress falls in love with her pilot. Once back in civilization and against the wishes of her family, the two try to keep the flames of love alive.

Based on "The Heiress".

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TABLE FOR THREE

Cast: Michelle Belegrin (Andrea Zavatti), Ron Gilbert (Harold Zavatti), Nate Haden (Louis Thomas), Zack Silva (Alex Thomas), Eliana Alexander (Rita Thomas), Al Bandiero (Peter), Tomy Dunster (George Marston), Xavier Tournaud (Christoph), Kristen Kerr (Claudia), Vivian Gray (Suzy Edwards), Sofia Milos (Victoria Marston)

Summary: Two brothers, Alex and Louis Thomas, open a small restaurant in New Jersey with their mother, Rita. On their opening night, Louis sleeps with the daughter of a notorious Mafia boss, who burns down their home and restaurant, forcing the Thomas family to flee to Los Angeles.

There, Alex and Louis find work at a prestigious Beverly Hills restaurant where they both fall in love with the beautiful daughter of the restaurant's wealthy owner. When the Mafia tracks down Louis and abducts him, his family believes Louis to be dead, and Alex and Andrea seek comfort in each other. Louis escapes captivity with millions of dollars of stolen Mafia money and feels utterly betrayed when he discovers that his brother has stolen Andrea during his absence. Louis uses his new wealth to exact revenge on those he feels have wronged him, and when the Mafia comes to town looking for Louis and the money, no one is safe.

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ART OF BETRAYAL

Cast: Sean Young (Blythe), Gordon Thompson (Theodore), David Smith (Andrew), Jack Krizmanich (Aaron), Jessica Ward (Emma), Jen Jelly Howie (Brooke)

Summary: Blythe is a woman scorned. Many years ago Theodore threw Blythe and her young sons out on the street and married another woman for her money. Now, twenty years later, Blythe has groomed her two handsome sons for revenge. Her scheme is to have Andrew and Aaron seduce Theodore's two gorgeous daughters, Emma and Brooke, marry them, and take their money. But not everything goes according to plan. Instead, Andrew falls for Emma, challenging his mother's intentions. Blythe's evil plan is progressing, as she has ruined Theodore's business, but in the process, she is destroying her sons' lives. Can their true love put an end to the deceit that threatens everything they hold dear, or will revenge win out?

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RULES OF DECEPTION

Cast: Dylan Bruce (Richard), Annalynne McCord (Emily), Rachelle Woods (Mia)

Summary: Mia and Emily are two best friends who hail from entirely different worlds. Mia is smart and ambitious, yet poor. Emily is capricious, outspoken and rich. Their relationship is shattered on the day they meet Richard, a handsome and dashing engineer. Richard falls for Mia instantly. But his feelings are at odds with his ambition to one day be a rich playboy and live a life of luxury. Emily promises Richard the world, and he decides to take it, and thus Richard seduces both women...one for love while the other for money. But when Emily discovers Richard's love for Mia, instead of breaking up with him, she frames Mia into signing documents that eventually get her thrown into prison. When Mia is finally released, she discovers that it was her dear friend and very own lover who conspired to set her up. Now, she finds herself in a battle for justice, pride and revenge against those who have ruined her life.

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FRIENDS & ENEMIES

Cast details TBA

Summary: A woman lives a double life to put her sister through school. While pretending to be a psychiatrist, she falls in love with her patient and they begin a tempestuous affair - until his family reveals the other life she lives.

Based on "Like in the Movies".

Really? The one thing that telenovelas have over US soaps are their "sets." They look a lot better and more true to real life versus US soaps. The post production is somewhat bad on telenovelas, that I highly agree with.

The sets on telenovelas are AMAZING!!!

More often then not they shoot on location and we see characters riding horses in open fields, jet setting on the beach, dancin' at real discos. When the novela is set on an "hacienda" (ranch) there's usually a beautiful river or waterfall where people go take steamy baths.

Plus, the houses they shoot in are real. Televisa (biggest producer of novelas in Mexico, if not the world) owns the mansions so it's often to see the same house show up in different novelas.

TO LOVE & DIE

Summary: After a terrifying crash, an heiress falls in love with her pilot. Once back in civilization and against the wishes of her family, the two try to keep the flames of love alive.

Based on "The Heiress".

Hmmm... I'm interested how this one will play out. While the love couple on "The Heiress" (La Heredera) was a bit sucky the family intrigue with the boardroom drama was top notch.

Originally the plane crashes because they mean to kill "the heiress" and keep her money.

There's also a drug storyline involved...

FRIENDS & ENEMIES

Summary: A woman lives a double life to put her sister through school. While pretending to be a psychiatrist, she falls in love with her patient and they begin a tempestuous affair - until his family reveals the other life she lives.

Based on "Like in the Movies".

Which was based on the movie "Coyote Ugly". It centers around a bar where all the bartenders are girls and dance well, on the bar...

It was so-so, but I don't see a reason to remake it.

There are soooooooooooooo many classics out there.

I love telenovelas. When I graduate from college, I'd love to be a writer for one. Too bad there's no MNTV affiliates here though.

I don't think most telenovelas will translate well into the US though. The basic telenovela storyline fits well w/ Latin American society, but not necessarily in the US. Telenovelas tend to have an undercurrent of the machismo and traditional values that are still present in much of LA society. We'll see how it goes though.

La Heredera is a good example of a typical telenovela, except that usually it's the man who's rich and the girl who's poor.

Telenovelas look kind of cheap because of their awful lighting. They must use the same type of lighting that American soaps use. But the sets are absolutely amazing. Most of them are in mansions, nice restaurants, and there's always a lot of actual outdoor scenes.