10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

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These shows may have found recognition in America, but they didn’t start there.

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10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities have long been in the know about the drama of telenovelas. Like American television soap operas, these programs hold nothing back when it comes to high-stakes conflicts and shocking twists that elicit gasps from the audience.

For years, American TV producers have delved into the rich tradition of these cultures for inspiration and adaptations for English-speaking audiences. A few series come to mind when thinking about how successful those adaptations are. The appeal of such shows to an ever-growing multicultural audience keeps American television producers coming back to the source.

10 Jane the Virgin

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

Before Jane Gloriana Villanueva graced American television on the CW, there was Juana la Virgen, a telenovela from Venezuela. Jane the Virgin tweaked the Spanish-language program’s premise a bit when it aged the protagonist up to 23 years old.

In the telenovela version, Juana is a 16-year-old girl who gets accidentally artificially inseminated during a checkup at a hospital visit. The father is Mauricio de la Vega, the owner of the fictional fashion magazine Positivo. The CW’s version made a shout out to the original with Rogelio De La Vega’s character.

9 Ugly Betty

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

America Ferrera donned the braces and thick glasses of Betty Suarez for four seasons that won the hearts of American audiences. This story stemmed from the telenovela Yo Soy Betty, la fea. While both follow the unfortunate-looking protagonist as she navigates the fashion world, the two stories took a different approach.

While the telenovela focused on the protagonist as a lovelorn assistant desperately in love with her boss, the American version emphasized Betty’s journey to acceptance in her identity. Ugly Betty upended the concept of making her looks the butt of the joke.

8 Chasing Life

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

ABC Family’s drama was adapted from the Mexican telenovela Terminales. The story follows April Carver, a young aspiring journalist whose life is just starting to fall into place when she gets a diagnosis of leukemia. As she balances her desire for a career with bonding with her family, this bombshell news rocks her world.

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The show only lasted for two seasons and ended on a cliffhanger. But it told a valuable story that there’s always a silver lining. April does not get deterred by her diagnosis but rather fights harder to live life to the fullest, no matter what may come.

7 Devious Maids

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

The Lifetime network dramedy follows four Latina maids with their own ambitions while working for the most powerful and wealthiest families of Beverly Hills, California. In the first season, a fellow maid friend is mysteriously murdered. The plots only get wilder after that.

Devious Maids was adapted from the Mexican Ellas son… la alegría del hogar. The original starts with a condominium breaking ground on a new swimming pool. But the endeavor gets delayed as a mysterious briefcase unleashes chaos that leads to murder.

6 Queen of the South

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

This USA Network crime drama is adapted twice-over. It started as a Spanish-language novel that was turned into the Telemundo show La reina del sur. The story follows Teresa Mendoza who escapes to Texas after her drug-smuggling boyfriend is murdered in Mexico.

In both premises, the protagonist turns to drug smuggling herself to bring down the very cartel that has her on the run. It’s a story that shows how vengeance can turn people into the monsters they run and hide from. The telenovela only lasted two seasons, but the American version is still airing.

5 Hollywood Heights

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

This Teen Nick family drama took its inspiration from the Mexican telenovela Alcanzar una estrella. The story follows high-schooler Loren Tate who aspires to be a singer-songwriter. The title translates to “to reach a star,” which plays on the premise and the protagonist’s obsession to make contact with her rock star idol.

The American adaptation only had one season and didn’t gain traction among English-speaking audiences. But the original version claimed much success with awards and even a sequel telenovela that starred Ricky Martin.

4 Killer Women

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

Based on the Argentinian telenovela Mujeres asesinas, this ABC drama tells the story of the sheriff’s daughter Molly Parker. The former beauty queen is recently separated from her abusive senator husband and takes on a career with the Texas Rangers, rising in the ranks of the male-dominated institution.

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The original telenovela was adapted from a trilogy of books written by Marisa Grinstein. Killer Women followed the same stories as Molly investigated the homicides committed by women. It was a rare case in which all the main villains were women.

3 American Heiress

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

The limited-run series was based on the Mexican telenovela La heredera. It’s a dramatic romance between a pampered heiress and roughneck pilot that survive a plane crash together in the jungles of Guatemala.

They finally made their way back to civilization where Elizabeth Wakefield, the heiress, fought her family’s wishes to remain with her new love Captain JD Bruce, the former Air Force pilot she crash-landed and survived with. The Spanish-language series took a slightly different route but ultimately focused on the same themes.

2 I Am Frankie

10 American Shows That Were Originally Telenovelas

The Nickelodeon drama follows Frankie Gaines, an android that tries to pass herself off as a human teenager. She is developed by a scientist working for the government and smuggled out of the facility when the military wants to use the android for warfare.

The Colombian telenovela Yo soy Franky also depicted the android posing as a teenage girl, but with much lower stakes. While the American adaptation took a dystopian sci-fi approach, the original version simply had Franky developed for purely scientific purposes. She was merely meant to be studied among human beings.

1 Saints and Sinners

This MyNetworkTV drama is a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet but in Miami Beach, Florida. Julia Capshaw falls in love with Roman Martin, the man accused of murdering her father. Both their families own hotels and the two find themselves caught in the crossfire of the bitter rivalry.

The American version was adapted from the Mexican telenovela La calle de las novias. The original show also told the story of star-crossed lovers, but this one took place on a street dedicated to selling all things bridal.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/american-shows-that-were-originally-telenovelas/

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