Telenovela (TV series)
{{short description|American sitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Telenovela (TV series) title.png
| image_alt =
| caption =
| alt_name = Hot & Bothered
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = {{Plainlist|
- Chrissy Pietrosh
- Jessica Goldstein
- Robert Harling
}}
| based_on =
| developer =
| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Eva Longoria
- Jencarlos Canela
- Diana Maria Riva
- Amaury Nolasco
- Jose Moreno Brooks
- Jadyn Douglas
- Alex Meneses
- Izzy Diaz
}}
| judges =
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Danny Lux
| country = United States
| language = English
Spanish
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 11
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Eva Longoria
- Chrissy Pietrosh
- Jessica Goldstein
- Josh Bycel
- Jonathan Fener
- Ben Spector
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Patrick Ward
- Dylan K. Massin
}}
| editor =
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera = Single camera
| runtime = 22 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Tall and Short Productions
- UnbeliEVAble Entertainment
- Universal Television
}}
| channel = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2015|12|7}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2016|2|22}}
| related =
}}
Telenovela is an American single-camera sitcom television series starring Eva Longoria and Jencarlos Canela. The series is a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional telenovela (Latin American soap opera) that is shot in Miami, Florida, and follows the daily life of the show's star, who does not speak Spanish. The series premiered on December 7, 2015 on NBC, and concluded on February 22, 2016.
On May 13, 2016, NBC canceled the series after one season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/telenovela-undateable-canceled-nbc-1201755300/|title='Telenovela' & 'Undateable' Canceled By NBC|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=May 13, 2016|access-date=May 13, 2016}}
Cast and characters
=Main=
- Eva Longoria as Ana Sofia Calderon, the neurotic star of Las Leyes de Pasión{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/eva-longoria-nbc-telenovela-1201407091/|title=Eva Longoria Signs On To Star In NBC's Telenovela|date=January 16, 2015|last=Wagmeister|first=Elizabeth|work=Variety|access-date=April 6, 2015}}
- Jencarlos Canela as Xavier (Xavi) Castillo, Ana Sofia's ex-husband, recently hired to co-star on her show
- Diana-Maria Riva as Mimi Moncada, Ana Sofia's best friend and the show's clothing designer and seamstress
- Amaury Nolasco as Rodrigo Suarez, Ana Sofia's co-star who plays the show's villain
- Jose Moreno Brooks as Gael Garnica, Ana Sofia's gay friend and co-star who plays her love interest on the show
- Jadyn Douglas as Roxi Rios, the show's youngest cast member who is dimwitted yet insightful
- Alex Meneses as Isabela Santamaria, the telenovela's aging former leading lady and Ana Sofia's chief rival
- Izzy Diaz as Isaac Aguero, the show's head writer who drunkenly writes the episodes only to forget the scenes he wrote the next day
=Recurring=
- Zachary Levi as James McMahon, the new network president of VivaVision; much to Ana Sofia's irritation, he speaks more Spanish than she does.
- Juan Carlos Cantu as Gustavo
- Phillip Garcia as Paulo, the show's PA
- Luis Fernandez-Gil as Director
- Roselyn Sánchez cameo as a reporter on TV
Production
On January 16, 2015, NBC ordered thirteen episodes. On October 19, 2015, the network cut its order to eleven episodes.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/nbc-eva-longoria-hot-and-bothered-superstore-episode-cut-1201621138/ |title=NBC Trims Episode Orders For 'Hot and Bothered,' 'Superstore' Amid Series Glut |date=October 19, 2015 |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton}} In November, the show title was switched from the production title Hot & Bothered to Telenovela.{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title='Superstore' & 'Telenovela' NBC Comedies Get Premiere Date, 'The Voice' Previews|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/superstore-telenovela-premiere-dates-preview-the-voice-1201603887/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=25 December 2015|date=November 2, 2015}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#FF5F5F |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |prodcode= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Pilot
| DirectedBy = Steve Pink
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Chrissy Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein and Robert Harling|t=Chrissy Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|12|07}}
| ProdCode = 101
| Viewers = 5.34{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|title=Monday final ratings: 'Telenovela' adjusts up slightly, 'Christmas Light Fight' adjusts down|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/12/08/monday-final-ratings-dec-7-2015/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208214557/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/12/08/monday-final-ratings-dec-7-2015/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2015|website=TV by the Numbers|access-date=December 8, 2015|date=December 8, 2015}}
| ShortSummary = Ana Sofia is the star of the hit telenovela "Las Leyes de Pasión", without speaking a word of Spanish. The network decides to add to the show Ana's ex-husband Xavi, who had cheated on her. Now they compete to become the crew's favorite, and for the spotlight roles in the show, until Ana freaks out and Gael, the current hot lover in the show, starts stress eating. Ana and Mimi break into Xavi's yacht to take revenge but Xavi catches Ana and they apologize. Finally they perform a staged reunion kiss for the press and manage to star in the show together.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Evil Twin
| DirectedBy = Reginald Hudlin
| WrittenBy = Robert Sudduth
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|12|07}}
| ProdCode = 102
| ShortSummary = On Isabela's birthday, Ana has enough of all the secrets and lies and instates an open-book policy at the set, from which she learns of Mimi's (lack of a) sex life. She tries to match her up with Rodrigo, but there's a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Isabela's identical twin Carmen arrives and befriends Gael, who tells her many stories about Isabela. When they discover that Carmen recorded all his secret stories of Isabela's wrongdoings and plans to include it in a tell-all book to ruin her, all friendships are off and Isabela fights with Carmen, which also marks the end of the open-book policy.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = Trapped in a Well
| DirectedBy = Michael Weaver
| WrittenBy = Chrissy Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|12|28}}{{efn|name=Episode3|The third episode was released online on December 7, 2015.}}
| ProdCode = 103
| ShortSummary = To show off in front of Xavi, Ana calls Mimi her personal assistant, which majorly strains their friendship. In a series of accidents on set, a light drops on Ana's head and she fakes amnesia. In another accident, Ana and Mimi end up trapped in a stage well, which gives them time to reconcile. Rodrigo is jealous of Xavi because Xavi never needs to rehearse for anything. When Xavi finds out that Rodrigo had wanted to become a boy-band member just like him, they perform a song together.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = The Kiss
| DirectedBy = Fred Goss
| WrittenBy = Melody Derloshon
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|01|04}}
| ProdCode = 104
| ShortSummary = Ana agrees to go on a date with James, but feels more comfortable playing her character while on the date than being herself. Meanwhile, Rodrigo and Roxi try to convince Xavi that the ghost of a deceased actor haunts the show's set.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = The Rivals
| DirectedBy = Ken Whittingham
| WrittenBy = Leila Cohan-Miccio
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|01|11}}
| ProdCode = 105
| ShortSummary = Ana sets up a charity event to build a house for an underprivileged family, and the cast and crew from Las Leyes de Pasión pitch in to help, but they get upstaged at the building site by the cast and crew of a rival telenovela.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = The Hurricane
| DirectedBy = Eva Longoria
| WrittenBy = Craig Gerard & Matthew Zinman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|01|18}}
| ProdCode = 106
| ShortSummary = Ana bans all food because of the upcoming beach wear scenes, but then a hurricane hits and everyone is stuck in the studio with nothing to eat and the hapless Gael in charge as safety captain.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = The Grand Gesture
| DirectedBy = Dylan K. Massin
| WrittenBy = Marcos Luevanos
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|01|25}}
| ProdCode = 107
| ShortSummary = Ana is having fun dating James, but his over-the-top attempts at showing his affection make her afraid that the relationship is moving way too fast. Meanwhile, Rodrigo loses his dressing room to Isaac in a poker game. When the guys set up the next game, Roxi wants in, and she turns out to be a better poker player than she let on.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title = Sexual Awakening
| DirectedBy = Victor Nelli, Jr.
| WrittenBy = Dannah Phirman & Danielle Schneider
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|02|01}}
| ProdCode = 108
| ShortSummary = When it is discovered that Mimi's son Connor has a photo of a half-dressed Ana under his mattress, the two women debate over whether or not he needs to have the sex talk. Meanwhile, the men of Las Leyes de Pasión are excited about an upcoming photo shoot for a magazine, until they hear that the photographer refuses to use any retouching techniques on the photos.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title = Split Personalities
| DirectedBy = David Warren
| WrittenBy = Josh Bycel & Jonathan Fener
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|02|08}}
| ProdCode = 109
| ShortSummary = Mimi's ex-husband Martin (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) gets out of prison looking hotter than ever and seems to have changed for the better, but Ana warns her friend not to fall for him again.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title = Caught in the Act
| DirectedBy = Fred Goss
| WrittenBy = Jameel Saleem
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|02|15}}
| ProdCode = 110
| ShortSummary = With Xavi trying to be the best man he can be for new girlfriend Kelly (Fiona Gubelmann), he asks Ana to point out all the things he used to do to bug her and she is delighted to do so. But the two spend so much time together remaking Xavi, Kelly gets jealous. Meanwhile, a pregnancy scene has Rodrigo regretting he never had children, but his discussions with Roxi and Gael lead him to believe an old affair may have produced a child that he doesn't know about.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title = The Stalker
| DirectedBy = Steve Pink
| WrittenBy = Chrissy Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|02|22}}
| ProdCode = 111
| ShortSummary = Ana is excited to learn she has a stalker, while she also considers rekindling her relationship with Xavi. When Xavi doesn't show up for their date, Ana learns her stalker is Kelly, who has kidnapped Xavi and is threatening his life. On the set, various cast members try to impress Isaac with their talents after learning he is writing a pilot for a new show.
| LineColor = FF5F5F
}}
}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Broadcast
Telenovela premiered as a "preview" on December 7, 2015 on NBC.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/11/04/superstore-and-telenovela-get-post-voice-launches-before-regular-premieres/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107202746/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/11/04/superstore-and-telenovela-get-post-voice-launches-before-regular-premieres/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |title='Superstore' and 'Telenovela' get post-'Voice' launches before regular premieres|last=Porter|first=Rick|website=TV by the Numbers|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/nbc-telenovela-superstore-early-premiere-dates-winter-comedies/|title=NBC Reveals Early Premiere Dates for Eva Longoria and America Ferrera Comedies|last=Rafety|first=Liz|work=TV Guide|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2016}} The series then moved to its regular Monday at 8:30 PM timeslot on December 21, 2015 as a mid-season replacement.
In the Philippines soon to air on A2Z and Kapamilya Channel dubbing in Filipino and theme song for "Rampa" song by Vice Ganda.
Reception
=Ratings=
| style="text-align:center;"hhhh class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="padding:0 8px;" class="unsortable"| No.
! style="width:235px;" class="unsortable"| Episode ! style="width:135px;" class="unsortable"| Original air date ! style="width:135px;" class="unsortable"| Timeslot (EST) ! style="padding:0 8px;" class="unsortable"| Viewers ! style="padding:0 8px;" class="unsortable"| Rating/share |
|---|
| 1
|style="text-align:left" | "Pilot" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2015|12|7}} |style="text-align:center"|Monday 10:00 pm |
| 2
|style="text-align:left" | "Evil Twin" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2015|12|7}} |style="text-align:center"|Monday 10:30 pm |
| 3
|style="text-align:left" | "Trapped in a Well" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2015|12|28}} |style="text-align:center"|Monday 9:30 pm |
| 4
|style="text-align:left" | "The Kiss" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|1|4}} |style="text-align:center" rowspan="8" |Monday 8:30 pm |
| 5
|style="text-align:left" | "The Rivals" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|1|11}} |
| 6
|style="text-align:left" | "The Hurricane" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|1|18}} |
| 7
|style="text-align:left" | "The Grand Gesture" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|1|25}} |
| 8
|style="text-align:left" | "Sexual Awakening" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|2|1}} |
| 9
|style="text-align:left" | "Split Personalities" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|2|8}} |
| 10
|style="text-align:left" | "Caught in the Act" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|2|15}} |
| 11
|style="text-align:left" | "The Stalker" |style="text-align:center"|{{Start date|2016|2|22}} |
=Critical reception=
According to Metacritic, Telenovela currently holds a score of 62 out of 100, based on 21 critics indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/telenovela|title=Telenovela : Season 1|work=Metacritic|access-date=December 18, 2015}} On another review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a critical approval of 63%, based on 19 critics, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Featuring a likable cast led by a charming Eva Longoria, Telenovela is a comedy that provides entertainingly predictable laughs".{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hot-bothered/|title=Telenovela Season 1|work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=December 18, 2015}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite news |first=Alex Ben |last=Block |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=Eva Longoria Talks NBC's 'Telenovela,' Diversity on TV |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eva-longoria-talks-nbcs-telenovela-765999 |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}
{{Cite news |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=NBC's Eva Longoria 'Telenovela' Comedy Adds Three to Cast (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbcs-eva-longoria-telenovela-comedy-767208 |date=January 26, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2015}}
}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.nbc.com/telenovela}}
- {{IMDb title|4363588|Telenovela}}
Category:2010s American single-camera sitcoms
Category:2015 American television series debuts
Category:2016 American television series endings
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series about television
Category:Television series by Universal Television