“Telenovela” premiered on Dec. 7, 2015 on NBC. The single-camera sitcom has been getting good reviews since it started airing. Here are five reasons why you should watch the comedy.
1. The sitcom stars Eva Longoria and Jencarlos Canela.
The Muse reported that “Telenovela” marked the return of Longoria to prime-time TV. It has been four years since she took on the role of Gabrielle Solis in “Desperate Housewives.” The Latina actress stars as Ana Sofia Calderon, who tries to take control of things behind the camera of a popular Spanish-language soap opera.
2. It strengthens Hispanic presence on TV.
“Telenovela” is one of three NBC shows that launched in the midseason with Latina leads. Longoria said that the Hispanic community is improving on television, although they are still severely underrepresented. The Spanish-language soap opera spoof is hoping to introduce more diversity to cater to underserved audiences. Longoria added that they needed more producers and writers to create stories that showcase their heritage but remain untapped, Press of Atlantic City wrote.
3. Alex Meneses is part of the series.
HNGN revealed that Menesis plays an older girl, who is a genius behind the show. She defined her character, Isabela Santamaria, as strong, crazy, sexy and a force to be dealt with. She said that she needed to mak herself look older for the role. Meneses mentioned that she has also known Longoria for a long time. The show will also feature Zachary Levi.
4. “Telenovela” has huge potential.
Jennifer Salke, NBC entertainment president, stated that the show has a lot of potential since it follows a format that sits well for Spanish-language networks. It also showcases a world that English-speaking viewers are somehow unfamiliar with. “Telenovela” had favorable reviews from critics, but still had soft ratings during its back-to-back preview in December 2015. Episode 1 averaged a rating of 1.4 among adults ages 18 to 49 and 5.4 million viewers. Episode 2 only had a 0.8 rating and 3.3 million viewers. Longoria, however, remained positive that their time slot put them against a Cowboys game and quite late in the evening at 10 p.m.
5. The content is good.
Longoria said in the same Press of Atlantic City report that she wanted to focus on good content, because Hispanics generally tune in on that. The show does not solely focus on Latinos but it can proudly have a different voice. The show was developed by Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein, who previously worked on “Cougar Town.”
More updates and details on “Telenovela” are expected soon.