Actors - Telenovela

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	Actors - Telenovela

A telenovela is the term used to describe Spanish and Portuguese television serials derived from the terms tele short for television and novela ("novel"). In spite of their many differences, telenovelas can be compared to soap operas.

Spanish-language prime time serials, or telenovelas, are produced in all Spanish-speaking countries, Brazil, Germany, Portugal and the United States. Portuguese-language telenovelas made in Brazil are also dubbed into Spanish for the Latin American market. They are usually aired during prime time.

The first drama serials were first produced in Brazil, Cuba and Mexico with Sua vida me pertence ("Your life belongs to me", Brazil, 1950) showing twice a week, Senderos de amor ("Love paths", Cuba, 1951) and Ángeles de la calle ("Angels from the street", Mexico 1951) which was shown once a week. Mexico produced its first drama serial in the modern Telenovela format of Monday through Friday showing between 1957 and 1958 called Senda prohibida ("Forbidden path") of Fernanda Villeli and Brazil in 1963 with 2-5499 Ocupado ("2-5499 busy"). Venezuela produced its first telenovela in 1954 titled La criada de la granja ("The farmer's servant"). Puerto Rico produced its first telenovela in 1955 titled Ante la ley ("Before the law"). The first Colombian telenovela was El 0597 está ocupado ("Extension 0597 is busy", 1959). Peru produced its first telenovela in 1959 titled Bar Cristal ("Cristal Bar") and Panamá did so with En la esquina del Infierno ("On Hell's corner") in 1964. The first telenovela viewed in different countries was Simplemente María ("Simply Mary", Perú, 1969) The first global telenovela was Los ricos también lloran ("The rich cry too", Mexico, 1979) and was exported to Russia, China, United States, etc. A great success was also experienced with the Brazilian production Escrava Isaura ("The Slave Isaura", 1976), because it was watched by 450 million people in China, and actress Lucélia Santos became one of the more famous personalities in that country.

Currently, the most famous telenovelas have come from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. In Spain they are also called culebrón ("long snake") because of the convoluted plots and large number of episodes, of which the standard is 180.

Worldwide appeal

Telenovelas are not only immensely popular in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and in Hispanic communities in the United States, but also have a wide following in Russia, Eastern Europe, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Japan as well.

In Argentina, they are usually produced by Telefe and Pol-ka; in Brazil, usually by Rede Globo, SBT, TV Record or Bandeirantes; in Chile by TVN and Canal 13; in Venezuela by Venevision or Radio Caracas Television; and in Puerto Rico, they were produced by WAPA-TV or Telemundo Puerto Rico. In the United States, Telemundo and Univision, mostly importers of Latin American telenovelas, have started producing telenovelas with Latin American casts and, in the case of Telemundo, Mexican producers Producciones Argos.

In Mexico telenovelas are produced by the two main networks Televisa, which is the largest producer and exporter of Telenovelas and Spanish-language media, TV Azteca, and by the independent company Producciones Argos; these telenovelas are more traditional and one of the four main types is the stereotypical aimed at the working class, which explains their worldwide popularity—they are easy to understand and appropriate family viewing. The plots are often based on stories about a poor girl who falls in love with a rich man whose family spurns her. Four telenovelas are shown on Mexico's most-watched channel alone. Another type of telenovelas in Mexico are "era telenovela" and based on the early 20th century or before, during the colonial period (Martín Garatuza), the independence (El carruaje), the late 1800s (El vuelo del águila) and the revolution (Bodas de odio). A third type of telenovelas started with (Quinceañera) in the late 1980s, this is the "teen telenovela" which portrays the lives of high-school teenagers and their issues with sex, drugs and other coming-of age topics. The fourth type is the "musical telenovela" which portrays the lives of aspiring musicians such as in Alcanzar una estrella and its sequel Alcanzar una estrella II.

Brazil's telenovelas are both more racy and apt to broach controversial subjects—many Brazilians can relate, because of the telenovelas' realistic depiction of the middle class, working class and upper class. Brazilian productions are the most expensively produced in Latin America. A teenage telenovela, Malhação ("Working Out") is the longest-running telenovela in Brazil. Telenovelas usually last 8 months at most in Brazil, but Malhação has been on the air since 1995. Four telenovelas are shown on Globo, Brazil's leading channel.

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Actors - Telenovela

Worldwide appeal

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