Upfronts: Telemundo announces fall lineup

NBC's sister Spanish network, Telemundo, has announced its roster for the fall, including several hot telenovela offerings:

Based on Gustavo Bolivar’s bestselling novel of the same name and inspired by true-life events, “Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso” (Without Breasts There Is No Paradise) is a story about an innocent young woman who makes the wrong choices. Forced to undergo surgery to escape from the misery that oppresses her, she meets an unscrupulous man who puts her life in jeopardy.

“¿Por Qué Diablos?” (Why the Devil … ?) is a story of intrigue, betrayal, vengeance and unbridled passion, in which love is the only key to survival. The streetwise Bruno never had anything given to him, so life became a game in which he was determined to be a winner. For Santiago, power is everything … yet the only thing he can’t control is the woman he’s about to marry, the stunning Barbara. She is a lawyer with a heart who is willing to fight for justice –- even if it means defending Bruno, the man whom Santiago wants to destroy and the man who, unbeknown to either, is Santiago’s own son.

“Amor de Madre” (A Mother’s Love) is the heart-wrenching story of a mother whose twin daughters are separated at birth. She is determined to give the one child she was able to keep every possible opportunity for happiness -– including the only man she ever really loved.  A strange twist of fate will intertwine the lives of mother and daughters in an extraordinary manner, revealing what a mother is willing to endure for her children.

“Lola Calamidades” (Calamity Lola) is the story of enchanted love, where passion is the only cure for a run of bad luck. In a place ruled by superstition, no one would trust Lola. No one –- except for the one man who truly loves her.  For years, Lola has been convinced that she brings misfortune to those who come near her and has shied away from every living human being. One day, her hiding place is discovered and Lola is brought back into the community. But a series of strange occurrences inevitably leads to tragedy.  Heartbroken and fearing for her life at the hands of the superstitious villagers, Lola believes she has lost all hope until the love of one man and the generosity of another turn her life around. 

In “El Juramento” (Secret Lies), Santiago De Landeros, a noble, hard-working businessman, is shocked by the violent suicide of his brother Diego. When he discovers that Diego’s dreams were shattered by the betrayal of a heartless woman, he seeks only one thing: to avenge his brother’s death. A gold chain with the letter “A” is his only clue, and he discovers that there are only two like it in the world. Blinded by his lust for revenge, Santiago visits the place where his brother once lived and, along the way, falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful young Andrea. The few clues he has all lead him to believe that the woman who betrayed his brother may be the same woman he’s fallen in love with. When the lines are blurred between love and hate, deception can forge a dangerous path.

Telemundo also announced it has signed an agreement with TV Globo to co-produce the hit novela “El Clon” (The Clone) for the U.S. market in Spanish. The agreement is the beginning of a new partnership between the two leading global content providers. The novela will be produced by Telemundo Studios in Colombia and TV Globo will provide the original format, as well as the expertise of the creative and production team that participated in the original novela, including screenwriter Glória Perez and director Jayme Monjardim. “El Clon” was aired by Telemundo in 2002 and was a huge international success, selling in more than 90 countries. Under the agreement, Telemundo will have exclusive broadcast rights for the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and both companies will market the new production through their international sales teams around the world.

--Maria Elena Fernandez