Saturday, February 09, 2013
Weekend Discussion: Novela Writing; Should writers always listen to what viewers are saying?
This question isn't about outdated cliche storylines, but about viewer reaction to what happens on the screen while the series is still in production. It's also about viewer ratings and how that affects what they do. A few examples of past decisions:
Pasion de Gavilanes (Telemundo, 2003-2004): This was the most successful series Telemundo ever had in the 7PM EST timeslot. Good story, writing was decent, cast was attractive. At some point after the first third had aired, Telemundo made the episodes shorter so they ended five minutes early and the next program (Prisionera) began at 7:55 instead of 8PM. The last chapter of the story was extended to twice the length it should have been because the network wanted to keep the ratings up in the time slot. This series was rerun twice in the US, edited to its appropriate length in terms of the correct pace of the story.
Rebeca (Televisa/Venevision/Univision, 2003): This series was meant to be interactive in giving its title character three competing suitors. The audience was meant to vote on the outcome. However, three things happened that ruined the best possibility for that plan:
La Esposa Virgen (Televisa, 2005): Viewers posted much appreciation of Sergio Sendel's character, the noble but beleaguered Capitan Fernando Ortiz. Perhaps in response to this and with a desire to shake things up, the writers awarded the fair lady to him instead of to Dr. Jose Guadalupe Cruz (Jorge Salinas), with whom we see her in the credits (including the credits to the finale). Whether this shocked viewers in Mexico or not, I don't know (If someone does, please comment) but it shocked this author. And the cast, according to the wrap-up on Cristina. Sergio Sendel himself explained that the cast knew the ending two days before they shot it and all were shocked. Jorge Salinas was not pleased and we don't blame him.
El Fantasma de Elena (Telemundo, 2010): This series had great promise as a supernatural, but for reasons best known to the network dropped the supernatural elements 30 episodes into the story. We started out thinking that the hero and his male relatives were werewolves, but that was suddenly dropped and never spoken of again. The title of the series suffered three changes before it went back to its original title along with a few personality changes in its female protagonist. While its ending was spectacular, it remains to be seen whether editing could fix these issues.
Triunfo del Amor (Televisa, 2010): Two things happened in this series that were viewer-driven. Linda, the hussy who seduced Victoria's husband, died after 66 episodes in contrast to her counterpart's fate in the previous Televisa version of this tale. We learned that this was because the original broadcast audience hated the character so much the producer and/or the network decided to send her into the great beyond rather than to redeem her. Later in the story when Victoria's marital troubles continued for reasons beyond infidelity she chose to divorce her husband and marry Dr Heriberto Rios, a character introduced midway through the series. We learned that this was the result of a viewer poll taken on the internet. However, in our discussion here we decided that this didn't make sense. There must be some law at Televisa that Victoria Ruffo and Cesar Evora always have to be married to each other in any novela they do together (There was talk that he was originally to have portrayed her husband).
This author believes that this level of response to viewer reaction ultimately compromises the overall quality of the series.
What say you all? More examples are welcome.
Pasion de Gavilanes (Telemundo, 2003-2004): This was the most successful series Telemundo ever had in the 7PM EST timeslot. Good story, writing was decent, cast was attractive. At some point after the first third had aired, Telemundo made the episodes shorter so they ended five minutes early and the next program (Prisionera) began at 7:55 instead of 8PM. The last chapter of the story was extended to twice the length it should have been because the network wanted to keep the ratings up in the time slot. This series was rerun twice in the US, edited to its appropriate length in terms of the correct pace of the story.
Rebeca (Televisa/Venevision/Univision, 2003): This series was meant to be interactive in giving its title character three competing suitors. The audience was meant to vote on the outcome. However, three things happened that ruined the best possibility for that plan:
- There was no plan as to how and when the voting was to begin, so no script control.
- Ratings did not meet Univision's expectations for the series, leading to a shift to daytime.
- The excellent romantic comedy chemistry between Martin and Princessa caught the viewers' imaginations (They were voted Best Unlikely Couple of the Year) so the writers became lazy and prejudiced the remaining scripts in Eduardo's favor.
La Esposa Virgen (Televisa, 2005): Viewers posted much appreciation of Sergio Sendel's character, the noble but beleaguered Capitan Fernando Ortiz. Perhaps in response to this and with a desire to shake things up, the writers awarded the fair lady to him instead of to Dr. Jose Guadalupe Cruz (Jorge Salinas), with whom we see her in the credits (including the credits to the finale). Whether this shocked viewers in Mexico or not, I don't know (If someone does, please comment) but it shocked this author. And the cast, according to the wrap-up on Cristina. Sergio Sendel himself explained that the cast knew the ending two days before they shot it and all were shocked. Jorge Salinas was not pleased and we don't blame him.
El Fantasma de Elena (Telemundo, 2010): This series had great promise as a supernatural, but for reasons best known to the network dropped the supernatural elements 30 episodes into the story. We started out thinking that the hero and his male relatives were werewolves, but that was suddenly dropped and never spoken of again. The title of the series suffered three changes before it went back to its original title along with a few personality changes in its female protagonist. While its ending was spectacular, it remains to be seen whether editing could fix these issues.
Triunfo del Amor (Televisa, 2010): Two things happened in this series that were viewer-driven. Linda, the hussy who seduced Victoria's husband, died after 66 episodes in contrast to her counterpart's fate in the previous Televisa version of this tale. We learned that this was because the original broadcast audience hated the character so much the producer and/or the network decided to send her into the great beyond rather than to redeem her. Later in the story when Victoria's marital troubles continued for reasons beyond infidelity she chose to divorce her husband and marry Dr Heriberto Rios, a character introduced midway through the series. We learned that this was the result of a viewer poll taken on the internet. However, in our discussion here we decided that this didn't make sense. There must be some law at Televisa that Victoria Ruffo and Cesar Evora always have to be married to each other in any novela they do together (There was talk that he was originally to have portrayed her husband).
This author believes that this level of response to viewer reaction ultimately compromises the overall quality of the series.
What say you all? More examples are welcome.
Labels: fantasma, gavilanes, telenovelas, triunfo, weekend
Comments:
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Aurora (Telemundo) had a viewer poll in reaction to an unhappy public, and I believe the plot was changed as a response. Then they killed off Aurora anyway...
-Katie
-Katie
Permalink posted by 
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:31:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:31:00 PM EST
Did they? I don't read their message board, but I did watch that series.
What was the question and do you remember the possible answers?
What was the question and do you remember the possible answers?
I think there are times when the viewers might have a valid point. General complaints about too much violence or too much stupidity should really be heeded. If viewers are commenting on a serious flaw in the story or if ratings are taking a hit, it might be a good idea to review the script.
On the other hand, I think it's a big mistake to always give viewers exactly what they say they want, unless the writers don't mind feeling as though they're writing fanfic. It's like letting a toddler plan all the family's meals.
Many times over the years I've had ideas for a TN story to go in a different direction, or I've tried to guess where it was going. I've been wrong almost every time - and I've been glad about that. It's far more fun to THINK I know where it's going, and then be outsmarted with the writers' better idea.
In summary: Yes, the writers should always listen. But that doesn't mean that they should obey. If the writers can't come up with better ideas than the fans, then something's seriously wrong.
On the other hand, I think it's a big mistake to always give viewers exactly what they say they want, unless the writers don't mind feeling as though they're writing fanfic. It's like letting a toddler plan all the family's meals.
Many times over the years I've had ideas for a TN story to go in a different direction, or I've tried to guess where it was going. I've been wrong almost every time - and I've been glad about that. It's far more fun to THINK I know where it's going, and then be outsmarted with the writers' better idea.
In summary: Yes, the writers should always listen. But that doesn't mean that they should obey. If the writers can't come up with better ideas than the fans, then something's seriously wrong.
I agree, Julie. When that happens it feels as though the series loses its direction and/or the characters don't make sense anymore.
I remember "Triunfo de Amor". It was hard for me to stay with that story as much of it was just so bad.
I never understood why Victoria divorced Osvaldo. Did something happen in "real life" that made Victoria Ruffo change her mind about Osvaldo Rios? I found it really puzzling the way they just wrote off the Osvaldo in the story. It was almost like he didn't exist and hadn't existed for all of the episodes from the beginning. It was obvious even to a relative newcomer like me that something "funky" must have happened in "real life".
Ruffo and Evora didn't seem believable to me as a couple in that story, but the whole story was kind of strange.
I never understood why Victoria divorced Osvaldo. Did something happen in "real life" that made Victoria Ruffo change her mind about Osvaldo Rios? I found it really puzzling the way they just wrote off the Osvaldo in the story. It was almost like he didn't exist and hadn't existed for all of the episodes from the beginning. It was obvious even to a relative newcomer like me that something "funky" must have happened in "real life".
Ruffo and Evora didn't seem believable to me as a couple in that story, but the whole story was kind of strange.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:51:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:51:00 PM EST
I'm sorry. I keep forgetting to sign my name. Anon at 8:51 is me, Fatima.
One more question: why did they have an internet poll about the Victoria/Evora marriage? Was the story getting bad ratings and it was just a ploy to get interest up?
Fatima
One more question: why did they have an internet poll about the Victoria/Evora marriage? Was the story getting bad ratings and it was just a ploy to get interest up?
Fatima
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:53:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:53:00 PM EST
Fatima, I don't remember the answer to your first question, but I think the answer to your second question is probably a Yes.
While in theory, I think the audience having a say can be good if you don't have a plan,, it seems more like a bad publicity stunt. I didn't follow TdA entirely but was shocked it deviated so much from the original and the Ruffo/Evora marriage what completely out of left field for me.
What bothered me the most about TdA was not just the marriage out of left field but the way the theatre scenes were handled. That was such an insult to the audience who all knew that the Karmageddon of those two characters could not have been improved upon over EPDA.
I know during the original run of "La Madastra" there were some on air contests and voting before the gran final. I saw some of the ads because I was in Mexico at the time. Later, I read on Univision's web site and may have picked this up from the old "Escandalo TV" that there were three different endings filmed for "La Madastra" and the viewers were to vote for their favorite. There was also a follow-up called "La Madrastra: Anos Despues".
I notice when I am in Mexico, watching telenovelas, they do a lot of promotions that tie in with our so ever constant "product placements". They seem to encourage viewer feedback and adjust the novelas accordingly.
As for the Ruffo-Evora paring in Triunfo, supposedly Osvaldo Rios had some marital discord at the time and had not behaved well. His part was changed shortly after the incident became public.
SFChicaBonita
I notice when I am in Mexico, watching telenovelas, they do a lot of promotions that tie in with our so ever constant "product placements". They seem to encourage viewer feedback and adjust the novelas accordingly.
As for the Ruffo-Evora paring in Triunfo, supposedly Osvaldo Rios had some marital discord at the time and had not behaved well. His part was changed shortly after the incident became public.
SFChicaBonita
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 10:12:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 10:12:00 PM EST
Thank you Urban Anthropologist. That's interesting that the internet voters wanted a different pairing for Ruffo and that the pairing was with Evora. I think that is also interesting that the writers made that change.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:00:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:00:00 PM EST
Thank you SF Chica Bonita. I would have never known that about Rios. So, if the actors don't "behave" in real life, they can face consequences on the story? Is this the norm?
Fatima
Fatima
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:02:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:02:00 PM EST
Fatima,
It was probably a director/televisa decision. It happens occasionally where a character's role is downsized or changed. I don't know the whole story and there is a "no personal life gossip policy" on Caray, so there isn't much more I can add.
SFChicaBonita
It was probably a director/televisa decision. It happens occasionally where a character's role is downsized or changed. I don't know the whole story and there is a "no personal life gossip policy" on Caray, so there isn't much more I can add.
SFChicaBonita
Permalink posted by : Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:52:00 PM EST
: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:52:00 PM EST
Did anyone watch Velo de Novia? It also had a (imo) weird and drastic change to the plot where they essentially started over and changed half the cast. Does anyone know if that was a reaction to audience opinion?
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 10:11:00 AM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 10:11:00 AM EST
Also, Aurora was HORRIBLE. I couldn't pay attention to it because the lead was just terrible in this role and the casting was just dumb in terms of the plot. The lead was cute in El Juego de la Vida and I liked that novela, but in Aurora she was in way over her head. I don't know how the change affected the show, but I don't think it could've been worse than what it was.
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 10:13:00 AM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 10:13:00 AM EST
I remember Velo de Novia and was scratching my head, thinking "WTF???" I have no idea why they did that. Could it be that it was a controversial and they wanted attention for that?
The change in Aurora made no sense at all. Telemundo should have just ended the series at the point where Sara Maldonado bailed (if that was what happened, considering that she was needed for LRdS). If a series isn't doing well they should close it sooner but finish the story.
The change in Aurora made no sense at all. Telemundo should have just ended the series at the point where Sara Maldonado bailed (if that was what happened, considering that she was needed for LRdS). If a series isn't doing well they should close it sooner but finish the story.
Are the polls that are taken in English or Spanish or both? Although a lot of viewers are bilingual, I still wonder how much influence a blog such as ours have on the writers. For example, since we live in a country that does not support creul and unusal punishment, we see it as violence when they punish someone by chopping off his head. We'd rather have lethal injection (that is if we even support the dealth penalty). Other cultures might see chopping off the head and lethal injection as one and the same. For that reason I doubt that they would change methods. Even in AB, it would have been just as effective for Isa to use a different tactic such as injecting and paralyzing leo's tongue rather than to cut it out. (By the way, he's the one who got his head chopped off in Pasion).
SFChicaBonita, thank you for your comments.
Fatima
Fatima
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 1:03:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 1:03:00 PM EST
What they did in TDA was ridiculous, what does an actors personal life have to do with a role? The writers should do their job.
The worst thing they do is to take a popular TN & add to it, which usually results in mucho estupidez.
The worst thing they do is to take a popular TN & add to it, which usually results in mucho estupidez.
Pardon me for interrrupting the conversation. Just wanted to add my 'dos centavos'.
For me to enjoy a telenovela or any drama or comedy, there has to be a definite storyline which means the writers have to be present, professional and working. A telenovela that grabs my attention in five minutes and then at the end of the hour, I have changed the channel means they lost my interest because there was no story.
Changes to the storyline due to changes in the casting happen quite normally in english telenovelas - someone wants to leave, or their contract runs out and they don't resign, the character they played will either be sent away or killed off. In spanish telenovelas, I noted that the writers haven't learned how to do this very well.
For me to enjoy a telenovela or any drama or comedy, there has to be a definite storyline which means the writers have to be present, professional and working. A telenovela that grabs my attention in five minutes and then at the end of the hour, I have changed the channel means they lost my interest because there was no story.
Changes to the storyline due to changes in the casting happen quite normally in english telenovelas - someone wants to leave, or their contract runs out and they don't resign, the character they played will either be sent away or killed off. In spanish telenovelas, I noted that the writers haven't learned how to do this very well.
We gringos are not the primary audience for these programs. As to the beheading in Alborada, that was a novela de epoca; nobody advocates this in civilized countries today. I feel sorry for anyone sufficiently deficient in education to be unaware that this was done a hundred or more years ago.
As to cutting out Leoncerdo's tongue in AB, this is justified by the plot and characterization of Hissadora: She is a sadist and probably knew he was illiterate. In the College of Evil this would be regarded as a brilliant move.
And it's not like she won't earn an ugly fate for this in the end.
As to cutting out Leoncerdo's tongue in AB, this is justified by the plot and characterization of Hissadora: She is a sadist and probably knew he was illiterate. In the College of Evil this would be regarded as a brilliant move.
And it's not like she won't earn an ugly fate for this in the end.
I would imagine the polls are done in the country making the TN. I never thought US opinions would matter much since we usually get the TNs a year after it's been aired. It would be hard to get the actors to be on call for rewrites that far out since so many of them are on to other projects. On the other hand, like SFChicaBonita, I've also heard that TNs will sometime's film multiple finales. I saw a couple different ones for Teresa on Youtube, though I didn't watch the actual TN.
Jody, I agree that it happens all the time in English soaps, but I think it may be harder with TNs because when an actor actress signs on, the writers are probably expecting them to be there for the whole thing because TNs are so finite whereas American soaps go on for as long as there are viewer watching.
Jody, I agree that it happens all the time in English soaps, but I think it may be harder with TNs because when an actor actress signs on, the writers are probably expecting them to be there for the whole thing because TNs are so finite whereas American soaps go on for as long as there are viewer watching.
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 6:39:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 6:39:00 PM EST
I think that if the writing is solid there is no need to add viewer input.
However, if the writing is bad, listenig to polls is not a bad idea, even if the results aren't all that great: if a novela is going to suck anyway, it might as well suck while giving the audience what they want.
El Triunfo del Amor had a nice following in the US but it had abysmal ratings in Mexico. Nobody was watching and people had written the story off as inverosimile and stupid. Pairing Ruffo and Évora was probably dumb but at least they got some old fans of La Madrastra to watch them together again for a few episodes.
I think Mejía made changes to his Corazón Salvaje version because of viewers too and that helped the last part of the show just a tiny bit, it was still very bad but not as horrible as before. Of course, most people never knew because they had written that novela off as preposterous from the moment Yañez slayed a tiny octopus but those who watched appreciated the changes.
Jose Alberto Castro tends to give great importance to fan reaction and that has given him three consecutive hits in Mexico: Teresa, LQNPA and Corona.
I don't think he specifically changes his storylines for fan reaction but I get the impression that he asks his writers (Ximena Suárez for Teresa and LQNPA and Jesús Calzada for Corona) to create different viable roads for the characters and then he chooses the way depending on viewer reaction. Xiména Suárez wasn't on board with Corona because she became too stressed with LQNPA and needed a rest (lets remember she also had to write around Jorge Salinas's illnes and a last extention) and the rummor mill says Jesús Calzada has been very stressed with Corona.
Insterestingly: one thing Castro's novelas have in common is that the main pairing was not made clear at least for the first month of the story (or in Teresa's case we never knew if she'd end up with anyone at the end either).
Jarocha
However, if the writing is bad, listenig to polls is not a bad idea, even if the results aren't all that great: if a novela is going to suck anyway, it might as well suck while giving the audience what they want.
El Triunfo del Amor had a nice following in the US but it had abysmal ratings in Mexico. Nobody was watching and people had written the story off as inverosimile and stupid. Pairing Ruffo and Évora was probably dumb but at least they got some old fans of La Madrastra to watch them together again for a few episodes.
I think Mejía made changes to his Corazón Salvaje version because of viewers too and that helped the last part of the show just a tiny bit, it was still very bad but not as horrible as before. Of course, most people never knew because they had written that novela off as preposterous from the moment Yañez slayed a tiny octopus but those who watched appreciated the changes.
Jose Alberto Castro tends to give great importance to fan reaction and that has given him three consecutive hits in Mexico: Teresa, LQNPA and Corona.
I don't think he specifically changes his storylines for fan reaction but I get the impression that he asks his writers (Ximena Suárez for Teresa and LQNPA and Jesús Calzada for Corona) to create different viable roads for the characters and then he chooses the way depending on viewer reaction. Xiména Suárez wasn't on board with Corona because she became too stressed with LQNPA and needed a rest (lets remember she also had to write around Jorge Salinas's illnes and a last extention) and the rummor mill says Jesús Calzada has been very stressed with Corona.
Insterestingly: one thing Castro's novelas have in common is that the main pairing was not made clear at least for the first month of the story (or in Teresa's case we never knew if she'd end up with anyone at the end either).
Jarocha
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 8:09:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 8:09:00 PM EST
Jarocha
How is Corona de lagrimas accepted in Mexico, I think it is on a par with FELS, meaning awful.
Also Amores verdaderos, I think that one is pretty bad also.
It seems most on Caray really like Amor Bravio, me included, what do they think in Mex?
I really miss your input on things telenovela.
How is Corona de lagrimas accepted in Mexico, I think it is on a par with FELS, meaning awful.
Also Amores verdaderos, I think that one is pretty bad also.
It seems most on Caray really like Amor Bravio, me included, what do they think in Mex?
I really miss your input on things telenovela.
Variopinta: Corona de Lagrimas is a huge hit ratings wise and it's going to get a 2 hour finale next sunday.
Jarocha
Jarocha
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:07:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:07:00 PM EST
Amor Bravío did well, it had ok ratings and its considered a good performance for a telenovela.
Amores Verdaderos is also doing well but the novela that comes before it, with Fernando Colunga, is a huge hit so it's been stealing its thunder.
Jarocha
Amores Verdaderos is also doing well but the novela that comes before it, with Fernando Colunga, is a huge hit so it's been stealing its thunder.
Jarocha
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:16:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:16:00 PM EST
Televisa's novelas are doing well right now. The lowest ratings are for La Mujer del Vendaval but that one is still getting ok ratings, its just that all others are performing ok.
On January 25th starts Corazón Indomable, with Ana Brenda Contreras and Daniel Arenas and the promotion has been going on nonstop. I guess Televisa wants to keep its ratings as they are at the moment.
Sorry for dividing this comment in three but my internet connection has been coming and going for the last half hour.
Jarocha
On January 25th starts Corazón Indomable, with Ana Brenda Contreras and Daniel Arenas and the promotion has been going on nonstop. I guess Televisa wants to keep its ratings as they are at the moment.
Sorry for dividing this comment in three but my internet connection has been coming and going for the last half hour.
Jarocha
Permalink posted by : Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:25:00 PM EST
: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 9:25:00 PM EST
Tks Jarocha
Do you know of a Mex website where I can get the rating info?
Really looking forward to Colunga.
Do you know of a Mex website where I can get the rating info?
Really looking forward to Colunga.
Then please TN writers could you tell the crying lady of Corona de lagrimas to stop the faucet already, which is driving me crazy. Good acting doesnt mean she has to cry all the time. There are far more interesting plots in the story that is marred by the crying.I'm sorry, I got carried away. Just saw an opportunity since this tn is not recapped by CarayCaray.I still watch it tho.
Permalink posted by : Monday, February 11, 2013 at 12:48:00 AM EST
: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 12:48:00 AM EST
Vida2, I don't know how long you're watching novelas, but Victoria Ruffo is known for her ability to cry on cue so she is cast for that purpose. I can't imagine what it's like to cry professionally every day.
I took the degree but never practiced, but since I can't cry on cue I would have been typecast as a villana.
I took the degree but never practiced, but since I can't cry on cue I would have been typecast as a villana.
As an aside (and I'm sorry I didn't post this as a separate topic) who watched the bodas special? I'm watching it now and enjoying the older clips.
I enjoyed it. My telenovio, FC was in 4 I think, MEPS, Alborada, Amor Real & 1 with Thalia, maybe more.
What was the one with Livia Brito, I never saw the name & wondered who the joven was that she married.
What was the one with Livia Brito, I never saw the name & wondered who the joven was that she married.
I watched the bodas special also. I too never caught the name of that Livia Brito one. Since they kept going back to it out of sequence and since she and Altair didn't look much younger, I wondered if it was something we might get later?
Have to say, Erika Buenfil looks better now than back then.
I'll also chime in to expose myself to ridicule in saying I like Corona de Lagrimas. When Ruffo cries I just look at her beautiful hair and wait it out. The plot is interesting, her son rejecting/denying her for social advancement, and DelaGuardia's performance is, well, breathtaking.
Clara
Have to say, Erika Buenfil looks better now than back then.
I'll also chime in to expose myself to ridicule in saying I like Corona de Lagrimas. When Ruffo cries I just look at her beautiful hair and wait it out. The plot is interesting, her son rejecting/denying her for social advancement, and DelaGuardia's performance is, well, breathtaking.
Clara
Permalink posted by : Monday, February 11, 2013 at 11:09:00 AM EST
: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 11:09:00 AM EST
There is a new one with Livia called Volando Bajo, but the character names as far as I could understand didn't match. Altair Jarabo (sp) is in it though
Erika Buenfil has improved with age,in fact, she looks better than when she was in MEPS.
I just can't take Victoria Ruffo. When you hear she is going to be in a TN, invest in glycerin in the commodities mkt. Truinfo del Amor was difficult to get through because of her, "mi hija, mi hija" I think was her only line through the sobs.
Erika Buenfil has improved with age,in fact, she looks better than when she was in MEPS.
I just can't take Victoria Ruffo. When you hear she is going to be in a TN, invest in glycerin in the commodities mkt. Truinfo del Amor was difficult to get through because of her, "mi hija, mi hija" I think was her only line through the sobs.
I saw the last hour of the wedding special. It seemed to me the tn with Livia B., Pablo Lyle (he was in Una Familia con Suerte), and Altair was a fake tn created just for this special, to show all the tn cliches that can happen in a wedding. But I also haven't looked anything up. It just seemed that way to me since they didn't show the name of it and made no mention of it.
I was also not up for a llorona-fest with Corona de Lagrimas, but I'm glad it's doing well in Mexico. Since the 7pm ratings are hard to find, I have no idea how it's doing in the U.S.
But to me the mere fact that Corona and Amores Verdaderos (which I enjoy as mindless fun) did better in ratings in Mexico than Amor Bravio (with excellent writing and a complex plot) shows me that audiences should NOT have a role in deciding plot lines, unless there is a dire need (if they can't make the story worse than it already is-- e.g. Aurora).
I was also not up for a llorona-fest with Corona de Lagrimas, but I'm glad it's doing well in Mexico. Since the 7pm ratings are hard to find, I have no idea how it's doing in the U.S.
But to me the mere fact that Corona and Amores Verdaderos (which I enjoy as mindless fun) did better in ratings in Mexico than Amor Bravio (with excellent writing and a complex plot) shows me that audiences should NOT have a role in deciding plot lines, unless there is a dire need (if they can't make the story worse than it already is-- e.g. Aurora).
Variopinta: Lupita Martínez, an entertainmnet reporter, used to have the ratings on her website but I can't find it anymore. They are posted daily in Univision's forums but that place is several shades of crazy.
It's hard to put Amor Bravío's ratings against Amores Verdaderos's because the 7 pm timeslot has much less people watching tv in general than the 9 pm timeslot. It's only when a novela does horribly at 9 that they can get the same numbers than the 7pm one. An 18 point rating is good news for a 7 pm novela but a huge flop for a 9 pm one.
I'd say Amores Verdaderos is performing very well but the Azteca version from 2006 was such a huuuge hit that this one sort of pales in that comparison.
The Corona de Lágrimas case is different, it's been getting better ratings than the next three timeslots after its own. We have it at 4 pm here and sometimes only the 8 pm and 9 pm novelas do better. I think the success of this novela is due to a story that might be culturally appealing to the Mexican population but it may not translate well to other countries. I mean, the leading lady lives in a house with her three grown sons, that's absolutely normal in Mexico and expected due to the circumstances of the characteres but it could look bad to a society that is used to the idea of their adult children leaving the house once they've reached certain age.
Then, at 4 pm most of the people watching tv are housewives and children, many adult viewers are still at work at that hour. I think there might be some kind of self identification with the main character because, while she works for a living, being a mother is Victoria Ruffo's main storyline.
We had the bodas special here last Saturday also, I read there's a second part next week. My favorite clips where the ones of the oldest novelas, Irán Eory looked so beautiful in El Amor Tiene Cara de Mujer and Rafael Banquells and María Teresa Rivas were so great in Gutierritoz.
I think Érika Buenfil looked gorgeous when younger but sometimes the look of the 80's was terrible for her. I think the 90's were kinder to her image and she looked her best in Marisol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwrB5-Rd05E
But, before the crazy 80's hair she looked good too. Here's Erika in El Derecho de Nacer (with Laura Flores) back in 1981: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oy6w6YRP_0
Jarocha
It's hard to put Amor Bravío's ratings against Amores Verdaderos's because the 7 pm timeslot has much less people watching tv in general than the 9 pm timeslot. It's only when a novela does horribly at 9 that they can get the same numbers than the 7pm one. An 18 point rating is good news for a 7 pm novela but a huge flop for a 9 pm one.
I'd say Amores Verdaderos is performing very well but the Azteca version from 2006 was such a huuuge hit that this one sort of pales in that comparison.
The Corona de Lágrimas case is different, it's been getting better ratings than the next three timeslots after its own. We have it at 4 pm here and sometimes only the 8 pm and 9 pm novelas do better. I think the success of this novela is due to a story that might be culturally appealing to the Mexican population but it may not translate well to other countries. I mean, the leading lady lives in a house with her three grown sons, that's absolutely normal in Mexico and expected due to the circumstances of the characteres but it could look bad to a society that is used to the idea of their adult children leaving the house once they've reached certain age.
Then, at 4 pm most of the people watching tv are housewives and children, many adult viewers are still at work at that hour. I think there might be some kind of self identification with the main character because, while she works for a living, being a mother is Victoria Ruffo's main storyline.
We had the bodas special here last Saturday also, I read there's a second part next week. My favorite clips where the ones of the oldest novelas, Irán Eory looked so beautiful in El Amor Tiene Cara de Mujer and Rafael Banquells and María Teresa Rivas were so great in Gutierritoz.
I think Érika Buenfil looked gorgeous when younger but sometimes the look of the 80's was terrible for her. I think the 90's were kinder to her image and she looked her best in Marisol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwrB5-Rd05E
But, before the crazy 80's hair she looked good too. Here's Erika in El Derecho de Nacer (with Laura Flores) back in 1981: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oy6w6YRP_0
Jarocha
Permalink posted by : Monday, February 11, 2013 at 2:54:00 PM EST
: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 2:54:00 PM EST
regarding the voting, on the televise home page of every novella, at the right hand side there is always a vote (which character do you want the prota end up with etc.) and anybody can vote, and I do think the writers cosnider the public opinion in the later story line
regarding the Corona, I heard it has very good ratings nowadays, but I lost the story line so long ago I just cannot pick it up, I watched a couple new episodes online, and it seem Ruffo doesn't cry as much as in the beginning
besides the crying she can act, I like the Madrastra, and loved the Telemundo's Victoria, she was great in it! ( by the way can I find recap feeds on La madrastra somewhere?, there is none on the side bar, but I'm sure many of you watched, because it is regularly mentioned in comments)
regarding the Corona, I heard it has very good ratings nowadays, but I lost the story line so long ago I just cannot pick it up, I watched a couple new episodes online, and it seem Ruffo doesn't cry as much as in the beginning
besides the crying she can act, I like the Madrastra, and loved the Telemundo's Victoria, she was great in it! ( by the way can I find recap feeds on La madrastra somewhere?, there is none on the side bar, but I'm sure many of you watched, because it is regularly mentioned in comments)
Livia Brito's bride in the Bodas special was a fake-out for that special. How else do you get Altair Jarabo as the groom's nice sister?
So do we get another two hours of that next weekend or did Televisa show only one hour at a time?
So do we get another two hours of that next weekend or did Televisa show only one hour at a time?
I saw the three hour special on Bodas de Telenovelas last weekend also. I couldn't tell if it was a fake one or a remake of Sebastian and Alesandra. Personally, I was doing other things around my house and only half paying attention to what was on the television program.
it's one thing for the producers to see which characters the tv audience loves and which ones they don't, it's another thing if the producers use the fans to change the storylines so drastically and dramatically that it alters the story so the favorite characters are transformed into the leads and the initial plotline is totally and completely lost because of it.
Variopinta - I used to be a Colunga fan. After five subpar performances by him and having to deal with his fan base who never talked to me or made me feel part of his 'team', I broke free from him and will probably never watch another "colungacirco" for the rest of my life.
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it's one thing for the producers to see which characters the tv audience loves and which ones they don't, it's another thing if the producers use the fans to change the storylines so drastically and dramatically that it alters the story so the favorite characters are transformed into the leads and the initial plotline is totally and completely lost because of it.
Variopinta - I used to be a Colunga fan. After five subpar performances by him and having to deal with his fan base who never talked to me or made me feel part of his 'team', I broke free from him and will probably never watch another "colungacirco" for the rest of my life.
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