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NBC and USA To Adapt Telemundo Telenovelas Into English-Language Shows!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/Telemundo

Courtesy/Telemundo

Looks like more soaps will soon enter the primetime arena! Today, via The Hollywood Reporter announced that NBC and it’s cable network USA will adapt English-language versions of  hit Telemundo telenovelas: Senor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies), Telemundo’s highest-rated novela last season, averaging 2.3 million viewers nightly, and USA is developing the upcoming Mujer de Acero (Woman of Steel).

According to THR, “El Senor de los Cielos is the story of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya) one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 1990s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico.

The telenovela generated more than 35 million page views on Telemundo.com, spurring a seven-part midseason web companion series — El Capitulo Secreto (The Secret Episode) — that bridged the first season cliffhanger with the second season, which began last Tuesday.”

For those who may need some info just what is a ‘telenovela”: The telenovela is a widely popular and enduring genre in the Spanish-language entertainment market. The series can run for just a handful of episodes or more than 100, airing weeknights and typically ending with a cliffhanger to hook audiences night after night.  In an increasingly time-shifted universe, telenovelas are still overwhelmingly viewed live.

“Developing this hugely popular telenovela allows us to not only showcase the great plotlines and stories that have captured Spanish-speaking audiences in an English-language adaptation, but it gives us the great opportunity to work hand in hand with our NBCUniversal partners at Telemundo,” said Jennifer Salke, president, NBC Entertainment. “We can’t wait to get started.”

So what do you think of the adapting of more telenovelas?  Seems like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon banking on their success for their storylines and audience!  Do the storyline concepts of the two mentioned in the post interest you?  Who would you like to see cast in them? Weigh-in!

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here’s the bigger question: Why do the ‘powers that be’ at the big 3 networks assume that soaps will sell and win over audiences in primetime, yet want to abolish them in daytime? It’s never made sense to me. Long live soaps….daytime soaps especially.

I kind of agree with what you are saying but daytime or primetime ill take my soaps where ever i can get them as long as the are good!!!

Agree 100% I’ll take them anytime I can get them.

That PO’s me!
The network will run a Spanish telenovela/soap prime time evening’s,
and let our soaps suffer dwindling viewer numbers during daytime ..

And, telenovela’s are violent etc..
So.. for those who complain about a mobster in GH wait for the cartel telenovela ..
I will like it IF the dubbing is done well .. not a fan of subtitles ..

The US versions will not be dubbed or have subtitles. They are being adapted into English and will be cast with English speaking actors, similar to Devious Maids. I’m sure many daytime soap stars who are out of work will be auditioning.

I’m really not interested in a story about a drug lord. Too bad NBC couldn’t buy OLTL and AMC. But, I realize the alphabet people won’t sell.

What a clever idea…NOT! Less than a decade ago, one of the minor networks….(MyNetworkTV)….tried this same thing, and it went down in flames despite attracting such marquis names as Morgan Fairchild and Bo Derek. There were three or four different stories, and only one was even watchable…oddly enough, it had the least known cast members, but the plot was passable. Quite frankly, I don’t understand soap showrunners’ obsession with this format….it has totally ruined GH’s storytelling ability as opposed to the traditional method of presenting tales. In addition, the telenovelas are so campy and over-the-top melodramatic that they are more comical than the usual classy affairs one has come to expect in primetime soapies. I say if you want this form of entertainment, then just go to Telemundo.

LOL @Shay..even though daytime was in much better shape back then I was all over these shows on MyNetwork..They were silly..cliched..but packed a passable punch more or less. I was disappointed when they went off. Remember the one that had Tatum O’neal on it?? Some of those shows were an outright hoot.

Oh yeah, davlestev1, I remember them well. They were so bad they were unforgettable, although the one with the two cute blond Italian restaurateur brothers from NJ who fled to the West Coast to escape the mob was the best one from a storyline point of view. I actually watched all of those episodes. But the Bo Derek/Morgan Fairchild vehicle lost me, even though I tried to stick with it…I just couldn’t waste the VCR hours, when as you pointed out, we still had more daytime drama variety from which to choose. I vaguely recall the program with Tatum…she was such a trainwreck back then that no soap could outdo her real life story!!!! LOL….As for your suggestion about rebooting the great nighttime soaps of yesteryear, there was mention of bringing back “Falcon Crest,” although I cannot imagine it without the late, great Jane Wyman! And even if they don’t do a “Knots” redux, then at least some of their characters should re-emerge on “Dallas,” especially Donna Mills….once her “Swiss Sis” gig with Dr. O. ends, of course! “Peyton Place” was before my time, but I do know that Mia Farrow and Ryan O’Neal played the show’s “supercouple”…. Allison and Rodney, I think???? Quite frankly, no updated plot for the two of them could surpass their real-life sagas….the tales are so outlandish they would be deemed unbelievable even by soap standards! In the words of true telenovelas (not to mention, Bart Simpson….) “Ay caramba!!!!!”

Wasn’t one of them some God-awful thing with Bo Derek who absolutely cannot act her way out of a paper bag – I tried to watch it and it was just atrocious – was a few years back –

Ugly Betty was a success so why not?

Devious Maids is also doing well and it was adapted from a Mexican show.

And why not resurrect FalconCrest or KnotsLanding for that matter…Hell..update PeytonPlace and throw that back on the screens. I guarantee you people will jump on that bandwagon to at least see how it goes.

Don’t like GH so I know I won’t be watching. Violence is the last thing I want to watch.

It helpss that ComcastNBCUNIversal OWNS Telemundo so its easier to translate them to NBC/USA

I think the shows will be geared to the ever increasing Latino market. Apparently Latinos watch daytime soaps in significant numbers. I’m not interested.

I don’t think so. Otherwise why translate the telenovelas to the English audience in the first place.

Many Latinos are bilingual, especially second and third generation. TV programs are developed for minorities too and they are in English.

Rapids, I am living her In Africa, (thanks, don’t need your condolences), and telemundo is a big hit, granted these dumbass people are entertained by anything that comes on from the west. What pisses me of is how the cheap non-professional voice over actors are so stupid and can’t act or lend their voice in a way that would make them the professionals they claim to be.. i.e. Margret on Precious Rose, an overacting wannabe actress, Lola Volcan’s voice over actress, with their overacting squeak voice. Hate them all… My wife watches them until I come in and change the channel… Especially hate the way they use the complete name when addressing each other… i.e. Lola Sanchez Martinez Gonzales Volcan your are a bitch,,,, Don’t call me that Andrea Sanchez Martinez Gonzalez Suarez.. It makes the Latino community sick..

i would love this because i was introduced to telenovelas in 2009 by ny former patient. i loved them alot i loved gata savaje innnocente de ti, and another i forgot the name but it starred eduardo yanez adela noreaga. and the one mariana de la noches. i love the actors helena rojo and ceasar i forgot his last name,laura flores pablo montero omg too many to name. oh ninal conde. so yeah im all for it bring it on.

oops i think i misunerstood the concept. i thought they were bringing telenovelas to primetime and translating them into english. with the original actors . oops. oh well i love telenovelas and i wish i get get them in english

Personally, it freakin’ annoys me that something like this is considered, but no one could breathe honest life back into ALL MY CHILDREN or One Life to Live – instead they became butchered and not even salvaged at the hands of brainless, witless, clueless PROSPECT PARK ~ cannot stress enough how badly they mismanaged absolutely everything and BLAMED every one else.
I realize that it is highly unlikely that these two iconic soaps will ever see the light of day again thanks to the combined mishandling of ABC-TV and Prospect Park whom I sincerely hope never come anywhere near a soap again – and no, I’m not sitting around hoping for a miracle – it just totally annoys me that to this day, Prospect Park has not offered any kind of explanation, no apology whatsoever to long time fans, many of whom watched the shows for 40+ years – NOTHING – just declare bankruptcy and the heck with the actors, crew and Fans – I am sorry but I really think it’s despicable.

How the heck do i watch el senor de los cielos in english im going crazy trying to do this please someone help

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s GH Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned,

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where they were previously, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. And Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, “Well, so much for that!”

Fast-forward to 2025, and “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said we’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth, My internal monologue is going ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is. or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprongna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric and a big fan base with with Jason and you know you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is down 100% to play. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.:

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit and the buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other. and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect Ric, Sonny, Lulu? So, much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither of them for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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