Cisneros Media, the corporate division encompassing the Cisneros’ media and entertainment businesses, announced a partnership with Part Time Hero Productions, founded by celebrated game show host Jeff Sutphen, to develop and produce “American Girl Trapped on a Telenovela,” an English-language comedy series with a Latin twist for the U.S. general market.
“American Girl Trapped on a Telenovela” will attract both the American and the U.S. Hispanic audiences, from the hard-core soap opera fan to the loyal telenovela follower, as the series’ creators and producers take these genres to a completely different place by adding a comedic twist to all the drama to entertain the entire family.
Created by Sutphen and Stacy Asencio-Sutphen, the project has enlisted a number of industry experts with proven track records in their respective genres, such as Gina Rugolo, who was a co-executive producer of “Just Shoot Me,” the American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC, and internationally renowned actor and telenovela leading man Guy Ecker, whose production company, Amistad Productions, led by Estela Sainz, is also onboard. Bungalow Media + Entertainment, a Cisneros strategic partner, will collaborate on the U.S. production and distribution of the series.
“It’s hard to ignore the ratings that telenovelas achieve in the U.S. Hispanic market,” stated co-creator Jeff Sutphen, host of Nickelodeon’s Emmy nominated game show “BrainSurge” and ABC’s “101 Ways To Leave A Game Show.” “And I believe the American market has been trying to figure out ways to capitalize on that demographic. We feel this project has cracked the code; especially tapping into the creative juices of Guy and Estela, and the expertise of Cisneros Media, and all of their years of telenovela experience. As far as we are concerned, no one knows it better.”
Bob Friedman, Bungalow CEO, added that “this kind of unique content venture reflects the brave new world and viewing habits of both Hispanic families and general market audiences - both of whom are interested in great storytelling reflecting a U.S. Latin culture.”
Cisneros Media, with more than 50 years of experience producing some of the most successful telenovelas in the world, particularly in the U.S. Hispanic market, immediately recognized the project’s potential. “This comedy series offers the best of both worlds. One might consider it to be a parody of the overdramatic soap opera and the overzealous passions of a telenovela, but it’s basically an America comedy with a Latino flavor that will reach audiences of all ages, regardless of their understanding of the Spanish language. It’s what Hispanics of all generations have been waiting to see on national networks, and precisely what American brands and advertisers have long awaited,” emphasized Jonathan Blum, President of Cisneros Media.
The three companies - Cisneros Media, Part Time Hero Productions and Bungaloo Media + Entertainment – are teaming up to reach out to U.S. networks and national cable outlets to market the comedy series for a primetime timeslot, efforts spearheaded by Miguel Somoza, Director of Sales & Business Development of Cisneros Media Distribution.
“American Girl Trapped on a Telenovela” centers on Sarah Forlenza, a Puerto Rican-Italian actress from Brooklyn who has been struggling for past 10 years to become a working actor in Los Angeles. And just when she is about to give up on her dream, her overbearing mother sends her inexperienced brother to the rescue… to become her new agent! And when she’s about to laugh off the absurd idea, her brother proudly boasts that he has booked her in a starring role on a brand new soap opera! He forgets to mention, however, that it’s actually a telenovela, 100 percent in Spanish, and Sarah doesn't speak a word of Spanish.