VivirLatino

The title of this post doesn’t refer to the fact that Desperate Housewives, while a huge hit in its first season, is being snubbed by viewers in its second. It refers to the fact that while American viewers might see the show as a snoozefest, not so the case with viewers in Latin American countries, such as Argentina.

The New York Times reported yesterday that as a result of the show’s success in Latin America (it’s broadcast on the Sony Channel with Spanish subtitles), Latin American producers are purchasing the rights to recreate the show in localized versions for their countries, all to be called “Amas de casa desesperadas”.

Three versions of the series are under way, each tailored to a different area of Latin America. And three additional productions are a possibility, said Mr. Barbosa and executives here, depending on the outcome of discussions with networks in Mexico, Venezuela and Chile. First off the ground is the Argentine version, which will also be shown in neighboring countries including Uruguay and Paraguay and is scheduled to go on the air in six months or so. After that comes a production in Portuguese for Brazil and a second Spanish-language version made for Colombia and Ecuador.

I am skeptical. The most interesting thing about this article to me was the following:

…in the Colombian version of the series, the nouveau riche couple Carlos and Gabrielle Solis will be Ecuadoreans. “They are the ethnic couple on the block, the equivalent of Hispanics in that society,” Mr. Barbosa said.

I’ll hold my tongue, but your thoughts on that are certainly welcome.

Related: Desesperadas a la argentina (Clarin, in Spanish)

Via / The New York Times