MENTIR PARA VIVIRAfter two weeks, MENTIR PARA VIVIR (weeknights at 10 p.m. ET on Univision) is by a wide margin the best telenovela to premiere on Univision this year. This is perhaps faint praise in what has to this point been a decidedly poor year for Televisa – the mere fact MENTIR PARA VIVIR features a fresh, original story that develops swiftly, characters who behave as recognizable humans with actions and feelings psychologically motivated, and good acting and direction, is enough to place it above the other Televisa productions we’ve seen on Univision this year.
Telemundo Media achieved the best August ratings in the network's history, delivering 1.3 million total viewers, up 8% over last year and up 10% (664,000 vs. 602,000) among adults 18-49 during Monday through Sunday primetime programming, according to Nielsen. Telemundo was also the fastest growing Spanish-language network year-over-year among Monday-Sunday primetime among total viewers and adults 18-49 with a share of 28%, up 3 points vs. last year in this demo. The network ranked as the fastest growing Spanish language network in the 18-49 demo for the seventh consecutive month.
SECRETOS DEL PARAÍSO
A pair of telenovelas premiere tonight. On Telemundo, DAMA Y OBRERO takes over the 8 p.m. ET slot. A Miami-produced adaptation of a 2012 Chilean telenovela of the same name, it stars José Luis Reséndez, Ana Layevska and Fabián Ríos – a bit of sameness in the trio as all actors who have worked together before – Layevska and Reséndez in LA MADRASTRA, Layevska and Ríos in EL FANTASMA DE ELENA and MI CORAZÓN INSISTE, Reséndez and Ríos in last year’s CORAZÓN VALIENTE, but never all in the same project. In any event, it should be gratifying to finally see Ana Layevska, a delightfully inventive actress, once again in a leading role after watching her steal her previous three telenovelas at the network playing two antagonists and a supporting role.
Top Regional Mexican music star Roberto Tapia will perform the vocals on “El Guardián de tu Vida,” the theme song for DAMA Y OBRERO, Telemundo’s new original production premiering Monday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET. The singer, songwriter and LA VOZ KIDS coach revealed that he has first-hand experience of the type of love story featured in the production, which stars Jose Luis Resendez, Ana Layevzka and Fabián Rios. 
Telemundo announced today that its new original production DAMA Y OBRERO will premiere on Monday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET. Starring renowned actors Ana Layevska, José Luis Reséndez and Fabián Ríos, this telenovela tells the story of Ignacia (Layevska), a young engineer from Beverly Hills who works at a Los Angeles construction company owned by her boyfriend, Tomás (Ríos). After an argument, Ignacia leaves the city, where she meets Pedro (Resendez), a charming seemingly wealthy man. The two begin a passionate romance but must overcome the social differences and prejudice that conspire to keep them apart. 