'El Señor de los Cielos' Season 5 Premieres June 20 on Telemundo

The wait is almost over and now the hunt begins. Telemundo announced the new season of its Emmy-award winning Super Series El Señor de los Cielos, starring Rafael Amaya, Fernanda Castillo, Carmen Aub, Mariana Seoane, Maricela Gonzalez, Sabrina Seara and Vanessa Villela, premieres Tuesday, June 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In this new season, Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya) has withdrawn himself from the action and his business to enjoy life with his lover, especially now that the authorities think he is dead. However, he knows he must prepare for an impending war with his nephew, which will end in a life-or-death struggle against his own family.

The four previous seasons of El Señor de los Cielos have positioned this Super Series™ as the most-watched program at 10pm on Spanish-language television. In 2014, it won the first-ever International Emmy® award given in the category of Non-English Language US Primetime Program.

The cast of El Señor de los Cielos also includes Lisa Owen, Alejandro Lopez, Jorge Luis Moreno, Plutarco Haza, Ofelia Medina, Jesús Moré, Ivan Tamayo, Manuel Balbi, Wendy de los Cobos, Ivan Arana, Rafael Novoa, Carlos Mata, Patricia Vico, Emanuel Esparza, among others.

El Señor de los Cielos is an original Telemundo Studios production filmed in Mexico by Argos Televisión. Luis Zelkowicz wrote the script and Danny Gavidia and Victor Herrera direct, while Mariana Iskandarani serves as executive producer.

Telemundo Announces 2017-2018 Programming Slate

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises have announced their lineup programming for the 2017-2018 television season, featuring over 850 hours of new formats and multiplatform original content, at a press conference today. Telemundo's new primetime programming line-up features three super series including the much-anticipated return of the worldwide success La Reina del Sur, and five new mini-series, including a series based on the life of renowned music icon Luis Miguel and El Secreto de Selena, the story behind the death of the beloved Mexican-American singer, Selena Quintanilla.

Check out the super series, series, and mini-series announced below.

SUPER SERIES

El Señor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies) – Starring Rafael Amaya, Fernanda Castillo, Carmen Aub and Mariana Seoane, the most successful Super Series™ returns for a sixth season as Aurelio Casillas has recovered all the fortune he lost and finally feels the need to retire. But it's payback time, the hatred he sowed since he sold his soul to the demon of drug trafficking is now knocking at his door with the face and blood of the many innocent people he destroyed. Aurelio will understand that his riches are an illusion and that after having been the great hunter he was, he will now become the prey. The women he mistreated, the men he betrayed, the political puppets he put in power, and even his own children will turn against him. Has the time come for Aurelio to pay for his sins?

TELENOVELA WATCH: 'El Señor de los Cielos' Season 3, Plus, 'Dueños del Paraíso, 'La Esquina del Diablo' and 'Quiero Amarte'

Left to Right: Carmen Aub, Carmen Villalobos, Rafael Amaya, Fernanda Castillo and Sergio Mur at a private screening of the El Señor de los Cielos third season premiere.  Photo Credit: Telemundo

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS 3
One episode in and the latest edition of Telemundo’s repugnant narco-novela EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS (weeknights at 10 p.m. ET) is already circling the drain. The same shameless storytelling device that carried the second series is already back in full force: the incessant victimization of the poor little mass-murdering title drug lord with him getting beaten by prison guards, poisoned, and the delivery of a surprise head in a box. This is all set up to excuse the predictable atrocities he will later commit as justified revenge-taking. Rinse, repeat.

Rafael Amaya’s performance has long become monotonous - he mostly just poses menacingly and glares, grimacing through his lines as if it pains him to speak them. He concludes the first episode with a hilariously awful ugly-face fake cry that would make Blanca Soto proud.

Carmen Villalobos’s cop character is an afterthought at this point with the fans of the show just impatiently waiting for her to get murdered, but for them to be satisfied, it has to be at the hands of Amaya’s character and only after she is tortured.

TELENOVELA WATCH: 'El Señor de los Cielos' Finale Airs Tonight; 'Señora Acero' Premieres Tuesday; 'Cosita Linda,' 'Quiero Amarte,' 'El Chivo' Debut This Week

Tonight is the finale of the second series of Telemundo's narco fantasy EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS at 10 p.m. ET. A success for the network, it seems likely there will be a third series, so it also seems likely tonight's finale will be as unsatisfying as last year's finale.

I did not care much for the first series of EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS and found this second series substantially worse. Indeed, I think EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS 2 is the worst telenovela I've seen this year. Sure, Telemundo's EN OTRA PIEL features worse acting, writing and production values, but EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS 2 is morally reprehensible in its deification of its drug lord protagonist.

I've mentioned in a previous article the crude tactics these narco-novelas use to manipulate viewer sympathies for their drug lord protagonists through the constant imperiling of their family members, but EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS 2 takes this device to shameless extremes. Over the course of this season, the protagonist drug lord has had his young children threatened with a knife to their throats, his mother shot, lost a baby through a miscarriage, his son shot, his daughter kidnapped and finally his ex-wife shot. He is ever the wronged party, ever the victim, so his violent acts are always justified. Even a final hit gone wrong resulting in an unintended loss is presented so the scenes can ultimately be about his pain.

The persistent victimhood of the drug lord is accompanied with incessant lionization of his virility. Has any fictional character since the also vile James Bond needed such overkill to bolster his supposed sexual desirability? The female cast is virtually reduced to the role of harem. The only detractor is the cop played by Carmen Villalobos, whose role in this second series was reduced to little more than standing miffed with her hands on her hips and looking stupid, bested again and again by the intellectually superior drug lord.

'El Señor de los Cielos' Delivers Best Weekly Performance To Date Averaging 2.3 Million Viewers

Telemundo's El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies, M-F 10 p.m. ET) second season delivered its best weekly performance to date averaging 2,307,000 total viewers and 1,413,000 adults 18-49, according to Nielsen. Starring Rafael Amaya as Aurelio Casillas, the series ranked #1 for the week in the key adult and male 18-49 and 18-34 demos among Spanish-language broadcast networks in its time slot, outperforming Univision’s premiere week of La Malquerida among adults 18 to 49 (1.41M vs. 1.23M, +15%) and adults 18 to 34 (635k vs. 565k, +12%). Additionally, El Señor de los Cielos ranked #1 for the week in its time slot among all broadcast networks, regardless of language, with males 18 to 34. To date, the series has topped at least one English-language broadcast network in the 10pm hour every night among adults 18 to 34 and 94% of the time among adults 18 to 49.

Produced by Telemundo Studios and filmed by Argos Television, El Señor de los Cielos is one of the network's most ambitious productions to date. The series is a fictional and action-filled story loaded with raw passion and emotions, untold luxury, suffering, intrigue and suspense. Inspired by true events, “El Señor de los Cielos” tells the story of Aurelio Casillas, one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 90s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico.

Source: Nielsen, NPM Live+SD, 8/25/14-8/29/14. Senor de los Cielos 2 comparison to broadcast competition based on M-F 10-11pm strict daypart, 5/26/14-8/29/14.

TELENOVELA WATCH: Two Univision Novelas, 'De Que Te Quiero, Te Quiero' and 'Qué Pobres Tan Ricos,' Featured Gay-Themed Storylines Last Week; Plus, Thoughts 'El Señor de los Cielos' Season 2, Favorites for the Week

Two Univision novelas featured gay-themed storylines last week.

By a scheduling coincidence, Univision aired episodes this week from two Mexican telenovelas produced by Televisa that featured gay-themed plot lines - De Que Te Quiero, Te Quiero (weeknights at 7 p.m. ET) and Qué Pobres Tan Ricos (weeknights at 10 p.m. ET). A demonstration of the ambivalence at Televisa toward this subject matter – the former featured a negative portrayal, the latter a positive.

I confess I often have a difficult time grasping the tone of De Que Te Quiero, Te Quiero. While enjoying the performances from Cynthia Klitbo, Marcelo Córdoba, Marisol del Olmo, Aarón Hernán and Juan Diego Covarrubias, I find the telenovela too often lapsing in taste - such as a scene where the protagonist winds up in blackface or a scene where an obese couple eats everything offered on the menu – to watch without frequent exasperation. This week featured a caricature Italian man whose demonstrative affection for a young man that he knows to be his son is confused by other characters for a come on. The attitudes expressed by the young man’s loved ones – the telenovela's favorable characters – come across as near panic at the possibility he may be gay; their relief is palpable at discovering it was all a misunderstanding and he is okay, i.e., straight.

While Qué Pobres Tan Ricos features a positive portrayal of its potential gay couple, it progresses with the baby steps not uncommon for a network’s initial forays into gay themes. The couple is cutesy, wholesome, old-fashioned – the first admittance of desire is through a poem – and to this point, absolutely devoid of even a hint of sexuality.

Telemundo's 'El Señor de los Cielos' Averages Over 2.2 Million Total Viewers and 1.4 Million Adults 18-49 During Premiere Week

El Señor de los Cielos averaged 2.2 million viewers
during its premiere week.

The second season of Telemundo's El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies) averaged 2,207,000 total viewers and 1,393,000 adults 18-49 during its premiere week, according to Nielsen. Starring Rafael Amaya as Aurelio Casillas, the highly anticipated second season beat at least one English-language broadcast network each night of premiere week during its 10 p.m. time slot among adults 18-49 and topped at least two English-language broadcast networks in adults 18-34. Specifically, the Super Series beat CBS every night among adults 18-49 and out-delivered both ABC and CBS each night, among adults 18-34 and ranked #1 on Friday Among Adults 18-49, Regardless of Language in Los Angeles.

Produced by Telemundo Studios and filmed by Argos Television, El Señor de los Cielos is one of the network’s most ambitious productions to date. The series is a fictional and action-filled story loaded with raw passion and emotions, untold luxury, suffering, intrigue and suspense. Inspired by true events, El Señor de los Cielos tells the story of Aurelio Casillas, one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 90s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico.

Source: Nielsen, NPM Live+SD, 5/26/14-5/30/14, comparison to English-language broadcast competition based on M-F 10-11pm strict daypart. NSI, Live+SD, 5/30/14, 10-11pm ranking based on A18-49 impressions.

NBC and USA to Remake Telemundo Telenovelas in English

Telemundo has optioned its highest-rated novela El Señor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies) to NBCUniversal Entertainment to develop for English-language audiences.

El Señor de los Cielos is inspired by the true story of Aurelio Casillas, one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 1990s. It ranked as Telemundo's most-watched novela last year, averaging 2.3 million total viewers and nearly 1.5 million adults 18-49.

Telemundo Unveils Mid-Season Digital Series Based On Hit Novela 'El Señor de los Cielos'

Following the success of the first season of El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies), that averaged 2.3 million viewers nightly and generated more than 35 million page views on Telemundo.com, Telemundo announces the premiere of The Secret Episode (El Capitulo Secreto), an unprecedented seven-part mid-season web-series that will bridge the first season cliffhanger with the upcoming second season. Starting April 22nd, fans that sought long-awaited answers regarding the fate of Aurelio Casillas will enjoy two new action-packed digital chapters per week leading up to the complete full-length episode that will be available on May 9th across all Telemundo Digital and Social platforms including Online, Mobile and the novelas application.

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS Returning For Second Season on Telemundo

Telemundo Studios announces the return of its record-breaking original series EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS (Lord of the Skies) for a second season. Production began today in Mexico City for the captivating story loaded with action, unbridled passions, luxury, misery and intrigue.

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS' original broadcast regularly beat at least one English-language network among adults 18-34 and adults 18-49 in its 10 p.m. slot, reaching nearly 15 million total viewers during its 17-week run. In addition, Telemundo.com will feature several interactive innovations that will allow users to enjoy exclusive broadband-only prior to the television premiere.

Set to air in the spring of 2014, the second season stars Rafael Amaya as Aurelio Casillas, Ximena Herrera, Carmen Villalobos, Raúl Méndez, Fernanda Castillo, Manuela González and Robinson Díaz with stellar performances from Mauricio Ochmann and Marlene Favela.

PREMIOS TU MUNDO Winners: LA PATRONA, Jencarlos Canela, Aracely Arámbula

Telemundo’s live broadcast of the second annual PREMIOS TU MUNDO (Your World Awards) from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, celebrated what is hot in novelas, music, fashion, movies and sports. The star-studded event, hosted by telenovela stars Gaby Espino and Aaron Diaz, featured high energy performances and appearances by prominent artists. Top honors went to the novela LA PATRONA, which was awarded Novela of the Year, Favorite Protagonist – Female: Aracely Arámbula, Best Villain – Female: Christian Bach, Best Supporting Actor: Gonzalo García Vivanco, The Perfect Couple: Aracely Arámbula and Jorge Luis Pila, Legendary Actress: Christian Bach and Best Bad Luck Moment.

Through fan voting and a selection process that combined the power of television, web, mobile and social media platforms, Telemundo viewers made their choice and selected the winners from 20 competing categories.

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS Delivers Telemundo's Second Highest-Rated Premiere Week In History

On the heels of the second highest-rated novela premiere in the network’s history, Telemundo Media’s original production EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS (The Lord of the Skies, M-F 10pm ET) delivered the second highest-rated premiere week in the network’s history averaging 2,385,000 total viewers and 1,504,000 adults 18-49, according to Nielsen. A co-production between Telemundo Studios and Caracol TV featuring novela stars Rafael Amaya, Ximena Herrera, Fernanda Castillo and Gabriel Porras, EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS delivered on premiere week a 37% share of total viewers and a 43% share of adults 18-49 among major Spanish language broadcast networks in its time period. The original novela also fueled the network’s prime time performance to record levels delivering its highest-rated Monday-Friday prime delivery with regular programming among total viewers in the network’s history (1,817,000).

Below are some of the highlights for EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS premiere week:

Telemundo 2012-2013 Schedule

Telemundo unveiled its 2012-2013 lineup on Monday.

Soapy highlights:
Six new telenovelas are on the way: EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA (The Face of Revenge), EL SENOR DE LOS CIELOS (The Lord of the Heavens), LA PATRONA (The Patron), PASION PROHIBIDA (Forbidden Passion), NACE UN IDOLO (An Idol is Born) and FINA ESTAMPA (Fine Pedigree).

Sequel LA REINA DEL SUR 2 (Queen of the South 2) is coming as well.

Read the full press release from Telemundo below for detailed descriptions.