(Photo by 1091 Media / courtesy Everett Collection. MIDNIGHT FAMILY)
Before sound systems and hand-held screens, there lived one 19-inch TV per household. Bisabuelas, abuelos, tías, madres, primos, hermanas, y hasta vecinos had to agree on appropriate programming for all generations. Appropriate being subjective here. Telenovelas clásicas such as Laura Guzmán… Culpable and later, the beloved Thalianovelas (we coined it first!), were family staples that sparked dinner conversations and season-long crushes. Leading men Eduardo Captetillo, Fernando Carrillo, and Carlos Vives also starred in many of my dreams. Not at the same time, mind you.
Some TV series reached Latin audiences across the globe — a remarkable feat in the pre-streaming era. Take, for example, the Chilean-originated variety show, Sábado Gigante hosted by “Don Francisco,” that captivated audiences for 53 years. I grew up watching the show in Puerto Rico, and all the way here in California, Rotten Tomatoes Bilingual Curator, Darla Chavez, was also tuning in. She adds: “Sábado Gigante was an integral part of my childhood and a core memory with my family. Watching it meant that I got to stay up late with my parents while I witnessed the chaotic hilarity brought on by El Chacal (not the Cuban Reggaeton artist, but the man dressed as an executioner that would blow a trumpet to eliminate singing contestants) or the iconic interview segments with celebrities like Selena.” We both agree that in hindsight the show may have been a tad sexist, but hey, it spanned the continent and reached the Caribbean, and we’re still talking about it!
Perhaps even more popular across Latin America and Spain were Roberto Gómez Bolaños’ El Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado. Every time anything by Chespirito came on, we assembled in front of the magical box with rabbit ears and two worn channel dials that bathed us in cathode rays. The hugely popular Mexican series aired for almost 50 years, was broadcast in over 20 countries, and remains “an iconic pillar of Latino pop culture,” as TM-approved critic, Carlos Aguilar, wrote for RT. Carlos said it best, so I’ll only add, ¡Síganme los buenos!
Narrative stories continue to evolve and expand as Latin talent creates and becomes increasingly involved in mainstream productions. Today, luminaries like Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco), Tania Saracho (Vida), Julio Torres (Fantasmas, Los Espookys), and Eva Longoria (Telenovela) bring us memorable stories that continue to foster a strong sense of community, authenticity, and identity. Streaming has further bridged puentes across nations and we now have first-row access to many TV shows, old and new. Dom Pembleton, also a Bilingual Curator in our team, recommends recent series such as Women Wearing Shoulder Pads and What We Do in the Shadows, adding that “it has been a wonderfully niche, dark, and funny corner of the tv-verse, thanks in part to Harvey Guillén’s portrayal of Guillermo de la Cruz. As a Mexican, queer, and plus-sized character who also happened to be the descendent of Van Helsing, watching Guillermo go to bat for his quirky vampires has been invigorating, heartbreaking, and fulfilling.” Dom and Darla, who are very much en la onda when it comes to the critical reception of television shows, have helped contribute to this list, and we are so excited to share some of our favorite shows that span over seven decades. We’d love to hear which ones you think are Hot! [Ivette García Dávila]
#1
Synopsis: A San Antonio teenager balances college aspirations, societal expectations and a hectic home life anchored by his single mom and [More]
#2
Synopsis: Marigaby is a medical student by day, and by night, she saves lives with her family in Mexico City’s business [More]
#3
Synopsis: Tita de la Garza and Pedro Múzquiz, two souls deeply in love, are unable to be together due to entrenched [More]
#4
Synopsis: The true life story of Spanish transgender singer and TV personality Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez, better known by the nickname “La [More]
#5
Synopsis: Julio Lopez has a heart of gold and goes out of his way to help everyone but himself. Julio attempts [More]
#6
Synopsis: A spirited princess with the heart of a warrior embarks on a mission to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save [More]
#7
Synopsis: Students from different socioeconomic backgrounds cross paths with each other at an elite private school. [More]
#8
Synopsis: Jane Villanueva, the daughter of a teen mother, grew up determined not to repeat her mom’s mistakes. Jane is studying [More]
#9
Synopsis: “Vida” is a drama series about two Mexican-American siblings from East Los Angeles. Party girl Lyn lives a carefree life [More]
#10
Synopsis: In the 1980s, Carlota “Cucu” Castelli leaves her home in Santo Domingo to pursue the American Dream after her father’s [More]
#11
#12
Synopsis: A primarily Spanish-language comedy (with English subtitles), the series follows the adventures of Renaldo, a horror and gore enthusiast who [More]
#13
Synopsis: A wealthy Spanish woman from Ecuador navigates the complicated world of love, family, commercials and cuyes. [More]
#14
Synopsis: This comedy-drama is inspired by Norman Lear’s 1975 series of the same name. This time around, the series follows the [More]
#15
Synopsis: Stef, a dedicated police officer, is in a relationship with Lena. The two have built a close-knit family with Stef’s [More]
#16
Synopsis: The series focuses on the life of wannabe writer Betty Suarez, a plain girl from Queens, N.Y., who is smart, [More]
#17
Synopsis: After a deadly snowstorm kills millions, John Salvo and a group of survivors battle an alien menace. [More]
#18
Synopsis: The story of Rebel spy Cassian Andor’s formative years of the Rebellion and his difficult missions for the cause. [More]
#19
Synopsis: A look at the lives of four vampires who’ve lived together for hundreds of years on Staten Island. The self-appointed [More]
#20
Synopsis: The detectives of Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct — hotshot Jake Peralta, overachiever Amy Santiago, tough-as-nails Rosa Diaz, sweetheart Charles Boyle, devoted [More]
#21
Synopsis: A criminal mastermind who goes by “The Professor” has a plan to pull off the biggest heist in recorded history [More]
#22
Synopsis: Writer, director, and comedian Julio Torres spins a fantastical six-part tale of when he lost a gold oyster earring. In [More]
#23
Synopsis: “On My Block” follows a quartet of bright, street-savvy friends who are navigating their way through high school, including all [More]
#24
Synopsis: A close-knit community in a small Welsh town is hopeful of a better and more prosperous future when a large [More]
#25
Synopsis: Idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller runs practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, taking on cases big and [More]
#26
Synopsis: Piper Chapman is a public relations executive with a career and a fiance when her past suddenly catches up to [More]
#27
Synopsis: This continuation of “Narcos” explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, starting at [More]
#28
Synopsis: Two female police officers try to solve a series of crimes in a unique place: the political and cultural border [More]
#29
Synopsis: Netflix chronicles the rise of the cocaine trade in Colombia and the gripping real-life stories of drug kingpins of the [More]
#30
Synopsis: When an American judge known for anti-immigration views is found dead on the bridge connecting El Paso, Texas, with Juarez, [More]
#31
Synopsis: Manuel has been living with a woman who takes care of everything for him for decades until an exceptional event [More]
#32
Synopsis: Told from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, the series offers an honest, often-hilarious perspective of family life. Parents [More]
#33
#34
Synopsis: Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on [More]
#35
Synopsis: Comic George Lopez stars as a fictionalized version of himself in this semi-autobiographical sitcom. Lopez portrays America’s most successful Hispanic-American [More]
#36
Synopsis: Antonio Matador Bravo uses soccer as a cover from his real job in a little-known branch of the CIA. [More]
#37
Synopsis: Ana Sofia Calderon stars on a Latino soap opera packed full of the hot sex, shocking scandals and gut-wrenching heartbreak [More]
#38
Synopsis: Six years into law school, Cristela is on the brink of landing her first big internship at a prestigious firm. [More]
#39
Synopsis: The tragic life story of Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano music and an iconic Mexican-American pop star. [More]
#40
Synopsis: The Mutiny Hotel becomes the epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene in the late 1970s and early ’80s; at the [More]
#41
Synopsis: Lucy Ricardo is the wacky wife of Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo. Living in New York, Ricky tries to succeed in [More]
#42
Synopsis: The manager of a swanky apartment building uses his access to meddle in the lives of the tenants. [More]
#43
Synopsis: Alex Russo and her brothers Justin and Max come from a long line of wizards and now must master their [More]
#44
Synopsis: While living in the barrio of Jalisco, Mexico, poor Teresa Mendoza falls in love with a member of a successful [More]
#45
Synopsis: Bank robber Seth Gecko and his violent brother, Richie, are on the run — a robbery gone bad left several [More]
#46
Synopsis: In 1984, Maximo Gallardo’s dream comes true when he gets the job of a lifetime at Acapulco’s hottest resort, Las [More]
#47
Synopsis: A ragtag civilian patrol squad created to improve the image of the police force faces an unexpected danger after stumbling [More]
#48
Synopsis: Based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling books, the series follows Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. As [More]
#49
Synopsis: Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán is notorious for being one of the biggest drug kingpins in history, but he obviously didn’t [More]
#50
Synopsis: The outward perfection of a family-run flower business hides a dark side rife with dysfunctional secrets in this darkly humorous [More]
#51
Synopsis: In Beverly Hills, whoever “has the dirt” holds the power. In some of the city’s wealthiest families, that power belongs [More]
#52
Synopsis: Stand-up comic Gabriel Iglesias stars in this series as a good-natured high school history teacher who tries to help gifted [More]
#53
Synopsis: “Mayans M.C.” follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes, a member of the Mayans M.C. charter on the California/Mexico border. [More]
#54
Synopsis: If grown-up spies can’t do the job, it’s up to junior spies Juni and Carmen Cortez to defeat S.W.A.M.P. [More]
#55
Synopsis: While going through a marital crisis, a writer finds solace in her three friends. [More]
#56
Synopsis: George and Mayan, a once-estranged father and daughter, navigate dysfunction, reconnection and all the headaches and joy in between as [More]
#57
Synopsis: This is not your mother’s high school. “East Los High,” a teen drama original to Hulu, follows a group of [More]
#58
Synopsis: “Dora the Explorer” features the adventures of young Dora, her monkey Boots, Backpack and other animated friends. In each episode, [More]
#59
Synopsis: Ten-year-old Maya always means well, but she gets in over her head as she meddles in other peoples’ business with [More]
#60
Synopsis: Based on the true story of one of the most notorious crimes in Argentina, the series intimately follows all those [More]
#61
Synopsis: Princess Elena is on a journey that began years earlier when evil sorceress Shuriki took her parents and kingdom from [More]
#62
Synopsis: This series tells the misadventures of Chavo, an eight year old orphan living alone in a Mexican ‘vecindad’. The roles [More]
#63
Synopsis: A billionaire tequila tycoon and his family thrive in a corrupt environment that caters to Mexico’s business elites. [More]
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