''American Heiress'' is a
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
which debuted on March 13, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
television network
A television network or television broadcaster is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations or multichannel video programming distributo ...
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
. This romantic melodrama tells the story of a roughneck pilot and a pampered heiress who survive a plane crash. The show was produced by
Twentieth Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Comp ...
, based on the 2004
TV Azteca
TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate owned by Grupo Salinas. It is the second-largest mass media company in Mexico after Televisa. It primarily competes with Televisa as well as some local operators. It owns two national ...
series ''
La Heredera
''La Heredera'' (The Heiress) is a Mexican telenovela produced by TV Azteca. It marked the third reunion for Silvia Navarro and Sergio Basañez as protagonists. The series was then developed into an American telenovela by the title of '' Americ ...
'' ("''The Heiress''").
''Heiress'' was the last series produced for
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
's original all-telenovela format. When the network dropped the serial after the July 18, 2007 broadcast, most episodes were left unaired. All 65 episodes aired overseas, and as of 2021 are available to stream on Tubi.
Story
This limited-run serial follows the title character, Elizabeth Wakefield, played by
Alicia Leigh Willis, from steamy rain forests to the high-stakes business world. After a terrifying crash in the family jet, the heiress falls in love with a fellow survivor, a hard-edged former
Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...
pilot named JD Bruce (
Carter MacIntyre).
The new couple then must struggle to survive in the lost jungles of
Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
. Once back in civilization, the heiress soon finds herself in another tough situation. Against her family's wishes, she fights to keep the flames of passion burning. Meanwhile, her brother Damian makes deals with an arms dealer; he will do anything to protect his secret.
Production
Head writer Colet Abedi said she added "bitchy dialogue and fight scenes" to the original Mexican story. Late in production, about six episodes’ worth of scenes were never shot due to budget concerns. In addition, about 75 minutes of program were stretched to fill the two-hour weekly timeslot. Fox also received promotional consideration for this series from several automakers, including Cadillac, Jaguar and Lexus.
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
prepared to air this serial as 65 one-hour episodes on weekdays with a Saturday night recap. The network, facing low ratings, stopped development on future
telenovelas
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include ''teleserye'' (P ...
. ''American Heiress'' had already finished shooting at
Stu Segall Productions
Stu Segall Productions is a studio facility located in San Diego, California.
Filmings
The studio is used primarily for filming television series and movies in the San Diego area. Television shows shot in the studio or on location in San Dieg ...
in San Diego before the decision was announced.
''Heiress'' was originally intended to run in syndication as ''To Love & Die'' under the "Secret Obsessions" umbrella title. The
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
Web site listed the show as "part of the ''
Desire
Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...
'' series," however, referring to its other
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
brand.
Two-hour installments aired on Wednesday evenings through April, when the show switched to a one-hour slot.
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
announced plans to run this show and ''
Saints & Sinners'' once per week until October, with the remaining episodes appearing online.
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
President Greg Meidel previously said the network would air the complete runs of both shows.
MyNetTV execs, affils: Change is good
, ''Hollywood Reporter'', March 9, 2007 However, the network unceremoniously yanked both telenovelas after the July 18, 2007 broadcast. Only 26 out of 65 hours aired.
Cast
* Robert Buckley
Robert Earl Buckley (born May 2, 1981) is an American actor, known for his roles as Major Lillywhite on The CW's comedy-drama series '' iZombie'' from 2015 until 2019, Kirby Atwood on NBC's comedy-drama series '' Lipstick Jungle'' and Clay Evans ...
was also in the MyNetworkTV telenovela ''Fashion House
Fashion design is the Art (skill), art of applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction and natural beauty to clothing and its Fashion accessory, accessories. It is influenced by culture and different trends, and has varied over time and plac ...
''.
* AnnaLynne McCord
AnnaLynne McCord (born July 16, 1987) is an American actress, activist, and model.
Known for playing vixen-type roles, McCord first gained prominence in 2007 as the scheming Eden Lord on the FX television series ''Nip/Tuck'', and as the pampe ...
was also cast in the unproduced telenovela ''Rules of Deception''.
* The Elizabeth Wakefield character in this series is not the same one played by Cynthia Daniel
Cynthia Lynn Daniel (married name: Cynthia Hauser) is an American photographer and former actress. She is the twin sister of actress Brittany Daniel and is best known for her role as Elizabeth Wakefield in the 1990s syndicated teen drama ''Swee ...
in ''Sweet Valley High
''Sweet Valley High'' is a series of young adult novels attributed to American author Francine Pascal, who presided over a team of ghostwriters to produce the series. The books chronicle the lives of identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefiel ...
''.
References
External links
*
{{MyNetworkTV telenovelas
2007 telenovelas
2007 American television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
American telenovelas
American television series based on telenovelas
MyNetworkTV original programming
Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
American television series based on Mexican television series