Amas de Casa Desesperadas (Argentine TV series)
Encyclopedia
Amas de Casa Desesperadas is an Argentine
television series, that debuted on Canal 13
on August 30, 2006. Set in the fictional Manzanares Street, a suburb surrounding Buenos Aires
, the series follows the lives of four housewives and the domestic problems and daily mysteries surrounding their husbands, friends and neighbors, which can be more sinister than they appear. The series' tone combines elements of drama, comedy, mystery, farce, soap opera and satire.
Based on the American
television series, Desperate Housewives
, it was developed for Argentina by Buena Vista International and Pol-Ka Producciones. The show’s first season was broadcast by Canal 13 on Argentina, and also by other networks on Uruguay
and Paraguay
. On October 2006, Canal 13 renewed Amas de Casa Desesperadas for a second season, that will start filming on August 2007.
, the channel on which Desperate Housewives airs in the United States), searched in Brazil
, Ecuador
, Argentina
and Colombia
to find a production company capable of adapting the series for the Spanish-speaking market. Adrian Suar and Fernando Blanco’s Pol-Ka Producciones in Argentina was selected. Immediately, the actresses were chosen and the construction of Manzanares Street began on the town of Pilar
, Buenos Aires
.
. Manzanares was specially built for the production of the three Desperate Housewives versions: the Argentine, Latin (USA), Colombian-Ecuadorian and Brazilian versions.
According to Marcos Carnevale, the writer of the Argentine version, Manzanares was the hardest thing to adapt. The houses had to look “more Latin”, but still remain similar to the original show’s street, so the houses were painted in a more Latino style (for example, the Solises’ house is red instead of yellow).
From the outside, Vera's home has a set of windows either side of the front porch. However indoors, windows can only be seen on one side of the front door. This is because the inside of Vera's house is actually shot on a soundstage. Along with the houses of Lía, Marta Hidalgo, Carla and Alicia, is just a façade.
There is a 10th house on the street, that is hidden (next to Elvira Reinoso’s house) and can only be seen when the camera pulls away on the ending of the first episode. The “production house” is used by the crew as an office.
At the end of Manzanares, by Carla’s house, there is a cul-de-sac
. However, cars are seen both entering and leaving the neighborhood from there.
After Carla’s house was burned down in the first episode, her new house started being built next to her old. The old house façade was kept, repainted, and the interior was reconstructed and was used on episode 21 as the Obligado’s house (Mullins in the original show).
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
television series, that debuted on Canal 13
Canal 13 (Argentina)
El Trece is an Argentine television network and the flagship station of the same network, located in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.- Foundation :...
on August 30, 2006. Set in the fictional Manzanares Street, a suburb surrounding Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, the series follows the lives of four housewives and the domestic problems and daily mysteries surrounding their husbands, friends and neighbors, which can be more sinister than they appear. The series' tone combines elements of drama, comedy, mystery, farce, soap opera and satire.
Based on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series, Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, it was developed for Argentina by Buena Vista International and Pol-Ka Producciones. The show’s first season was broadcast by Canal 13 on Argentina, and also by other networks on Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. On October 2006, Canal 13 renewed Amas de Casa Desesperadas for a second season, that will start filming on August 2007.
Season 1 (2006-2007)
Season one began airing on August 30, 2006 and featured a total of 23 episodes. The show opens with the mysterious suicide of housewife Alicia Oviedo on a beautiful day in the suburbs, on a street called Manzanares. Alicia, who narrates the show from the afterlife, had four friends: Vera Sherer, the seemingly perfect mother of two teenagers struggling to save her marriage; Lía Salgarí, the mother of four whose husband is always away on business; Susana Martini, the divorced mother in search of love, who finds it in the form of her new neighbour Miguel Delfino, who has a secret of his own; and Gabriela Solís, the materialistic ex-runway model who cheats on her husband. While trying to be good wives and mothers, the four friends also try to find out why their friend committed suicide. The discovery of a blackmail note among Alicia’s belongings, a therapy session tape in which she admits her real name was Angela, and her widowed husband's strange behaviour really make them wonder about the mystery surrounding their deceased friend.Season 2 (2007-2008)
On October 2006, Canal 13 announced that it has renewed Amas de Casa Desesperadas for a second season, due to premiere in September 2007. It was finally cancelled because of the scheduling conflicts of the main stars.Origins
Buena Vista International, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company (which also owns ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, the channel on which Desperate Housewives airs in the United States), searched in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
to find a production company capable of adapting the series for the Spanish-speaking market. Adrian Suar and Fernando Blanco’s Pol-Ka Producciones in Argentina was selected. Immediately, the actresses were chosen and the construction of Manzanares Street began on the town of Pilar
Pilar
Our Lady of the Pillar is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her claimed appearance during the start of Christianity in Spain. She is considered the Patroness of the country and the Spanish Civil Guard. Her shrine is in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, by the river...
, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
Cast and characters
This is a list of the major characters of the series, as well as their counterpart in the original, American, series and the actors portraying them.| Character | Original character | Argentine actor |
|---|---|---|
| Lía Salgari | Lynette Scavo Lynette Scavo Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series Desperate Housewives. The character is playedby actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series... |
Mercedes Morán Mercedes Morán Mercedes Morán is a film and television actress.She works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:* La Ciénaga aka The Swamp* Próxima salida * Whisky Romeo Zulu... |
| Gabriela Solís | Gabrielle Solis Gabrielle Solis Gabrielle Solís is one of four main characters on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Eva Longoria... |
Araceli González Araceli González Araceli González is an Argentinian fashion model, actress and TV host.She started her performing arts at a young age, after winning a dance tournament at the theater "el Globo Rojo" in the Buenos Aires area, eventually at only 9 years old she was invited by the Cohen Agency to participate in... |
| Susana Martinez | Susan Mayer Susan Mayer Susan Delfino is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the American Broadcasting Company television series Desperate Housewives. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and first appeared in the pilot episode of the series on October 3, 2004... |
Gabriela Toscano |
| Vera Sherer | Bree Van de Kamp Bree Van De Kamp Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross. Actress Marcia Cross was nominated from 2005 to 2007 for a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy... |
Carola Reyna Carola Reyna Carola Reyna is an Argentine actress and director. She is married to actor Boy Olmi since 1994.-Television:* Tal como somos * Extraños y Amantes as Ana María* Pasión... |
| Alicia Oviedo | Mary Alice Young Mary Alice Young Mary Alice Young is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actress Brenda Strong and narrates the series from beyond the grave; the character's suicide in the pilot episode served as the catalyst of the series... |
Cecilia Roth Cecilia Roth Cecilia Roth is an Argentine actress.Her father, Abrasha Rotenberg , a Jewish immigrant from the Soviet Ukraine, is an editor and a journalist. He met Cecilia's mother, an Argentinian singer of Sephardic descent Dina Rot, in Argentina. Cecilia Roth has made appearances in numerous television series... |
| Carla Otegui | Edie Britt Edie Britt Edie Britt Williams is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives... |
Romina Gaetani |
| Miguel Delfino | Mike Delfino Mike Delfino Michael "Mike" Delfino is the name of a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor James Denton.- Season 1 :... |
Juan Palomino |
| Pablo Oviedo | Paul Young Paul Young (Desperate Housewives) Paul Young is a fictional character on ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Mark Moses. He is the widower of Mary Alice Young, the show's narrator, as well as the widower of Beth Young.... |
Raúl Rizzo |
| Tomás Salgari | Tom Scavo Tom Scavo Thomas "Tom" Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by actor Doug Savant.Tom originally was a recurring throughout the first season but became a regular in season two. Early storylines often revolve around Tom's working habits and that he is alway... |
Carlos Santamaría |
| Carlos Solís | Carlos Solis Carlos Solis Carlos Solis is a fictional character on the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira.-Early life:Carlos was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to Juanita and Diego Solis... |
Martín Seefeld |
| Ricardo Sherer | Rex Van de Kamp | Jorge Suárez Jorge Suarez Jorge "Calero" Suárez was a former Salvadoran footballer. He is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers El Salvador has ever produced.... |
| Julieta Martinez | Julie Mayer | Eliana González |
| René Oviedo | Zach Young | Nahuel Pérez Biscayart |
| Juan Juárez | John Rowland | Rodrigo Guirao |
| Martín Sherer | Andrew Van de Kamp Andrew Van De Kamp Andrew Van de Kamp is a fictional character in the ABC television series Desperate Housewives played by Shawn Pyfrom, and is the son of Bree Van de Kamp and the late Rex Van de Kamp.... |
Martin Piroyansky |
| Daniela Sherer | Danielle Van de Kamp | Maida Andrenacci |
| Esteban Martinez | Karl Mayer | Raúl Taibo |
| Jorge Pereira | George Williams | Jean Pierre Noher Jean Pierre Noher Jean-Pierre Noher is a Franco-Argentine theater, film and television actor.The great-nephew of famed director Max Ophüls, Noher was born in Paris, in 1956. He relocated to Argentina as a young man, and debuted on Argentine television with a part in a soap opera, Novia de vacaciones, in 1979... |
| Felisa Gutierrez | Felicia Tilman | Luisina Brando |
| Marta Hidalgo | Martha Huber | Tina Serrano |
| Elvira Reinoso | Karen McCluskey Karen McCluskey Karen McCluskey Bender is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by Kathryn Joosten, who won the Emmy Award twice for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2008.-Overview:Karen McCluskey was born in 1943, quickly wed and... |
Adriana Aizemberg Adriana Aizemberg Adriana Aizemberg is an Argentine film and television actress.She has appeared in film since the year 1967 making her debut in El ABC del amor making some sixteen appearances to date.... |
| Julio Mitre | Noah Taylor | Rodolfo Ranni Rodolfo Ranni Rodolfo Ranni is an Italian Argentine film actor.He has made over 85 film and TV appearances since 1958. More recently he has appeared in Argentine television dramas.-External links: .... |
Filming locations
The set of the street, some of which is made up of real houses, is located on a studio of Pol-ka, in Pilar, Buenos Aires, which was land due to be turned into an upscale gated communityGated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
. Manzanares was specially built for the production of the three Desperate Housewives versions: the Argentine, Latin (USA), Colombian-Ecuadorian and Brazilian versions.
According to Marcos Carnevale, the writer of the Argentine version, Manzanares was the hardest thing to adapt. The houses had to look “more Latin”, but still remain similar to the original show’s street, so the houses were painted in a more Latino style (for example, the Solises’ house is red instead of yellow).
From the outside, Vera's home has a set of windows either side of the front porch. However indoors, windows can only be seen on one side of the front door. This is because the inside of Vera's house is actually shot on a soundstage. Along with the houses of Lía, Marta Hidalgo, Carla and Alicia, is just a façade.
There is a 10th house on the street, that is hidden (next to Elvira Reinoso’s house) and can only be seen when the camera pulls away on the ending of the first episode. The “production house” is used by the crew as an office.
At the end of Manzanares, by Carla’s house, there is a cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
. However, cars are seen both entering and leaving the neighborhood from there.
After Carla’s house was burned down in the first episode, her new house started being built next to her old. The old house façade was kept, repainted, and the interior was reconstructed and was used on episode 21 as the Obligado’s house (Mullins in the original show).