History Main / Telenovela

* ''[[Series/DosMujeresUnCamino Dos mujeres, un camino]]'' ("Two Women, One Path"): Starring Erik Estrada of ''Series/CHiPs'' fame as Johnny, a married Tijuana truck driver who travels frequently between Mexico and the United States. Set against the backdrop of the then-new NAFTA in the early 90s. Although Johnny is in love with his wife, he falls for a beautiful young waitress named Tanya who does not initially know that he is married. Estrada, who was already popular among English-speaking audiences, was catapulted to further fame in Latin America. Known for having three music songs with the same title but sang from the point of the three main characters: its theme song featuring Mexican band Bronco is about the point of view of Johnny[[note]]whose music video, which is [[VideoFullOfFilmClips comprised of clips from the telenovela]], makes Estrada have the [[OvertlyNarrowSuperlative very odd distinction]] of having appeared both in a music video for both Bronco and the vastly-different Music/ButtholeSurfers, having appeared in "Pepper",[[/note]] , while Laura Leon and Bibi Gaytan songs are around the point of view of their characters. Also this telenovela features the only appearance of Mexican-American Tejano singer Selena in Mexican media shortly before her murder in 1995.

Curiously, a variant of telenovelas is also predominant in the Philippines that's partly influenced by Japanese, Taiwanese and Korean dramas.[[note]]Telenovelas are very notorious for their [[LatinLover passionate declarations of love and steamy sex scenes]], which are reduced or removed in the Asian dramas.[[/note]] These historically tend to be similar to the pink style, though the current batch of series has experimented more towards the modern style, with emphasis towards class conflict, topics normally taboo to Philippine society, and an emphasis of teaching Christian values to the audience. Philippine telenovelas also include a subgenre called ''telefantasyas'' or ''fantaseryes'', where it combines soap and fantasy elements together; variations of the formula exist such as the more faith-based teleseryes like ''Series/MayBukasPa'', where fantasy and/or mythological elements are replaced with Christianity (particularly Catholicism given the country's predominantly Catholic population), and the so-called "advocacy serye" as seen with ''Budoy'', a 2012 series about a young man ([[HollywoodAutism supposedly]]) with Angelman syndrome, marketed by Creator/{{ABSCBN}} to raise awareness about special needs people. Starting in the 2000s, Philippine telenovelas have dabbled into airing their soaps into an short-episode, non-continuous seasonal anthology format, and they have also adapted old drama films that have been expanded and deviated into the small screen.

* ''Series/NadaPersonal'' ("Nothing Personal"). Made in TheNineties. Noteworthy only because it was the first Mexican soap to try and deal with then-current national politics.

* ''[[Series/DosMujeresUnCamino Dos mujeres, un camino]]'' ("Two Women, One Path"): Starring Erik Estrada of ''Series/CHiPs'' fame as Johnny, a married Tijuana truck driver who travels frequently between Mexico and the United States. Set against the backdrop of the then-new NAFTA in the early 90s. Although Johnny is in love with his wife, he falls for a beautiful young waitress named Tanya who does not initially know that he is married. Estrada, who was already popular among English-speaking audiences, was catapulted to further fame in Latin America. Known for its theme song featuring Mexican band Bronco,[[note]]whose music video, which is [[VideoFullOfFilmClips comprised of clips from the telenovela]], makes Estrada have the [[OvertlyNarrowSuperlative very odd distinction]] of having appeared both in a music video for both Bronco and the vastly-different Music/ButtholeSurfers, having appeared in "Pepper",[[/note]] and for featuring an appearance of Mexican-American Tejano singer Selena shortly before her murder in 1995.

Curiously, a variant of telenovelas is also predominant in the Philippines that's partly influenced by Japanese, Taiwanese and Korean dramas.[[note]]Telenovelas are very notorious for their [[LatinLover passionate declarations of love and steamy sex scenes]], which are reduced or removed in the Asian dramas.[[/note]] These historically tend to be similar to the pink style, though the current batch of series has experimented more towards the modern style, with emphasis towards class conflict, topics normally taboo to Philippine society, and an emphasis of teaching Christian values to the audience. Philippine telenovelas also include a subgenre called ''telefantasyas'', where it combines soap and fantasy elements together. Starting in the 2000s, Philippine telenovelas have dabbled into airing their soaps into an short-episode, non-continuous seasonal anthology format, and they have also adapted old drama films that have been expanded and deviated into the small screen.

* ''¿Dónde está Elisa?'' ("Where Is Elisa?") is a Chilean ''night telenovela'' (a new telenovela format in which the series is aired around 10 PM so it can be DarkerAndEdgier[=/=]HotterAndSexier than the standard) about what happens when the daughter of a powerful family disappears. Includes actress Paola Volpato's ''incredibly'' scary {{Yandere}} Consuelo, bringer of a HUGE twist: [[spoiler: Elisa was not only was kidnapped by a lover ''who is also her uncle'' as well as Consuelo's husband, [[TheHeroDies but she actually]] ''[[TheHeroDies gets shot to death]]''.]]

* ''Café con aroma de mujer'' ("Coffee with scent of woman"), which claimed the title for most successful soap before ''Series/YoSoyBettyLaFea'' (see below) and a classic of TheNineties, set in Colombian coffee plantations.

* ''Zorro: La espada y la rosa'' ("The Sword and the Rose"). Yes, Colombia made a Franchise/{{Zorro}} telenovela (loosely inspired by Isabel Allende's HotterAndSexier version).

* ''Dos mujeres, un camino'' ("Two Women, One Path"): Starring Erik Estrada of ''Series/CHiPs'' fame as Johnny, a married Tijuana truck driver who travels frequently between Mexico and the United States. Set against the backdrop of the then-new NAFTA in the early 90s. Although Johnny is in love with his wife, he falls for a beautiful young waitress named Tanya who does not initially know that he is married. Estrada, who was already popular among English-speaking audiences, was catapulted to further fame in Latin America. Known for its theme song featuring Mexican band Bronco,[[note]]whose music video, which is [[VideoFullOfFilmClips comprised of clips from the telenovela]], makes Estrada have the [[OvertlyNarrowSuperlative very odd distinction]] of having appeared both in a music video for both Bronco and the vastly-different Music/ButtholeSurfers, having appeared in "Pepper",[[/note]] and for featuring an appearance of Mexican-American Tejano singer Selena shortly before her murder in 1995.

* ''ElPecadoDeOyuki'' ("Oyuki´s Sin" in Spanish), based on a mexican comic written by Yolanda Vargas Dulché, relates about a Japanese geisha falling in love with a British main in XIX century. Despite its good intentions and the help from some Japanese culture groups to recreate Japanese life, customs and clothes, there were enough 'YellowFace' (the most of the Japanese characters were Mexican actors, to the point that actor Ana Martin damaged her eyes due to the makeup effects to make her eyes look "japanese") and enough errors over traditions to make the Japanese Embassy to ask Televisa to not show the telenovela in TV again.

* ''El maleficio'' ("The Curse"). A Mexican production from the Eighties. This one is notable for its STRONG [[{{Horror}} supernatural]] elements.
* 'MariaIsabel' this 1966 telenovela was the basis of the classic telenovela as long as it was remade several times, about the story of a native woman that moves to the big city and falls in love with her rich boss. When both coincide in similar emotional losses they get married despite the differences in classes. It was adapted to two films and a 1996 telenovela remake.

* ''Nada personal'' ("Nothing Personal"). Made in TheNineties. Noteworthy only because it was the first Mexican soap to try and deal with then-current national politics.

* ''El premio mayor'' ("The Jackpot"). A 90s RagsToRiches {{Dramedy}} telenovela about a macho, womanizing working class family man who becomes ridiculously wealthy after winning the grand prize jackpot in the national lottery. With his newfound wealth, he moves his family into a mansion and wastes his money on frivolous purchases, all while attracting the attention of gold-digging women. Helped launch the career of Carlos Bonavides as Luis "Huicho" Domínguez. Creator/DiegoLuna also appeared as Huicho's son, but he has treated the series as an OldShame. Eventually got a sequel in 1997 entitled ''Salud, dinero y amor'' (Health, Money and Love).

* ''Senda de gloria'' ("Path of Glory"): A historical soap opera. It was one of the first telenovelas that did not shy away from [[DarkerAndEdgier showing]] [[WarIsHell how brutal]] UsefulNotes/TheMexicanRevolution was, and how it shaped modern UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}. Notable also for the fact that Televisa took a lot of pains [[ShownTheirWork to ensure they got everything right]]. It was ScrewedByTheNetwork due to a political problem between the ruling party and the son of one of the presidents shown there.[[note]]Also, the fact that it got murdered in the ratings (a very rare ocurrence for Televisa at [[TheNineties the time]]) certainly didn't help.[[/note]]

* ''Triunfo del amor'' ("Triumph of Love"). A Mexican remake of the Venezuelan telenovela ''Cristal'', the second one after ''Series/ElPrivilegioDeAmar''. It concerns the love story between Maximiliano ("Max"), the stepson of the owner of a major fashion empire, and María Desamparada (literally "María Forsaken"), an orphan. Max's stepmother disapproves of the relationship... before realizing that María is her long-lost daughter whom she got separated from against her will many years ago. Famous in the United States for being the telenovela ''Series/TheSoup'' comically recapped after finishing ''Series/LaMadrastra''. (Both telenovelas actually share several cast members -- Max's stepmother is played by the same actress who played the lead in ''La madrastra''.)

* ''Cristal'': Two women who raised themselves out of their circumstances, mother and daughter, cross paths; tragedy ensues as the former ruins the life of the latter while unaware of their real relationship. Remade several times, said remakes include the Mexican telenovelas ''Series/ElPrivilegioDeAmar'' and ''Triunfo del amor''.
* ''Isa TKM'': Another teen drama. The first of many to be co-produced by Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}.
* ''Juana la Virgen'': A virgin woman ends up pregnant after receiving an artificial insemination by mistake. Nowadays best known for being the basis for ''Series/JaneTheVirgin''.
* ''Kassandra'', a classic tale of SwitchedAtBirth which become the most famous telenovela in the world during the early Nineties.
* ''La Mujer de Judas'' ("Judas' Woman"): one of the few examples to incorporate a murder mystery in its plot. Twenty years after a small rural town was shaken by a strange series of events which occurred at the wedding day of the local winery's rich heiress ands resulted in the murder of their beloved parish priest, said heiress, who was framed and imprisoned for the priest's murder, was released from prison to claim her inheritance. A group of young university students majoring in journalism decided to make her story a topic for a documentary, which will serve as their final requirement for graduation. At the same time the students began filming, a masked figure dressed in a bloodied wedding dress (the same evidence used to frame the heiress for the murder of the priest) began a series of murders, with all victims related in some way to the horrific event two decades ago, and the students motives began to shift from the heiress' story into uncovering the identity of the SerialKiller only known by the name "La Mujer de Judas," named so by the townspeople by his/her [[CallingCard habit]] of leaving thirty silver coins at the corpses of her victims.

* ''ElPecadoDeOyuki'' ("Oyuki´s Sin" in Spanish), based on a mexican comic written by Yolanda Vargas Dulché, relates about a Japanese geisha falling in love with a British main in XIX century. Despite its good intentions and the help from some Japanese culture groups to recreate Japanese life, customs and clothes, there were enough 'Whitewashing' and 'CulturalErrors' enough to make the Japanese Embassy to ask Televisa to not show the telenovela in TV again.

* ''Series/MiradadeMujer'' (Gaze of a Woman). A telenovela that focus on the problems of middle-aged people and their sexual lives, specially the main character, Maria Ines who is cheated by her husband that fell for a younger woman, and ends falling for a young reporter. It has curiosly a counterpart story 'La Vida en el Espejo' (Life in the reflection) where the main character, a middle age male, has to deal with his wife cheating on him the same way.

* ''Series/ElExtrañoRetornodeDianaSalazar'' ("Diana Salazar's Strange Return") is the story of two witches and a warlock who lived in the times of the conquest and have been reborn in the 1980s as common people until a series of mysterious events awaken them to their memories and powers, triggering a life or death magical confrontation. Widely regarded as a groundbreaking series for its use of occult and fantasy themes, as well as the extraordinary use of violence of the finale.

* ''Series/{{Carrusel}}''

* ''El Extraño Retorno de Diana Salazar'' ("Diana Salazar's Strange Return") is the story of two witches and a warlock who lived in the times of the conquest and have been reborn in the 1980s as common people until a series of mysterious events awaken them to their memories and powers, triggering a life or death magical confrontation. Widely regarded as a groundbreaking series for its use of occult and fantasy themes, as well as the extraordinary use of violence of the finale.

* ''Pobre diabla'' ("Poor She-Devil") (In Spanish "poor devil" means "loser"), an Argentinian classic from the 1970's, made internationally famous with a 1990 version (it also has a Peruvian and a Mexican remake). A young poor woman falls in love and marry with an older, richer gentleman. The guy was secretly dying, and manages to die just before introducing his new wife to his family, but not before changing his will to leave her half of his fortune. The other half he left it to an illegitimate son he had with a servant a couple of decades ago, and the condition for them to receive their inheritance is that both inheritors must live together for a year. You can see where this is coming.

* ''Anjo mau / Angel malo'': Another telenovela which has a GoldDigger {{Anti Hero}}ine, but now set in Brazil (or Chile, if we see its remake).

* ''O Clone'' ("The Clone"), Brazilian soap about [[ActingForTwo a guy, his twin brother]] and his clone, along with some stereotypes of Arab culture and very narmy soundtrack.

* ''Escrava Isaura'' ("Isaura the Slave"), a late 1970's soap about a white slave in Colonial Brazil. Exposed the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Eastern Bloc]] to Latin soaps. [[TheShowOfTheBooks It is based on a book by Bernardo Guimaraes.]]

* ''Pantanal'': comes in the 1990 and [[TheRemake 2022]] versions, and ''both'' break a few viewership records. It focuses on a multi-generational ranching family in the titular [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal region of Pantanal]] and contains huge amounts of GreenAesop and {{Edutainment}}. The novela is also known for ''very'' high production, acting and writing standards, to the point you might not even realise you're watching one, as it's hardly corresponding to the stereotypes of the genre.
* ''Roque Santeiro'': An small town in northeastern Brazil worships the titular character, a man who according to the urban legend was killed while defending the local church from bandits; what they doesn't know is that Roque is actually alive, just waiting to strike his revenge on the people who betrayed him and the ones who are profiting on his image. Originally conceived (and canned by censorship) at the height of Brazil's military regime, this one got a new version in the mid-80's, achieving ratings close to 100% in Brazil and some other countries. The largest open-air market in Africa is named after it.
* ''Senhora do Destinho'', a 2004 telenovela about a mother of five looking for her missing child while also making her remaining children's lives better from the midst of the country's military dictatorship to the present day. The show's villain, played by the renowned Renata Sorrah, is the source of the "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/math-lady-confused-lady Confused Math Lady]]" meme.
* ''Terra Nostra'', a 1999 telenovela set in TheGayNineties in Brazil, where after the abolition of slavery the plantation employ mostly Italian immigrants. Many AnImmigrantsTale are featured: the protagonists are a couple of Italian youths that are accidentally separated and go on marrying Brazilian upperclass people before reuniting and get back together. It's noted to have been a great success both in Brazil and (unsurprisingly) in Italy, and to be very historically accurate.

* ''Vale Tudo'' ("Anything Goes"), famous '80s Brazilian soap. Raquel, an incredibly honest woman, is the mother of Maria Fatima, an unrepentant GoldDigger who runs out of home after selling the family house behind her mother's back. The plot runs the parallel stories of Fatima trying to get her MealTicket through betrayal and backstabbing, and Raquel's reinvention and success through hard work.

* ''Los títeres'' ("The Marionettes"). Classic Chilean ''telenovela'' from TheEighties in which a Greek girl named Artemisa Mykonos gets [[BreakTheCutie thoroughly broken and humiliated]] by her evil cousin Adriana and her friends in TheSixties, and returns twenty years later as a BrokenBird -- both to have revenge on Adriana and to face her own ghosts. Famous due to the incredibly well-done script (written by Chilean playwright Sergio Vodanovic), the twist of an end that the BigBad [[spoiler: [[GoMadFromTheRevelation lost her mind]] when her plans failed, and then [[ManChild mentally reverted to a childish mindset]]]], and the enormously creepy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF6wKNJQGwI OP sequence]].

* ''Cartas de amor'' ("Love letters"): A Colombian telenovela, recognizable for its comedy and salsa-based soundtrack. SweetPollyOliver [[TheMatchmaker Cupido]] is called to a small Barrio to help people with their love lives but ends falling in love with local ladykiller and owner of "El buen catre" (the good bed), Manuel Tirado, who doesn't love any woman but struggles with his [[SweetOnPollyOliver attration]] towards Cupido.
* ''Decisiones'' (Choices): A Colombian-Puerto Rican anthology series about people suffering the consequences of their choices.

* ''Dos mujeres, un camino'' ("Two Women, One Path"): Starring Erik Estrada of ''Series/CHiPs'' fame as Johnny, a married Tijuana truck driver who travels frequently between Mexico and the United States. Set against the backdrop of the then-new NAFTA in the early 90s. Although Johnny is in love with his wife, he falls for a beautiful young waitress named Tanya who does not initially know that he is married. Estrada, who was already popular among English-speaking audiences, was catapulted to further fame in Latin America. Known for its theme song featuring Mexican band Bronco,[[note]]whose music video, which is [[VideoFullOfFilmClips comprised of clips from the telenovela]], makes Estrada have the odd distinction of having appeared both in a music video for both Bronco and the vastly-different Music/ButtholeSurfers, having appeared in "Pepper",[[/note]] and for featuring an appearance of Mexican-American Tejano singer Selena shortly before her murder in 1995.

Spanish and Portuguese speakers often run their soaps in UsefulNotes/PrimeTime in countries where those are the major languages, like Commonwealth countries do of soaps. This is important compared to the US, where they won't make it to regular programming in daylight hours, let alone a good time slot. This means that Creator/{{Univision}} and other Spanish networks (e.g. Creator/{{Telemundo}}) can easily broadcast their novelas in the US whenever they want, which can include [[ArchiveBinge marathons all week]] if they so please, which understandably makes the target audience (supposedly elderly Latin American women with nothing else to do) very happy. This may also be helped by there being a significant US-led telenovela market, with many being produced in Miami. There's also a cable channel dedicated exclusively to showing telenovelas, [[http://tvpasiones.com/ Pasiones TV]] ("Passions TV"), which is broadcast in Latin America and the US.

Latin America and the Philippines' answer to the SoapOpera, '''telenovelas''' (Literally, "TV novels", also known as simply '''novelas''', or "novels") are perhaps a mini-series version, not running more than five years -- the current record is just over four years and the average is six to ten months -- but they make up for this with ten times the drama and melodramatic acting and plot twists that would pain any drama teacher. If you want shouting, cheating, secret relatives, murder, faked deaths, and fainting in Spanish, this is where you should go. They're very passionate, which is likely why many have "Passion" in the title.

-->-- Intro to '''Music/CamilaCabello''' [[Music/Havana2017 "Havana"]] video

* ''Senda de gloria'' ("Path of Glory"): A historical soap opera. It was one of the first telenovelas that did not shy away from [[DarkerAndEdgier showing]] [[WarIsHell how brutal]] UsefulNotes/TheMexicanRevolution was, and how it shaped modern UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}. Notable also for the fact that Televisa [[DoingItForTheArt took a lot of pains]] [[ShownTheirWork to ensure they got everything right]]. It was ScrewedByTheNetwork due to a political problem between the ruling party and the son of one of the presidents shown there.[[note]]Also, the fact that it got murdered in the ratings (a very rare ocurrence for Televisa at [[TheNineties the time]]) certainly didn't help.[[/note]]

* ''Pantanal'': comes in the 1990 and [[TheRemake 2022]] versions, and ''both'' break a few viewership records. It focuses on a multi-generational ranching family in the titular region of Pantanal and contains huge amounts of GreenAesop and {{Edutainment}}. The novela is also known for ''very'' high production, acting and writing standards, to the point you might not even realise you're watching one, as it's hardly corresponding to the stereotypes of the genre.

Another odd fact is that there are often telenovelas produced that are aimed at a child audience, with the same drama transplanted onto (more) teenagers than the regular programming. There are also many shows that recognize the melodrama of the telenovela and play with the genre, including possibly having a SoapWithinAShow.

[[caption-width-right:350:Cue wind machine.]]

* ''Dos mujeres, un camino'' ("Two Women, One Path"): Starring Erik Estrada of ''Series/CHiPs'' fame as Johnny, a married Tijuana truck driver who travels frequently between Mexico and the United States. Set against the backdrop of the then-new NAFTA in the early 90s. Although Johnny is in love with his wife, he falls for a beautiful young waitress named Tanya who does not initially know that he is married. Estrada, who was already popular among English-speaking audiences, was catapulted to further fame in Latin America.

In some places the genre is referred to as "culebrón", which comes from 'culebra', a type of snake, alluding to their length and intense ups and down, akin to a snakes serpent-like movement. Of note is how the telenovela has influenced similar productions worldwide, with an Arabic genre arising that bears more than a passing resemblance, possibly because of many Middle Eastern immigrants in Latin America raving about telenovelas to their relatives, or the fact that their shorter run than soaps and high melodrama fit in better with pre-existing Eastern productions and Bollywood. Also in Spain, where Latin American telenovelas became huge between the 80s and 2000s, and ended up influencing Spaniard historical dramas, which were much more grounded, to start including in the 2010s prominent romance plots that, while never quite as melodramatic as in telenovelas, they are quite intense by comparison to traditional Spaniard dramas.

!!Examples:

[[AC:UsefulNotes/{{Argentina}}]]

[[/index]]

[[index]]
* ''Series/AlmaGemea'': An audience phenomenon at the time of the exhibition. It tells the story of Rafael, a man who suspects that his new and beautiful maid is the reincarnation of his late wife Luna. His second chance at love is at stake when jealous Cristina, responsible for the murder of her cousin Luna, decides to separate the new couple [[/index]]
* ''Anjo mau / Angel malo'': Another telenovela which has a GoldDigger {{Anti Hero}}ine, but now set in Brazil (or Chile, if we see its remake). [[index]]

* ''Series/ChocolatecomPimenta'' ("Chocolate with Pepper"), famous Brazilian soap taking place in the 1920's [[/index]]
* ''O Clone'' ("The Clone"), Brazilian soap about [[ActingForTwo a guy, his twin brother]] and his clone, along with some stereotypes of Arab culture and very narmy soundtrack. [[index]]
* ''Series/DaCorDoPecado'' ("Shades of Sin"), one of Rede Globo's most successful productions, just coming after ''Avenida Brasil'' (from the same creator), in terms of viewership and worldwide exhibition, as it been sold to close to 100 countries. It tells the story of a love triangle between a botanist son of a millionaire, a poor black woman, and a rich and racist white woman.[[/index]]
* ''Escrava Isaura'' ("Isaura the Slave"), a late 1970's soap about a white slave in Colonial Brazil. Exposed the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Eastern Bloc]] to Latin soaps. [[TheShowOfTheBooks It is based on a book by Bernardo Guimaraes.]][[index]]

* ''Series/NovoMundo'' ("New World") is a Brazilian telenovela based on the Italian immigrant wave at the beginnings of 19th century, some time after Brazil got independence from Portugal.[[/index]]

* ''Terra Nostra'', a 1999 telenovela set in TheGayNineties in Brazil, where after the abolition of slavery the plantation employ mostly Italian immigrants. Many AnImmigrantsTale are featured: the protagonists are a couple of Italian youths that are accidentally separated and go on marrying Brazilian upperclass people before reuniting and get back together. It's noted to have been a great success both in Brazil and (unsurprisingly) in Italy, and to be very historically accurate.[[index]]

* ''Series/UmAnjoCaiuDoCeu''[[/index]]

* ''¿Dónde está Elisa?'' ("Where Is Elisa?") is a Chilean ''night telenovela'' (a new telenovela format in which the series is aired around 10 PM so it can be DarkerAndEdgier[=/=]HotterAndSexier than the standard) about what happens when the daughter of a powerful family disappears. Includes actress Paola Volpato's ''incredibly'' scary {{Yandere}} Consuelo, bringer of a HUGE twist: [[spoiler: Elisa was not only was kidnapped by a lover ''who is also her uncle'' as well as Consuelo's husband, [[TheHeroDies but she actually]] ''[[TheHeroDies gets shot to death]]''.]][[index]]
* ''Series/{{Machos}}'' is a 2003 Chilean telenovela about the Mercader family, a patriarchy of only men with seven sons and a father who's the VillainProtagonist of the telenovela. It's considerated one of the best Chilean teleseries of all time and was emitted in Latin America, USA, Central Europe, Spain and even Israel. As other telenovelas, it has a Mexican remake made in 2005.[[/index]]

* ''Cartas de amor'' ("Love letters"): A Colombian telenovela, recognizable for its comedy and salsa-based soundtrack. SweetPollyOliver [[TheMatchmaker Cupido]] is called to a small Barrio to help people with their love lives but ends falling in love with local ladykiller and owner of "El buen catre" (the good bed), Manuel Tirado, who doesn't love any woman but struggles with his [[SweetOnPollyOliver attration]] towards Cupido.[[index]]

[[/index]]

* ''El derecho de nacer'' ("The Right to Be Born"), which was born on the Cuban radio and has had countless TV remakes in several countries. The plot is centered in Alberto Limonta, a young doctor, and the complications that ensue when he unknowingly becomes closer to his very rich biological family.

[[index]]

* ''Series/{{Deceptions}}'' (original title: ''La usurpadora'', "The Usurper"): A rich woman tricks a poor lookalike into taking her place so she can be free to have an affair.[[/index]]
* ''La doña'', better known as ''Lady Altagracia'' in English. Yet another Mexican revenge story, this time revolving around a rich powerful lady who seeks to avenge the abuse she suffered as a young lady. It is a loose adaptation of the Venezuelan novel ''Literature/DonaBarbara'' (which, as mentioned above, was already adapted into a telenovela several times). A joint American/Mexican production.[[index]]

* ''Series/LaMadrastra'' ("The Stepmother"), yet another Mexican remake of a Chilean soap, about a woman who, while attempting to solve the MiscarriageOfJustice which left her in prison for two decades, ends becoming the stepmother of her own children (who were told she died and were too young to remember her when she was sent to jail). And that's before the plot becomes truly convoluted. Famous in the United States for being comically recapped by ''Series/TheSoup''.[[/index]]
* ''El maleficio'' ("The Curse"). A Mexican production from the Eighties. This one is notable for its STRONG [[{{Horror}} supernatural]] elements.[[index]]
* The "Marías Trilogy" (''María Mercedes'', ''Marimar'', and ''Series/MariaLaDelBarrio''), a group of soaps with "María" in some part of their title with plots based in their titular characters' RagsToRiches, that catapulted their shared main actress, Mexican singer Thalia, from mere local fame to international superstardom.[[/index]]

* ''Nada personal'' ("Nothing Personal"). Made in TheNineties. Noteworthy only because it was the first Mexican soap to try and deal with then-current national politics.[[index]]

* ''La patrona'' ("The Boss"). A Mexican telenovela which is the remake of the Venezulean telenovela ''La dueña''. A revenge plot revolving around a single mother who happens to be the only woman working in a gold mine. Naturally she goes through so much abuse at the hands of some of her co-workers and her evil boss. Both ''La patrona'' and ''La doña'' ironically share the lead actress who happened to provide the theme songs of both shows.

* ''Series/{{Rubi}}'': One of the few telenovelas in which the main character [[VillainProtagonist is also the villain,]] as she's a huge GoldDigger.[[/index]]
* ''Senda de gloria'' ("Path of Glory"): A historical soap opera. It was one of the first telenovelas that did not shy away from [[DarkerAndEdgier showing]] [[WarIsHell how brutal]] UsefulNotes/TheMexicanRevolution was, and how it shaped modern UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}. Notable also for the fact that Televisa [[DoingItForTheArt took a lot of pains]] [[ShownTheirWork to ensure they got everything right]]. It was ScrewedByTheNetwork due to a political problem between the ruling party and the son of one of the presidents shown there.[[note]]Also, the fact that it got murdered in the ratings (a very rare ocurrence for Televisa at [[TheNineties the time]]) certainly didn't help.[[/note]][[index]]

* ''Series/{{Teresa}}'': Another Mexican telenovela where the [[VillainProtagonist main character]], desperate to leave a life of poverty, becomes a manipulative GoldDigger. The original story, aired in 1959, has had one film version and four television remakes (the latest and most popular remake was aired in 2010).[[/index]]

[[index]]
* ''Series/AmarEnTiemposRevueltos'' ("To Love in Turbulent Times") is considered one of the most successful Spanish ''culebrones'' ("big snakes" -- that's slang for a soap... on account of their being as long as snakes.)[[/index]]

[[index]]

[[/index]]

[[index]]
* ''Series/ATodoCorazon'': A TeenDrama.[[/index]]

* ''Por estas calles'' ("In These Streets"). A telenovela with social issues about poverty, corrupt government and murders in a poor "Barrio". Almost all the lead characters are poor and struggle for reach a good living way, but the criminality and the corruption don't let them progress. The longest Telenovela in Venezuelan history: Almost three years of duration.

* ''Series/{{Destinos}}'': An EdutainmentShow in a telenovela format, meant to help students learn Spanish.

* ''Series/{{Destinos}}'': An {{EdutainmentShow}} in a telenovela format, meant to help students learn Spanish.

* ''O Clone'' ("The Clone"), Brazilian soap about [[ActingForTwo a guy, his twin brother]] and [[UpToEleven his clone]], along with some stereotypes of Arab culture and very narmy soundtrack. [[index]]