América (Brazilian TV series)

Brazilian telenovela by Glória Perez

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|

América

Genre| Telenovela
Created by| Glória Perez
Directed by|

* Jayme Monjardim
* Marcos Schechtman

Starring|

* Deborah Secco
* Murilo Benício
* Caco Ciocler
* Gabriela Duarte
* Eliane Giardini
* Edson Celulari
* Camila Morgado
* Christiane Torloni
* Marcelo Novaes

Opening theme|

* "Órfãos do Paraíso" Milton Nascimento feat. Sagrado Coração da Terra (phase 1)
* "Soy loco por ti América" by Ivete Sangalo (phase 2)

Country of origin| Brazil
Original languages| Portuguese
English [a]
Spanish [b]
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 203
Production
Production locations|

* Rio de Janeiro, Barretos, Brazil
* Miami Beach, USA

Camera setup| Multi-camera
Running time| 50 minutes
Original release
Network| TV Globo
Release| 14 March (2005-03-14) –
4 November 2005 (2005-11-04)

América is a Brazilian telenovela that aired on TV Globo from 14 March 2005 to 4 November 2005. It is written by Glória Perez and directed by Jayme Monjardim and Marcos Schechtman. The telenovela focused on the life of an illegal immigrant to the United States of America and the lives of those she left behind in Brazil. It stars Deborah Secco and Murilo Benício.

In the United States, Telemundo aired a Spanish-dubbed version of América in 2009.[1]

## Plot

[edit]

### Main plot

[edit]

Sol and Tião are born to different social backgrounds—she to a poor suburban family in Rio, and him to an even poorer family who raised cattle in West São Paulo State. They eventually meet, due to unlikely circumstances, but part again, as she has set as her ultimate priority to reach the United States or bust. While she comes to the U.S. to live as an illegal immigrant, he remains in Brazil and, despite many trials and tribulations, he becomes a successful rodeo cowboy.

### Subplots

[edit]

América has several secondary plots about a variety of compelling characters. These, for the most part, take place in four locales: Vila Isabel, a middle-class neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro; Boiadeiros, a fictional town in West São Paulo State; the home of a rich family in Rio; and Miami. Various characters from each subplots often meet each other due to character linkages within the story.

The main subplots were:

* A love triangle involving Feitosa, a man who worked with pets, his girlfriend Islene (who happened to have a blind daughter from a previous relationship) and Creusa (a virginal woman who turned out to be too lustful).
* The problems and achievements of a blind man, Jatobá, trying to live with his disability in a country with no infrastructure for the visually impaired. He is engaged to a non-blind woman.
* The mischievous Alex and Djanira, smugglers and "coyotes".
* The love life of Glauco, a 50-year-old businessman married to a kleptomaniac woman that strives for a divorce in order to marry her lover (but he later leaves both for a 19-year-old girl).
* The complicated relationship between a middle-class American professor, Edward Talbot, and his rich girlfriend, May, who does social work at a ghetto school in Miami. Due to fan demand, the author of the soap opera changed its ending so Edward ends up marrying the main character, Sol.
* The lives of several illegal immigrants living in a boarding house in Miami kept by a Mexican woman, with Brazilian roots, named Consuelo.
* The thriving Brazil rodeo culture. Rodeo is a traditional sport in many countries in the Americas, with influences from the history of Mexican and Brazilian vaqueros or vaqueiros (cowboys) and American cowboys.

## Cast

[edit]

Actor | Character

|

Deborah Secco | Marisol de Oliveira "Sol"
Murilo Benício | Sebastião da Silva Higino "Tião"
Caco Ciocler | Edward Talbot "Ed"
Gabriela Duarte | Simone Garcia Menezes Higino
Camila Morgado | Miss May
Thiago Lacerda | Alexander Camargo "Alex"
Eliane Giardini | Viúva Neuta
Edson Celulari | Glauco Simões Lopes Prado
Christiane Torloni | Haydée Pamplona Lopes Prado
Marcelo Novaes | Genivaldo da Silva Higino
Mariana Ximenes | Raíssa
Murilo Rosa | Dinho
Juliana Paes | Creusa
Roberto Bomfim  | Jota Abdalla
Lúcia Veríssimo  | Gil Madureira
Cláudia Jimenez | Consuelo Torres Serrano
Paulo Goulart | Mariano de Oliveira
Jandira Martini | Odaleia de Oliveira
Nívea Maria | Maria José Higino
Francisco Cuoco | José da Silva Higino
Betty Faria | Djanira Pimenta
Luís Melo | Ramiro
Humberto Martins | Laerte Villa Nova
Daniela Escobar | Irene Villa Nova
Matheus Nachtergaele | Carreirinha
Cléo Pires | Lurdes Tupã do Nascimento "Lurdinha"
Bruno Gagliasso | Roberto Sinval Villa Nova Júnior
Erom Cordeiro  | Zeca
Totia Meireles | Vera Tupã do Nascimento
Marcos Frota  | Pedro Jatobá
Cissa Guimarães | Nina
Chico Diaz | Acácio da Silva Higino
Regina Maria Dourado | Graça
Neusa Borges | Diva Feitosa
Ailton Graça | Feitosa
Paula Burlamaqui | Islene
Walter Breda | Gomes
Eva Todor | Miss Jane
Reginaldo Faria | Adalberto
Bete Mendes | Fátima
Floriano Peixoto | Tony
Sílvia Buarque  | Maria Elis
Guilherme Karan | Geraldito
Rosi Campos | Mercedes
Victor Fasano  | James
José Dumont | Carlos Manuel de Andrade "Bóia"
Samara Felippo | Maria Odete "Detinha"
Marisol Ribeiro | Kerry Villa Nova
Rodrigo Faro | Neto
Simone Spoladore | Heloísa
Cris Vianna | Drica
Eri Johnson  | Waldomiro
Paula Pereira | Déia
Raul Gazolla  | Helinho
Fernanda Paes Leme | Rosário
Juliana Knust | Inesita
Lucas Babin | Nick
Camila Rodrigues | Mariana de Oliveira
Cacau Mello  | Rose
Anderson Müller  | Ariovaldo
Christiana Kalache  | Maria Isabel "Bebela"
Franciely Freduzeski  | Conchita
Rodrigo Hilbert | Murilinho
Viviane Victorette | Jú
Carolina Macieira  | Penha
Duda Nagle  | Radar Tupã do Nascimento
Luiza Valdetaro | Manuela "Manu"
Bruna Marquezine | Maria Flor
Mussunzinho  | Farinha
Matheus Costa  | Rick
Arlete Heringer  | Rita
Flávia Guedes  | Berenice
Marcelo Brou  | Stallone
Lucy Mafra  | Claudete
Dja Marthins  | Dolores
Cláudia Borioni  | Vilma
Maria Mariana Azevedo  | Sol (child)
Brunno Abrahão  | Tião (child)

## Production

[edit]

### Casting Selection

[edit]

Originally, Glória Perez wanted Giovanna Antonelli as the main protagonist, repeating their successful partnership from O Clone, but the actress was pregnant with her first child and declined the offer. The second choice was Cláudia Abreu, who at that time planned to become pregnant after Celebridade —which ultimately didn’t happen—so she also turned down the role. Mariana Ximenes was the third to be invited, but she didn’t want to play another “sweet girl” right after Chocolate com Pimenta and requested a different role. She was eventually cast as the rebellious funk singer Raíssa.

Danielle Winits, Regiane Alves, Deborah Secco, and Camila Morgado auditioned for the role, but the first two did not fit the character’s profile. The decision between Deborah and Camila caused tension between the writer and director Jayme Monjardim, as Perez preferred Deborah and Monjardim supported Camila. Glória argued that Camila had a naturally strong and determined profile, which didn’t match the emotional vulnerability of the character, so she cast Camila as the main antagonist and gave the lead role to Deborah.

Alinne Moraes was invited to play Lurdinha but chose instead to take the lead role in Como uma Onda. Singer Wanessa Camargo auditioned for the same role but was not selected. The part eventually went to Cleo, marking her debut in a telenovela at that time.

Bianca Rinaldi was invited to play Helô, but she opted to sign with Record to star in A Escrava Isaura, and was replaced by Simone Spoladore.

Preta Gil was initially confirmed in the cast as Raíssa’s best friend, who would introduce her to the funk world. She even left a show she was hosting on Band mid-contract for the role. However, her character was cut and never appeared in the show.

American actor Lucas Babin was approved to play a Texan cowboy because he already spoke Portuguese.

## Reception

[edit]

### Ratings

[edit]

Timeslot  | Episodes  | Premiere  | Finale  | Rank  | Season  | Average viewership

|
|
|
|
|
|

Date  | Viewers
(in points) | Date  | Viewers
(in points)

Mondays—Saturdays
9:00pm

| 203  |

14 March 2005

| 56  |

4 November 2005

| 66[2] | #1  | 2005  | 49,4

## Music

[edit]

Unlike most Brazilian soap operas, América featured different styles of music for each milieu. Vila Isabel had only traditional samba, other parts of Rio de Janeiro included Brazilian pop and funk, São Paulo was scored with Brazilian country music and Miami, with a mix of American pop and Latin music.

The songs used in América are:

* Disco 1

01\. "Soy Loco por Ti América" - Ivete Sangalo

02\. "Até Pensei" - Nana Caymmi

03\. "A Volta" - Roberto Carlos

04\. "Pra Rua Me Levar" - Ana Carolina

05\. "Feitiço da Vila" - Martinho da Vila

06\. "Nervos de Aço" - Leonardo

07\. "Mágoa de Boiadeiro" - Lourenço & Lourival

08\. "Os Amantes" - Daniel

09\. "Girassóis Azuis II" - George Israel

10\. "Vida de Viajante" - Lenine

11\. "She's a Carioca (Ela é Carioca)" - Celso Fonseca

12\. "Você" - Marina Elali

13\. "Um Matuto em New York" - Roberto Trevisan

14\. "Sinfonia dos Sonhos" - Marcus Viana

15\. "Órfãos do Paraíso" - Milton Nascimento

16\. "Eu Sei que Vou te Amar" - Caetano Veloso

* Disco 2

1\. "Regresa a mi" - Il Divo

2\. "Don't" - Shania Twain

3\. "Home" - Michael Bublé

4\. "Abrazame Así" - Tamara

5\. "Amore e Música" - Russell Watson

6\. "The Look of Love" - Diana Krall

7\. "Summertime" - Michael Bolton

8\. "A Horse with no Name" - America

9\. "Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson

10\. "Pieces of Me" - Ashlee Simpson

11\. "Por un Beso" - Gloria Estefan

12\. "Cancion Mixteca" - Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan

13\. "Besame Mucho" - Maysa

14\. "Wind Shaking the Trees" - Darwing James Band

15\. "Long Long Away" - Jesse Johnson

17\. "Can't Get Over" - Kasino

18\. "Breath" - O2

19\. "Little Girl" - Lucas Babin

20\. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" - Happening

## Controversy

[edit]

### Gay kiss deleted scene

[edit]

While being cited as a pop culture phenomenon previously, the soap opera received greater exposure in the media after a long-running (2005) storyline between two gay characters included a scene in which they share a kiss. The scene was scheduled to be air in the final episode, which created much anticipation from the gay community in Brazil. However, Rede Globo, the soap opera's production company, elected not to run the scene, much to the surprise of the writers, fans and actors involved. The event led to a number of protests for equal rights, condemning Globo for their actions.[citation needed]

### Criticism of the positive portrayal of rodeo

[edit]

Brazilian animal rights organizations criticized the telenovela because rodeo was favorably exposed in the story.[3] Several non-large-scale protests happened in several cities and activists tried to exhort a nationwide boycott campaign against the series. Coincidentally, the series faced a decline of its audience,[4] though that was not attributed to a boycott eventually.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Some lines
2. ^ Some lines

1. ^ "America | Telemundo". msnlatino.telemundo.com (in Spanish). 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
2. ^ "'América' termina sem beijo gay e com protagonistas separados". Diário OnLine. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
3. ^ "Hospedagem de Sites | Página não encontrada". Archived from the original on 28 May 2009.
4. ^ ""América" chega ao fim como um sucesso de audiência - CANOINHAS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 2005-10-01)
* Blog de Telenovelas Brasileiras
* Video Blog de la novela América en español
* Telenovela-World Bi-lingual Forum

* v
* t
* e

TV series created by Glória Perez

* Eu Prometo (1983)
* Partido Alto (1984)
* Carmem (1987)
* Desejo (1990)
* Barriga de Aluguel (1990)
* De Corpo e Alma (1992)
* Explode Coração (1995)
* Hilda Furacão (1998)
* O Clone (2001)
* A Diarista (2003)
* América (2005)
* Amazônia, de Galvez a Chico Mendes (2007)
* Caminho das Índias (2009)
* El clon (2010)
* Salve Jorge (2012)
* O Canto da Sereia (2013)
* Dupla Identidade (2014)
* A Força do Querer (2017)
* Travessia (2022)

* v
* t
* e

TV Globo telenovelas

1960s debuts|

* O Ébrio (1965)
* Rosinha do Sobrado (1965)
* A Moreninha (1965)
* Padre Tião (1965)
* O Rei dos Ciganos (1966)
* A Sombra de Rebecca (1967)
* Anastácia, a Mulher sem Destino (1967)
* Sangue e Areia (1967)
* O Santo Mestiço (1968)
* Passo dos Ventos (1968)
* A Grande Mentira (1968)
* Rosa Rebelde (1969)
* A Cabana do Pai Tomás (1969)
* Véu de Noiva (1969)

1970s debuts|

* Irmãos Coragem (1970)
* Pigmalião 70 (1970)
* A Próxima Atração (1970)
* O Homem Que Deve Morrer (1971)
* Minha Doce Namorada (1971)
* Selva de Pedra (1972)
* O Primeiro Amor (1972)
* Uma Rosa com Amor (1972)
* O Bem-Amado (1973)
* Cavalo de Aço (1973)
* Carinhoso (1973)
* O Semideus (1973)
* Supermanoela (1974)
* Corrida do Ouro (1974)
* Fogo sobre Terra (1974)
* Cuca Legal (1975)
* Escalada (1975)
* Bravo! (1975)
* Gabriela (1975)
* Pecado Capital (1975)
* Escrava Isaura (1976)
* Anjo Mau (1976)
* Saramandaia (1976)
* O Casarão (1976)
* Estúpido Cupido (1976)
* Duas Vidas (1976)
* Espelho Mágico (1977)
* O Astro (1977)
* Locomotivas (1977)
* Sem Lenço, sem Documento (1977)
* Dancin' Days (1978)
* A Sucessora (1978)
* Te Contei? (1978)
* Pecado Rasgado (1978)
* Pai Herói (1979)
* Feijão Maravilha (1979)
* Os Gigantes (1979)
* Marron Glacê (1979)

1980s debuts|

* Água Viva (1980)
* Coração Alado (1980)
* Baila Comigo (1981)
* Brilhante (1981)
* Sétimo Sentido (1982)
* Elas por Elas (1982)
* Sol de Verão (1982)
* Louco Amor (1983)
* Champagne (1983)
* Partido Alto (1984)
* Amor com Amor Se Paga (1984)
* Corpo a Corpo (1984)
* Roque Santeiro (1985)
* Selva de Pedra (1986)
* Sinhá Moça (1986)
* Roda de Fogo (1986)
* O Outro (1987)
* Mandala (1987)
* Direito de Amar (1987)
* Bambolê (1987)
* Vale Tudo (1988)
* Bebê a Bordo (1988)
* Que Rei Sou Eu? (1989)
* O Salvador da Pátria (1989)
* Tieta (1989)
* Top Model (1989)
* O Sexo dos Anjos (1989)

1990s debuts|

* Rainha da Sucata (1990)
* Barriga de Aluguel (1990)
* Meu Bem, Meu Mal (1990)
* O Dono do Mundo (1991)
* Vamp (1991)
* Felicidade (1991)
* Pedra sobre Pedra (1992)
* Perigosas Peruas (1992)
* Despedida de Solteiro (1992)
* De Corpo e Alma (1992)
* Mulheres de Areia (1993)
* Renascer (1993)
* O Mapa da Mina (1993)
* Olho no Olho (1993)
* Sonho Meu (1993)
* Fera Ferida (1993)
* A Viagem (1994)
* Tropicaliente (1994)
* Pátria Minha (1994)
* Quatro por Quatro (1994)
* A Próxima Vítima (1995)
* História de Amor (1995)
* Cara & Coroa (1995)
* Explode Coração (1995)
* Quem É Você? (1996)
* O Fim do Mundo (1996)
* O Rei do Gado (1996)
* Salsa e Merengue (1996)
* Anjo de Mim (1996)
* A Indomada (1997)
* O Amor Está no Ar (1997)
* Zazá (1997)
* Anjo Mau (1997)
* Por Amor (1997)
* Corpo Dourado (1998)
* Era Uma Vez (1998)
* Torre de Babel (1998)
* Meu Bem Querer (1998)
* Suave Veneno (1999)
* Andando nas Nuvens (1999)
* Força de um Desejo (1999)
* Terra Nostra (1999)
* Vila Madalena (1999)

2000s debuts|

* Esplendor (2000)
* Uga-Uga (2000)
* Laços de Família (2000)
* O Cravo e a Rosa (2000)
* Um Anjo Caiu do Céu (2001)
* Porto dos Milagres (2001)
* Estrela-Guia (2001)
* A Padroeira (2001)
* As Filhas da Mãe (2001)
* O Clone (2001)
* Desejos de Mulher (2002)
* Coração de Estudante (2002)
* Esperança (2002)
* O Beijo do Vampiro (2002)
* Sabor da Paixão (2002)
* Mulheres Apaixonadas (2003)
* Agora É que São Elas (2003)
* Kubanacan (2003)
* Chocolate com Pimenta (2003)
* Celebridade (2003)
* Da Cor do Pecado (2004)
* Cabocla (2004)
* Senhora do Destino (2004)
* Começar de Novo (2004)
* Como uma Onda (2004)
* América (2005)
* Alma Gêmea (2005)
* Bang Bang (2005)
* Belíssima (2005)
* Cobras & Lagartos (2006)
* Páginas da Vida (2006)
* Sinhá Moça (2006)
* O Profeta (2006)
* Pé na Jaca (2006)
* Paraíso Tropical (2007)
* Eterna Magia (2007)
* Sete Pecados (2007)
* Duas Caras (2007)
* Desejo Proibido (2007)
* Beleza Pura (2008)
* A Favorita (2008)
* Três Irmãs (2008)
* Negócio da China (2008)
* Caminho das Índias (2009)
* Paraíso (2009)
* Caras & Bocas (2009)
* Viver a Vida (2009)
* Cama de Gato (2009)

2010s debuts|

* Tempos Modernos (2010)
* Escrito nas Estrelas (2010)
* Passione (2010)
* Ti Ti Ti (2010)
* Araguaia (2010)
* Insensato Coração (2011)
* Morde & Assopra (2011)
* Cordel Encantado (2011)
* O Astro (2011)
* Fina Estampa (2011)
* A Vida da Gente (2011)
* Aquele Beijo (2011)
* Amor Eterno Amor (2012)
* Avenida Brasil (2012)
* Cheias de Charme (2012)
* Gabriela (2012)
* Lado a Lado (2012)
* Guerra dos Sexos (2012)
* Salve Jorge (2012)
* Flor do Caribe (2013)
* Sangue Bom (2013)
* Amor à Vida (2013)
* Saramandaia (2013)
* Joia Rara (2013)
* Além do Horizonte (2013)
* Em Família (2014)
* Meu Pedacinho de Chão (2014)
* Geração Brasil (2014)
* O Rebu (2014)
* Império (2014)
* Boogie Oogie (2014)
* Alto Astral (2014)
* Sete Vidas (2015)
* Babilônia (2015)
* I Love Paraisópolis (2015)
* Verdades Secretas (2015)
* Além do Tempo (2015)
* A Regra do Jogo (2015)
* Totalmente Demais (2015)
* Êta Mundo Bom! (2016)
* Velho Chico (2016)
* Liberdade, Liberdade (2016)
* Haja Coração (2016)
* Sol Nascente (2016)
* A Lei do Amor (2016)
* Rock Story (2016)
* Os Dias Eram Assim (2017)
* Novo Mundo (2017)
* A Força do Querer (2017)
* Pega Pega (2017)
* Tempo de Amar (2017)
* O Outro Lado do Paraíso (2017)
* Onde Nascem os Fortes (2018)
* Deus Salve o Rei (2018)
* Orgulho e Paixão (2018)
* Segundo Sol (2018)
* O Tempo Não Para (2018)
* Espelho da Vida (2018)
* O Sétimo Guardião (2018)
* Verão 90 (2019)
* Órfãos da Terra (2019)
* A Dona do Pedaço (2019)
* Bom Sucesso (2019)
* Éramos Seis (2019)
* Amor de Mãe (2019)

2020s debuts|

* Salve-se Quem Puder (2020)
* Nos Tempos do Imperador (2021)
* Um Lugar ao Sol (2021)
* Quanto Mais Vida, Melhor! (2021)
* Além da Ilusão (2022)
* Pantanal (2022)
* Cara e Coragem (2022)
* Mar do Sertão (2022)
* Travessia (2022)
* Todas as Flores (2022)
* Vai na Fé (2023)
* Amor Perfeito (2023)
* Terra e Paixão (2023)
* Fuzuê (2023)
* Elas por Elas (2023)
* Renascer (2024)
* Família é Tudo (2024)
* No Rancho Fundo (2024)
* Mania de Você (2024)
* Volta por Cima (2024)
* Garota do Momento (2024)

Current|

* Vale Tudo (since 2025)
* Dona de Mim (since 2025)
* Êta Mundo Melhor! (since 2025)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Extra Television Awards for Best Telenovela

1998–2007|

* Torre de Babel (1998)
* Terra Nostra (1999)
* Laços de Família (2000)
* Presença de Anita (2001)
* O Clone (2002)
* Mulheres Apaixonadas (2003)
* Celebridade (2004)
* América (2005)
* Páginas da Vida (2006)
* Paraíso Tropical (2007)

2008–present|

* A Favorita (2008)
* Caminho das Índias (2009)
* Passione (2010)
* Cordel Encantado (2011)
* Avenida Brasil (2012)
* Amor à Vida (2013)
* Império (2014)
* Verdades Secretas (2015)
* Êta Mundo Bom! (2016)
* A Força do Querer (2017)
* Espelho da Vida (2018)

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