Telemundo did something quite unique. They produced a drama series that on Tuesday, October 13th, topped the adult 25-54 market, beating out The Voice, Bajo el Mismo Cielo, and Jeopardy, among others.
The series is “Celia” which was inspired by the life of the “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz. Cruz, who made a career in an era when female singers didn’t even make the stage is played by Jeimy Osorio in her young years. Aymee Nuviola plays the older Cruz.
It also includes Pedro Knight, her husband and manager, played by Modesto Lacen as the young Knight and Willie Denton as the older Knight. Directed by Victor Mallarino and Liliana Bocanegra, along with Nelson Martinez as executive producer and screen play based on script by Andres Salgado and Paul Rodriquez, Fox Telecolombia and RCN licensed Telemundo was confident enough to release the first three episodes on digital platforms before the linear premiere.
It worked. On Facebook the first night,it drew 993,238 viewers, and Video on Demand and Telemundo Now saw over 177,000 between them. The promotion for the series on Facebook reached 2.3 million global fans. The cumulative audience reached 2,375,000 total viewers, while ranking number one in Miami and New York in the 18-49 adults in its time slot. Celia Cruz, according to the numbers, remains the Queen afterall.
