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Gloria and Emilio Estefan are hitting primetime TV with two new shows, a reality TV series and a Latino-centric drama.
The Queen of Conga, Gloria Estefan is debuting her new show “The Next” on the CW on Thursday, entertainment blogger Perez Hilton is reporting on his web site.
The show, which is a singing competition, features some of today’s hottest music stars such as Joe Jonas, Nelly, and John Rich.
During the show, Estefan and the rest of the artists move in with the chosen contenders and help mentor them in their homes instead of the traditional way in a studio.
“The Next” is the new franchise in talent competitions competing with “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “The X Factor.”
The show premieres Thursday at 9pm.
As for Estefan’s husband Emilio, the legendary producer is inking a new deal with 20th Century Fox to showcase Latino talent and cater to both U.S. English-speaking Latinos as well as the general market.
The show is set to kick off sometime this fall.
According to Deadline.com, Emilio Estefan is an executive producer on the project. The entertainment publication says he is already in talks with writers and producers and together they are well underway to crafting the series.
“Reaching out to all audiences, including the Latino audience, is a critical priority for this studio as we look for that next big international hit,” 20th TV chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman told Deadline.com
“Emilio has a vision for a dramatic series that combines great storytelling with an authenticity in terms of Latino culture that we think every network will want on their schedule.”
“I think this is the perfect time to do it,” Emilio said, adding that Latinos are the fastest growing population in the U.S.
Emilio Estefan also told Deadline.com that he recalls a few years back when he pitched a script for a Latino-themed show titled “Beauty Parlor,” similar to “Modern Family” and was told the U.S. audience was not ready for a Latino centric show. Now, Estefan is sure the audience is ready.