Rules of Deception
Encyclopedia
American Heiress is a telenovela
which debuted on March 13, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the American
television network
MyNetworkTV
. This romantic melodrama tells the story of a roughneck pilot and a pampered heiress who survive a plane crash. The show was produced by Twentieth Television
, based on the 2004 TV Azteca
series La Heredera ("The Heiress").
Heiress was the last series produced for MyNetworkTV
's original all-telenovela format. When the network dropped the serial after the July 18, 2007 broadcast, most episodes were left unaired. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
has not announced plans to release this series on DVD
. All 65 episodes aired overseas.
, from steamy rain forests to the high-stakes business world. After a terrifying crash in the family jet, the heiress falls in love with a fellow survivor, a hard-edged former Air Force pilot named JD Bruce (Carter MacIntyre
).
The new couple then must struggle to survive in the lost jungles of Guatemala. Once back in civilization, the heiress soon finds herself in another tough situation. Against her family's wishes, she fights to keep the flames of passion burning. Meanwhile, her brother Damian makes deals with an arms dealer; he will do anything to protect his secret.
MyNetworkTV
prepared to air this serial as 65 one-hour episodes on weekdays with a Saturday night recap. The network, facing low ratings, stopped development on future telenovelas
. American Heiress had already finished shooting at Stu Segall Productions
in San Diego before the decision was announced.
Heiress was originally intended to run in syndication as To Love & Die under the "Secret Obsessions" umbrella title. The MyNetworkTV
Web site listed the show as "part of the Desire
series," however, referring to its other telenovela
brand.
Two hour installments aired on Wednesday evenings through April, when the show switched to a one-hour slot. MyNetworkTV
announced plans to run this show and Saints & Sinners
once per week until October, with the remaining episodes appearing online. MyNetworkTV
President Greg Meidel previously said the network would air the complete runs of both shows. However, the network unceremoniously yanked both telenovelas after the July 18, 2007 broadcast. Only 26 out of 65 hours aired.
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
which debuted on March 13, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
. This romantic melodrama tells the story of a roughneck pilot and a pampered heiress who survive a plane crash. The show was produced by Twentieth Television
Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios, Inc. is the TV production arm of the News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, as well as being the production arm of Fox and a production arm of 20th Century Fox Television, Inc., itself a division of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation...
, based on the 2004 TV Azteca
TV Azteca
Azteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
series La Heredera ("The Heiress").
Heiress was the last series produced for MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV telenovelas
The MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
's original all-telenovela format. When the network dropped the serial after the July 18, 2007 broadcast, most episodes were left unaired. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of the 20th Century Fox film studio. It was established in 1976 as Magnetic Video Corporation, and later as 20th Century Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video and FoxVideo, Inc....
has not announced plans to release this series on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. All 65 episodes aired overseas.
Story
This limited-run serial follows the title character, Elizabeth Wakefield, played by Alicia Leigh WillisAlicia Leigh Willis
Alicia Leigh Willis is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in soap operas.-Personal life:Alicia was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She is one of four children. Sisters Kimberly and Tiffany, and brother Ryan. Her father is actor David E...
, from steamy rain forests to the high-stakes business world. After a terrifying crash in the family jet, the heiress falls in love with a fellow survivor, a hard-edged former Air Force pilot named JD Bruce (Carter MacIntyre
Carter MacIntyre
Carter MacIntyre is an American actor, best known for television roles on the series, Undercovers and American Heiress. His previous acting credits have included guest appearances on Smith and ER...
).
The new couple then must struggle to survive in the lost jungles of Guatemala. Once back in civilization, the heiress soon finds herself in another tough situation. Against her family's wishes, she fights to keep the flames of passion burning. Meanwhile, her brother Damian makes deals with an arms dealer; he will do anything to protect his secret.
Production
Head writer Colet Abedi said she added "bitchy dialogue and fight scenes" to the original Mexican story. Late in production, about six episodes’ worth of scenes were never shot due to budget concerns. In addition, about 75 minutes of program were stretched to fill the two-hour weekly timeslot.http://www.southflorida.com/movies/sfl-tvtjmynetmar12,0,469232.column?coll=sfe-tv-headlines Fox also received promotional consideration for this series from several automakers, including Cadillac, Jaguar and Lexus.MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
prepared to air this serial as 65 one-hour episodes on weekdays with a Saturday night recap. The network, facing low ratings, stopped development on future telenovelas
MyNetworkTV telenovelas
The MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
. American Heiress had already finished shooting at Stu Segall Productions
Stu Segall Productions
Stu Segall Productions is a studio facility located in San Diego, California.-Filmings:The studio is used primarily for filming television series and movies in the San Diego area...
in San Diego before the decision was announced.
Heiress was originally intended to run in syndication as To Love & Die under the "Secret Obsessions" umbrella title. The MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
Web site listed the show as "part of the Desire
Desire (TV series)
Desire is an American telenovela which debuted at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central on September 5, 2006, on the American network MyNetworkTV, and ended on December 5. It was produced by Twentieth Television...
series," however, referring to its other telenovela
MyNetworkTV telenovelas
The MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
brand.
Two hour installments aired on Wednesday evenings through April, when the show switched to a one-hour slot. MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV telenovelas
The MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
announced plans to run this show and Saints & Sinners
Saints & Sinners (2007 TV series)
Saints & Sinners is a telenovela which premiered on March 14, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the American television network MyNetworkTV. Twentieth Television produced this limited-run serial, based on the a 2000 TV Azteca telenovela titled La Calle de las Novias...
once per week until October, with the remaining episodes appearing online. MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV telenovelas
The MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
President Greg Meidel previously said the network would air the complete runs of both shows. However, the network unceremoniously yanked both telenovelas after the July 18, 2007 broadcast. Only 26 out of 65 hours aired.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Alicia Leigh Willis Alicia Leigh Willis Alicia Leigh Willis is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in soap operas.-Personal life:Alicia was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She is one of four children. Sisters Kimberly and Tiffany, and brother Ryan. Her father is actor David E... |
Elizabeth Wakefield |
| Carter MacIntyre Carter MacIntyre Carter MacIntyre is an American actor, best known for television roles on the series, Undercovers and American Heiress. His previous acting credits have included guest appearances on Smith and ER... |
Captain JD Bruce |
| Theresa Russell Theresa Russell Theresa Russell is an American actress.-Biography:Russell was born Theresa Paup in San Diego, California, the daughter of Carole Platt and Jerry Russell Paup. She attended Burbank High School, but did not graduate. She married English film director Nicolas Roeg , in 1982... |
Jordan Wakefield |
| Race Owen Race Owen Race Owen is an American actor who plays Damian Wakefield on the MyNetworkTV limited-run serial American Heiress.His movie credits include Ride with the Devil and Takedown. In addition, Owen has been a guest star on the television shows Dawson's Creek, Drake & Josh, Sleeper Cell, and the daytime... |
Damian Wakefield |
| AnnaLynne McCord AnnaLynne McCord AnnaLynne McCord is an American actress. Known for playing a range of vixen-type roles, McCord first gained prominence in 2007 as the scheming Eden Lord on the FX television series Nip/Tuck, and as the pampered Loren Wakefield on the MyNetworkTV telenovela American Heiress... |
Loren Wakefield |
| Robert Buckley Robert Buckley Robert Earl Buckley is an American actor, best known for his roles on the television series Lipstick Jungle and One Tree Hill.... |
Matthew Wakefield |
- Robert BuckleyRobert BuckleyRobert Earl Buckley is an American actor, best known for his roles on the television series Lipstick Jungle and One Tree Hill....
was also in the MyNetworkTV telenovelaMyNetworkTV telenovelasThe MyNetworkTV telenovelas were Fox Television's attempt to create a successful low-cost programming franchise by adapting Spanish-language telenovelas for U.S. viewers. While originally planned for syndication, the format became the original lineup of MyNetworkTV in 2006...
Fashion HouseFashion HouseFashion House is an American telenovela that aired at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday on MyNetworkTV stations. The series premiered on September 5, 2006 and concluded on December 5, 2006...
. - AnnaLynne McCordAnnaLynne McCordAnnaLynne McCord is an American actress. Known for playing a range of vixen-type roles, McCord first gained prominence in 2007 as the scheming Eden Lord on the FX television series Nip/Tuck, and as the pampered Loren Wakefield on the MyNetworkTV telenovela American Heiress...
was also cast in the unproduced telenovela Rules of DeceptionRules of DeceptionAmerican Heiress is a telenovela which debuted on March 13, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on the American television network MyNetworkTV. This romantic melodrama tells the story of a roughneck pilot and a pampered heiress who survive a plane crash...
. - The Elizabeth WakefieldElizabeth WakefieldElizabeth Wakefield was one of the two main fictional characters in the book series Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley Twins. She was portrayed by Cynthia Daniel in the TV series of the same name.- Character :...
character in this series is not the same one played by Cynthia DanielCynthia DanielCynthia Lynn Daniel is an American actress and photographer and twin sister of actress Brittany Daniel.-Biography:Born in Gainesville, Florida, Cynthia is five minutes younger than her twin sister Brittany. Her parents are Carol and Charlton B Daniel Jr. The two also have an older brother named...
in Sweet Valley HighSweet Valley High (TV series)Sweet Valley High is an American comedy-drama series based on Francine Pascal's book series of the same name. The series ran from September 5, 1994 to October 14, 1997, and was produced by Saban Entertainment...
. The Mexican original named her "Luna Mendoza," and she was played by Gaby EspinoGaby EspinoMaría Gabriela "Gaby" Espino Rugero is a Venezuelan actress and model. She best known for her roles in telenovelas.-Biography:...
.