By Niala Boodhoo, Associated Press. Naples Daily News, Friday, March 10, 2000
MIAMI - A television show about the life of a young boy who miraculously survives at sea after being separated from his mother will soon air in this country on the Spanish-language network Univision.
Although it seems to mirror the real-life story of 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez, the show was filmed two years ago and has already aired in Mexico.
"What a coincidence! It's not that it has to do with Elian," said Univision spokesperson Blanca Telleria, although she wouldn't discount that Elian's saga helped bring this drama to the United States.
Elian was found clinging to an inner tube after being adrift for two days in the Florida Straits. His mother and 10 other people drowned when their boat capsized during an attempt to reach the United States.
The "telenovela," as the Spanish soap operas are called, follows the saga of the boy Felipin, who is rescued by a young single woman living on the coast of Mexico.
In typical telenovela fashion, the plot takes several twists. Felipin's mother survives with temporary amnesia, and his father, a wealthy Spanish Duke, dies several hours after learning of his existence, but not before naming Felipin as his sole heir.
Telleria said the network often runs shows in other countries before bringing them to the United States.
Univision airs seven hours of "telenovelas" a day. The programs normally run for about six months at a time.
Telenovelas have an almost religious following, consistently earning the highest ratings among Spanish-language stations in the United States.
"El Nino Que Vino del Mar" or "The Boy Who Came from the Sea" is set to air on March 20.
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