New dramas hope viewers are willing to commit

‘Desire’ and ‘Fashion House’
When the CW ate up UPN and the WB, that left a bunch of Fox-owned UPN affiliates without a network. Fox quickly created MyNetworkTV, which will provide 12 hours of weekly programming (8-10 p.m. ET/PT Monday through Saturday, local stations will fill in the other hours as they wish). The network is aimed at adults in the 18-49 age range, with a special focus on Hispanic viewers. Hence the two original network shows are both based on telenovelas, the limited-run soap operas so popular in Spanish-speaking nations. (See also: ABC's "Ugly Betty.")

The two shows the network is starting off with are "Desire" and "Fashion House." Both will look familiar to viewers of American nighttime soaps of the past — "Dallas," anyone? — and the plotlines, style and speed are not unlike U.S. daytime soaps. In fact, "Fashion House," in which the scion of a wealthy design firm is attracted to a beautiful designer his mother dislikes, could have been ripped from the scripts of CBS's "The Bold and the Beautiful." Both shows will run for 13 weeks, promise explosive finales, and then will be replaced with new, similar shows.

Of the two shows, "Fashion House" has received more attention, primarily thanks to its big-name stars, Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild. They're old-school divas, totally fine with throwing people into the pool or smashing them into a wedding cake. (Best line from the "Fashion House" pilot: "You did not just call me bitch, you skank!")

"Desire" features Sofia Milos and a cast of unknowns, namely Zack Silva and Nate Haden as hunky brothers Alex and Louis. Or, since their names are rather irrelevant, call them Ponytail and Bangs, as I do. Of course they're on the run from the mob. Of course they're in love with the same rich beauty. You know the drill.

But steamy soaps have their place, and for those who just can't tune in to these shows daily, but still want their fix of the addictive telenovelas brand of glamorous people, clothes, and cars, both shows will offer one-hour recaps on Saturdays. Now that's a brilliant move. Catch the Saturday show and you'll have pretty much condensed time, putting five (or 10) hours back in your week.   —G.F.C.