Citing Cost, Telemundo Axes ‘Los Beltran’

A progressive and expensive experiment on the Spanish-language television network Telemundo was shut down this week, with the cancellation of “Los Beltran,” a U.S.-produced sitcom about a contemporary Cuban American family

Within a television lineup of programs imported from Latin America, Telemundo invested in the show, which featured two openly gay male characters, and over the last two seasons was honored by gay-rights groups for its realistic portrayal of the couple, especially in the macho culture of Spanish-language television.

But on Wednesday, a network spokesman said the show would not come back for a third season.

“For the amount of dollars they were spending for it, it wasn’t cost-effective,” said spokesman Steven Chapman. “The ratings were pretty decent, but I don’t think they were as good as they had hoped. It got so much critical acclaim, which is why it’s such a shame.”

Carlos Bermudez, executive producer and co-creator of “Los Beltran,” said the show effectively attracted a bilingual audience, one designed to be more relevant to the interests of U.S. Latinos.

“We managed to target an audience that can watch something on prime-time television on ABC and then turn to us and watch us, a show with similar production values,” Bermudez said. “To produce a show of that quality, domestically, for our people that live here, is going to cost you. If you want to go to South America and Mexico for programming that has nothing to do with your life here, so be it.”

In a town where Latinos find it difficult to get on board, “Los Beltran” hired 14 Latino writers over two seasons. The show also used five first-time Latino directors, two of whom have gone on to direct English-language TV shows.