Telemundo's new women

By Juan Esparza Loera / Vida en el Valle www.vidaenelvalle.com

LOS ÁNGELES — Laura León and Penélope Menchaca, the new female faces on the Spanish-language network Telemundo, share many traits but there are also some differences.

Both have left their mark in the music industry: León continues her career as a singer by singing the theme for her television show. Menchaca says that that chapter in her life is now closed.

Both are Mexican: León is from Colmalcaco, Tabasco and Menchaca hails from México City.

Both have smiles that lit up a suite at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles where they were held a press conference to promote their new shows on Telemundo.
However, while León, the host of the talk show 'Señora León' (Mrs. León), speaks very seriously with just a bit of humor, Menchaca, the host of '12 Corazones' (12 Hearts), is the embodiment of the word brazen.

León and Menchaca want their shows to be successful and to offer something new to their viewers. These characteristics also define each of their programs.

In a recent show, León found children on the streets of Lima, Perú who worked to support their families. A 10-year-old boy, who shines shoes to help suppoert his family, was given the uniform of his favorite soccer team and the opportunity to practice with them.

On another show, León reunited families where stepmothers and their stepdaughters had put their relationship in jeopardy. At the end of the show, a stepmother and her stepdaughter asked each other for forgiveness. It was the perfect ending.

"I would like it very much if this show becomes very successful," León told Vida en el Valle, "because I would like to form a team of people to help us do what we want to do, which is to help people."

What she would like is to have hospitals and other organizations offer their services to those in need.

For León — who is famous for calling those around her "mi tesorito" (my treasure), "corazón" (darling), "mi amor" (my love) or "mi reina" (my queen) — doesn't lack life experience from which to give advice, listen to others or make her guests feel right at home.

"We aren't here to offend anyone," León told a young woman who started bad-mouthing her stepmother.

"Look, you didn't come here to play around," she told a man who was trying to explain his situation without opening up too much.

That is the perfect setting for León.

"I feel there is a little bit of metaphysics in all of this," said León. "What you ask for with so much love and desire, I think life and God give it to you. I'm very happy with this new project in my life."

León accepted the opportunity to host this show, which is taped in Perú.

"I was at that moment where I felt the need to do this type of show," stated León.

For her part, Menchaca moves around the set of '12 Corazones' like a whirlwind. However, in her case, she is trying to make love happen.

Menchaca, who had her own show on a Los Ángeles television station before accepting Telemundo's offer, is like the ringleader at a circus.

The contestants — 12 men and 12 women, each one represented by one of the signs of the zodiac — have to speak honestly. If not, they fall under Menchaca's command.

She loves to talk to the men.

"It's the most fun part of this show," says Menchaca. "What I try to do is pressure them as much as I can."

The biggest problem, she says, is that the men come with the hopes of making a good impression on the women.

"They all act like gentlemen and want to show off. They say they'll let their partner do what she wants, be liberal, let her dress the way she wants," states Menchaca.

"Stop saying such stupid things!" she responds.

Under her pressure, the men finally admit that they don't want their girlfriend to wear a mini skirt and dance at parties with other guys.

For Menchaca it's mission accomplished.

Unfortunately, she says, women don't learn.

"It's funny. For example, the women who are looking for someone when they are 40 or 50 years old make the same mistakes as 18-year-old girls looking for the same thing," says Menchaca. "That means WE AREN'T GETTING ANY BETTER!"

"Seriously, we complain about the same things, we make the same mistakes, we do the same things, we keep falling in love and getting our hopes up just like 18-year-old girls," explains Menchaca.

"When you fall in love like that, whether you are 40, 50 or doing it for the third time, you keep believing that this one is the keeper, that he is the love of your life. They lose themselves once more, they forget about everything else and they end up getting used once again."

With the help of Menchaca and astrologer Edwardo, who analyzes the compatibility between the signs of the contestants, the women are the ones who choose a man.

No love connection from the show, which has been on the air for over a year, has resulted in marriage. This, however, doesn't mean Menchaca will stop doing the program.

'12 Corazones' airs at 1 p.m. and 'Señora León' at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on KNSO Channel 51 in Fresno and KCSO Channel 33 in Modesto/Stockton.