Sara (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Sara


caption = "Sara" logo
rating =
format = Telenovela
language = Flemish
num_seasons =
runtime = 25 min (approx. 22 min)
creator = FremantleMedia
producer = FremantleMedia
location = flagicon|BEL Antwerp, Belgium
starring = Veerle Baetens
Gert Winckelmans
Kürt Rogiers
Sandrine André
country = Flagicon|Belgium Belgium
language = Dutch
opentheme = "Where She Belongs" — Natalia Druyts
network = VTM
related = Remake of "Betty la Fea"
first_aired = September 25, 2007
last_aired = June 29 2008
picture_format =
num_episodes = 200
imdb_id =
website = http://www.vtm.be/sara/index_sara.htm
tv_com_id =

"Sara" was a Flemish telenovela, based upon the Colombian telenovela "Betty La Fea". It tells the story of "Sara De Roose", a business economics graduate, who passed with honours at the university but has trouble finding a job—until she comes across an assistant job in a Belgian fashion company, called "Présence". The company is looking for a new general manager, and Sara arrival coincides with the two CEOs arguing who this has to be.

The series was broadcast by the commercial station VTM, upon which it was shown every weekday at 6:25 pm. On Sunday, VTM broadcasted all episodes of last week, called 'De Week van Sara' (= "Sara's week"). Sara premiered on September 25, 2007 and ended in June 2008, after 200 episodes. A new telenovela called "LouisLouise" (about a guy named "Louis", who turns into a woman ("Louise") by a spell) will replace Sara, beginning September 2008.

Sara begins the series as the "ugly duckling", mocked by many of her fellow colleagues for being "ugly". As the series progresses, she develops confidence, moves up the ladder, becomes more powerful and explores romantic interests. The series also focuses on fellow Présence employees, and their relationships and career problems.

The show was written by a team of writers, lead by Hugo Van Laere. He already wrote many scripts for Flemish TV series and movies, such as "16+", "Rupel", and "Dennis van Rita". The series was directed by Serge Bierset, Renaat Coppens, Filip Van Neyghem and Geoffrey Enthoven. The latter already directed many Flemish movies, such as "Vidange Perdue" and "Happy Together".

Ratings

"Sara's" first episode was a huge success, with an average of 840,000 viewers (it was broadcasted in prime time at 8:35 pm). The second episode was broadcast at its regular hour, 6:25 pm. This ensured a fall in viewers of 50%, with an average of 420,000 viewers. The reason is probably a game show, called "Blokken", which is very popular in its time slot and starts at the same moment as Sara [ [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleid=OQ1J46JU Article (in dutch) about the ratings] ] .

Slowly, the ratings of "Sara" increased. In December 2007, "Sara" already had an average of 450,000 to 550,000 viewers. As of February 2008, the ratings increased again, and Sara now has an average of 650,000 to 750,000 viewers. Since then Sara became a direct competitor for "Blokken" [ [http://www.showbizzsite.be/nieuws/detail.asp?iImsNid=58319 Article (in dutch) on "Sara" passing the ratings of "Blokken"] ] . And the success continued: ratings increased even more, and when VTM moved Sara to prime time again (for the last twenty episodes), ratings doubled and surpassed a million viewers [ [http://www.showbizzsite.be/nieuws/detail.asp?iImsNid=67750 Ratings of June 5, 2008] ] . The final episode gathered more than 1.5mln viewers [ [http://www.showbizzsite.be/nieuws/detail.asp?iImsNid=69389 Ratings of June 24, 2008] ] .

Cast

Main Cast

Trivia

* The US version of the show, "Ugly Betty", is broadcast on VIJFtv, every Thursday evening. The show started almost 5 months after "Sara" premiered.

References

External links

* [http://www.vtm.be/sara/index_sara.htm Official Site]