The Baker and The Beauty Premieres Tonight April 13th on ABC 10/11c
By Bel Hernandez
The new ABC series The Baker and The Beauty takes a Cuban family who owns a bakery, a scorned Latina ex-girlfriend, an international fashion mogul and her overprotective manager, and breaks all stereotypes — giving us the all American rom-com. This colliding of cultures creates the impossible love story which premieres tonight on ABC at 10/11 EST.
ABC is counting on the fact that a romantic comedy is just what America needs now — and this was before the “Stay in Shelter” order currently in place because of the CoronaVirus 19. It is based on an Israeli hit TV series created by Assi Asar and currently airing ist 2nd season. It has been praised by audiences and critics alike, the American version was fast tracked, announced in early 2019 and in just over a year, it is premiering in the U.S.
Daniel Garcia (Victor Rasuk) is working in the family owned Miami bakery and doing everything that his loving Cuban parents and siblings expect him to do. But on a wild night, he meets international super star Noa Hamilton (Nathalie Kelley) and his life moves into the spotlight much to the angst of her manager (Dan Bucatinsky). As for Daniel’s family his younger sister (Belissa Escobedo) was already a of Noa followers on social media; his brother, DJ Cubano (David Del Rio) wants her to play his music at her events; and Daniel’s parents (Lisa Vidal and Carlos Gomez) take a wait-and-see attitude — with trepidation. Meanwhile the ex-girlfriend, Vanessa (Michelle Veintimilla) dismayed at being scorned, although heart broken forges on, as she is not going to the breakup get in the way of conquering the world.
Michelle Veintivilla as Vanessa, Belissa Escobedo as Natalie Garcia, Lisa Vidal as Mari Garcia, Carlos Gomez as Rafael Garcia, Victor Rasuk as Daniel Garcia, Nathalie Kelley as Noa Hamilton, David Del Rio as Mateo Garcia, and Dan Bucatinsky as Lewis. (ABC/Nino Munoz)
Kudos are in order to the producers and casting executives; and the writers of the show, both these elements deliver an authentic peek at a bi-cultural world. The multi-generational Garcias include three American born and bred kids whose parents were born in Cuba and whose culture lives on in each one of their kids. The combinabination of the music, the spanglish and the delicious Cuban food and pastries their world revolves in, is what gives this series the flavor of life.
In the first three episodes you get a glimpse into each character’s back story, their personalities and the dynamics that each of the relationships will seemingly explore. By the fourth episode I was anxious to what is coming up next in the international romance in store. On the homefront, Vanessa takes on a role in Mateo’s life that can prove to be very fruitful for both of them.
Belissa Escobedo (Photo: ABC Nino Munoz)
Then there is Escobedo who in her very first series series role is a revelation. Her talent draws you into the character of Natalie with her powerful yet nuanced performance. I immediately wanted to know “who is Belissa Escobedo”? An alumni of the Los Angeles County High School of Arts, Escobedo moved to New York for five years to study and do theater. Upon her return she worked at the Boyle Height theater Casa 0101 run by her creative idol screenwriter/producer, Josefina Lopez. Escobedo went on to work on three plays at Casa 0101 for a span of one year. She played the lead, Ana in Lopez’s play Real Women Have Curves (which was produced into a movie in 2002 starring America Ferrera as Ana). In The Baker and the Beauty Natalia’s character comes into her own and the audience is compelled to want to join her on her journey.
Carlos Gomez and Lisa Vidal are the parent you would love to have. Mari Garcia, if she is a wise cracking, former showgirl mom who has it all worked out and breaks into dance at the sound of salsa music. As for the patriarch of the family, played by Gomez, he plays your unstereotypical loving and knowing dad, who makes the most delicious pastries and can cook up Cuban pollo fricassee for special family dinners, like no other.
And then there is Vanessa played by Michelle Vientimilla. Although Vanessa gets dumped in the first episode by Daniel, her character is not going anywhere soon. As a matter of fact, word is her role only kept getting bigger during the filming of the series. Vanessa stays connected to the family, even though her life with Daniel is seemingly over. She is hurt that the Garcia family would cut her off because her son broke of their relationstion after four years of dating. As strange as that sounds, Veintimilla shared at the TCA press tour that, “This is the first show that I can say, I totally understand the character”.
Kelley who plays Noa and whose family is of Peruvian and Ecuadorian background, almost didn’t get the part of Noa because she self identified as a Latina. The producers wanted the culture clash dynamic for the two lead characters, so she went back in to audition and this time she used her Australian accent, which she isn’t faking since she lived in Australia since the age of two. That did the trick.
Daniel Garcia (Victor Rasuk) & Noa (Nathalie Kelly) (Photo: ABC/Laura Mcgruder)
As for the lead in the show, Rasuk, he likens his background to Daniel’s. Rasuk grew up in a working-class family, born and raised in New York to Dominican parents. He’s has a laid back charm that he brings to the role and it’s what makes the chemistry between Daniel and Noa spark. In spite of all the adversities, their decision to move forth with their relationship is when the real adventures begin.
This is a story of a family you have rarely seen on TV. It is a romantic comedy, with an authenticity of characters that are universal in story and culturally rich. It’s the American story redefined.
ABC has a lot invested in this series and they are supporting it in every way possible. They put the series in a prime time slot, right after The Bachelor. They believe in the series.
The Baker And The Beauty is based on the hit Israeli series by the same name created by Assi Azar for Keshet Broadcasting. For ABC it’s written by Dean Georgaris and produced by Universal Television and ABC Studios in association with Keshet Studios.
Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu.
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