Can you believe we have a second sitcom starring a Latina debuting this fall? I hardly believe it myself. But there she is, against all odds, a show adapted from a popular Venezuelan novela titled Jane the Virgin. Set in Miami, young Jane finds out that she’s pregnant. She and her family are shocked; she swears up and down that she’s never had sex. It turns out, Jane is telling the truth. She was artificially inseminated by accident at a routine doctor’s appointment. Wait, what?!?
At first glance, there was plenty to be hesitant about: pregnancy rates among young Latinas and potential religious fanaticism among them. My Spidey senses could already feel the Immaculate Conception jokes, and there is one in the trailer, but it’s obvious that’s not the direction the show is heading. Phew.
Like Cristela, our protagonista Jane is a career-minded woman who hasn’t quite found her footing in her industry. Her family is her center, as evidenced by scenes of watching novelas with her abuela and shopping with her mother. With only matriarchs featured in the trailer, I get the impression this is going to be a heavily female-centric show featuring the talents of Gina Rodriguez of Filly Brown and Diane Guerrero of Orange is the New Black. Fingers crossed.
Jane the Virgin premieres October 13 at 9:00 pm on the CW.