Bellakath will not be in the new season of the reality show

Long before streaming dominated the screen, soap operas were the great nightly ritual for millions of Mexicans. This 2026, five of these productions will celebrate 15 years since their premiere. Some were audience hits; others dared to break the mold. Here a review.

Emperatriz (TV Azteca, 2011) marked the return of Gabriela Spanic to Mexican television. The story of a woman who, after being deceived and separated from her daughter, returns to recover what she lost. The cast included Sergio Bustamante, Adriana Louvier and Niurka Marcos.

Cielo Rojo, also from 2011, was Televisa’s bet with Edith González and Mauricio Islas. It narrated the love of Alma and Andrés, separated by prison and family losses. Over the years, it gained fame for an alternate ending that was never broadcast and unreleased chapters.

The weaker sex (CadenaTres, 2011) broke the mold. Produced by Argos, it showed a family of sexist men who, upon being abandoned by women, must rethink their beliefs. With Itatí Cantoral, Raúl Méndez and Mauricio Ochmann.

The Force of Destiny (Televisa) took David Zepeda and Sandra Echeverría to Sonora in a story of justice and reunion. It stands out for being the last project of Pedro Armendáriz Jr., who died months after finishing the recordings.

Welcome reality (CadenaTres) chose a youthful but realistic tone. It portrayed students from an exclusive school in CDMX facing bullying, addictions, eating disorders and family violence. With Irene Azuela, Sofía Sisniega and Christian Vázquez.

These soap operas not only marked an era: they showed that melodrama could be adapted to current issues, even before platforms redefined entertainment.

Farewell to a cult villain

Mike Preston, the British actor who played Papagallo in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, has died at the age of 93. His wife, Josie Preston, confirmed the news to Variety. The cause of his death is unknown.

Born Jack Davis, Preston began his career as a singer. In the late ’50s, his version ofMr. Blueput it on the charts. He then emigrated to Australia, where he worked in nightclubs and became host of the show In Melbourne Tonight.

His leap into acting came with the police series Homicide, where he played detective Bob Delaney. He also appeared in the soap opera Bellbird and in productions such as Tandarra, Cop Shop and Chopper Squad.

He made his film debut with Stoney (1969), but his most memorable role is that of Papagallo in the second installment of Mad Max (1981). He then acted in the science fiction film Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn.

Throughout his career, Preston participated as a guest in series such as Ellen, Alien Nation, Dark Justice and Law and Order. Between the 80s and 90s he made more than a dozen television appearances.

His legacy remains linked to one of the most emblematic franchises in action cinema. Mike Preston died on June 8 in Florida, with no further details revealed so far.

Carlos Rivera and Cynthia Rodríguez will be parents for the second time. The couple announced the pregnancy of a girl, whom they will call María.

The singer shared the news on Instagram with a message full of emotion. “We asked you like a miracle, and faith made us look for you,” he wrote, taking up a fragment of “What does love mean?”, a song he composed for his firstborn, León.

An advertisement full of symbolism

Along with the text, they published an image showing a blanket, a knitted outfit and a rose, elements that indicate that they are expecting a girl. The hands of Carlos, Cynthia and León, two years old, also appear stacked.

The celebrities did not wait to reveal the baby’s name. Written with petals, it reads “Mary.” “In our hearts we kept your space and we love you even without knowing you… Here we are waiting for you with immense enthusiasm. Mom, Dad and León,” they added.

Reactions and new roles

The news was celebrated by figures such as Anahí, El Capi Pérez, Andrea Meza and Ximena Navarrete. Everyone congratulated the couple on the new member of the family.

León is preparing to be an older brother. He was born when Carlos and Cynthia had already fulfilled several dreams. Now, Mary arrives at a stage of stability and fulfillment for marriage.

Rivera has shared in interviews how fatherhood transformed his life. In April, during a talk with “Despierta América”, he confessed that he would “love” to have another child, although at that time he was not thinking about names. The wish was fulfilled.