Welcome to another edition of TGJ’s ‘Retro Rewind’, the original feature carved out to celebrate TV and Film’s glorious past.
Today we stepped back in time and arrived in January 2001, the month and year the world was introduced to ‘Taina.’
Starring ‘Life with Mickey‘s Christina Vidal, the series followed the life of teenager Taina Morales, a student at the Manhattan School of the Performing Heights, who is determined to become a world renown superstar.
With the help of her best friend Renee Jones, the Latina musician juggles life, music, drama and culture as she navigates through life with her eyes on a platinum prize.
Before its cancellation the series pulled in ratings with guest appearances made by 3LW (who portrayed the group Blue Mascara), Kelly Rowland who played the controversial actress Nicole Burke who inspired what may be one of the strongest songs on the show’s Jive-backed soundtrack.
Ready to take that journey to the past?
Watch below….
Remember these moments?
‘Taina’ was cancelled after delivering 26 episodes between January 2001 and May 11th 2002.
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loved her
I. Loved. This. Show!
Not you giving me Saturday Morning Nostalgia. ????? this was my ish way back when.
Don’t forget her Big sister Lisa Vidal who plays on Being Mary Jane.
Tainaaaa, tainaaaa….. I KNOW I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MA NAME IN LIGHTS!!! ???????? YAS I was living for that salsa theme song! I cried when it got cancelled ????
This was pretty much a That’s So Raven beta. I had a crush on Taina tho. Even tho back then I thought she was Black. I can never tell with Latin people.
Nah, more like a Latino “Moesha”. She’s Afro Latina
This use to be like my favorite show of all time!
Wow….I’m so old lmao
This show was ground breaking because it was soooooo accurate when telling the story of a Nuyorlcan (Puerto Rican from NY)…I loved that cast an Afro Latino as the “Taina” to show the widely ignored shade or complexions of Latinos….It incorporated the Ever present NY performing arts theme with dreams and teenage issues…The music was mix of urban pop, R&B and hip hop dipped in Latin flavor…The supporting cast was great from very urban Latina mother, the hilarious but talented African American best friend (Renee, the homegirl) and the diva, villain who also very talented (Marissa)…I also loved that most of the actor where from NYC and the slang terms/dialogue was rooted in the NYC terminology to give the show the authentic feel …they truly do not make shows like this anymore…half the things they said on this show would be themed inappropriate by parent council but was very in line with the teenage appeal…I totally wish they would reboot this show with another young Afro Latina and some more bangin music centered in NYC!
I loved this show as a kid. Was pissed when it got cancelled.
Maritza was always ready to push through with her power and riffs that lil diva ??
Nice 2001 show and it haven’t been back on air for 16 years never heard of this show before but it seem pretty nice
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