Oz Rodriguez Signs Two-Year Producing Deal with Universal Television

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There are more Universal projects in Oz Rodriguez’s future…

The Latino Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live director has signed an exclusive two-year producing deal with Universal Television.

Rodriguez has been with SNL since 2013, first directing Digital Shorts. He went on to become head of the film unit, and won an Emmy for his behind-the-scenes series Creating SNL.

He’s next set to direct all six episodes of SNL star Michael Che’s new HBO Max sketch series from Universal Television.

“We feel so lucky to be solidifying our relationship with Oz, who has been in the family for many years and has played a key role in our success,” said Jim Donnelly, Universal Television EVP of Comedy Development. “He brings a creative vision and distinct visual style to every project he is involved in, and we couldn’t be more excited for all that’s to come.”

Rodriguez just wrapped the pilot of AMC’s Kevin Can F***k Himself. He directed the pilot and multiple episodes of AP Bio, in addition to the Kal Penn/Mike Schur pilot Sunnyside, both for NBC, as well as episodes of Last Man on Earth for Fox, Detroiters for Comedy Central, Shrill for Hulu, and Mixed-ish for ABC.

He most recently directed NBC & Peacock’s 30 Rock reunion, which aired on July 16.

On the film side, Rodriguez wrote and directed Vampires vs. the Bronx for Universal and Broadway Video, which premiered on Netflix earlier this month.

“I am very excited to continue my partnership with Universal Television,” said Rodriguez. “The studio has been my home for the last eight years, starting with my first season of Saturday Night Live. There are so many opportunities at the studio right now and we have a chance to tell stories that reflect characters that have been missing from television for far too long. It feels great to keep this creative partnership going with the studio that gave me my first big break.”

Pinzon to Star in Fox’s Comedy Pilot “Amy’s Brother”

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Pinzon is ready to assist…

The Latino actor has been cast as a series regular in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Amy’s Brother.

Pinzon, who most recently starred in Mystery Girls, will star opposite Ursula Parker and Annie Mumolo in the comedy project, which is being produced by the husband-and-wife duo of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone and Warner Bros Television.

Written and co-executive produced by Jim Cashman and Mitch Silpa, and directed by Beth McCarthy Miller, Amy’s Brother is about an unconventional family that is formed when a successful type-A man, Matthew, and his estranged sister, Amy (Mumolo), and her two children find themselves not only back in one another’s lives but also living under one roof.

Pinzon will portray Josh, Amy’s brother Matthew’s extremely devoted assistant at the real estate office.

Pinzon was nominated for Choice TV Breakout Star: Male at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards for starring as Nick opposite Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth on ABC Family’s Mystery Girls sitcom.

He also guest-starred on Young & Hungry, 30 Rock and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Richie to Star on NBC’s Upcoming Comedy Series “Great News”

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a little Great News for Nicole Richie…

The 34-year-old part-Mexican American television personality and fashionista will star in NBC‘s forthcoming comedy Great News in a recasting, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Inspired by the life of Tracey Wigfield, the comedy centers on a mother-daughter relationship that is challenged when an overly involved New Jersey mom (Andrea Martin) interns at her daughter’s (Briga Heelan) workplace, a cable news network.

The Simple Life alum has been tapped to play Portia, the role originally played by Kimrie Lewis-Davis in the pilot.

Producers are said to have wanted to go in a different direction with the role. Portia is the hip, young co-host of The Breakdown, the cable news show within Great News. Sometimes a shrewd social media genius, sometimes a clueless idiot, Portia has little interest in her older co-host’s (John Michael Higgins) hard-hitting traditional vision for the show.

Written by Wigfield, the 30 Rock alum exec produces the Universal Television single-camera comedy alongside Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

Beth McCarthy Miller directed the pilot for the series, which is due to bow midseason.

It’s Richie’s first scripted series-regular television role following reality television work on The Simple Life and Candidly Nicole as well as guest-acting appearances on NBC’s Chuck, The New Normal and Fox‘s Empire.

Garcia Swisher to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “The Kicker”

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Joanna Garcia Swisher’s career is getting a big kick(er)…

The 36-year-old half-Cuban American actress will co-star opposite Geoff Stults and David Spade in CBS’ The Kicker, a multi-camera comedy pilot from the 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt trio of Tina Fey, Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock.

Written by Burditt, The Kicker centers on Daryl Thorkelsonan (Stults), an oddball athlete who drives family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team.

Swisher will play Bambi, Daryl’s (Stults) intelligent and patient wife and a physical therapist to pro athletes. Spade plays Russ Thorkelson, Daryl’s (Stults) brother and sports agent.

Swisher recently co-starred on ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club and recurs as Ariel on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

Molina to Star in Paramount Pictures’ Untitled Tina Fey-Margot Robbie Project

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina is about to do the Taliban Shuffle…

The 61-year-old half-Spanish actor has signed on to appear in Paramount Pictures’ Untitled Tina Fey–Margot Robbie–Martin Freeman project.

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the film is based on the autobiography The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker. The book is being adapted by 30 Rock scribe Robert Carlock.

Production has already started in New Mexico.

Molina joins a cast that includes Billy Bob Thornton, Sheila Vand, Christopher Abbott, Nicholas Braun, Stephen Peacocke and Evan Jonigkeit.

Molina most recently appeared on the big screen in the drama Love is Strange.

Campanella to Direct the USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Colony”

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Juan José Campanella is joining a colony…

The 55-year-old Argentine filmmaker, who won the foreign language Oscar winner for The Secret In Their Eyes, is set to direct the USA Network’s drama pilot Colony.

Starring former Lost co-star Josh Holloway, the family drama/thriller centers on life in Los Angeles after a mysterious “foreign” occupation. Holloway will play the main character, Will Bowman, a former FBI agent who — to protect his family — is forced to collaborate with the occupational government to bring down the growing resistance movement inside the Los Angeles colony.

Colony, written and executive produced by Lost executive producer/showrunner Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal, is a co-production between Legendary Television and Universal Cable Productions.

Campanella’s other credits include directing episodes of Halt and Catch Fire, House MD, 30 Rock and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Herrera Leads the Pack of Latino Fashion Designers Dressing the Stars at the Golden Globes

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carolina Herrera may not have attended this year’s Golden Globes… But her presence was definitely felt on the red carpet.

The 75-year-old Venezuelan fashion designer dressed several of today’s hottest starlets for Sunday’s 71s Annual Golden Globe Awards, including this year’s hostess with the mostess Tina Fey.

Here’s a look at some of Herrera’s most eye-catching dresses of the night…

Everything was coming up roses for Fey on the red carpet. The former 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live star turned heads in Herrera’s black and red rose printed dress. She paired the princess-like dress with jewelry by Fred Leighton and Brian Atwood shoes.

During the live telecast, Fey returned in another Herrera gown, a form-fitting, embellished maroon look. The SNL alum, wearing her hair down, accessorized the dress with jewels by Lorraine Schwartz and Brian Atwood shoes.

Meanwhile, Modern Family star Julie Bowen donned a red and purple velvet dress by Herrera. The actress paired the dynamic dress with Jimmy Choo heels, and Jacob & Co jewels.

Lastly, pop-country singing sensation Taylor Swift, nominated for Best Original Song or her song “Sweeter Than Fiction” from the film One Chance, chose an Herrera gown in her favorite color, Red, which happens to be the name of her latest Grammy-nominated album.

Swift completed her look with Christian Louboutin shoes, a Jimmy Choo clutch, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

But Herrera wasn’t the only Hispanic fashion designer represented on the red carpet…

Two-time nominee Juila Louis-Dreyfus picked a red-hot Narcisco Rodriguez dress for the night’s festivities.

Dreyfus paired the custom-designed, scarlet-hued, crepe gown with antique gold and pearl jewels by Fred Leighton.

Last but certainly not least, Oscar de la Renta dressed two beauties for this year’s Golden Globes.

Michelle Dockery in Oscar de la Renta

First up, Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery in a strapless gown from the 81-year-old Dominican fashion designer’s 2013 collection.

The dress, which featured gold speckled detail, fell shorter at the front, showing off Dockery’s simple satin heels.

Zooey Deschanel in Oscar de la Renta

And New Girl star Zooey Deschanel’s de la Renta dress has been described as “vintage glam” with a “modern-day edge.”

The kitschy dress featured a crop top, mullet hem and oh-so-sparkly embroidery.

Brühl Earns His First SAG Award Nomination

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s a SAG for Daniel Brühl…

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actor has earned the first SAG Award nomination of his career.

Brühl earned his nod in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category for his portrayal of real-life racing legend Niki Lauda in Ron Howard‘s Formula One racing drama Rush, which centers on the rivalry between drivers James Hunt (portrayed by Chris Hemsworth) and Lauda.

But Brühl isn’t the only Latino nominee this year…

Michael Peña and Louis C.K. have earned a nomination in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category, along with their co-stars from David O. Russell‘s fictional film based on the 1970s Abscam scandal American Hustle.

Mariah Carey has earned the second Screen Actors Guild Awards nod of her career. The 44-year-old singer/actress and her co-stars from Lee Daniels’ The Butler, including Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker, are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category. Carey had previously been nominated in the same category for being part of the cast of Precious.

Sofia Vergara and Rico Rodriguez will be gunning for their fourth straight Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The onscreen mother and son and their Modern Family cast mates will face off against the casts of 30 Rock, Arrested Development, The Big Bang Theory and Veep.

Morena Baccarin, meanwhile, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with her Homeland co-stars.

The nominations for the 20th annual SAG Awards were announced this morning at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood by Rizzoli & Isles’ Sasha Alexander and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Clark Gregg.

Winners will be revealed at the SAG Awards ceremony on January 18 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS.

Here are the nominations featuring Latinos:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl, Rush
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Dallas Buyers Club
Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Television Programs

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
BREAKING BAD (AMC)
DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
HOMELAND (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Netflix)
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
VEEP (HBO)

Thomas Gives Birth to Her First Child

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Hilaria Thomas has given birth to her first child…

The 28-year-old Spanish-born yoga instructor and her actor husband Alec Baldwin welcomed a baby girl into the world on Friday.

“We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our daughter Carmen Gabriela. She is absolutely perfect,” tweeted Thomas on Friday night.

Hilaria, a lifestyle correspondent for Extra, met the 30 Rock actor in February 2011 at a New York restaurant.

“I was standing near the door with my friends when he walked up and took my hand and said, ‘I must know you,’” she had recalled in a New York Times wedding announcement.

The couple wed at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City in June 2012. They announced their pregnancy in February during a special that aired on Extra.

It’s the first child for the couple. Baldwin has another daughter, Ireland, from his previous marriage to Kim Basinger. “I was born October 23. Carmen was born Friday, August 23,” wrote Ireland on Twitter this Friday.

AMC Orders the Campanella-Directed “Halt & Catch Fire” Pilot to Series

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Juan José Campanella’s latest project catches fire at AMC…

AMC has picked up the scripted series Halt & Catch Fire. Set in the early 1980s, the series dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate giants of the time. Their personal and professional partnership will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas’ Silicon Prairie. It stars Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis.

The pilot was helmed by the 54-year-old Argentine film and television director. His directing credits include House MD, 30 Rock and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Halt & Catch Fire stars Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis.

In 2009, Campanella won a Goya Award and an Academy Award for directing the Spanish-Language film El secreto de sus ojos.

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