Higareda Signs on for Televisa USA’s Scripted Action Drama Series “Coma”

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Martha Higareda is preparing for double-duty on Televisa USA’s new project.

The 30-year-old Mexican actress will executive produce and star in Televisa USA’s scripted action drama series Coma.

Described as an hourlong action drama with sci-fi elements, Coma focuses on 10,000 comatose patients around the world who in the course of three days suddenly wake up fighting for their lives. Inexplicably, they all have the same message: Stop Ian Wallace, the man they say will be responsible for starting World War III.

Higareda will portray Dr. Victoria Neves in the pilot.

The division of Televisa, a subsidiary of Spanish-language producer-distributor Grupo Televisa, acquired the spec series written by Francesco Papini and Noé Santillán López.

Televisa USA will shop the series to broadcast, cable and digital outlets including Netflix and Amazon.

The deal comes as Televisa USA continues its push into original scripted fare. The banner co-produces ABC Family‘s Chasing Lifeas well as Lifetime‘s Devious Maids.

Carra Cast in ABC Family’s Drama Pilot “Recovery Road”

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alexis Carra is on the road to recovery…

The Spanish, Cuban and Argentinian-American actress has been cast in the ABC Family drama pilot Recovery Road.

Based on Blake Nelson’s novel about a teenage girl dealing with addiction, the project centers on party girl high school student Maddie Graham (portrayed by Samantha Logan) who spends her nights at a rehab facility.

Carra, who most recently starred on ABC’s sitcom Mixology, will portray Cynthia McDermott, the high school guidance counselor who discovers Maddie’s problem and sends her to rehab. For obvious reasons, she and Maddie have a contentious relationship.

Sebastian De Souza, best known for his roles in the UK’s Skins and Showtime’s The Borgias, will play the mysterious, bad-boy type Wes Stewart, another patient in rehab to whom Maddie is immediately attracted.

The script for Recovery Road was written by Bert V. Royal and Karen DiConcetto.

Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Developing “Rated P for Parenthood” for ABC Family

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos may soon be bringing Rated P programming to ABC Family…

The network has put in development Rated P for Parenthood, a half-hour musical comedy chronicling the stages of modern-day parenting from the 43-year-old half-Mexican actor and his wife Kelly Ripa’s Milojo Prods. and writer-actress Jamie Denbo.

ABC Signature, the cable division of ABC Studios, is producing Rated P For Parenthood, which is based on the stage musical comedy of the same name created by Sandy Rustin, with music and lyrics by Dan Lipton and David Rossmer, which had an off-Broadway run in 2012.

Denbo will write the adaptation and executive-produce the project with Ripa and Consuelos.

In the spirit of Girls, Avenue Qand Parenthood, Rated P is an irreverent (musical) peek into the struggles of parenting in the age of parents who all still feel much closer to being kids themselves. And in many ways, still are.

Milojo is gearing up production on a new series for Logo, Secret Guide To Fabulous Living. Two digital projects, Unstoppable Moms and La Familia De Hoy have premiered online in recent months, with another, 30 Things for Conde Nast Entertainment’s Glamour channel, in the beginning stages of production.

Santos to Star Opposite Bella Thorne in CBS Films’ Teen Comedy “The DUFF”

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Bianca Santos is heading back to high school…

The Cuban- and Brazilian-American actress has joined the cast of CBS Films’ upcoming teen comedy The DUFF, which will also star Bella Thorne.

Directed by Ari Sandel, the film is an adaptation of the Kody Keplinger’s young adult novel The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend).

Mae Whitman stars in the comedy about contented high schooler named Bianca, whose world is shattered when she discovers the student body knows her as ‘The Duff’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). She reinvents herself, setting out to overthrow the school’s reigning queen bee.

Santos,who starred on the first season ofABC Family’s The Fosters, will portray one of Bianca’s more popular friends.

Thorne will star as Bianca’s ruthless rival Madison.

Ken Jeong is set to play her favorite teacher, with Nick Eversman playing Bianca’s crush and Robbie Amell as a slick and charming jock she enlists for her grand scheme.

Josh Cagan adapted the script from Keplinger’s novel.

ABC to Preview Aguilera’s “Chasing Life” Two Weeks Early

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It appears Augusto Aguilera’s close-up will come earlier than previously planned…

ABC Family has announced it will make Chasing Life, which stars the Latino up-and-comer,available two weeks ahead of its television debut.

Based on the Mexican telenovela Terminales, Chasing Life follows an aspiring journalist, 24-year-old April Carver (portrayed by Italia Ricci), who finds out she has terminal cancer.

Aguilera portrays Kieran, a bad-boy slacker who is actually an extremely intelligent and educated young man.

Beginning Tuesday, the first episode of the series will be available for preview on the free WATCH ABC Family app through Monday, June 9. Additionally, the premiere can be viewed early on-demand through participating television providers starting Tuesday, June 3. The show’s official Facebook page also will show the episode, beginning Sunday, June 8.

It’s common for networks to debut new shows on digital platforms before they make their respective premieres on TV. Most recently AMC teamed with Tumblrto offer consumers an early look at the 1980s tech drama Halt and Catch Fire prior to its June 1 kickoff.

In addition to Aguilera and Ricci, the series also stars Mary Page Keller, Aisha Dee, Richard Brancatisano and Haley Ramm, along with Scott Michael Foster, Steven Weber, Rebecca Schull and Andy Mientus.

Chasing Life, a Lionsgate/Televisa production, debuts Tuesday, June 10 at 9 p.m. on ABC Family.

Gomez Cast as a Series Regular on ABC Family’s Drama Pilot “Stitchers”

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

A stitcher in time saves Félix Gómez…

The 36-year-old Spanish actor has been cast as a series regular on ABC Family’s drama pilot Stitchers.

Written by Jeffrey A. Schechter, Stitchers follows a young woman recruited into a covert government agency to be “stitched” into the minds of the recently deceased, using their memories to investigate murders and decipher mysteries that otherwise would have gone to the grave.

Gómez will play college professor Dr. Jerome Smallwood, who teaches a grad course in computer science, in which Kirsten and her roommate, Camille, are students.

Smallwood is smart and good at his job, but he’s no match for Kirsten, who can out-hack him and out-think him.

Gómez, a popular actor in Spain, most recently appeared on the Spanish television series as “Los misterios de Laura.”

Celaya to Star in ABC Family’s Tennis-Themed Drama Pilot “Unstrung”

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Chanel Celaya is getting unstrung…

The part-Mexican actress has been cast in ABC Family’s tennis-themed drama pilot Unstrung, which will be directed by Jay Karas.

English actor Alex Roe’s first stateside role will be as a once-in-a-generation phenom in Unstrung, which is set on the pro tennis tour where brother and sister Luke (Roe) and Ellie Holt (Celaya) compete to move up the ranks. The Holts seem to have it all, but when Luke discovers that his well-meaning but controlling father andcoach has kept a potentially life-altering secret from him, Luke’s world is upended.

Celaya, a Hollywood newcomer, starred in 21 Jump Street, as well as on television in The Inbetweeners. She recently wrapped a role as Cate on Transformers: Age of Extinction, which is in post-production.

Lopez’s “The Fosters” to be Recognized at the Television Academy Honors

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is earning praise from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences…

The Television Academy has announced this year’s honorees for the Seventh Annual Television Academy Honors, with the 44-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer/television producer’s The Fosters making the grade.

The ABC Family drama series, executive-produced by Lopez, is being heralded for carving its own niche within the ever-evolving landscape of modern television.

The show centers on a multi-ethnic family of foster and biological kids being raised by a lesbian couple (Teri Polo and Sherri Saum). They have built a close-knit, loving family when their lives are disrupted in unexpected ways by the addition of a hardened teen girl who has spent her life in the foster care system.

The series stars Jake T. Austin and Cierra Ramirez as two of the couple’s adopted children.

The other programs being recognized are The Big C: Hereafter, Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House Of God, Mom, Screw You Cancer and Vice.

The Television Academy Honors recipients are being honored for using the power of television to bring awareness to important social issues.

For the first time this year, beginning the week of May 25, the recipients will be celebrated with special daily content on the Television Academy’s digital platforms and on Yahoo TV.

Dana Delany will host the awards ceremony set for June 1 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Bridges Joins the Cast of the CW’s “Pretty Little Liars”

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Chloe Bridges is one pretty little liar…

The 22-year-old half-Honduran American actress has booked a recurring role on the ABC Family drama Pretty Little Liars, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Bridges, who co-starred in The CW‘s The Carrie Diaries as Donna Ladonna, will portray Sydney Driscoll, the newest member of the swim team, who befriends Emily (Shay Mitchell).

She’ll appear in multiple episodes of Pretty Little Liar‘s upcoming fifth run, first in the third episode of the season.

Bridges, who was a series regular on both seasons of The Carrie Diaries — the fate of which remains on the bubble at The CW — has appeared in features Mantervention, Queen Freak and Nightlight, and as a series regular on ABC‘s short-lived Freddie Prinze, Jr.-starrer Freddie.

Her television credits include episodes of New Girl, Suburgatory, 90210 and George Lopez.

Pretty Little Liars returns for its fifth season on June 10.

Lopez to Receive Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Vanguard moment for Jennifer Lopez…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer-actress and American Idol judge will be feted at the GLAAD Media Awards next month, the LGBT advocacy organization announced Monday.

Lopez, an executive producer on ABC Family’s The Fosters, will be recognized with the Vanguard Award at the ceremony, which will take place at the Beverly Hilton on April 12.

The Vanguard Award is presented to artists and media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Along with her strong support of LGBT issues in the media, Lopez is being recognized for her work on The Fosters, a GLAAD Media Award-nominated drama series about a lesbian couple raising a family of biological, adopted and foster children. Lopez’s inspiration for producing The Fosters came from her late aunt, who faced prejudice because of her sexual orientation and was unable to have her own family.

“Through her work to bring The Fosters to life and by consistently speaking out as a powerful ally, Jennifer Lopez has not only sent a message of acceptance to LGBT adults and young people, but inspired new support for our community among her many fans around the globe,” said GLAAD CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis. “Family is about love, and that’s a message Jennifer has shared with millions through her groundbreaking work on The Fosters.”

Previous Vanguard honorees include Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Kristin Chenoweth, Whoopi Goldberg, Josh Hutcherson, Janet Jackson, Eric McCormack, Liza Minnelli, Sharon Stone and Elizabeth Taylor.

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