Ice Spice is Getting Her Own Chia Pet Planter

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ice Spice is growing in popularity…

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-nominated rapper is getting her own Chia Pet, the company has announced in conjunction with Chicago lifestyle brand Living Product.

The “Princess Diana” rapper’s terra cotta figurine features her signature orange Afro, where the chia sprouts will take one to two weeks to fully sprout from, her pink hoodie, and $100,000 diamond chain with the cartoon rendering of her face.

“Like my lyrics say, ‘I’m breakin’ records and I’m breakin’ news,’” she said in a statement obtained by Complex. “I’m not sure who stole whose look, but I’m into it and am very excited about this fun partnership. Chia Pet is an iconic brand with a dope jingle — so we have that in common.”

Pio Mio Studios even made an old-school commercial to go along with the Munchkin-approved product.

“My manager Tara is such a beast,” JB Brode, founder and owner of Living Product, told Complex. “She connected us to help design merch for Ice Spice. Ideating around that led us to this lightbulb moment like, ‘Damn, an Ice Spice Chia Pet would be crazy.’ It started as just an idea for a graphic, but we knew that the idea deserved its own moment. We pitched it to Spice’s team, who graciously let us pursue the official collaboration with Chia, and many months and negotiations later here we are. The commercial really brought it full circle for us. Our guys at Pio Mio Studios executed our vision perfectly and it tied everything together beautifully.”

Ice Spice’s Chia Pet costs $34.99 and is available to purchase on Chia.com and Amazon, and it will be available on IceSpiceMusic.com starting Friday.

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Mattel Releases Holiday-Themed Mariah Carey Barbie Doll

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is getting all dolled up for the holidays…

Mattel is releasing a special Barbie doll to celebrate the 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress and Queen of Christmas this holday season.

The Mariah Carey Barbie was released on Friday, November 17 via Mattel Shop and Amazon.

Capturing Carey’s “signature flair and dazzling style,” the doll wears a glittery, trumpet gown with matching red heels. The festive, red dress features ruched overlay with a dramatic slit and sparkly silvery jewelry. The doll also holds a silver microphone and wears a tiny replica of Carey’s butterfly ring.

Carey holds many Hot 100 records. She has had 19 No. 1 hits, the most of any solo artist. She is the artist with the most weeks at No. 1 (91). She is the female songwriter with the most No. 1 hits (18). She is the only artist to reach No. 1 with her first five singles — “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” “I Don’t Wanna Cry” and “Emotions.”

In addition, Carey has made her mark on many other charts. She is the artist with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart (91). She has had 18 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, including six No. 1 albums (Mariah Carey, Music Box, Daydream, Butterfly, The Emancipation of Mimi and E=MC2).

Aaron Dominguez to Star in the Indie Action Thriller “Red Dirt”

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Aaron Dominguez is hitting pay dirt…

The 29-year-old Latino actor, who stars on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, will star in Red Dirt, an indie action thriller from director Crash Buist that has been handed an interim agreement from SAG.

Dominguez is among a cast that includes Melissa Fumero, Alejandro Edda, Sebastian Chacon and Carlos Pratts.

Written by Buist, Jonathan Medina and Lauren Senechal, the film is a family-driven revenge tale about two brothers, Miguel (Dominguez) and Dom (Edda) who are thrust back together after years apart when their family is murdered by cartel gangsters in a New Mexico border town. The brothers are the only surviving members of a family that dies crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Upon doing so, they’re found and cared for by a white couple, Brent and Margaret. The backdrop of their struggle arises with the opposing realities of where they were born and where they are raised. This is reflected in the choices they make as the younger Miguel becomes a cop, and his older brother, Dom, is forced to work in the world of drug trafficking.

Buis and Senechal are producing under their Sthenic Studios banner, alongside Medina. Jamie Ember and Marisa DeFranco handled casting.

In a statement accompanying the project announcement, Buist shared that he’s been “humbled and inspired by the level of talent and innovation in the New Mexico film community, and there is no richer backdrop for the world of Red Dirt.”

Co-writer and producer Senechal praised the film’s “truly…special” cast and the “depth, gravity, and creativity” they’ve brought to their work.

Added Medina: “Beyond excited to bring this latine-led story to life, and support SAG-AFTRA, my fellow writers, crew, teamsters, and everyone involved in our amazing business. The interim agreement works, so we can too!”

Recently appearing in the films Sitting in Bars with Cake and The Inspection from Amazon and A24, respectively, Dominguez is also known for a starring role in the first season of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Among other upcoming projects for the actor is a reimagining of the 1986 horror classic Witchboard from filmmaker Chuck Russell, which sees him starring alongside Madison Iseman and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Known for starring on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Netflix’s comedy series Blockbuster opposite Randall Park, Fumero has also been seen of late on George Lopez series Lopez vs. Lopez, also getting behind the camera to direct episodes of shows like Primo, Shea Serrano and Mike Schur’s hit comedy for Amazon Freevee.

Edda will next be seen starring in Kevin Costner’s Western epic Horizon: An American Saga, having previously been seen in film and TV projects like American Made, The Forever Purge, Narcos: Mexico and Snowfall.

Most recently seen starring in Amazon’s hit series Daisy Jones & The Six and comedic thriller Emergency, Chacon will next appear alongside Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Peter Gallagher and Enrico Colantoni in the thriller Humane.

New Season of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules,” Featuring Tom Sandoval, to Premiere in January

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Will Tom Sandoval SURvive his most recent scandal?

Fans of Vanderpump Rules will learn more about the fallout of the 40-year-old half-Mexican American reality television star and singer’s infamous Scandoval.

Vanderpump Rules will return for Season 11 in January, with the aftermath of Sandoval’s affair with co-star Rachel Leviss expected to get major air time as the former SURvers move on from the event that shook their lives to the core.

With resentments, acceptance and shifting alliances, the group attempts to navigate the lines drawn in the sand while rebuilding friendships, developing their businesses and healing from past relationships.

As star and executive producer Lisa Vanderpump said in the closing moments of the Season 10 reunion finale, “Looking forward, it’s too much process. I hope some [people] can find some forgiveness and some compassion.”

The cast for Season 11 includes Sandoval, Vanderpump, Ariana Madix, James Kennedy, Katie Maloney, Lala Kent, Scheana Shay and Tom Schwartz, along with friends Ally Lewber and Brock Davies.

One person who will not be featured in the new season is Leviss, formerly known as Raquel. Leviss opted to focus on her mental health amid the scandalous headlines the show generated. The former pageant queen was involved in an affair with Sandoval behind Madix’s back for months.

Leviss has since opened up about feeling exploited by Bravo amid the ratings surge of the reality series. In an interview with former Bravo star Bethenny Frankel, Leviss said, “I feel like I’ve been portrayed as the ultimate villain. My mistakes, that I’ve made on camera, live on forever. And you mentioned the addiction of doing reality TV and the way they always dangle that carrot in front of you telling you, ‘You need to tell your side of the story, otherwise it’s going to be written for you.’ And that’s terrifying. So, I almost went back just because of that.”

The reality star added that “the network is running to the bank — like laughing, running to the bank with this scandal and I haven’t seen a single penny,” feeling “like it’s not fair.”

Vanderpump Rules is produced by Amazon MGM Studios-owned Evolution Media with exec producers including Vanderpump, her husband Ken Todd and Alex Baskin.

Jaume Collet-Serra to Direct the Action Thriller “Kate Warne”

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jaume Collet-Serra is back in action…

The 49-year-old Spanish-American film director and producer will direct the action thriller Kate Warne for Amazon, MGM and Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.

Collet-Serra is directing from script by Melissa Stack. Gustin Nash penned the first draft of the film built around Warne, a real-life Sherlock Holmes. She was the first female detective at the Pinkerton Agency and paved the way for future women in law enforcement and forever changed how detective work was done.

Seven Bucks’ Johnson, Hiram and Dany Garcia are producing.

Emily Blunt is also producing for her Ledburry Productions banner, but with an eye to star in the film. There are no current acting deals in place, according to Deadline.

Stack co-wrote Godmothered for Disney with Kari Granlund. Stack also penned The Other Woman for 20th Century Fox. She also wrote and is attached to direct Family Vacation at 20th.

Collet-Serra previously directed Seven Bucks’ Black Adam and Jungle Cruise.

His other credits include The Shallows, Non-Stop, The Commuter and Orphan.

Mauricio Ochmann Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mauricio Ochmann has new representation…

The Mexican actor and Spanish-language star, best known for his roles in telenovelas like Amarte Asi, has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation in all areas.

Ochmann’s credits include El Señor de los Cielos and its spinoff El Chema (Telemundo Network’s highest-rated show),

Ochmann’s feature Friends Till Death (Amigos Hasta La Muerte), in which he starred and produced, debuted this past August in the top 10 on Amazon in the U.S. and was #1 in 30 countries worldwide.

Earlier this year, his film All the Places (A Todas Partes), produced by Sony for Netflix, was #6 among all movies on Netflix U.S. and debuted at #1 across Latin America.

Ochmann recently wrapped season two of the TV show Las Bravas F.C. for HBO Max.

Feature film credits include Y Como Es El, the top-grossing Mexican film of 2022, and Hazlo Como Hombre and Ya Veremos, which also were hits in Mexico.

As a producer, Ochmann has a first-look deal with streamer VIX+, a joint venture between Mexican media giant Televisa and US-based network Univision.

Next up, Ochmann is attached to star in action-comedy Operation Mother’s Day. Ochmann and Larry Robinson are producing with Argentinian director Ariel Winograd attached.

Sarah Shahi Signs with Independent Artist Group & Untitled Entertainment

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sarah Shahi is under new representation (and management).

The 43-year-old part-Spanish actress has signed with agency Independent Artist Group while inking a deal with Untitled Entertainment for management at the same time.

Shahi, who most recently starred in the hit Amazon Prime Video film Red, White & Royal Blue, is perhaps best known for leading Stacy Rukeyser’s show Sex/Life. She portrayed Billie Connelly, a Connecticut mother of two suffering a midlife crisis, whose wild child past winds up on a collision course with her very married present.

Inspired by BB Easton’s novel 44 Chapters About 4 Men, the drama wrapped up a two-season run in March.

Shahi’s Red, White & Royal Blue, based on Casey McQuiston’s bestseller, debuted as the streamer’s No. 1 movie globally in August and ultimately became one of its three most-watched rom-coms of all time.

Directed by Matthew Lopez, the film examines the complications that ensue when a romance blossoms between the son of the U.S. President (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine). Shahi portrays Zahra Bankston, the deputy chief of staff for POTUS Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman).

Last fall, Shahi last starred opposite Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, which came in at No. 1 at the domestic box office for three straight weeks. In the superhero flick, which grossed close to $400 million globally, she portrayed Adriana, a university professor and freedom fighter who fights alongside Black Adam to restore freedom to her country.

She also received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Rachel Behnam, a street-smart investigator for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, in Showtime’s City on a Hill.

Her additional credits include series like The Rookie, Chicago Fire, Person of Interest and The L Word, along with the films For Your Consideration and Old School.

Shahi continues to be represented by attorney Lev Ginsburg of Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.

Feid to Perform as Part of Post-Thursday Night Football Concert Series “Amazon Music Live”

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a touchdown for Feid.

Amazon Music Live will return for season 2 with performances from several artists, including the 31-yea-old Colombian singer and songwriter.

Hosted by 2 Chainz, Amazon Music’s weekly livestreamed concert series, which is broadcast after Thursday Night Football will have performances starting September 21 at 9:00 pm PT with artists including Feid, Ed Sheeran, Lil Durk and more.

Amazon Music Live will broadcast live from Los Angeles and air on Prime Video and Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.

Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, Anuel AA, A$AP Rocky, Anitta and 21 Savage performed during season 1 of Amazon Music Live.

“We created Amazon Music Live to bring sports and music fans together on Thursday nights for a brand-new, can’t-miss event celebrating new music after the biggest game of the week,” said Ryan Redington, GM of Amazon Music. “Available to fans around the world on Prime Video and Twitch, AML became a massive new stage for artists to share their culture-defining new music after Thursday Night Football, and this year we’re going even bigger.”

Sheeran will kick off season 2 on September 21, just a week before he releases his seventh studio album Autumn Variations, due September 29. \

Feid will perform September 28, the night before he drops his new album Mor No Le Temas a la Oscuridad.

And Lil Durk will perform on Oct. 5.

More artists across all genres will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Join me each week when I’m turning Thursday night into music’s main stage with Amazon Music Live,” 2 Chainz said. “We’re returning to your screens live after Thursday Night Football with even more new music, more album drops and more wild performances than ever before. Amazon Music Live is the only place to be after the big game. Tune in and turn up.”

Taylor Zakhar Perez’s “Red, White & Royal Blue” Becomes Prime Video’s No. 1 Film Globally in Its Premiere Weekend

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Zakhar Perez’s latest project is a Primetime hit…

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American model and actor’s romantic comedy Red, White & Royal Blue, an adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s bestselling novel, has become the No. 1 film globally on Prime Video in its premiere weekend.

The film, which launched on Amazon Prime Video on August 11, is now among Prime Video’s top three most-watched romantic comedies of all time, according to Amazon, which wouldn’t disclose the two other films Red, White & Royal Blue would be joining in the top

Amazon is also touting “a huge surge in new Prime membership signups” due to the film’s release. The company didn’t say how they determined this, though this generally measured as the title was the first one an account watched after subscribing to a streaming service.

“The phenomenal debut of Red, White & Royal Blueis a true testament to the entertaining and inspired storytelling led by the creative minds behind it. Matthew López, McQuiston, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and the entire talented filmmaking team hit it out of the park,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios. “We are so proud of this delightful, heartwarming film and could not be more thrilled with the response from fans–existing and new.”

Red, White & Royal Blue centers around Alex and Prince Henry who have a lot in common: Stunning good looks, undeniable charisma, international popularity … and a total disdain for each other. Separated by an ocean, their long-running feud hasn’t really been an issue, until a disastrous—and very public—altercation at a royal event becomes tabloid fodder, driving a potential wedge in U.S./British relations at the worst possible time.

Going into damage-control mode, their families and handlers force the two rivals into a staged “truce.” But as Alex and Henry’s icy relationship unexpectedly begins to thaw into a tentative friendship, the friction that existed between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.

The film adaptation is directed by López who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ted Malawer.

Red, White & Royal Blue also stars Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, Ellie Bamber, Thomas Flynn, Malcolm Atobrah, Akshay Khanna, Sharon D Clarke, Aneesh Sheth and Juan Castano.

Ana María Orozco to Reprise Iconic Betty Role in “Betty La Fea” Sequel

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana María Orozco is preparing for an Ugly return…

The 50-year-old Colombian actress will reprise her role in Betty La Fea, a sequel to the hit Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, La Fea.

But Orozco, who portrayed Beatriz “Betty” Aurora Pinzón Solano in the original, won’t be the only person making a return in the sequel.

Jorge Enrique Abello, who portrayed Eco Moda CEO Armando Mendoza Sáenz, will also reprise his iconic role in Betty La Fea, which will debut on Amazon’s Prime Video in 2024.

Produced by Colombia’s Estudios RCN for Prime Video, the third season of the series picks up Betty’s story 20 years later when she’s a successful woman, mother and wife.

Still married to Armando (Abello) and trying to rebuild her relationship with her adolescent daughter, she battles the economic crisis of her family company and wonders whether the path she has chosen in life has really made her happy.

Directed by Mauricio Cruz Fortuna, Betty la Fea is written by Marta Betoldi, Juan Carlos Pérez and César Betancur.

The original series is hailed as the most successful telenovela of all time, having sold worldwide and spawning 20 remakes, the latest in South Africa.

The series’ overnight success was a testament to Orozco’s endearing performance and the talent of its creator, the late Fernando Gaitan, who imbued its characters with such universal humanity that they still resonate with young generations two and a half decades later. Rebelliously tender Betty transformed the world around her and with her Gaitan found a poignant twist to the Ugly Duckling trope.

“This is, I think, an homage to Fernando’s work. I’ve witnessed how this incredible writer’s room has taken his legacy and we’ve tried with immense care and respect to live up to the task. It is a huge challenge but I think we are in good hands,” Orozco commented.

She added “Even though Betty was so advanced for its time, there’s many elements that are very much from its time, from our culture, from our idiosyncrasy, issues that now, 20 years later we can address, to have a dialogue with a modern audience. I feel that her essence hasn’t changed but precisely because of this Betty surely poses many questions, She is now more mature, but life for a woman in her forties is never an easy challenge.”

“Yo soy Betty, la fea had a healthy energy, and the character an enormous impact on conventional beauty codes which explains why it became a global franchise with which all women can relate,” said Francisco Morales, who leads Prime Video’s team of contents strategy and acquisitions for Latin America.

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