Ortiz to Guest Star on TBS’ “The Guest Book”

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz has signed in…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor will guest star on TBS’ The Guest Book, the new 10-episode comedy series from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia.

The Guest Book emerged from Garcia’s habit of writing fictitious stories in the guest books of various rental cabins in an effort to freak out the next renters. Now he is bringing some of those stories to life on screen centering on the vacation home Froggy Cottage and its visitors. While the house and cast of characters living in this small mountain town remain the same, each episode will feature a different set of vacationing guests.

The anthology-style show, written by Garcia and executive produced by him and Alix Jaffe, will premiere in August.

It will star Kellie Martin (Army Wives), Charlie Robinson (Hart of Dixie), Aloma Wright (Suits), Carly Jibson (Broadway’s Hairspray), Lou Wilson (Tween Fest), Garret Dillahunt (The Mindy Project), Laura Bell Bundy (Scream Queens) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl).

Martin will play Officer Kimberly Leahy, who serves on the police force in the small mountain town of Mount Trace. Robinson is Wilfrid, an easygoing, friendly gentleman who manages a group of mountain rental cottages with his wife, Emma, played by recurring guest star Wright. Jibson is Vivian, a tough, strong-willed woman who runs a bikini bar called Chubbys with her stepson Frank, played by Wilson.

In addition to Ortiz, other guest stars include Danny Pudi (Community), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the new Black), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Michael Rapaport (Sully), Kate Micucci (Raising Hope), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Stockard Channing (The Good Wife), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), David Zayas (Gotham), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Margo Martindale (The Good Wife) and Stephnie Weir (The Comedians).

Diaz to Star on the Second Season of CBS’ Drama Series “Zoo”

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a zoo out there for Alyssa Diaz…

The Colombian and Mexican American actress has been cast as a series regular on the second season of CBS’ summer drama series Zoo.

Based on the No. 1 bestseller by James Patterson, the series from CBS Television Studios, is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans across the planet.

Diaz will portray Dariela, part of a military unit that encounters a strange and troubling new development in the animal mutation.

Diaz has had recurring roles on Ray Donovan, The Vampire Diaries and The Nine Lives of Chloe King, and she played Gloria on Army Wives.

Martinez Joins Cast of USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Queen Of The South”

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

The compass is pointing south for James Martinez…

The Latino actor has joined the cast of USA Network’s drama pilot Queen Of The South.

Based on the popular telenovela La Reina Del Sur, series centers on Teresa Mendoza (portrayed by Alice Braga), who’s forced to go on the run when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico.

Martinez will recur as Gato Fierros, a right-hand man of drug lord Cesar Guemes, who seems to delight in making his victims suffer before he does away with them.

His previous television credits include appearances on Elementary, Beauty and the Beast, Unforgettable, Blue Bloods, Army Wives and Breaking Bad.

Soria to Appear in Recurring Role on USA Network’s Drama “Complications”

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There are a few complications in Joseph Julian (J.J.) Soria’s future…

The 28-year-old Latino actor, best known for his role as Private First Class Hector Cruz on the Lifetime series Army Wives, has landed a recurring role on the USA Network’s Complications.

From Burn Notice creator Matt Nix and Fox Television Studios, the drama series centers on John Ellison (portrayed by Jason O’Mara), a disillusioned suburban ER doctor who finds his existence transformed when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life and killing one of his attackers.

Soria will play Alvarez, a Superior Lieutenant of the Nortenos Locos and a man you simply don’t mess with.

His previous television credits include The Shield, CSI: Miami, Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, Bones and The Closer.

Ashanti & Rick Ross Film Music Video for Their “I Got It” Collaboration

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Oh boy! Ashanti isn’t afraid to show the world she’s “got it!”

The 33-year-old part-Dominican American R&B singer/actress joined forces with Rick Ross to film the music video for their collaboration, “I Got It.”

Ashanti, who starred on the final season of Lifetime’s Army Wives series, was spotted cozying up to the rapper at The Bank Lounge in Miami this past week.

In a photo posted on Ross’ Twitter page, Ashanti dons a black leather corset dress and knee-high boots. Ross, meanwhile, sports his signature black sunglasses while standing beside her.

“Ashanti lookin like $$.. Video coming soon,” he captioned the pic.

Also spotted on the set were DJ Khaled and the song’s producer L.T. Hutton. It’s not clear whether or not they’ll appear in the upcoming video.

“I Got It” is lifted from Ashanti’s long-delayed new album BraveHeart. Originally scheduled to be released last year, the singer’s fifth studio set is now slated to arrive on February 18 via her own record label Written Entertainment.

Ashanti to be Featured on First Lady Michelle Obama “Songs for a Healthier America”

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Ashanti will be makin’ music with First Lady Michelle Obama…

The 32-year-old part-Dominican American singer/actress, who recently starred on Lifetime’s Army Wives, will form part of a hip-hop album from the first lady and non-profit organization Partnership for A Healthier America aimed at inspiring healthy living among our youth.

Entitled Songs for a Healthier America, the 19-track rap album due in September is part of Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which aims to fight childhood obesity.

Along with Ashanti, the record will include tracks featuring Jordin Sparks, Run DMC, Ariana Grande and Blink-182‘s Travis Barker.

Mrs. Obama herself won’t be heard on any of the tracks but she will be making cameos in the music videos, with a total of ten clips to be created for the album, which will first be released to New York schools before being distributed to other major cities.

The first track, “Everybody“, featuring Sparks, Doug E. Fresh, Ryan Beatty, Artie Green and Dr. Mehmet Oz, was already released back in June as a free download and its music video can similarly be found online.

The positive message as well as the bouncy beat of the track, not to mention the spoken word feature from the First Lady highlighting the second year of her “Let’s Move” initiative, calling on everyone to spread the word is a fitting lead track for the well-intentioned project.

Lending some of his valuable support to the First Lady’s pet project is President Barack Obama himself, who has, in the past, made appearances and even sung publicly to help promote the program.

Rodriguez Cast in Fox’s “Wild Blue” Drama Pilot

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is headed into the wild blue (yonder)…

The Puerto Rican actress has been cast as the female lead in Fox’s Navy drama pilot Wild Blue, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project, which has been described as a mix between ER, The West Wing and Top Gun, centers on the men and women working aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. Equipped with a 500-foot landing strip, a nuclear reactor and 6,000 military personnel on board, the drama takes a closer look at stressful lives of the Navy’s elite.

Rodriguez, who was recently cast in the film Marching Banda, will portray Pilar “Maytag” Robles, an overachiever seemingly born to be a Naval open aviator. She’s described as athletic and graceful but by no means a pushover who is smart, driven and unafraid to fight for what she believes is right and fair.

Rodriguez, who starred opposite the late Jenni Rivera in Filly Brown, has previously appeared in Army Wives, Happy Endings and The Mentalist.

She joins a cast that includes Battle: Los Angeles’ Will Rotthaar, The Carrie Diaries’ Josh Salatin, Alano Miller and Damages’ Mykelti Williamson.

Colon to Star in CBS’ “Jacked Up” Pilot

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Ziah Colon is all jacked up for her next Hollywood project…

The Puerto Rican actress has landed a role in CBS’ comedy pilot Jacked Up.

Colon, who had a breakout role in the 2011 Footloose remake, will star opposite Patrick Warburton in the Sony Television project.

Direct by Fred Savage and written by Greg Malins, Jacked Up revolves around Jack (Warburton) a beloved, recently retired baseball player who finds that adjusting to retirement isn’t as easy as he thought it’d be.

Colon will portray Myra, Jack’s recently hired housekeeper. Having lived life on the road for 20 years, Jack doesn’t know how to lead a normal life, so he often asks for Myra’s insight and advice.

Colon, who starred in last year’s Joyful Noise, has previously appeared in guest-starring roles on Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives.

First Episodes of “Army Wives” Featuring Ashanti to Air in March

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Ashanti will be (Army) ready for her close-up in March…

The 32-year-old part-Dominican singer/actress, who joined the cast as a series regular on Lifetime’s Army Wives last month, will make her first appearance on the show on March 10.

Arm Wives, now in its seventh season, went through a creative mini-revamp after last season, with several new characters — played by Ashanti, Torrey DeVitto and Elle McLemore — added as regulars.

In her first series regular role, Ashanti will play Latasha Durant, an optimistic mother of three, a sexy, fun woman who knows how to keep a husband – and how to keep him in line.

Army Wives will premiere March 10 at 9:00 pm ET. It’ll serve as the lead-in to the Season 2 premiere of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s drama The Client List.

Ashanti to Star on Lifetime’s “Army Wives” Next Season

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s ten-hut time for Ashanti …

The 32-year-old part-Dominican singer/actress is joining the cast of Lifetime’s Army Wives for its upcoming seventh season.

Ashanti – who joins the cast as a series regular – will play Latasha Durant, an optimistic mother of three, a sexy, fun woman who knows how to keep a husband – and how to keep him in line.

It’s the first series regular role for Ashanti, whose previous television credits include appearances on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Las Vegas.

She’s also appeared on film in the John Tucker Must Die, Coach Carter and Resident Evil Extinction.

Filming on Army Wives’ seventh season will begin in mid-December in Charleston, South Carolina.

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