Garcia to Direct CBS’ Untitled Mexican American Cop Family Drama Pilot

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo Garcia has a new Latino-themed project to work on…

The 57-year-old Colombian television and film director is set to direct CBS’ Mexican American cop family drama pilot.

Written by Homicide creator Paul Attanasio in a return to the cop drama beat, and to directed by Garcia, the untitled drama revolves around the multi-generational members of a Mexican-American family with deep roots in San Diego as they intertwine personally and professionally due to their powerful careers in law enforcement.

CBS had been trying for two years to develop a drama about a multi-generational Latino family of cops in Los Angeles — a West Coast take on Blue Bloods, which is about a multi-generational New York family in law enforcement. Last season, a project known as Protect & Serve was written by Elizabeth Davis Beall. It didn’t go to pilot.

Meanwhile, Attanasio met with the producers with a brand-new take on the general Latino family cop idea, which led to his San Diego-set script that’s now getting a pilot green light.

The new setting has an increased relevance post-elections as San Diego is on the U.S.-Mexico border, where President Donald Trump is planning to build a wall.

Garcia has directed episodes of In Treatment, Big Love, Boomtown, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos.

Cardenas Cast as a Series Regular on FX’s “Snowfall” Pilot from John Singleton

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Javier Cardenas is bracing for a White season…

The Latino actor has been cast as a series regular on FX’s Snowfall, the 1980s cocaine-epidemic drama pilot from John Singleton.

Co-created and executive produced by Boyz N The Hood director Singleton and Erick Amadio, and directed by El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the pilot has been undergoing a revamp.

In addition to Cardenas, who has made appearances on The Good Wife, Blue Bloods and Law & Order SVU, new additions to the cast include Carter Hudson, Angela Lewis and Filipe Valle Costa.

Hudson will play Teddy McDonald, a CIA operative banished to the Los Angeles office after a tragic misstep in the past. When he sees an opportunity to reverse his fortunes, Teddy risks everything to get his life back on track. Lewis will portray Louise Saint, Franklin’s (Damson Idris) party girl aunt.

Cardenas will play Alejandro Usteves, a calculating rebel from the Nicaraguan Contras movement who is determined to keep his revolution alive by any means necessary.

Costa will play Pedro, the cocky heir apparent of a Mexican crime family that sells marijuana throughout Los Angeles.

Cardenas’ other TV credits include Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, NCIS: Los Angeles and Scandal.

Costa’s credits include Blue Bloods, Gotham, and the feature film Hamlet.

Lozano Lands Role on Netflix’s “Narcos”

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Florencia Lozano is joining the war on drugs, so to speak…

The 46-year-old Argentine American actress, best known for portraying Téa Delgado on the soap opera One Life to Live and General Hospital, has landed a series regular role opposite Wagner Moura and Pedro Pascal on Season 2 of the Netflix drama series Narcos.

Written by Chris Brancato and directed by Jose Padilha, Narcos is the true-life story of the growth and spread of cocaine drug cartels across the globe and attendant efforts of law enforcement to meet them head on in brutal, bloody conflict.

Lozano will play DEA agent Claudia Messina.

She appeared in the feature film Amok alongside Josh Hamilton and Juliet Rylance. She’ll next be seen in Amy Makes Three.

Her television credits include appearances on The Mysteries of Laura, Blue Bloods, Royal Pains, Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl.

Peña Lands Series Regular Role on Fox’s Pilot “24: Legacy”

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Coral Peña is building her Hollywood legacy…

The Latina actress has been cast as a series regular opposite Miranda Otto and Corey Hawkins in Fox’s pilot 24: Legacy, a reboot of the network’s iconic 24 franchise with brand new characters and cast.

Written by 24 veterans Manny Coto and Evan Katz and directed by Stephen Hopkins, who helmed the original 24 pilot, 24: Legacy chronicles military hero Eric Carter’s (Hawkins) return to the U.S. and the trouble that follows him back – compelling him to ask CTU for help in saving his life, and stopping what potentially could be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil.

Bucatinsky will play Andy, a communication analyst at CTU who has enjoyed Rebecca’s (Otto) trust and is unhappily paired with bright, young, self-taught computer analyst Gia (Pena).

She joins previously announced cast members Teddy Sears, Anna Diop and Jimmy Smits.

Peña, a Hollywood newcomer, previously appeared on CBS’ Blue Bloods.

Olivo Lands Recurring Role on FX’s Horror Drama “The Strain”

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

No strain, no gain for America Olivo…

The 38-year-old part Chilean and part Spanish/Basque actress, singer and model has joined the cast of FX’s horror drama The Strain in a recurring role for its upcoming third season.

The thriller, from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse, is based on the best-selling The Strain Trilogy by del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

Olivo will play Kate Rogers, who commands a squad of NYPD combatants.

Olivo, who starred on Chicago P.D., recently guest-starred in an episode of CBS’ Blue Bloods and recurs on Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Carpenter to Portray Ariana Grande’s Mom on Fox’s “Scream Queens”

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare to hear Charisma Carpenter scream…

The 44-year-old part Spanish-American actress and former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star has joined the cast of Ryan Murphy’s comedy-horror Fox anthology series Scream Queens.

The show’s star, Emma Roberts, let it slip on Instagram that the comedy will premiere on the first Tuesday of the season, September 22.

In a guest starring/potential recurring role, Carpenter will play the mom of another lead on the show, singer-actress Ariana Grande.

In the first season of Scream Queens, a college campus is rocked by a series of murders. The series, which Murphy created with fellow Glee co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, hails from 20th Century Television and Ryan Murphy Television.

Lea Michele, Diego Boneta, Jamie Lee Curtis, Oliver Hudson and Abigail Breslin co-star.

Carpenter, who also co-starred on The Lying Game, previously appeared on Angel, Charmed, Veronica Mars and Blue Bloods, and served as the host of ID’s Surviving Evil.

Cuesta to Direct Fox’s Sci-Fi Drama Pilot “Frankenstein”

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Cuesta is a Frank man…

The 51-year-old film and television director is set to helm the Fox drama pilot Frankenstein.

Written and executive produced by Crisis and Life creator Rand Ravich and executive produced by Homeland and Tyrant executive producer Howard Gordon, the project is described as a grounded sci-fi drama that takes inspiration from the basic Mary Shelley mythology of a man brought back to life by scientists playing god.

Frankenstein centers on Ray Pritchard, a morally corrupt retired cop who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. Now younger and stronger, Pritchard will have to choose between his old temptations and his new sense of purpose.

This marks a reunion for Gordon and Cuesta, who also directed the pilot for Homeland and served as an executive producer on the Showtime drama’s first two seasons.

20th Century Fox Television and Gordon’s studio-based Teakwood Lane Prods. produce.

For Cuesta, the gig stems from his overall deal at 20th Century Fox Television. His pilot directing credits also include Dexter, Blue Bloods and Elementary. On the genre side, Cuesta helmed the two incarnations of the zombie drama pilot Babylon Fields.

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.

Castillo Upped to Series Regular on HBO’s “Looking”

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Expect to see more of Raúl Castillo on the small screen…

The Latino actor has been upped to series regular for the upcoming second season of HBO’s Looking.

Created by Michael Lannan and executive produced by Andrew Haigh and Sarah Condon, the show revolves around three friends in San Francisco who explore the varied options available to a new generation of gay men.

Castillo, whose television credits include apperances on Blue Bloods, Law and Order and Nurse Jackie, recurred on Season 1 as Richie Donado.

Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Bartlett star on the series.

Looking’s second season will premiere on Sunday, January 11 at 10:00pm.

Segarra Upped to Series Regular on USA Network’s “Sirens”

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare for more of Josh Segarra on the USA Network..

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been upped to series regular on the cable network’s comedy series Sirens.

Segarra, who starred in the Broadway musical Lysistrata Jones, recurred for five episodes of Sirens’ freshman run.

From creators Denis Leary and Bob Fisher, the series follows three Chicago EMTs who, despite their narcissistic and self-destructive personalities, are uniquely qualified to save lives.

Segarra portrays the handsome yet dim bulb cop Billy —Theresa’s (Jessica McNamee) new partner and friend who brings out Johnny’s (Michael Mosley) jealous side.

He becomes the latest Sirens cast member to be promoted to series regular for season two. Bill Nunn, who plays EMT Cash, was also upped for its sophomore run after appearing in nearly all of the half-hour comedy’s rookie run as a recurring guest star.

USA renewed Sirens for a second season in June.

Segarra previously starred as who Hector Ruiz, Jessica Ruiz’s older brother,on the television show The Electric Company. His other television credits include appearances on Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., The Following and Homeland.

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