Belissa Escobedo to Star in Reba McEntire’s Still-Untitled NBC Comedy Pilot

Belissa Escobedo has lined up her next project…

The 25-year-old Latina actress and Blue Beetle star has been cast in Reba McEntire in her as-yet-untitled NBC multi-cam comedy pilot.

Belissa Escobedo,The project is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The pilot follows Bobbie (McEntire) who inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had.

Escobedo stars as Bobbie’s sister Isabella, an enthusiastic 20-something, who has studied psychology and loves to analyze people. She is thrilled to start working at the tavern and is full of “great” ideas about how to bring it to life.

Escobedo’s star continues to rise following two major roles in DC Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Blue Beetle, where he portrayed the titular character’s (played by Xolo Maridueña) sister Milagro, and Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2 where she popped off the screen—no easy task when you’re starring opposite Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who returned as the Sanderson sisters.

Additional credits include the ABC dramedy The Baker And The Beauty alongside Carlos Gomez, Lisa Vidal and Victor Rasuk; Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series American Horror Stories, the Catherine Hardwicke-directed Quibi limited series Don’t Look Deeper and the American High films Sex Appeal (Hulu) and Sid Is Dead.

Carlos Gomez to Appear on David E. Kelley’s ABC Drama Series “Big Sky”

The sky’s the limit for Carlos Gomez.

The 59-year-old Latino actor has landed a recurring role on David E. Kelley’s hit freshman ABC drama series Big Sky.

Carlos Gomez

Gomez, who most recently appeared in ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty joins a roster of recurring actors that includes Anja Savcic and Zoë Noelle Baker.

The crime thriller was created by Big Little Lies’ Kelly based on C.J. Box’s book.

Big Sky follows private detective Cassie Dewell, played by Kylie Bunbury, and ex-cop Jenny Hoyt, played by Katheryn Winnick, who join forces to search for two sisters who have been kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana. But when they discover that these are not the only girls who have disappeared in the area, they must race against the clock to stop the killer before another woman is taken.

Gomez will play Gil Amaya, former ranch manager forever entangled with the Kleinsasser family, including their darkest secrets.

The sries is produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with A+E Studios.

Gomez most recently starred as Rafael Garcia on ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty. He also portrayed Jose Menendez on Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, recurred as Agent Jose Campos in CBSMadam Secretary, and he previously starred for four seasons on A&E Network’s The Glades.

His film work includes Spiked with Aiden Quinn and Ride Along 2 opposite Kevin Hart.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Carlos Gomez’s Latest Film “Spiked”

Carlos Gomez’s latest project is getting a spike in attention…

Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has acquired North American rights to distribute the 59-year-old Latin America actor’s film Spiked, which hails from writer/director Juan Martinez Vera.

Carlos Gomez

In addition to Gomez, who starred the in the short-lived series The Baker and the Beauty, the film also stars Aidan Quinn, Deirdre Lovejoy, Danay Garcia, Wendy Makkena, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste and Walter Belenky.

Sal Lopez, and Christopher Rich star in this indie feature drama.  

Spiked is a dramatic story rooted in the injustices that immigrant workers experience along the U.S./Mexico border. Principal photography on the indie feature was completed in 2019 on location in and around southern Arizona.

“Anchored by an outstanding performance by Aidan Quinn, Juan’s film integrates issues around immigration, law enforcement, and journalistic integrity into a compelling real-life narrative. We look forward to presenting this timely film to North American audiences,” said Tony Piantedosi, Vice President of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

The story follows John Wilson, a newspaper publisher in a small U.S./Mexico border town who denounces the abuse of power by local law enforcement. John has been at it for years and has made more than a few enemies and stepped on more than a few toes. Following the killing of an immigrant worker, an incident that the police are unwilling to do anything about, the newspaper publisher and his team take on the plight of the family and of the community to find those responsible and bring them to justice. At every turn, his efforts are thwarted by an uncooperative police chief who seems to have her own agenda. Matters escalate when John succumbs to a mysterious illness that threatens his life and his investigation.

Spiked follows the personal stories of characters along the border and how their lives collide when they attempt to fight for justice,” Martinez Vera said. “I was inspired to write and direct this project after hearing real-life stories of immigrants suffering abuse of power from law enforcement agencies some 20-years ago and incredibly moved by how relevant these stories are today as immigrant families continue to grapple with inhuman and unjust treatment. I’m thrilled that Gravitas will bring this film to audiences in the U.S., while we look toward announcing plans for distribution throughout Latin American and other markets.”

The film will be produced by Per Melita.

On March 26th, Gravitas will launch the film across multiple VOD platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Vimeo, Gravitas Movies, and release on SVOD platforms to follow later this year.

Carlos Gomez to Appear on Season Two of Starz’s “Hightown”

Carlos Gomez is coming to (high)town

The 58-year-old Latino American actor has landed a recurring role on the second season of Starz’s crime drama series Hightown, starring Monica Raymund, from Jerry Bruckheimer and Lionsgate Television.

Carlos Gomez

The second season picks up about six weeks after the events in the Season 1 finale, around Halloween, in Cape Cod’s desolate, cold but still achingly beautiful off-season. The tourists are gone, and all of our characters are in a different place compared to where they were at the beginning of season one. The weak are now powerful, and the powerful are now weak. But beyond that, there is darkness beneath the surface of all of our main characters, particularly Jackie and Ray. Both have shadow sides of their personality — holes in their souls that they try to fill with drugs, alcohol, women, ambition and work. There’s a new terror on The Cape, and it may be its greatest White Whale yet.

Gomez will play Rafael. Father of Jackie (Raymund), past his glory days but always looking for a good time. Charismatic and charming with a dark side, Rafael is a fisherman in New Bedford, MA. He has a strained and complicated relationship with his daughter.

Rebecca Cutter created the series and serves as executive producer with Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed.

Gomez’s previous television credits include The Baker and the Beauty, Chicago Med, Elementary and Madam Secretary.

USA Network to Premiere Second Season of Braga’s “Queen of the South” in June

Alice Braga is heading back South this summer…

USA Network is set to premiere the second season of Queen of the South, starring the 33-year-old Brazilian actress, on June 8.

Alice Braga

Inspired by the global best-selling novel La Reina Del Sur by internationally acclaimed author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Season 2 follows the journey of Teresa Mendoza (Braga) and the sacrifices she must make not only to survive, but to make it to the top of the drug world. Where will she draw the line when her moral code and her destiny are at odds?

In addition to Braga, Queen of the South also stars Justina Machado, Hemky Madera, Veronica Falcon, James Martinez, Joaquim de Almeida, Peter Gadiot, Carlos Gomez and Mark Consuelos.

The NBCUniversal-owned cable net will premiere Queen of the South on Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 pm ET.

Gomez Returning to CBS’ Drama Series “Madam Secretary”

Carlos Gomez is heading back to The District…

The 54-year-old Latino actor is heading back to the CBS drama series Madam Secretary for the upcoming third season, reprising his recurring role of Jose Campos.

Carlos Gomez

An ex-Special Forces guy, Campos is currently a Senior Intel CIA operative with past tours in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq now working as part of a very special intelligence analysis unit led by Henry (Tim Daly).

Téa Leoni stars as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord, along with Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Geoffrey Arend, Patina Miller, Erich Bergen, Keith Carradine, Kathrine Herzer, Evan Roe and Wallis Currie-Wood.

Gomez’s other credits include television appearances on Charmed, The Glades and Shark.

Gómez Agrees to Lucrative, Four-Year Deal with the Milwaukee Brewers

Carlos Gómez will be calling Milwaukee home for a little longer…

The 27-year-old Dominican baseball star has agreed to a four-year, $28.3 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Carlos Gomez

The center fielder nicknamed “Go-Go” would’ve been eligible for free agency after this season. He agreed to a one-year, $4.3 million deal in January, and the new contract includes salaries of $7 million in 2014, $8 million in 2015 and $9 million in 2016.

Gómez hit .260 with 19 homers and 37 stolen bases in 137 games in 2012. He was one of only five players in the majors with at least 15 homers and 30 stolen bases.

“I feel really good that I’ll be able to stay three more years with the Brewers now that they’ve given me a new opportunity,” Gómez said in Spanish after leaving the game. “It was important for me to sign for three more years because this was going to be my fourth year with the organization that gave me a chance. I know I can have a better year than last year, and that’s why I decided to sign for longer.”

Brewers president and general manager Doug Melvin praised Gómez in a statement from the club.

“He has always had the physical skills, and his recent performance has given us the confidence that he will take the next step in becoming one of the top center fielders in the game,” Melvin said. “His energy, speed and aggressive style of play is a perfect fit for Ron Roenicke‘s style of managing.

Gómez knows now that he and his family are financially secure.

“It’s a great feeling to know that my children, my parents, my brothers, my wife are going to have a good future with everything taken care of,” he said. “It will be that way for a very long time.”

Sanchez’s “The Glades” Picked Up for a Fourth Season by A&E

Kiele Sanchez is heading back to the Florida Everglades…

The A&E Network has picked up its flagship drama series The Glades, which stars the 35-year-old Puerto Rican-French American actress, for a 13-episode fourth season.

Kiele Sanchez

The Glades, which also stars Carlos Gómez and Matt Passmore, was A&E’s first scripted series to get real traction with viewers and helped establish the network’s scripted brand.

In its third season, The Glades averaged 4.1 million total viewers for premiere episodes in Live+7, up 5% from Season 2.

Produced by 20th Century Fox Television Studios, the show centers on a Chicago detective taking a job with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in South Florida after being falsely accused of sleeping with his captain’s wife. He assumes it’ll afford him a more relaxing lifestyle, but he quickly finds that things are more complicated than he had imagined.

The fourth season of The Glades will premiere in 2013.

Sanchez  previously starred  in The WB‘s comedic ensemble drama, Related. She was cast as a co-star in the third season of the ABC Lost’s but her character was soon written out of the show. And she appeared in the 2007 ABC pilot Football Wives, which didn’t end up going to series.

Rodriguez Picks Up Imagen Award for Her Filly Brown Role

She gained critical acclaim for her role in Filly Brown… And, now Gina Rodriguez is reaping the rewards for her impressive work in the indie film.

The 27-year-old 28-year Puerto Rican actress picked up the best actress in a feature film prize for her starring role as an aspiring hip-hop artist in Filly Brown at this weekend’s 27th annual Imagen Awards, which honor the best and most talented portrayals of Latinos in film.

Gina Rodriguez

Rodriguez’s performance won rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and led to a talent holding deal with ABC/ABC Studios.

Filly Brown, which co-stars Edward James Olmos, Jenni Rivera and Lou Diamond Phillips, follows Rodriguez’s character’s rise to fame and consciousness as she copes with the incarceration of her mother through her poetry and music.

Phillips picked up the Imagen Award for best actor in a feature film for his role in the film.

Meanwhile, singer-turned-reality-star Rivera, who made her acting debut in Filly Brown, received the 2012 Imagen President’s Award.

In addition to picking up an award, Rodriguez served as the Imagen Foundation-sponsored awards show host. ,

Here’s a look at all of the Imagen Award winners:

Best Primetime Program: Switched at Birth (Prodco, Inc. in association with ABC Family)
Best Variety and Reality: 24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz (HBO Sports)
Best Children’s Programming: El Perro y El Gato (HBO Latino)
Best Young Actress on Television: Bella Thorne, Shake it Up! (Disney Channel)
Best Supporting Actress on TV: Eva La Rue, CSI:Miami (CBS)
Best Supporting Actor on TV: Carlos Gomez, The Glades (A&E)
Best Actor on Television: James Roday, Psych (USA Network)
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film: Cierra Ramirez, Girl in Progress (Pantelion Films)
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: Diego Luna, Casa De Mi Padre (NALA Films/Gary Sanchez Productions/Pantelion Films)
Best Actress in a Feature Film: Gina Rodriguez, Filly Brown (Cima Production/Olmos Production/Silent Giant Entertainment)Best Actor in a Feature Film: Lou Diamond Phillips, Filly Brown (Cima Production/Olmos Production/Silent Giant Entertainment)
Best Primetime Special or Movie: The Pregnancy Project (Barbara Lieberman Productions)
Best Primetime Program: Drama or Comedy Series: Switched at Birth (Prodco Inc. in association with ABC: Family)
Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: INGLES (Ruben Avitia)