Mariah Carey to Embark on 13-Date “Merry Christmas One And All! Tour”

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is preparing to spread more holiday cheer…

The 54-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, has announced that she will be embarking on her Merry Christmas One And All! Tour starting in November.

“Yes, the actual defrosting has begun!” the singer shared via Instagram. “Announcing the MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL Tour!”

Carey’s 13-date trek will kick off in California’s Yaamava Casino in Highland on November 15, and will make stops in Los Angeles, Denver, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia and more before concluding in New York on December 17, just a week shy of Christmas Day, at Madison Square Garden.

For those looking to purchase tickets early, Live Nation’s presale begins on Wednesday, October 4, at 10:00 am local time. American Express card members will have early access to the presale Wednesday through Thursday, October 5, at 10:00 pm local time. General on sale for the shows begins on Friday, October 6, at 10:00 am local time.

Last year, the five-time Grammy winner performed four Christmas shows — two each in Toronto and New York City — in mid December. She also launched the Merry Christmas to All! holiday special, which was filmed in the Big Apple’s Madison Square Garden and aired on December 20 on Paramount+ and CBS.

Angelique Cabral Added to Voice Cast of Disney Animation’s Feature Film “Wish”

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Angelique Cabral’s wish has come true…

The 44-year-old part-Mexican American actress will star in the Disney Animation feature Wish.

She’ll voice Queen Amaya opposite Chris Pine, who stars as King Magnifico, ruler of the magical kingdom of Rosas, where wishes really do come true.

Wish follows Asha (Oscar winner Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force: a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star set out to prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Alan Tudyk also stars as a talking goat, Valentino Hall.

The film opens in theaters on November 22.

Oscar-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn are directors, with Peter Del Vecho producing and Juan Pablo Reyes co-producing. Allison Moore is also a co-writer.

Original songs are by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-musician Benjamin Rice, with a score by Dave Metzger.

Cabral most recently recurred on Season 3 of ABC’s Big Sky in the role of Carla. Her other notable television credits include Fox’s Enlisted, CBS’ Life in Pieces and Prime Video’s Undone.

Her film credits include 2011’s The Perfect Family alongside Kathleen Turner and Emily Deschanel; Friends with Benefits that same year opposite Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake; 2017’s Band Aid; and All About Nina in 2018. In 2021, she starred in How It Ends written, directed and produced by Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones.

NBC Releases Trailer for Final Season of Jay Hernandez’s “Magnum P.I.”

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jay Hernandez is ready to risk everything…

NBC has released the official trailer for part two of the fifth season of the 45-year-old Mexican actor’s Magnum P.I.

When the series returns on October 4 at 9:00 pm, Hernandez’s titular character will risk everything in the final episodes.

New episodes will air the following day on Peacock.

The series is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum (Hernandez), a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator.

A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business.

Magnum P.I. also stars Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill and Tim Kang.

Magnum P.I. will end following Season 5 Part 2 after only one season on NBC. The series previously aired on CBS for four seasons before it was canceled. June was a precarious time for the show’s cast whose options were up on June 30. At the moment, networks continue to be conservative with pickups amid the ongoing writers strike as it’s unclear when scripted series could go into production.

The show, which did well on CBS before being canceled, continues to be a strong draw.

Magnum P.I.‘s Season 5 viewership was on par with some of the NBC scripted series, which were renewed for next season.

“General Hospital” Star Maurice Benard Earns Daytime Emmy Awards Nod for Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a sonny time for Maurice Benard.

Nominations for the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards have been revealed, with the 60-year-old Salvadorian and Nicaraguan American soap opera star and three-time Emmy winner earning a nod.

Benard is nominated in the Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor category for his performance as beloved character Sonny Corinthos on ABC’s General Hospital.

Benard, who has portrayed the manic depressive mob kingpin Sonny Corinthos since 1993, previously won the Daytime Emmy in the category in 2003, 20019 and 2021.

Nicholas Chavez is nominated in the Supporting Performance In a Daytime Drama Series: Actor category.

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American actor earned the nod for his performance as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital.

Last year, Chavez won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series for his work as Spencer.

Selena Gomez has picked up her first Daytime Emmy nomination.

The 30-year-old Mexican American actress, singer and television host is nominated in the Outstanding Culinary Series category for producing Selena + Chef, a series she also hosts.

Gomez will face off against Jose Andres in the category…

The 53-year-old Spanish chef is nominated in the Outstanding Culinary Series category for his family show José Andrés and Family in Spain, available on Discovery+.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

The golden anniversary ceremony is set for Friday, June 16. CBS will air the show and Paramount+ will stream it live at 9:00 pm ET and delayed in the West at 9:00 pm PT. The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmys will be presented the next day.

Here are the nominees for the 50th annual Daytime Emmy Awards:

Daytime Drama Series

The Bay (Popstar! TV)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor

Maurice Benard as Sonny Corinthos, General Hospital (ABC)
Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Billy Flynn as Chad DiMera, Days of Our Lives (NBC | Peacock)
Thorsten Kaye as Ridge Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Jason Thompson as Billy Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress

Sharon Case as Sharon Newman, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Melissa Claire Egan as Chelsea Lawson, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital (ABC)
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)

Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress

Krista Allen as Dr. Taylor Hayes, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Sonya Eddy as Epiphany Johnson, General Hospital (ABC)
Stacy Haiduk as Kristen DiMera, Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
Brook Kerr as Dr. Portia Robinson, General Hospital (ABC)
Kelly Thiebaud as Dr. Britt Westbourne, General Hospital (ABC)

Supporting Performance In a Daytime Drama Series: Actor

Nicholas Chavez as Spencer Cassadine, General Hospital (ABC)
Chad Duell as Michael Corinthos, General Hospital (ABC)
Daniel Feuerriegel as EJ DiMera, Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
Robert Gossett as Marshall Ashford, General Hospital (ABC)
Jon Lindstrom as Dr. Kevin Collins/Ryan Chamberlain, General Hospital (ABC)

Younger Performer in a Daytime Drama Series

Cary Christopher as Thomas DiMera, Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
Victoria Grace as Wendy Shin, Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
Eden McCoy as Josslyn Jacks, General Hospital (ABC)
Henry Joseph Samiri as Douglas Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)

Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series

Steve Burton as Harris Michaels, Beyond Salem (Peacock)
Cassandra Creech as Dr. Grace Buckingham, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Alley Mills as Heather Webber, General Hospital (ABC)
Robert Newman as Ashland Locke, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Kevin Spirtas as Dr. Craig Wesley, Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)

Daytime Talk Series

The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
Live with Kelly and Ryan (Syndicated)
Today with Hoda and Jenna (NBC)

Entertainment News Series

Access Hollywood (Syndicated)
E! News (E! Entertainment)
Entertainment Tonight (Syndicated)
Extra (Syndicated)
Inside Edition (Syndicated)

Daytime Talk Series Host

Drew Barrymore, The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall (Syndicated)
Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest, Live with Kelly and Ryan (Syndicated)
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri! (Syndicated)

Daytime Program Host

Danielle Brooks, Instant Dream Home (Netflix)
Mike Corey, Uncharted Adventure (The Weather Channel)
Zac Efron, Down to Earth with Zac Efron (Netflix)
Kevin O’Connor, This Old House (PBS/Roku)
Martha Stewart, Martha Gardens (Roku)

Culinary Series

Family Dinner (Magnolia Network)
José Andrés and Family in Spain (Discovery+)
Martha Cooks (Roku)
Roadfood: Discovering America One Dish at a Time (PBS)
Selena + Chef (HBO Max)

Culinary Host

Kardea Brown, Delicious Miss Brown (Food Network)
Ina Garten, Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
Guy Fieri, Guy’s Ranch Kitchen (Food Network)
Emeril Lagasse, Emeril Cooks (Roku)
Justin Sutherland, Taste the Culture (TBS/ TNT/truTV)
Andrew Zimmern, Family Dinner (Magnolia Network)

Legal/Courtroom Program

Caught in Providence (Syndicated)
Hot Bench (Syndicated)
Judge Steve Harvey (ABC)\
Judy Justice (Freevee)
The People’s Court (Syndicated)

Travel, Adventure and Nature Program

Down to Earth with Zac Efron (Netflix)
Guy’s All-American Road Trip (Food Network)\
The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
Reel Destinations (Focus Features)
Wild Babies (Netflix)

Instructional/How-To Program

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry (MasterClass)
Fixer Upper: The Castle (Magnolia Network)
Idea House: Mountain Modern (Roku)
Instant Dream Home (Netflix)
Martha Gardens (Roku)

Lifestyle Program

Eat This With Yara (AJ+)
For the Love of Kitchens (Magnolia Network)
George to the Rescue (NBC)
Life After Death with Tyler Henry (Netflix)
Mind Your Manners (Netflix)
The Established Home (Magnolia Network)

Arts and Popular Culture Program

American Anthems (PBS)
Kings of Leon @ O2 (YouTube)
My Bluegrass Story (RFD-TV)
Variety Power of Women: Changemakers Lifetime (Variety Studio)
Actors on Actors (PBS)
Working in the Theatre (AmericanTheatreWing.org)

Educational and Informational Program

Book of Queer (Discovery+)
The Earth Unlocked (The Weather Channel)
The Future Of (Netflix)
Harlem Globetrotters Play It Forward (NBC)
Historian’s Take (PBS)
Italy Made with Love (PBS)
Vikings: The Rise and Fall (National Geographic)

Daytime Special

96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day (NBC)
All Boys Aren’t Blue (YouTube)
Behind The Table: A View Reunion (Hulu)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day (ABC)
Extra: Cheslie Kryst 1991-2022 (Syndicated)
The House that Norm Built (PBS/Roku)
Recipe for Change: Standing up to Anti-Semitism (YouTube Originals)

Short Form Program

Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond (World Channel)
Dressed (Focus Features)
Finding Pause (Healthline)
Handmade (YouTube)
My Mark featuring Marcus Samuelsson (Conde Nast/Bon Appetit)
Ready Jet Cook (Food Network)

Promotional Announcement

Access Hollywood, “Tow Yard” (Syndicated)
The Drew Barrymore Show, “Drew’s Got the Beat” (Syndicated)
The Jennifer Hudson Show, “EGOT, Hope, and Joy, and Magic” (Syndicated)
Sherri! “Sherri: Fun. Joy. Laughter.” (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall, “Women Reclaiming Their Power: Michelle Branch & Angela Simmons” (Syndicated)

Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series

The Bay (Popstar! TV)
Beyond Salem: Chapter Two (Peacock)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program*

Book of Queer (Discovery+)
The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)

*Due to submission count, this category is a merged Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Series and Writing Team for a Daytime Non-Fiction Special. All entries in both categories were judged by the same panel.

Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series

The Bay (Popstar! TV)
Beyond Salem: Chapter Two (Peacock)
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Directing Team for a Single Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program

Ask This Old House (PBS/Roku)
Big Sky Kitchen with Eduardo Garcia (Magnolia Network)
Home (Apple TV+)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
Wild Babies (Netflix)

Directing Team for a Multiple Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program

American Anthems (PBS)
The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
Entertainment Tonight (Syndicated)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
The View (ABC)

Music Direction and Composition

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
Home (Apple TV+)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)

Original Song

“Darling Darling,” General Hospital (ABC)
“Everyone Dances,” The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
“Life Is Sweet,” American Anthems (PBS)
“Only There,” Joni Table Talk (Daystar)
“Pocket Change,” American Anthems (PBS)

Lighting Direction

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
The View (ABC)

Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day (ABC)\
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
The Talk (CBS)
The View (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Cinematography

The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
Home (Apple TV+)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
Italy Made with Love (PBS)
Wild Babies (Netflix)

Single Camera Editing

Big Sky Kitchen with Eduardo Garcia (Magnolia Network)\
The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
Home (Apple TV+)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
Wild Babies (Netflix)

Multiple Camera Editing

Articulate with Jim Cotter (PBS)
Behind The Table: A View Reunion (Hulu)
Book of Queer (Discovery+)
Emeril Cooks (Roku)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
Rachael Ray (Syndicated)

Outstanding Live Sound Mixing and Sound

Days of Our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Sound Mixing And Sound Editing

Car Masters: Rust to Riches (Netflix)
Down to Earth with Zac Efron (Netflix)
The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
Home (Apple TV+)
Island of the Sea Wolves (Netflix)
Wild Babies (Netflix)

Main Title and Graphic Design

Book of Queer (Discovery+)
Car Masters: Rust to Riches (Netflix)
The Drew Barrymore Show (Syndicated)
Down to Earth with Zac Efron (Netflix)
Instant Dream Home (Netflix)

Casting

Book of Queer (Discovery+)
Days of our Lives (NBC/Peacock)
General Hospital (ABC)
Start Up (PBS)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design

General Hospital (ABC)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
The Talk (CBS)
The View (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Costume Design/Styling

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Book of Queer (Discovery+)
General Hospital (ABC)
Sherri! (Syndicated)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)

Hairstyling and Makeup

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
Red Table Talk Facebook Watch
Sherri! (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall (Syndicated)

Ariana DeBose to Return as Host of This Year’s Tony Awards Ceremony

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ariana DeBose will be heading back to the Tony Awards…

The 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress/singer will return as host of this year’s Tony Awards ceremony.

DeBose, who earned a Tony nomination for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, hosted last year’s broadcast to general acclaim.

This year’s event, the 76th Annual Tony Awards, will air live from United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights on Sunday, June 11, on CBS.

“I was honored to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back,” DeBose said in a statement. “So looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen. Here’s to adding some uptown flavor to the magic of the Tony Awards.”

Heather Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League said in a joint statement that DeBose is a “force both on and off the stage,” and that the event presenters and producers are “thrilled to welcome back one of Broadway’s brightest lights to dazzle, inspire and illuminate this year’s Tony Awards.”

“Ariana will host and dance and sing, we’re so thrilled she’s back to do the thing,” said Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, Executive Producers, White Cherry Entertainment.

DeBose won an Oscar last year for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, and was Tony-nominated in 2018 for her role as “Disco Donna” in Broadway’s Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Other stage credits include Hamilton, A Bronx Tale, Pippin and Motown the Musical, among others.

Notable television and film credits include the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon! and the Netflix adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom. She’ll next be seen in the feature films Kraven the Hunter, Wish, House of Spoils, Argylle and I.S.S.

The 76th Tonys celebration will recognize Broadway productions of the 2022-2023 season. The Tony Awards eligibility cut-off date for the season is Thursday, April 27; nominations will be announced on Tuesday, May 2.

The 76th Annual Tony Awards will air live Sunday, June 11, at 8:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm PT on CBS, and stream live and in-demand on Paramount+.

Cardi B to Serve as Presenter at This Year’s Grammy Awards Show

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is taking the stage on music’s biggest night…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar will help hand out awards at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5.

Previously, Cardi B made Grammy history as the first and only woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album as a solo artist was the second female rapper to have her album nominated for Album of the Year.

Other presenters include Viola Davis, Olivia Rodrigo, Shania Twain and Dwayne Johnson. Davis will become an EGOT if she wins in her category, best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording, on Sunday.

Performers set to appear on the show are Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy and Sam Smith & Kim Petras.

The Recording Academy made its first performers announcement a week ago. It added a big name – Styles – on Sunday, January 29. The announcement was made during the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The game aired on CBS, the Grammys’ network since 1973.

Three of this year’s four leading nominees – Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Adele – have yet to be announced as performers. But the Academy is expected to announce additional performers in the remaining days before the big show.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah.

The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 5, at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Raj Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ben Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins the team for the first time as director. Eric Cook is co-executive producer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton, David Wild as producers.

Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater at 12:30 pm PT, and it will be streamed live on live.Grammy.com. Randy Rainbow, a first-time Grammy nominee this year for best comedy album for A Little Brains, A Little Talent, is co-hosting the show. His co-host has yet to be named.

Performers at the Premiere Ceremony include Arroj Aftab, Madison Cunningham, Samara Joy, Anoushka Shankar, Carlos Vives and The Blind Boys of Alabama with La Santa Cecilia.

Presenters at the Premiere Ceremony include Babyface, Domi and JD Beck, Myles Frost, Arturo O’Farrill, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Jimmy Jam.

CBS Renews “Fire Country,” Starring Kevin Alejandro, for Second Season

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Kevin Alejandro is fired up…

CBS has renewed Fire Country, starring the 46-year-old Mexican American actor, for the 2023-2024 season.

Since its premiere on October 7, Fire Country has averaged 8 million viewers per episode, making it the top new broadcast series of the season.

With live +35-day multiplatform viewing, more than 10 million viewers an episode have watched the procedural across linear and streaming platforms.

“It’s pretty remarkable to see a new series resonate like this with both broadcast and streaming audiences right out of the gate,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, in a statement. “Fire Country has so many appealing entry points for the audience. It combines high-stakes action with small town charm, mystery and romance, and a family franchise at its core. We’re blessed to have an incredible team in front of and behind the camera led by amazing producers and writers and an exceptionally talented cast.”

The drama stars Max Thieriot as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son – until his troubles began. Five years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.

Alejandro portrays Manny Perez, the captain of Cal Fire where Bode is sent.

Fire Country, from Jerry Bruckheimer Television and CBS Studios, is inspired by Thieriot’s experiences growing up in fire country and stems from an original idea by the actor, who also co-penned the story for the pilot with its writers, Tony Phelan and Joan Rater.

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You” Remains at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is the reigning Queen of Christmas…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” remains atop the Billboard Hot 100 for an 11th total week.

It leads for a third week this holiday season, as it has topped the chart over the holidays each year since December 2019.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” on Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, was first released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in December 2017 and first hit the top five in the 2018 holiday season, before dominating over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three) and now 2022 (three to-date).

The insta-holiday classic drew 48.7 million streams (up 18%) and 39.5 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 19%) and sold 11,000 downloads (up 3%) in the U.S. in the December 16-22 tracking week, according to Luminate. Adding to the song’s momentum, Carey’s two-hour holiday special Merry Christmas to All! premiered on December 20 on CBS.

The song adds a fourth total week at No. 1, and second in a row, on the Digital Song Sales chart, following frames on top in 2005 and 2019; rebounds 2-1 for an 18th week atop Streaming Songs; and jingles 14-11 for a new high on Radio Songs, where it reached a previous No. 12 best over the 1994 holidays and has returned to the top 15 in each of the last four holiday seasons.

Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 11 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat:

Mariah Carey:
16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96
14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005
11 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Carey’s track extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and a week (December 21, 2019-December 31, 2022).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” extends Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart: 32 years and nearly five months, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the list dated August 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

With “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Carey adds her record-extending 90th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:
90, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
54, Drake
50, Boyz II Men
47, Usher
43, Beyoncé
37, Michael Jackson
34, Adele
34, Elton John
34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week at the summit with “Vision of Love.” The song is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey.

Carey’s holiday song expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

Adam Rodriguez to Star in “Winter Spring Summer or Fall”

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Adam Rodriguez is celebrating the four seasons…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actor will star opposite Jenna Ortega in Winter Spring Summer or Fall for MPCA.

Percy Hynes White is also on board for the film, which Ortega will also executive produce.

The romantic drama is being helmed by writer Tiffany Paulsen, marking her feature debut.

The script was written by Dan Schoffer with revisions by Paulsen.

The film is being described as Before Sunrise meets The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the story follows two teens (Ortega and Hynes White) on the cusp of adulthood who meet and fall in love over four significant days of the year. Rodriguez will play Ortega’s father in the film.

Rodriguez currently stars in Criminal Minds: Evolution for Paramount+ reprising the brainy and charismatic brawny fan favorite Luke Alvez.

In addition to starring in iconic shows like the international hit series CSI: Miami and Criminal Minds, Rodriguez  was also an executive producer on multiple projects including HBO’s The Real Magic Mike, a spinoff of Steven Soderberg’s original hit film which he starred opposite Channing Tatum and is also in the upcoming Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

The Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) has a long history of producing successful romantic comedies, most recently the No. 1 Netflix holiday rom-com Falling for Christmas and The Princess Switch trilogy, starring Vanessa Hudgens.

Previously, Rodriguez starred in and executive produced A Christmas Proposal with MPCA for CBS and Paramout+, one of the first Christmas movies on CBS which encompassed an all Latine cast.

CBS Developing Latinx Family Workplace Comedy “Family Insurance” Co-Written & Starring Al Madrigal

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is lowering his deductible …

Eric Christian Olsen’s Cloud Nine Productions has sold Family Insurance, co-written by and starring the 51-year-old half-Mexican American comedian, writer, actor and producer, to CBS.

The network is developing the single-camera Latinx family workplace comedy into a series.

Co-written and executive produced by Madrigal and Ryan Walls, who also have deals at CBS Studios, as well as Adam Lowitt, Family Insurance is a Latinx family workplace comedy revolving around Al Fuentes (Madrigal) who after separating from his wife reluctantly returns to his childhood home to work at the family insurance business that his loud, tough, first generation immigrant father started.

Madrigal is known for his role as Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was also a series regular and writer on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, and served as a writer, actor, and producer on the CBS show, Broke.

Madrigal’s film credits include The Way Back with co-star Ben Affleck, Night School alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and Morbius opposite Jared Leto.

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