Ana Navarro to Serve as Celebrity Host During the Democratic National Convention

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Navarro is preparing for a special hosting assignment…

The 52-year-old Nicaraguan-American political strategist, commentator and The View co-host will be one of the celebrity hosts for this week’s Democratic National Convention as organizers take a page from the all-virtual event held in 2020.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Navarro said in a video about being a host at the DNC. “I’m a little refugee girl who fled communism, who fled Nicaragua at the age of eight, found freedom, found opportunity, found a home in America, and for me to have the chance to stand on that stage and help my girl, Kamala, make history and become the Democratic nominee, it’s just such a mind-blowing moment.”

Navarro, who will serve as the celebrity host on Tuesday, is among a roster of A-listers that includes Tony Goldwyn (Monday), Mindy Kaling (Wednesday) and Kerry Washington (Thursday,) per a convention official.

Washington was part of the lineup of hosts in 2020, when an in-person event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephanie Cutter and Ricky Kirshner, who produced that convention, have returned this year.

The convention also will borrow some elements from the virtual roll call of 2020, as some delegations went viral for their creativity in showcasing their states.

The roll call will take place on Tuesday, and it will be ceremonial, as Kamala Harris already has been confirmed as the Democratic nominee in a virtual delegate vote earlier this month.

Other celebrities expected at various events tied to the convention include John Legend, Octavia Spencer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak on Monday evening, with an expected appearance by Harris.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Barack and Michelle Obama are expected on Tuesday.

Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will give his acceptance speech on Wednesday.

Also expected to speak are Bill and Hillary Clinton. Harris’ acceptance speech will be the convention’s finale on Thursday.

Eva Longoria to Host CNN’s Latest “Searching for” Series, “Searching for Spain”

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is sill searching…

The 49-year-old Mexican American actress, producer, director and business woman is returning to CNN for a revival of the Searching For franchise, with the latest installment focused on Spain.

Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain was announced during the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront in New York, with plans for a premiere in 2025.

Per CNN, the series will feature “a gastronomic pilgrimage across the rich tapestry of Spanish cuisine.” Longoria “will enjoy some of Spain’s most iconic traditional dishes and explore how innovative Spanish cuisine is propelling the future of fine dining.”

Longoria previously partnered with CNN on Searching for Mexico. The series order is a signal that the network, after announcing a cutback in original series and films from outside suppliers, is returning to an emphasis on such longform projects under new CEO Mark Thompson.

Searching for Spain comes from Hyphenate Media Group.

Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez and Shauna Minoprio are executive producers for Hyphenate Media Group. Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm are the executive producers for CNN Original Series. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution of the series.

Episodes of Searching for Mexico are available on Max.

Lulu Garcia-Navarro Joins CNN as On-Air Contributor & Panelist

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Lulu Garcia-Navarro is headed to CNN…

The Cuban and Panamanian journalist and podcast host has joined the cable news network as an on-air contributor and panelist on The Chris Wallace Show.

Garcia-Navarro is from The New York Times Magazine, where she is launching a new interview franchise.

She previously worked at NPR as a host and was a longtime international correspondent.

Her coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and her vivid dispatches of the Arab Spring uprisings brought Garcia-Navarro wide acclaim and five awards in 2012, including the Edward R. Murrow and Peabody Awards for her coverage of the Libyan revolt.

Her series on the Amazon rainforest was a Peabody finalist and won an Edward R. Murrow award for best news series.

She has previously appeared on The Chris Wallace Show, which launched in November on Saturday mornings.

She will be part of a rotating group of panelists.

Eva Longoria Teams Up with Cris Abrego to Launch Hyphenate Media Group

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is proving to be a real (multi)hyphenate…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, director and producer and Cris Abrego, two of the most high-profile Latinos in Hollywood, have joined forces.

Longoria and Abrego have launched Hyphenate Media Group, a new Banijay-backed venture that will develop and produce its own slate as well as invest in creator-led companies.

The company, which has been in the works for months, was announced during a keynote with the duo, who have been friends for years, at Mipcom.

Abrego will serve as the CEO of the company, and Longoria will serve as its Chief Creative Officer.

As part of its launch, Hyphenate has acquired the full slate of Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which has been behind series such as NBC’s Telenovela, ABC’s Grand Hotel and CNN’s Searching for Mexico.

As such, Hyphenate will take on Apple TV+’s Land of Women, a six-part series starring and exec produced by the Desperate Housewives star that will launch in 2024.

The company will develop and produce both scripted and unscripted series and both of them will produce for the business with all television projects directed by Longoria also coming under the new banner, which is set to firm up its leadership team later this year.

Abrego, who founded Below Deck producer 51 Minds Entertainment in 2003, will remain Chairman of Americas for Banijay and he also serves as Chair of the Television Academy Foundation and a member of the Executive Committee for the Television Academy.

The move marks Banijay’s first investment into the scripted space in the U.S.

Speaking at Mipcom, Abrego spotlighted the decision-making behind launching a diverse content company, as he quoted research that found 50% of American under-18s are not white.

“Supporting creatives in their vision is what we will do,” he added. “The train has left the station and the content has to reflect that.”

He cited influential and talented diverse creatives such as Jordan Peele and Ali Wong, whose work “used to be niche but is now the center.”

Reflecting on the company’s name and MO, Longoria said people had always mistaken her for an actor-turned-producer but she is in fact a “producer-director that fell into acting.”

“That multi-hyphenate is not surviving in Hollywood because the industry wants you to stay in your lane, particularly women,” she explained. “So it was my frustration and Cris’s ambition a couple of years ago after I realized it’s not just me who feels this way. I know creators who are being suffocated by the system so Hyphenate will create the ultimate model.”

Longoria added that the current U.S. labor action is “a direct result of creators taking control back.”

Eva Longoria to Deliver Keynote Address at Mipcom Cannes Next Month

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is preparing for a special keynote address…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, director, producer and Desperate Housewives star will deliver a joint keynote at Mipcom Cannes next month.

Alongside Banijay Americas chairman Cris Abrego, the Emmy-nominated Longoria will delve into the latest themes defining the entertainment industry, forecasting how they may shape the future both creatively and commercially.

The keynote will take place in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday, October 16 at 4:00 pm local time, as part of Mipcom’s Media Masterminds track.

Longoria and Abrego have been professional collaborators for more than two decades. Their talk will highlight their experiences and insights as industry leaders.

Besides her acting roles, Longoria has run her own production business UnbeliEVAble Entertainment since 2005. The company is behind ABC’s Grand Hotel, NBC’s Telenovela and Netflix’s Emmy Award-nominated documentary Reversing Row, as well as the culinary docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico for CNN.

She made her feature directorial debut through Flamin’ Hot, which was released earlier this year through Searchlight Pictures on Disney+ and Hulu, and engages in philanthropic work and activism on issues such as diversity in the media and Latina entrepreneurism.

Abrego, the founder of 51 Minds Entertainment and a key player in the establishment of reality television in the U.S., is one of the most prominent television executives in the Americas and currently leads acquisitions and new business ventures across North and South America for Banijay.

“Mipcom Cannes is one of the industry’s most significant global marketplaces, and it’s an honor to join the conversation as a keynote speaker alongside Cris,” said Longoria. “Our industry is facing tremendous disruption and transformation which can lead to opportunities that can transform and reshape the future of what content looks like. I’m looking forward to discussing how we can drive what’s to come.”

Mipcom will run from October 17-19 in Cannes, France. Several industry keynotes such as Warner Bros Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler have already been announced.

Cardi B Team Ups with Offset to Release New Single “Jealousy” & Self-Directed Music Video

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is released the green-eyed monster…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has joined voices with her husband Offset to release the single “Jealousy.”

In the self-directed visual from one of hip-hop’s biggest power couples, Cardi B and Offset work through their issues onscreen while keeping hold of what’s most important: their kids, each of whom makes a cute cameo in the project.

After walking out on a screaming match with Cardi B, Offset indulges in some boy time with their almost 2-year-old son, Wave, while playing mini-basketball and riding bikes with his sons Jordan and Kody from previous relationships.

Kulture, his 5-year-old daughter with Cardi, and 8-year-old Kalea, whom he shares with Shya L’amour, are later captured giggling adorably together in the front seat of a car.

But just because the video was a family function doesn’t mean it was strictly PG. One scene, for instance, featured Cardi B crouching down to mimic a NSFW action on ‘Set, who is leaning against a vintage convertible.

All the while, the two superstars take turns getting things off their chest, both of them using their respective verses to call out haters who speculate on their relationship.

The couple first started teasing “Jealousy” earlier this week, enlisting Jamie Lee Curtis to play a reporter questioning their relationship drama in a spoof on James Brown‘s memorable 1988 CNN interview.

Later, Cardi B. shared a video co-starring Taraji P. Henson, in which the “WAP” rapper rants about Offset’s past infidelity and Henson encourages her to stay with him.

“Jealousy” may or may not be Cardi B. and Offset’s response to their own recent real-life relationship issues, which went public last month after the Migos rapper accused his wife of cheating on him via Instagram Stories.

Shortly afterward, Cardi B jumped on Twitter Spaces to emphatically deny the accusations.

But based on a few public appearances in the weeks since, and now, their new collaboration, it definitely seems like the two have resolved the conflict. Plus, an insider tells Billboard that Offset’s family is “his No. 1 priority,” adding, “He’s making sure they are involved.”

Demi Lovato to Perform on CNN’s “The Fourth in America” Special

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is celebrating America’s independence in a special way…

CNN will be hosting an Independence Day special, The Fourth In America, that will include a performance by the 30-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress.

In addition to Lovato, other performers will include Post Malone, Zac Brown Band and Leon Bridges.

Dana Bash, Boris Sanchez, Victor Blackwell and Cari Champion will host the special, which also will include Sheryl Crow, Darius Rucker, Alanis Morrisette, Duran Duran, Flo Rida, Smash Mouth and The Plain White Ts.

This will be the fourth year that the network has scheduled a Fourth of July special, following CNN’s long running tradition of New Year’s Eve coverage from Times Square.

The special also will include a performance by the United States Air Force Band, as well as fireworks shows from around the county, including Washington, D.C.

Miguel to Perform at “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” Concert

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel is celebrating Freedom Day in a special way…

The 37-year-old half-Mexican American R&B singer/songwriter is set to perform at this year’s Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom, set to take place at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.

In addition to Miguel, the event – produced by Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment – will feature Kirk Franklin, SWV, Davido, Coi Leray and Jodeci.

Other performers and presenters will be announced in the near future.

The show will air live worldwide across all CNN platforms & nationally on the OWN network in a dual simulcast on Monday, June 19 at 8:00 pm EST.

“We are proud to once again partner with Live Nation Urban to broadcast this powerful Juneteenth event on our platforms,” says Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide. “We want to be a destination for people to both understand and celebrate a holiday of this magnitude.”

The shows musical directors will include Grammy and Emmy–winner Adam Blackstone and The Roots co-founder Questlove, who both also contributed to the Grammys’ Hip-Hop 50 dedication.

“OWN is honored to simulcast this year’s concert. Juneteenth continues to be deeply important to our audience and it’s this deep significance that makes this simulcast really feel like an opportunity to be of service,” said Tina Perry, president, OWN TV Network & OWN OTT Streaming. “We are taking this day to celebrate alongside American families and reflect on this historic turning point for our nation.”

Throughout the concert, CNN and OWN will air programming to “uplift and educate viewers about Juneteenth on its 158th anniversary.”

Last year’s celebration included an array of artists across genres, like Yolanda Adams, Billy Porter, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jhené Aiko, Lucky Daye, Robert Glasper, and The Roots.

Ana Cabrera Joining MSNBC’s Daytime Lineup with Launch of “Ana Cabrera Reports”

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Cabrera is officially heading to MSNBC…

The 40-year-old Mexican-American broadcast journalist is joining the network’s daytime lineup, with the launch of Ana Cabrera Reports on April 10.

Her move to MSNBC had been expected since she announced in December that she was departing CNN.

The hourlong show will air at 10:00 am ET. Kerrie Wudyka is the executive producer.

Cabrera had been with CNN since 2013, based in Denver, before anchoring CNN Newsroom. At the network, she hosted two presidential town halls, and she has reported on major stories including the protests in Ferguson, Mo. and North Korea prisoner Kenneth Bae’s return to the U.S. She previously was an anchor for WGMH-TV, the ABC affiliate in Denver, and was an anchor and reporter at NBC and Fox affiliates in Spokane, WA.

Cabrera won a regional Emmy for her anchoring of Colorado’s High Park fire in 2012.

Cabrera is filling a slot previously occupied by Jose Diaz-Balart. His show moved back an hour to 11:00 am ET, and a rotating series of hosts filled in the 10:00 am slot under the banner MSNBC Reports.

MSNBC has made additional changes to its schedule in recent months. Hallie Jackson’s afternoon show was ended, as she expanded her presence on the NBC News Now platform. Chris Jansing added an hour to her anchoring duties, now from 1:00 pm ET to 3:00 pm ET, and Katy Tur’s show moved to the 3:00 pm slot.

Jhené Aiko to Perform at CNN’s “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” Concert

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jhené Aiko is helping celebrate Juneteenth…

The 34-year-old part-Spanish and Dominican American Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter will perform as part of CNN’s first-ever Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom programming, featuring a Hollywood Bowl concert with a lineup of artists.

The goal of the program: to inform and educate viewers on the meaning of the new federal holiday.

CNN obtained the rights to the event, from Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, and the lineup includes Chaka Khan, Khalid, Yolanda Adams, Anthony Hamilton, Billy Porter, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Killer Mike, Lucky Daye, Mary Mary, Aiko, Ne-Yo, Michelle Williams, Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper and The Roots, among others.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver taped remarks.

Johnita P. Due, senior vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for CNN Worldwide, said in an interview this week that event “is really one of the most meaningful things that I have been involved in” at the network.

“The thing that makes it special, of course, is that it was only a year ago that the federal government made Juneteenth a national holiday,” she said. “So how many times in history will we have that opportunity to really shape for the country, and for the world, how a holiday is celebrated, and the meaning of a holiday and the importance of a holiday.”

This is the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865 was the date that federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX and informed citizens that slavery had been abolished in the state. The anniversary was commemorated the following year with prayers and singing, and it endured as an annual tradition.

“We really feel that with this event, we are able to not only commemorate the holiday, but we’re able to educate people around the meaning behind it, and also to uplift and inspire people to continue to make a difference and continue in the pursuit if freedom for all,” Due said.

The event also will include The Re-Collective Orchestra, a 68-piece all Black symphony orchestra that will be the first time that an all-Black symphony has performed at the bowl. Adam Blackstone and Questlove will serve as the evening’s musical directors.

Earlier in the evening, Don Lemon will anchor a pre-show highlighting African American advocates and creators.

On Thursday, CNN Business hosted a streamed conversation on advancing Black leadership, with correspondent Stephanie Elam sitting down with Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer. Also appearing were Operations Hope Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant and Collab Capital co-founder Barry Givens.

Due said that CNN staff had been brainstorming ideas for coverage of Juneteenth, and went on a tour with curators at the National Museum of African American History and Culture before they connected with Live Nation Urban. She said that artists will give music and spoken word performances that share their experiences of Black America. Interstitial packages will be woven in with the live performances.

The goal also was to have a diversity of music genres, including rap, R&B, country, soul, hip hop and gospel. Viewers also will be directed to ways they can get engaged in organizations and volunteer activities.

Due said that they “want people to be uplifted and we want people to be motivated.”

“We want people to walk away with a renewed commitment to make a difference in society as it relates to racial and social justice and equity,” she said.

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