Erik Estrada Co-Hosting This Weekend’s Hollywood Christmas Parade

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Erik Estrada is helping people get in the holiday spirit, Hollywood style.

The 74-year-old Puerto Rican actor and former CHiPs star is serving as the co-host of this year’s Hollywood Christmas Parade, a grand Hollywood tradition will kick off at 6:00 pm on Sunday and winds through the streets of the movie capital.

Estrada, co-hosting the parade with Dean Cain, will be joined by Montel Williams, Laura McKenzie and Elizabeth Stanton.

Pre-parade entertainment will include the Village People, pop-opera singer Anna Azerli, and The Grinch. Parade performers will include the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and California Springs Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Joining them are Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, dancer-singer Paula Abdul, singer Dwight Yoakum, radio host Kerri Kasem, pop duo Aly & AJ and actors Chris Kattan, Craig Robinson, Ernie Hudson, Brandon Routh, Ming-Na Wen, Denise Richards and Tatyana Ali.

Overall, the 3.2-mile route will showcase 90 celebrities and VIPs, 14 pre-parade and parade performers, 10 bands, six four-story-high character balloons, three floats, 39 movie cars and eight novelty vehicles. The show ends with an appearance by Santa Claus and his reindeer.

The parade supports Marine Toys for Tots. The event starts at Orange Street and Hollywood Boulevard, traveling east on Hollywood Boulevard to Vine Street, south on Vine Street to Sunset Boulevard and then west on Sunset, back to Orange.

Retired U.S. Army Col. Paris D. Davis, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in March, nearly 60 years after being nominated for his heroism during the Vietnam War, will be the grand marshal. The 84-year-old Davis was one of the first Black officers to serve in the Army’s elite Green Berets, recognized for the rescue of two severely injured soldiers during an intense battle in the Vietnam War.

Local marching bands taking part will include the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drums; the Oaxaca Philharmonic Band of Los Angeles; the Golden Valley High School Band of San Clarita; the PAVA World Traditional Korean Band of Los Angeles; the Compton High School Band; and the Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band of Torrance.

The parade has been held every year since 1928, except from 1942 to 1944, when World War II broke out, and in 2020, when it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was first held in 1928, then known as the “Santa Claus Lane Parade.” Comedian Joe E. Brown was the first grand marshal in 1932, a role later filled by Bob Hope, Gene Autry, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne, among others.

The parade will be rebroadcast on December 15 at 8:00 pm on The CW Network.

Erik Estrada to Guest Star on This Week’s 80s Night-Themed Episode of “The Masked Singer”

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Erik Estrada is masking up…

The 74-year-old Puerto Rican actor will appear on this week’s episode of The Masked Singer.

Estrada won’t actually compete on the Fox series, but he will appear to hand out special clues that provide hints to the identities of each player.

Estrada’s appearance is part of the show’s “80’s Night.” He is best known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983.

Estrada, Dallas star Charlene Tilton and Young MC will all deliver clues that evening, with Young MC opening the show with a performance of his hit single “Bust a Move.”

The Masked Singer enters Season 9 with 21 contestants include “Mustang,” “Axolotl,” “California Roll,” “Dandelion,” “Moose,” “Gargoyle,” “Jackalope,” “Doll,” Polar Bear,” “Night Owl,” “Rock Lobster,” “Gnome” and more to be announced. Tim Chappel is this season’s costume designer.

Celebrities unmasked so far in Season 9 include Lele Pons as Jackalope, Malin Akerman as Squirrel, Michael Bolton as the Wolf, Grandmaster Flash as Polar Bear, Debbie Gibson as Night Owl, Howie Mandel as Rock Lobster, Sara Evans as Mustang and Dick Van Dyke as Gnome.

The Season 9 contestants “boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, six Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, four Golden Globe nominations, five medals, 26 books, two Tony Award nominations, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a combined 95,231,000 records sold.”

Season nine will introduce all-new themed episodes, including “ABBA,” “New York,” “DC Superheroes,” “Sesame Street,” “80s Night,” “Movie Night” and more.

Peña Attached to Star in Film Adaptation of NBC’s Cult Classic “CHiPS”

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is letting the chips fall where they may…

Warner Bros. has set actor/comedian Dax Shepard to write, direct and star in the film adaptation of the long-running television series CHiPS, with the 38-year-old Mexican American actor attached to play Frank “Ponch” Poncherello.

CHiPS, whichran from 1977-83, centered on two officers who patrolled the highways of California on motorcycles in some scandalously tight khaki uniforms. Shepard will play Officer Jon Baker (played in the original by Larry Wilcox), with Peña starring in therole Erik Estrada originated. Rick Rosner created the NBC series.

This is the most serious Warner Bros. has been in turning CHiPS into a film. The studio attempted it years ago, after That ’70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama showed up in the office of executive Greg Silverman. Dressed in the signature tight-fitting uniform, Valderrama merely said, “Funny, right?” — and he walked out with a deal and an intention to play Ponch. But while television shows from that era like Starsky & Hutch and The Dukes Of Hazzard got movie transfers, CHiPS stalled out.

The new take is envisioned as much in the tone of Bad Boys and Lethal Weapon than a comedy. Shepard is known mostly in humorous roles and the series Parenthood. He’s actually a professional driver of racecars and motorcycles, and he expects to be performing his own riding and stunts.

del Castillo Lending Voice to Animated Film “El Americano 3D”

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kate del Castillo is about to get animated…

The 41-year-old Mexican actress and former telenovela star has joined the voice cast of El Americano 3D, which is being billed as the first major U.S.-Mexican animated co-production.

The film will be released in the first quarter of 2015, according to Variety.

Former Friends star Lisa Kudrow heads the ensemble voice cast that also includes Modern Family star Rico Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Erik Estrada and Mexican-American actor and director Edward James Olmos, who also serves as a co-producer.

El Americano is the fourth film – and first CGI movie – made at the Animex Producciones animated studio in Puebla, Mexico. Burbank, California-based Olmos Productions also has co-production credits.

The film will premiere in both Mexico and the United States in the first three months of 2015, including an initial 1,200-screen U.S. theatrical release.

Deals also have been reached at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival to distribute the film in Russia and in Asian countries.

Variety describes the movie as a “revisionist take on the U.S. as a country of role models for young Mexicans.”

The film “makes us realize that the answers to our struggles are right there in our own hearts,” Olmos was quoted as saying.

It tells the story of Cuco, a young Mexican parrot who embarks on an epic quest to persuade an American crime-fighting TV celebrity to help defend his family from bullies, the magazine said.

Cuco learns, however, that he can become a hero without anyone else’s help.

Trailer Released for Disney’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue,” Featuring Erik Estrada

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The sky’s the limit for Erik Estrada…

Disney has released the trailer for Planes: Fire & Rescue, which finds the 65-year-old Puerto Rican actor lending his voice to one of the animated film’s characters.

Estrada, best known for starring in the television series CHiPs, voices the character of as Nick “Loop’n” Lopez, a helicopter police officer.

The sequel to last year’s Planes, which made nearly $220 million worldwide, sees the return of world famous air racer Dusty Crophopper (voiced by Dane Cook). After learning that his engine is damaged and he may never be able to race again, Dusty must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack.

Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger (voice of Ed Harris) and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Julie Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter (voice of Wes Studi), ex-military transport Cabbie (voice of Dale Dye) and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.

In addition to Estrada, the film also features the voice of Danny Pardo.The Argentine actor voices the character of Blackout.

Planes: Fire & Rescue will hit theatres in the U.S. on July 18.

Estrada to Host Hallmark Channel’s “Hollywood Christmas Parade”

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Erik Estrada is ready to get you into the holiday spirit…

The 63-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Spanish telenovela star will host this year’s Hollywood Christmas Parade on the Hallmark Channel.

Estrada, who rose to acclaim on the police drama CHiPs, will co-host the show with his fellow World’s Funniest Moments host Laura McKenzie. Along with his work on the weekly series, Estrada competed on Univision’s Mira Quien Baila last season.

This year’s Grand Marshal is actor Joe Mantegna, who has starred on Criminal Minds. He’ll be joined by Lou Ferrigno, Louis Gossett Jr., as well as cast members from Glee, Criminal Minds and Days Of Our Lives, among others.

The 2012 Hollywood Christmas Parade will air on December 10 at 6:00 pm ET on the Hallmark Channel.

López Sashays Her Way to the Mira Quién Baila Crown…

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Should telenovela superstar Adamari López quit acting one day, she could easily take up ballroom dancing.

During last night’s grand finale of Mira Quién Baila, the 40-year-old Puerto Rican actress took home the crown on Univision’s celebrity dancing competition.

“I think I danced with my heart,” López said.

After coming in ahead of the competition, López’s face was all-aglow during a post-victory interview AOL Latino.

“I would scream again but I screamed earlier and I think there are others doing interviews right now so I can’t scream, but I am so happy and very excited,” the Amigas y Rivales actress. “I am very appreciative of the public of their votes.”

López reportedly received two million votes to clinch the title.

During her interview with AOL Latino, the breast cancer survivor talked about her selected charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that fights against breast cancer. The organization will receive López’ grand prize earnings.

López danced her way past singer Priscila Angel and Puerto Rican actor Erik Estrada, who placed third place.

Bailon’s High-Octane Dance on “Mira quién baila”

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Adrienne Bailon knows how to shake her groove thing…or that she could easily be a contestant on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

The former Cheetah Girl strutted her stuff during a high-energy performance on Univision’s Mira quién baila—a dance competition similar to Dancing with the Stars.

The 28-year-old half Puerto Rican/half Ecuadorian singer/actress/dancer may not have belted out a song, but she definitely shook her bon bon during her appearance. Backed by a crew of male dancers, the former star of Disney’s The Cheetah Girls movies—dressed in a black leather jumpsuit and rhinestone-covered harness—descended from a swing before bustin’ a move on the dance floor.

After her performance, the former member of the girl group 3LW talked about her career with the show’s hosts, including being discovered by Ricky Martin.

Bailon, who appears in Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything” video, says she’s a huge fan of the show. But she remain tight-lipped about who she’s hoping wins the title.

Contestants still in the hunt are Puerto Rican telenovela star Adamari Lopez, Puerto Rican American actor Erik Estrada and Mexican-American actress/model Elizabeth Gutiérrez.

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