Fuse Acquires Rights to Immigration Documentary “Colossus” About Jamil Sunsin & His Family

Jamil Sunsin’s oh-so-timely immigrant story is heading to the small screen… 

Fuse has acquired the broadcast and streaming rights to Campanario Entertainment’s immigration documentary Colossus, about the Honduran American teenager and his family.

Colossus,

At a time when children are being put in cages, families are being separated at the border and the president of the United States is degrading immigrants, Colossus is more relevant now than ever. 

The documentary, which made its premiere at DOC NYCin 2018, puts America’s treatment of immigrants and separation of families into perspective by following 15-year-old Jamil Sunsin and his struggle after his undocumented parents and older sister are deported to Honduras and they are separated. As the only U.S. citizen in his family, Sunsin finds himself alone in the country. After a visit to see his family, he navigates the personal turmoil caused by immigration policies affecting his parents and sister, the political realities in Honduras, and must decide whether to continue his education in America or return to Honduras to be with his family.

“From the moment that we met Jamil Sunsin, we knew we had to tell his story and that of his sister Mirka who was raised in the U.S. believing she was an American citizen,” said Jaime Dávila, the film’s executive producer and president of Campanario Entertainment. “Family separation and the root causes of the refugee crisis are major issues in our country today, and with Fuse bringing the Sunsin family’s experience to a wider audience we have an opportunity to advance this conversation as a community.”

The documentary, directed by Jonathan Schienberg, is set to make its broadcast premiere on February 26 as part of Fuse’s Peabody and Emmy award-winning Fuse Docs franchise.

Co-founded by Dávila, a former development executive at Bravo, and Jaime Dávila Sr., former TelevisaCOO and Univision President and Chairman, Campanario Entertainment develops and produces broad appeal scripted and unscripted content driven by Latinos and Latinas in front of and behind the camera. They are the company behind the forthcoming Selena: The Series and the Amazon Prime Original, Como Sobrevivir SolteroThey also produced the Bravo reality series Mexican Dynasties.

Wilmer Valderrama to Host This Year’s ALMA Awards

Wilmer Valderrama is steppin’ up to the podium…

The 38-year-old Colombian and Venezuelan American actor will host next month’s ALMA Awards, which celebrate Latino achievements in American entertainment and media.

Wilmer Valderrama

In a statement, Valderrama said Latino achievements and contributions need to be spotlighted more than ever at what he called a “critical” time.

The ALMAs — American Latino Media Arts Awards— are back after a three-year hiatus in time for the 50th anniversary of UnidosUS, previously known as the National Council of La Raza.

UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. In 1995 it created the ALMAsas a way to promote fair, accurate and balanced portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry.

Eva Longoriaand Gina Rodriguezwill be among the honorees at the awards show. Rodriguez, star of the CW’s Jane the Virgin, will share the awards spotlight with the show’s cast.

Activists Samantha Fuentesand Jamie Margolinwill also be honored. Fuentes survived the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, and Margolin founded the Zero Hourmovement to address climate change.

The November 4 ALMA ceremony is airing live at 8:00 pm ET on sibling TV channels Fuseand FM.

Former Fifth Harmonymember Ally Brooke Hernandezand singer Amara La Negrawill perform.

Fuse Mediamade a multi-year agreement to become the exclusive multiplatform media home of the ALMAs.

ABC Developing a New Half-Hour Comedy for Gabriel Iglesias

ABC isn’t giving up on a Gabriel Iglesias series…

The network is taking a second chance at developing a sitcom starring vehicle for the 40-year-old comedian.

Gabriel Iglesias

ABC has a new half-hour project in development, starring Iglesias, from Ryan Seacrest Productions and CBS Television Studios.

This is not a spec sale; the pitch was bought by ABC late last year and the script will be is in consideration for this pilot cycle. Last year, Iglesias starred in the ABC multi-camera comedy pilot The Fluffy Shop.

Written by Taylor Hamra (Nashville), the untitled project focuses on a commitment-phobe bachelor who reconnects with his friend who has just broken up with the woman he has been with since pre-school. Iglesias stars and executive produces.

Iglesias stars in and executive produces Fluffy’s Food Adventures (previously titled Fluffy Breaks Even) at Fuse.

Fuse Renews Iglesias’ “Fluffy Breaks Even” with New Title and Format

Gabriel Iglesias isn’t blowing his Fuse… deal…

Fuse has greenlighted a third season of the 40-year-old Mexican American comedian and actor’s series with a new title and format, while adding companion digital components.

Gabriel Iglesias

The cable net, which targets a Latino and multicultural 18-34 audience, said that Fluffy Breaks Even will be renamed Fluffy’s Food Adventures for the third season and will return in the summer.

Ahead of the rejiggered series’ premiere, Fuse is adding three shortform series for its digital and social platforms, the first being the working-titled Fluffy Off the MenuThe others will be unveiled later.

“Fluffy cannot be contained on just one screen,” Iglesias said. “I can’t wait to unveil what Fuse and I are cooking up for the next season on TV and the new digital series.”

Season 2 of Fluffy Breaks Even reached 4.5 million total viewers, according to Nielsen, and featured celebrity guests including NFL coach Ron RiveraCristela alum Carlos Ponce and NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez.

Season 3 will see Iglesias, aka Fluffy, and his eccentric stand-up tour mates Martin Moreno, Rick Gutierrez, Alfred Robles and G Reilly as they visit Harlem, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and Nashville for a taste of the locals’ favorite spots.

Meanwhile, Fluffy Off the Menu will see chefs teaching Iglesias how to cook an item off of his or her menu, including bacon-wrapped bacon at BluJean in Harlem and crickets at Guelaguetza in Los Angeles. The additional two digital originals will incorporate fan engagement with Iglesias’ unique and humorous spin. All three will be exclusive to Fuse’s digital platforms, with different versions being created for the network’s social channels.

“We have big plans for Gabriel to expand his reach across platforms as we continue to grow our online and mobile presence,” said Michael Dugan, VP Original Content at Fuse Media. “Our audience couldn’t get enough of Fluffy for the first two seasons of his series, and in 2017, there will be more opportunities than ever for fans to connect with one of the most talented comedians around.”

Fluffy’s Food Adventures and Fluffy Off the Menu are exec produced by Iglesias and co-produced with B-17 Entertainment and Arsonhouse Entertainment.

Fuse to Air Half-Hour Special on Pitbull’s Worldwide Success

Pitbull is shining a spotlight on his new album…

In anticipation of the 35-year-old Cuban American rap superstar’s upcoming album Climate Change, Fuse is planning to air a half-hour special on Pitbull’s worldwide success.

Pitbull

During the special, Pitbull will talk about some of the tracks on the multicultural LP, due October 7, and a possible world tour in 2017.

Billboard has exclusively premiering a teaser of Pitbull: Beyond Worldwide, in which Mr. Worldwide shares the inspiration behind his new song “Can’t Have.” The special is set to air October 4.

In another clip from the special, Pitbull teases an upcoming world tour with frequent collaborator and pop star Enrique Iglesias.

“Look out for a world tour coming up with Enrique and Pitbull next year.”

This wouldn’t be the first time the two hit the road together: Pit and Iglesias toured the U.S. in 2014-15 with J Balvin as opening act.

Parra to Serve as a Contributor on “The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore”

Grace Parra has landed a new gig…

The Latina writer and actress is joining The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore as contributor.

Grace Parra

Her first appearance is this week on the Comedy Central show that airs at 11:30 pm ET.

She joins a roster of Nightly Show contributors including Ricky Velez, Holly Walker and Mike Yard.

Parra started her writing career in New York, after graduating from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science. She has written for several network and cable shows and earlier this year hosted the Fuse late-night series White Guy Talk Show.

The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore was created by Jon Stewart and is produced by Stewart’s Busboy Productions.

Iglesias’ Film & Television Projects Headed to Fuse This Fall

Gabriel Iglesias is blowing a Fuse… and blowing up the cable channel’s lineup.

Fuse is relaunching on September 30 with an expanded partnership with the 39-year-old Mexican American comedian, actor, writer and producer.

Gabriel Iglesias

Additionally, Fuse will introduce a new logo and brand with the network’s identity described as a “line-up of sexy, edgy, and relevant original music, comedy, culture and lifestyle programming, featuring a lot of Iglesias.

Iglesias’ projects with Fuse include the world television premiere of Iglesias’ The Fluffy Movie. The film captures the worldwide comic phenomenon in never-before-seen footage from his sold-out “Unity Through Laughter” tour that spanned over 20 countries and more than 400 cities. It will premieres on Wednesday, September 30 at 8:30 pm ET/PT.

Meanwhile, the first original show developed as part of a multi-year partnership with Iglesias, Fluffy Breaks Even, makes its debut on October 1 at 10:00 pm. The unscripted series will feature Iglesias along with his eccentric tour mates and fellow comedians Martin Moreno and Rick Gutierrez as they travel to new cities, meet fans and attempt the impossible – balancing big meals with big workouts!

The series explores the comedy of consequences in each city on the world comedy tour when members of Fluffy’s crew want to eat a high calorie meal, they’re going to have to work to “break even” the next day by burning those calories learning that fun comes with a price … exercise.

Fuse’s lineup also includes the original special Gabriel Iglesias Presents: The Gentleman Jerry Rocha.

Being a gentleman has always come easy to Rocha, which of course depends on how you define the word “gentleman”. Iglesias once again presents one of the most exciting voices in stand-up today in The Gentleman Jerry Rocha. Rocha’s hilarious perspective on everything from dating younger women to watching older movies will have you laughing and nodding along in approval to this anything but gentle, don’t miss, comedy event. It premieres Saturday, October 17 at 10:00 pm. ET/PT.

The network also is presenting the comedian’s upcoming tour, Fuse TV Presents Gabriel Iglesias #FluffyBreaksEven, which kicks off September 24 in Loveland, CO.

Lovato Receives MuchMusic Video Award Nomination

Demi Lovato is getting much love in Canada…

The 20-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress and The X Factor star has received a MuchMusic Video award nomination.

Demi Lovato

Lovato is nominated in the International Video of the Year – Artist category for the clip for her latest single “Heart Attack.”

Lovato’s video, which was directed by Chris Applebaum, is up against Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Phillip Phillips, Pink, PSY, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and will.iam featuring Britney Spears.

Pop-rock band Marianas Trench leads the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards with six nominations, followed by Drake with five and rapper Classified with four.

The awards show will take place on June 16 in Toronto, on a giant main stage in the MuchMusic headquarters’ parking lot and on the adjacent street’s smaller stage, surrounded by an estimated 10,000 fans. The presentation will air live at 9:00 pm on Fuse in the U.S. and MuchMusic in Canada.

Here’s a look at the nominees in the International Video of the Year – Artist category:

Demi Lovato “Heart Attack” — Director: Chris Applebaum
Ed Sheeran “Give Me Love” — Director: Emil Nava
Justin Timberlake “Mirrors” — Director: Floria Sigismondi
Nicki Minaj “Va Va Voom” — Director: Hype Williams
Phillip Phillips “Home” — Director: Joseph Toman
P!NK “Try” — Director: Floria Sigismondi
PSY “Gangnam Style” — Director: Bo Young Lee
Rihanna “Diamonds” — Director: Anthony Mandler
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” — Director: Declan Whitebloom
will.i.am f. Britney Spears “Scream & Shout” — Director: Ben Mor