George Lopez to Appear on NBC’s “A Toast to 2024!” Special

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is preparing for a special toast to 2024…

The 63-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor will appear on the two-hour primetime special A Toast to 2024!, which will be hosted by Today‘s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

Kotb and Bush Hager will help viewers ring in the New Year when they return as the hosts of the special airing on December 31 at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT.

In addition to Lopez, who stars on NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez, others who will be featured to discuss the year’s buzziest and brightest moments are Happy’s Place and The Voice‘s Reba McEntire and NBC Paris Olympics correspondent and rapper Snoop Dogg,.

The complete list of celebrities to be interviewed includes television personalities and NBC News talent: James Acaster, Andrea Canning, Kristin Chenoweth, Dylan Dreyer, Tokala Black Elk & Rex Linn, Belissa Escobedo & Pablo Castelblanco, Fortune Feimster, Willie Geist, David Alan Grier, Lester Holt, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Iseman, Kenny Jary, Carson Kressley, Adam Lambert, Preacher Lawson, Tom Llamas, Mayan Lopez, Loni Love, Howie Mandel, Chris Mann, Melissa Peterman, Joel McHale, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Craig Melvin, Keith Morrison & Josh Mankiewicz, Al Roker, Amber Ruffin, Rickey Smiley, Martha Stewart, Mike Tirico, Allison Tolman, Julio Vaqueiro & Nicole Suarez and Johnny Weir.

NBC recently revealed its full NYE lineup, which kicks off with an encore performance of the St. Denis episode “Salamat You Too” at 8:00 pm followed by a repeat of the Night Court episode “The Judge’s Boyfriend’s Dad” at 8:30 pm.

A Toast to 2024! airs at 9 p.m. and serves as the lead-in for The Day Drinking with Seth Meyers New Year’s Special at 11:30 p.m. The night’s celebrations conclude with E! News Presents NBC’s Hot 10 of 2024 at 12:35 am.

A Toast to 2024! marks the 10th New Year’s Eve special from NBC News and Dateline NBC. Liz Cole is the senior executive producer; Paul Ryan is the executive producer; Charmian Ling is the senior producer; Justin Smith is the supervising producer.

Netflix to Globally Premiere Felipe Esparza’s “Raging Fool” Comedy Special in February

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Felipe Esparza is preparing for a rager…

The 48-year-old Mexican stand-up comedian and actor is set to release his next Netflix special, Raging Fool, globally on February 11.

In Raging Fool, Esparza explores the trials and tribulations of navigating complicated family dynamics, marriage, cultural divides, infidelity, and more.

The special is his second for Netflix, on the heels of 2020’s Bad Decisions, which has two versions available to stream, in English and Spanish.

Taped in front of a sold-out crowd at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, the special is written and performed by Esparza, who executive-produced alongside his wife and long-time producing partner, Lesa ODaniel-Esparza, as well as Judi Marmel and Jordan Levy, in conjunction with 800 Pound Gorilla Productions.

ODaniel-Esparza also directed Esparza’s new hour.

Also known for specials including They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You (currently streaming on Prime Video) and Translate This (HBO), Esparza recently announced the extension of his At My Leisure tour with spring dates, which will see him hitting major cities across North America beginning in January.

Rising to fame as the 2010 winner of Last Comic Standing, he’s also appeared in recurring roles on series including Superstore, The Eric Andre Show, Gentefied, Victor and Valentino, and Universal Basic Guys.

His film credits include Guest House with Pauly Shore, Daddy Daughter Trip with Rob Schneider, Blue Beetle with Xolo Maridueña and George Lopez and You People with Eddie Murphy.

Currently working on material for his fifth special, Esparza is also the host of What’s Up Fool?, which has held steady of late as one of the top comedy podcasts of the last 10 years.

Jaime Camil Returning to Guest Star on NBC’s “Lopez vs. Lopez” for Season Three

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil is returning to Lopez vs. Lopez.

The 51-year-old Mexican actor, singer and television personality will make his return to the NBC comedy in season three,” per Variety.

Camil, the scene-stealer on the CW’s Jane the Virgin, previously appeared in four episodes of the multi-camera series during its second season in the role of Josué Consuelos, the unfaithful ex-boyfriend of Rosie (Selenis Leyva).

He will now appear in two episodes of the show’s ongoing third season.

First up, Camil will return in the episode airing on January 3, titled “Lopez vs. Escándalo.” The official logline for that episode reads, “George has a pretty big secret to keep when he starts secretly spending time with Rosie’s ex. Mayan tries to manage a customer’s move herself. Quinten tries to tackle a plumbing problem at home, but is he man enough to handle it without George?”

He will then return the following week in the January 10 episode “Lopez vs Josué.” The logline for that episode reads, “George is recruited to be the star witness when Rosie sues her ex-fiancé Josué for the egregious offense of wasting her time. Quinten finds himself feeling pushed out when Chance and Mayan bond over Mayan’s past life as a DJ.”

Camil is best known to American audiences for his role in the hit CW series “Jane the Virgin,” on which he starred throughout the show’s five-season run.

He previously lent his voice to animated productions like Coco, The Secret Life of Pets and Elena of Avalor.

Camil is also well-known star in his native Mexico for releasing multiple platinum

George Lopez and his daughter, Mayan Lopez, lead the cast of Lopez vs. Lopez, alongside cast members Leyva, Matt Shively, Brice Gonzalez and Al Madrigal.

George and Mayan co-created the series with Debby Wolfe.

Universal Television produces in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

George Lopez Preparing New Hour-Long Comedy Special for Prime Video

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is preparing to bring the laughs…

The 63-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor is preparing a new hour-long comedy special to premiere on Prime Video.

Amazon MGM Studios and Travieso Productions are producing Lopez’s new hour, which is his first since We’ll Do It for Half for Netflix in 2020.

Taping at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on September 27 and 28, as part of Lopez’s “ALLLRIIIIGHHTTT! Comedy” tour, its premiere date will be announced down the road.

Breaking ground for Latino comics in a decades-long career spanning television, film, stand-up, and late-night, Lopez has previously put out four comedy specials with HBO — The Wall (2017), It’s Not Me, It’s You (2012), Tall, Dark and Chicano (2009), and America’s Mexican (2007) — earning Grammy nominations for the latter two. His stand-up output also includes Why You Crying?, an acclaimed comedy concert for Showtime, and a number of other comedy albums.

Coming to the attention of many with the groundbreaking hit sitcom George Lopez, which he co-created, wrote, produced and starred on for ABC, he’s most recently exec produced and starred opposite his daughter Mayan Lopez on NBC’s sitcom Lopez vs Lopez, a fictionalized look at their real-life relationship, which returns for its third season on October 18.

He also exec produced and starred in TV Land’s semi-autobiographical sitcom Lopez, which ran for two seasons, and co-created and starred on FX’s Saint George.

At one point hosting his own TBS late-night talker, Lopez Tonight, Lopez last summer joined the DC Extended Universe with Angel Manuel Soto’s Blue Beetle.

Other recent feature projects include Snoop Dogg’s Amazon MGM sports comedy, The Underdoggs, as well as the indie holiday comedy How the Gringo Stole Christmas.

Selena Gomez Among Talent Named as Presenters for Upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez has a date with Emmy…

The Television Academy and ABC have announced the talent lineup slated to appear on the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, with the 32-year-old Mexican American signer/songwriter and actress making the list.

Others on the lengthy roster include Gael Garcia Bernal, John Leguizamo, Diego Luna, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Martin Sheen, Jimmy Smits and George Lopez..

The 76th Emmy Awards, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, will broadcast live on ABC Sunday, September 15, 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A.

Here’s the talent list so far:

Christine Baranski — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Kathy Bates
Meredith Baxter
Candice Bergen
Gael Garcia Bernal
Matt Bomer — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Zach Braff
Connie Britton
Nicola Coughlan
Billy Crystal
Viola Davis
Giancarlo Esposito
Colin Farrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Lily Gladstone — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Selena Gomez — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Dulé Hill
Ron Howard
Brendan Hunt
Joshua Jackson
Allison Janney
Don Johnson
Mindy Kaling
Jimmy Kimmel — Nominee, Outstanding Talk Series, Outstanding Writing For a Variety Special, Outstanding Variety Special Live (Winner)
Padma Lakshmi
Greta Lee — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
John Leguizamo
George Lopez
Diego Luna
Jane Lynch — Nominee, Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Steve Martin — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Nava Mau — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie
Reba McEntire
Janel Moloney
Ebon Moss-Bachrach — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Niecy Nash-Betts
Taylor Zakhar Perez
Mekhi Phifer
Melissa Peterman
Da’Vine Joy Randolph — Nominee, Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Sam Richardson
Maya Rudolph
Richard Schiff
Martin Sheen
Martin Short — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Jean Smart — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Jimmy Smits
Antony Starr
Gina Torres
Dick Van Dyke
Susan Kelechi Watson
Damon Wayans
Kristen Wiig — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Henry Winkler
Bowen Yang
Steven Yeun

In addition, there will be special appearances from Olympic gold medalist swimmer Caeleb Dressel and Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby player Ilona Maher.

NBC Renews George Lopez’s “Lopez vs. Lopez” for Third Season

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more family time and family drama in George Lopez’s future.

NBC has renewed the 63-year-old Mexican American actor/comedian’s hit series Lopez vs. Lopez for a third season.

In its second season, which ended at in April, George Lopez’s real-life daughter Mayan Lopez and the Lopez family underwent big changes while George took his first step in sobriety.

NBC said that the show reached nearly 10 million total viewers across all platforms and is the highest-indexing broadcast program among English-dominant Hispanic households.

Starring George, Mayan, Selenis Leyva, Matt Shively, Brice Gonzalez and Al Madrigal, it was co-created by Debby Wolfe, who executive produces alongside Bruce Helford, George Lopez, Michael Rotenberg and Katie Newman.

It’s produced by Universal Television, in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

Los Lobos to Be Subject of Feature-Length Documentary Film

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

The origin story of Los Lobos is getting the Hollywood treatment…

The Mexican-American four-time Grammy-winning rock band, which has helped bring Chicano music to the masses over the last 50 years, will be the subject of the feature-length documentary with the working title Los Lobos Native Sons, currently in production and slated for a 2025 release.

The film features testimonials from George Lopez, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits, Dolores Huerta, Bonnie Raitt, Flaco Jimenez and Cheech Marin, among others.

Formed more than 50 years ago in East Los Angeles, the group is unique and versatile, able to play roots rock, Musica Mexicana, soul, folk and a galaxy of other styles.

The film is co-directed by veteran filmmaker, producer and editor Doug Blush and photographer/filmmaker Piero F. Giunti, and produced by Robert Corsini and Flavio Morales.

Blush says, “Los Lobos, as much as any modern band, has expanded and re-defined what’s possible in American music, and in their phenomenal half-century and counting, they’ve created a global fan base that proves that the wolf is very, very alive.”

The group was founded by David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar), Louie Pérez (drums, vocals, guitar), Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitar) and Conrad Lozano (bass, vocals, guitarrón). They played revved-up versions of Mexican folk music in restaurants and at parties.

The band evolved in the 1980s as it tapped into LA’s burgeoning punk and college rock scenes, sharing bills with the Circle Jerks, Public Image Ltd., and the Blasters, whose saxophonist, Steve Berlin, would eventually leave that group to join Los Lobos in 1984.

A major turning point came in 1987 with the release of the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba. The quintet’s cover of Valens’ signature song topped the charts in the U.S. and the U.K. Rather than capitalize on that massive commercial success, Los Lobos instead chose to record “La Pistola y El Corazón,” a tribute to Tejano and Mariachi music that won the 1989 Grammy for Best Mexican-American Performance. The group has moved from strength to strength in the years since, receiving everything from a Hispanic Heritage Award to transforming their song “Kiko” into a surreal skit about Elmo on Sesame Street.

Jessica Marie Garcia Signs with Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Marie Garcia has new representation…

The 36-year-old Cuban & Mexican American actress has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Garcia currently recurs on the NBC comedy series Lopez Vs. Lopez opposite George and Mayan Lopez, as cousin ‘Yesika’. Before that, she starred on Netflix’s “Most-Binged Original” hit series On My Block as the spitfire ‘Jasmine Flores’, a role that earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Best Summer TV Actress and an MTV Movie & TV Award nomination.

She also appeared in Gina Rodriguez’s Disney+ series Diary of a Female President as ‘Camila,’ as well as recurring on Shonda Rhimes’ How To Get Away With Murder playing ‘Rhonda’ opposite Viola Davis. Additionally, she starred in all four seasons of the Disney Channel original series Liv and Maddie as ‘Willow Cruz.’

Her feature film Avenge the Crows, in which she plays ‘Peaches,’ a tough inner-city gang member, starring alongside Danny Trejo and Lou Diamond Phillips, is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. You can see her earlier work on shows including ABC’s The Middle, as the tough wrestlerette, ‘Becky,’ and as ‘Sierra Cruz’ on ABC Family’s Huge.

Garcia is also a member of the all-female ensemble cast of Betch: A Sketch Show, streaming now on Paramount+. She has also lent her voice to both seasons of the Love in Gravity podcast, which received special recognition at the 2023 GLAAD Awards. She additionally voiced ‘Renee Montoya’ in the hit original audio drama Batman Unburied for Spotify and voiced ‘Ami’ for the audio original book The Honeymoon Crashers by the writing duo Christina Lauren.

Garcia is branching out with her production shingle, where she has been writing and producing, most recently with her film Illegally Brown, directed by Gabby Revilla Lugo, which was recently on the festival circuit. She also shot the film What To Expect with director Gabriela Garcia Medina.

America Ferrera to Serve as a Presenter at This Weekend’s Golden Globes

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera will be hitting the Golden Globes stage…

The full lineup of presenters for Sunday’s Golden Globes is set, with the 39-year-old Honduran American award-winning actress among the artists set to hand out trophies at the Beverly Hilton.

Ferrera, a Golden Globe winner for Ugly Betty and Barbie star, appears on a list of preseners that includes Amanda Seyfried, Andra Day, Angela Bassett, Annette Bening, Ben Affleck, Daniel Kaluuya, Don Cheadle, Dua Lipa, Elizabeth Banks, Florence Pugh, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Gabriel Macht, George Lopez, Hailee Steinfeld, Hunter Schafer, Issa Rae, Jared Leto, Jodie Foster, Jon Batiste, Jonathan Bailey, Julia Garner, Justin Hartley, Kate Beckinsale, Keri Russell, Kevin Costner, Mark Hamill, Matt Damon, Michelle Yeoh, Naomi Watts, Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Patrick J. Adams, Ray Romano, Rose McIver, Shameik Moore, Simu Liu, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Will Ferrell.

Jo Koy will host the Golden Globes, which will honor the year’s best in motion pictures and television.

The ceremony will air beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Among this year’s Golden Globe nominees in 26 categories, 2023’s box office champ Barbie from Warner Bros leads all films with nine, followed by Universal’s Oppenheimer with eight and Apple’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Searchlight’s Poor Things with seven apiece.

In the TV races, HBO’s final go-round with Succession has nine noms, the most-ever for a series, scoring mentions in all categories in which it was eligible.

George Lopez to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Golden Globes Awards Show

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is readying for his golden hour…

The 62-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor appears on the first list of presenters for Sunday’s 81st Golden Globe Awards.

Lopez, who currently stars on television in Lopez vs. Lopez and recently appeared on the big screen in Blue Beetle, will be joined by Amanda Seyfried, Angela Bassett, Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams, Julia Garner, Justin Hartley, Michelle Yeoh and Will Ferrell.

Jo Koy is hosting the Golden G lobes, which will honor the year’s best in motion pictures and television. The ceremony will air beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5 p.m. PT live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

More presenters will be announced.

Among this year’s Golden Globe nominees in 26 categories, 2023’s box office champ Barbie from Warner Bros leads all films with nine, followed by Universal’s Oppenheimer with eight and Apple’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Searchlight’s Poor Things with seven apiece. In the TV races, HBO’s final go-round with Succession has nine noms, the most-ever for a series, scoring mentions in all categories in which it was eligible.

This year’s Globes — it’s first time back on CBS since 1982 — include two new awards categories: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement in Motion Pictures and Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.

Longtime Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is planning, hosting and producing this year’s awards after the Globes’ assets, rights and properties were acquired by Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association back in June.

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