Gina Brillon Among the 10 “America’s Got Talent” Finalists Vying for $1M Grand Prize

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon’s got Talent-ed plans…

America’s Got Talent’s 16th season will end this week with the 41-year-old Latina comedian among the finalists who could walk away with the $1M grand prize.

In addition to Brillon, the 10 finalists include aerialist Aidan Bryant, singers Brooke Simpson, Jimmie Herrod and Victory Brinker, magician Dustin Tavella, comedian Josh Blue, quick change artist Lea Kyle, Northwell Health Nurse Choir, and the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team.

The show’s top ten finalists will be joined by a swathe of celebrity guests on the show on Wednesday September 15 including Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, Bishop Briggs, George Lopez, Rico Rodriguez, Olympic Silver Medal gymnasts Jordan Chiles and MyKayla Skinner and AGT season nine winner and Las Vegas headliner Mat Franco/

In addition to the grand prize, the winner join America’s Got Talent Las Vegas Live at Luxor Hotel and Casino this fall.

It comes as the show, which was created by Simon Cowell and is produced by his Syco Entertainment and Fremantle, remains the most-watched summer program for the eighth consecutive year and the most-watched summer broadcast unscripted program for the 16th consecutive year.

NBC said that the show had reached more than 60M viewers across linear and digital platforms.

Mark Viera Officially Announces HBO Latino & New York Latino Film Festival’s 2nd Annual National Latino Stand-Up Comedy Competition

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Viera is inviting fellow Latino comedians to bring the funny…

The Puerto Rican comedian is helping launch HBO Latino and the New York Latino Film Festival’s (NYLFF) second annual national Latino Stand-Up Comedy Competition.

The search for the best Latino stand-up comedians around the country was announced today by 2019 winners Viera and Alex Carabaño — with the help of Entre Nos’ best comedians Gina Brillón and Orlando Leyba.

The competition is designed to support emerging talent and increase awareness and representation of Latino voices in the comedy industry. The top five comedians will perform, and a winner will be chosen at a virtual event in early December, which will be hosted by Viera.

“I’m excited to be the host of the 2020 Latino Stand-Up Comedy Competition,” said Viera. “After winning last year and taping my first Entre Nos Special, I am honored to be a part of this tournament of funny, knowing what’s at stake and how these performances will potentially change the career of an up-and-coming comedian. Let the jokes roll and the laughter flow, again.”

You can catch last year’s winners on the aforementioned Entre Nos: The Winners, which is available to stream on HBO Max.

If you think you have the comedy chops, submissions for the competition are officially open and will be accepted through November 13.

For those who are interested in submitting to the Latino Stand Up Comedy Competition, here are the entry details:

Applicants must submit a 3-5 minute video of their stand-up performance in English (or bilingual), which has not been previously broadcast in any form at NYLatinoFilmFestival.com (free to enter). Submission deadline is Friday, November 13, 2020 by 11:59pm EST.
All eligible submissions will be judged by a panel of screeners, comprised of Viva Producers, NYLFF members and HBO executives, who will determine the top 5 finalists based on performance and creative material.
The finalists will be invited to perform an 8 -10 minute comedic performance at the ’Latino Stand-Up!’ finals, scheduled to take place virtually the week of December 7th. The winner will be revealed that night.
The winning comedian will be included in an upcoming Entre Nos comedy special airing in 2021 on HBO Max.

HBO Max to Premiere Anjelah Johnson-Hosted Latinx Comedy Special This Month

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Anjelah Johnson is bringing the laughs to HBO Max.

The 38-year-old Mexican & Native American stand-up comedian, actress and former MADtv cast member is hosting a multi-act special filmed during San Antonio’s HA Comedy Festival, the biggest Latinx comedy festival in the world.

HBO Max will premiere the special, filmed at the Empire Theatre in February, on Thursday, August 20.

The featured acts include Gina Brillon, David Del Rosario, Carmen Lynch, Monique Marvez, Pedro Salinas, Jesus Trejo and Mark Vierq.

Johnson, known her characters of Vietnamese nail salon employee Mỹ Linh/Tammy and rude fast food employee turned music star named Bon Qui Qui,has appeared on television in Superstore and Ugly Betty.

Amazon to Release Gina Brillon’s Latest Comedy Special in June

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon is bring the laughs to Amazon…

Amazon will premiere the Puerto Rican comedian/actress’ one-hour comedy special Gina Brillon: The Floor Is Lava on Friday, June 5.

In her third stand-up special, Brillon pulls no punches when discussing her childhood, culture and the transition from single to married life with her Midwestern husband as she guides the audience on a journey of love, laughter and heart.

Brillon’s first one-hour special, Pacifically Speaking, was produced by Gabriel Iglesias and aired on NuvoTV (2014).

She has made appearances on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham,E!’s Chelsea Lately,AXS’Gotham Comedy Live, The View,Late Night with Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Brillon has also appeared on television in CBS’ Kevin Can Wait on ABC’s The Conners.

In 2012, she became the first (and only) Latina winner of NBC’s Stand up for Diversity Showcase. She was selected to be part of Montreal’s Just For Laughs New Faces Showcase.

Brillon is also a singer, published writer, and poet. Her pieces have appeared in The New York Post and Daily News, among others.

In 2019, she was featured on Gabriel Iglesias’ “Beyond the Fluffy Tour” – hitting 46 cities around the US.

Her most recent half-hour special, Easily Offended, was one of the top shows among the Entre Nos franchise on HBO Latino, and is now streaming on all HBO digital platforms.

CBS Developing Comedy Series Starring Brillon

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon could be heading to CBS in the near future…

The network is developing an untitled multi-camera comedy starring the Puerto Rican stand up comedian/actress and executive produced by Kevin James.

Brillon, who recently made a guest appearance on James’ new CBS sitcom, Kevin Can Wait, will also serve as a producer on the project.

Written by sitcom veteran Adam Barr, the project is inspired by Brillon’s stand-up comedy. It centers on Gina (Brillon). When her seven-year relationship suddenly ends, she moves from the Bronx to Manhattan to pursue her dreams.

Sony Pictures Television, where James’ Hey Eddie Prods. has a first-look deal, is the studio. James and his producing partner Jeff Sussman recently hired former TBS development executive Nina Howie, who will serve as a co-executive producer on the project.

Brillon is the first Latina winner of NBC’s Stand up for Diversity Showcase in 2012.

Brillon Signs with William Morris Endeavor

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon is one step closer to getting laughs on a bigger stage…

The Bronx-born Puerto Rican comedienne has officially signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Brillon has been performing stand-up since she was 17, serving as a headlining act at clubs throughout the country, including Caroline’s, The Comedy Store and both Los Angeles and New York City outposts of The Laugh Factory.

Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs international comedy festival selected her to be part of its New Faces Class of 2013, and the year before she became the first Latina to receive top honors at Stand-Up NBC, an annual showcase for diverse comedians whose alumni include Hannibal Buress, W. Kamau Bell and Brandon T. Jackson.

Her television appearances include The View, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, E!’s Chelsea Lately, AXS’ Gotham Comedy Live and NuvoTV’s Stand Up and Deliver.

Earlier this month she generated laughs with a special set at the upfront presentation for the Jennifer Lopez network.

Brillon, who also has published poetry in The New York Post and the Daily Newsand as a singer served as the opening act for artists including Ne-Yo, will appear in comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ upcoming documentary The Fluffy Movie, and is preparing to shoot her first one-hour special later this year.

Brillon Lands Talent Holding Deal with NBCUniversal

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon could be appearing on a television sitcom in the near future…

The Bronx-born Puerto Rican comedienne has landed a one-year talent holding deal with NBCUniversal after sharing top honors with comedian Jon Laster at NBCUniversal’s ninth annual Stand-Up for Diversity comedy showcase.

Held recently at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, the event was the culmination of a four-city search for diverse comics.

Brillon is a regular on the New York comedy scene, performing at Caroline’s Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory, Standup New York, The Comic Strip and Gotham Comedy Club.

Selected finalists also earned the chance to join the touring company of the Stand-Up for Diversity College Tour. The 2012 finalists — in addition to Brillon and Laster — included David Smithyman, Arvin Mitchell, Rob Haze, Dominican American comedian Vladimir Caamano, Kortney Shane Williams, Ryan Sickler, Latina comedienne Reyna Amaya and Mo Amer.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Gina Brillon