“Glee” Cast to Reunite for Special Tribute to Naya Rivera’s Character Santana Lopez at GLAAD Media Awards

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera will be the focus of a special tribute at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards…

Glee cast members Jacob Artist, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Vanessa Lengies, Jane Lynch, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Matthew Morrison, Alex Newell, Amber Riley, Harry Shum Jr., Becca Tobin, and Jenna Ushkowitz will reunite at the virtual edition of the awards show on April 8 for a special tribute to the legacy of the Santana Lopez, the character portrayed by the late half-Puerto Rican actress/singer and Glee star, who drowned last July while on an outing with her son on California’s Lake Piru.

The tribute will honor the 10-year anniversary of Santana’s coming out as lesbian in the musical comedy. Glee is a GLAAD Media Award winning series and the reunion will spotlight Santana’s impact on LGBTQ teens and Latinx LGBTQ representation on television. Demi Lovato, who played Santana’s girlfriend on Glee, will introduce the special tribute.

The GLAAD Media Awards will be hosted by Niecy Nash and stream on YouTube on April 8 at 8:00 pm ET. The event will also stream on Hulu on April 8 starting at 10:00 pm ET, and will be available to stream on-demand on the streamer until the end of June.

Chrissie Fit to Appear on Amazon’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” Series

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Chrissie Fit has big summer plans…

The 36-year-old Cuban American actress/singer and former Pitch Perfect star has landed a recurring role on Amazon’s I Know What You Did Last Summer series.

A modern take on the 1997 horror film, the project comes from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios Original Film.

Written by Sara Goodman based on the 1973 novel by Lois Duncan, the I Know What You Did Last Summer series has the same premise as the movie adaptation – in a town full of secrets, a group of teenagers are stalked by a mysterious killer a year after a fatal accident on their graduation night.

Details about Fit’s character have yet to be revealed.

The previously announced cast includes Madison Iseman, Brianne Tju, Ezekiel Goodman, Ashley Moore, Sebastian Amoruso, Fiona Rene, Cassie Beck, Brooke Bloom, Bill Heck and Sonya Balmores.

I Know What You Did Last Summer is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Goodman will write and executive produce. Craig Macneill will serve as director and executive producer for the first episode.

Fit appeared in the Pitch Perfect and Teen Beach Movie franchises. She also acted opposite Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr. in All My Life.

Her additional credits include Lissette Feliciano’s SXSW film Women Is Losers and Comedy Central’s Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens.

Freeform Orders Two Series-Finale Episodes of Alberto Rosende’s “Shadowhunters”

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Alberto Rosende is preparing for The Final Hunt…

Freeform’s fantasy drama series Shadowhunters, starringthe 25-year-old Colombian and Cuban American actor, will come to an end after its current third season.

While the cable network opted not to pick up a fourth season, it will give fans closure, ordering two extra episodes that will wrap the story. The expanded 12-episode final season, dubbed Shadowhunters: The Final Hunt, is set to air in spring 2019.

Freeform originally ordered a 10-episode third season, later ordering 10 back episodes. Season 3A wrapped its run on May 15. While there had been no premiere date for Season 3B but those episodes are already in the can, so the only way to get a proper ending for the series was for Freeform to greenlight a finale.

That way the series also will cover all Mortal Instruments books, on which it is based. The current third season goes over books 4 and 5; the two-hour finale will be based on the sixth and final novel in the series.

“We are very proud of Shadowhunters, a series that broke new ground in the genre world and became a fan favorite,” the network said in a statement. “However, along with our partners at Constantin, we reached the very difficult decision not to renew the show for a fourth season. But as big supporters and fans ourselves, Freeform insisted on and championed the filming of a special two-part finale that would give devoted fans a proper ending. The twelve episodes will air in spring of 2019. We want to thank our talented creators, producers, cast and crew along with our colleagues at Constantin for their hard work and dedication and to Cassie Clare for her incredible book series. We look forward to the final chapter of this breakthrough drama.”

Shadowhunters debuted to a strong start, becoming Freeform’s strongest new scripted show in 2016. Ratings have been down year-to-year since then though the series continues to generate solid buzz and has a devoted following.

Shadowhunters is produced by Constantin Film. The series stars Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray, Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland, Rosende as Simon Lewis, half-Mexican actress Emeraude Toubia as Isabelle Lightwood, Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood, Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway, Alisha Wainwright as Maia Roberts, and Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane.

Rivera to Perform “Valerie” on the 100th Episode of “Glee”

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera is preparing to reinterpret one of her most memorable Glee performances…

The 27-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer will offer a new take on her acclaimed performance of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s version of “Valerie” for the Fox musical dramedy’s 100th episode.

In the second season episode entitled “Special Education,” Rivera sang lead on the track by The Zutons during the New Directions’ performance at the 2010 Western Ohio Sectional Championship.

Rivera also performed the track in the Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, which was released in 2011.

This time around, she’ll perform the song alongside Heather Morris (Brittany).

In addition, Rivera will also perform Britney Spears’ “Toxic” with Morris and Diana Agron (Quinn), and “Be Okay” with Lea Michele.

The music in the two-part episode was chosen by the show’s fans, who were asked to pick 10 of the show’s 30 most beloved performances to be remixed and featured on the series’ landmark episode.

Set to air on March 18 and 25 at 8 p.m., the 100th episode will center on Jane Lynch‘s principal Sue Sylvester, who after years of disdain for the New Directions and Matthew Morrison‘s Will Schuester, finally succeeds in ending the glee club in Lima.

Many original castmembers — Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Mark Salling (Puck), Dancing With the Stars winner Amber Riley (Mercedes), Agron (Quinn) as well as Kristin Chenoweth (April) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Holly Holliday) — will return to say their final goodbyes to Will and each other in the emotional episode.

To honor the milestone, Columbia Records will release Glee: The Music Celebrating 100 Episodes, which will include brand-new versions of Glee favorites from the original cast — including Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Pink‘s “Raise Your Glass” and the original song “Loser Like Me.”

The album will be released on March 25.

Here’s the complete 100th Glee tracklist:

1. “Keep Holding On”* featuring Mark Salling (Puck)
2. “Valerie”* featuring Naya Rivera (Santana) and Morris (Brittany)
3. “Defying Gravity”* featuring Lea Michele( Rachel), Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Riley (Mercedes)
4. “Raise Your Glass”* featuring Morrison (Will) and Chenoweth (April)
5. “Toxic”* featuring Rivera (Santana), Morris (Brittany) and Agron (Quinn)
6. “Happy” featuring Paltrow (Holly), Chenoweth (April), Morrison (Will), Darren Criss(Blaine) and Riley (Mercedes)
7. “Party All the Time” featuring Paltrow (Holly)
8. “Total Eclipse of the Heart”* featuring Morrison (Will) and Chenoweth (April)
9. “Loser Like Me”* featuring Criss (Blaine), Kevin McHale (Artie), Chord Overstreet(Sam) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina)
10. “Be Okay” featuring Michele (Rachel) and Rivera (Santana)
11. “I Am Changing” featuring Riley (Mercedes) and Colfer (Kurt)
12. “Just Give Me a Reason” featuring Agron (Quinn) and Salling (Puck)
13. “Don’t Stop Believin’”* featuring Michele (Rachel), Criss (Blaine), Colfer (Kurt), Morrison (Will), McHale (Artie) and Ushkowitz (Tina)

* Season-five version

Glee returns from its midseason break on February 25 in its new night and time on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Rivera to Appear at The Trevor Project’s TrevorLIVE Gala Event

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Naya Rivera will be taking the stage at the Trevor Project’s annual gala fundraiser.

The 26-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer will join her fellow Glee stars Jane Lynch, Darren Criss, Amber Riley and Chris Colfer, as well as American Idol alum Adam Lambert at TrevorLIVE, on December 8 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Hosted by comedienne Kathy Griffin, the event raises funds for The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Lynch will be honored by the organization.

Lambert, along with Riley, Smash star Megan Hilty and Glee alum Cheyenne Jackson, will take the stage for special performances.

Others scheduled to make an appearance include Dot-Marie Jones and Harry Shum, Jr., of Glee, Sarah Michelle Gellar of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crazy Ones; Hannah Simone of New Girl; Andrew Rannells of Girls; Allison Janney of Mom and Masters of Sex; TV host Ricki Lake and Jennifer Coolidge of American Pie.

The show will be produced by So You Think You Can Dance judge Adam Shankman, whose directing and producing credits include Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Glee and the 2010 Academy Awards.

The red carpet and pre-show will be shown via livestream.

Rivera Returning to “Glee” Next Season

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Naya Rivera’s headed back to school…

Even though she graduated from William McKinley High School, the 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress will be returning to Fox’s Glee next season.

Following the hit musical dramedy’s last season, which saw several of the show’s seniors graduate, series co-creator Ryan Murphy extended an open invitation to all 15 regulars, including Rivera, to return for Season 4. And, it looks like virtually all accepted the offer and are set to return, although not everyone will be in every episode.

Along with Rivera, other returning Glee stars include Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Darren Criss, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Jayma Mays, Dianna Agron, Mark Salling, Harry Shum Jr. and Heather Morris.

Each actor’s workload will vary as the show works to accommodate the large cast and make room for new characters, including American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez. Glee has already booked Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker for multi-episode arcs.

In addition to storylines reasons, some cast members may have reduced presence on the show as they pursue other projects, including features, theater and music.

Rivera to Serve as a Mentor on “The Glee Project”

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Her character may have graduated in the season finale… But you haven’t seen the last of Glee’s Naya Rivera.

The 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress will be making a debut appearance as a mentor on the second season of The Glee Project.

The Oxygen reality competition series, which saw four of its freshman season contestants appear on the third season of Fox’s musical, will welcome Rivera in its fourth episode on June 26, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which will see the contestants exploring the theme of “Sexuality.”

Season 1 guest mentors included Jenna Ushkowitz, Darren Criss, Dot Marie Jones, Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr., among others. Four contestants — Samuel Larsen, Damian McGinty, Alex Newell and Lindsay Pearce — from The Glee Project‘s first season scored multi-episode arcs on Glee.

The Glee Project‘s second season will expand from 12 to 14 contestants and from 10 to 11 episodes and launch in its new night and time on Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m.

Michele to Serve as Glee Project Mentor

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Her character on Glee is graduating at the end of this season… And, Lea Michele is about to inspire the next generation of potential stars for the hit Fox musical dramedy.

The 25-year-old part-Spanish singer/actress has been slated to appear as a guest mentor on the Season 2 premiere of The Glee Project on Oxygen.

Michele, who has nabbed Emmy and Golden Globe nods for her role as Rachel Berry, will make her first appearance on the competition series whose winner will earn a seven-episode guest arc on the show.

“So excited to announce that I’ll be guest mentoring on the season 2 premiere of the Glee Project,” Michele tweeted over the weekend.

The show’s first season co-winner, Damian McGinty, has already outlasted his seven-episode arc on Glee and recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he was in talks to return to the Oxygen series as a mentor. Meanwhile, co-winner Samuel Larson recently started filming his stint on the Fox series. Runners-up Lindsay Pearce already appeared in a pair of episodes, and Alex Newell has yet to appear.

Season 1 guest mentors included Jenna Ushkowitz, Darren Criss, Dot Marie Jones, Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr., among others.

Season 2 of the series will return in the summer.

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