Netflix to Premiere Ralph Barbosa’s First Special for the Streamer Next Month

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ralph Barbosa is preparing to treat fans to a little laughter this Halloween.

Netflix has set a Halloween global premiere for the 26-year-old Latino comedian’s Ralph Barbosa: Cowabunga, its first special from the rising star.

The special was shot in August as part of his ongoing North American tour.

The hour-long special, taped at The Kessler Theater in Barbosa’s hometown of Dallas, premieres globally on Tuesday, October 31st.

At Netflix, Barbosa joins the likes of Matt Rife, Jamie Demetriou and Luenell, comics who have likewise closed deals for forthcoming specials with the streamer. The latter’s special, Chappelle’s Home Team- Luenell: Town Business, executive produced by Dave Chappelle as part of an ongoing series, is slated to premiere September 26th.

The impending arrival of Barbosa’s special is just the latest in a whirlwind year for the comic, who made his debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January. His new hour offers a glimpse into the world of this gamer as he shares stories of growing up with his grandparents, running a hair cutting business out of his bedroom as a 13-year-old, why he asked his dad if he needed to go to the moon to return moon rocks and his fantasy of being passenger prince to his street-racing dream girl.

Eric Abrams directed the special, with Barbosa executive producing alongside Rotten Science’s Matthew Vaughan and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Zack Waxenberg.

Known for his disarming, laid-back style of stand-up, Barbosa’s recent short set for the digital series Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring has topped 3.5 million views on YouTube. The comic currently selling out venues across North America also last November teamed with Gwen La Roka on the HBO Max comedy special, Entre Nos: The Winners 3, after winning the Latino Stand-Up! Comedy Competition presented by The New York Latino Film Festival and HBO Latino in 2021.

Barbosa also won the Funniest Comic in Texas competition in 2019 and garnered 4.6M YouTube views with a performance for secret pop-up comedy show organizer Don’t Tell Comedy.

HBO to Release Camilo’s Concert Special on HBO Latino/HBO Max in November

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Camilo is celebrating his first in a special way…

The 28-year-old Colombian singer, musician and songwriter, a Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee, is the latest music star to land a concert special and documentary at HBO.

Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida will premiere on Friday, November 18 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on HBO Latino and HBO Max in the U.S. and Latin America.

The special will cover Camilo as he embarks on his first world tour — the “Mis Manos” tour — which was originally delayed due to the Covid pandemic.

The tour kicks off in Spain and will feature appearances by Fito y Los Fitipaldis, Dani Martín, Mau y Ricky, Pablo Alborán and Nicky Nicole.

It will also reveal behind-the-scenes moments about bringing hits like “Tutu,” “Mareado,” “Por Primera Vez,” “Bebé,” “Ropa Cara,” “Tattoo,” and “Kesi” to his global fan base known affectionately as La Tribu.

Additionally, he and his wife and fellow artist Evaluna Montaner will offer a window into their life and special moments.

“We made this documentary with a deep desire to capture the first tour of my life and all the experiences we lived during the beautiful journey through 48 cities and 64 concerts. The ‘Mis Manos’ tour was a dream come true, especially because it gave me the chance to meet La Tribu face to face, the community born from digital encounters during the pandemic,” Camilo tells Deadline.

Camilo is a rising star in Latin music who boasts more than 5 billion views across all digital platforms around the world and more than 29 million followers on TikTok. He became the most nominated and awarded artist at the 22nd annual Latin Grammy Awards and broke sales records during the 2021 tour in Europe, U.S., Mexico and Colombia.

Prior to launching his career as a solo artist, Camilo wrote and produced multiple hits including “Sin Pijama” for Becky G and Natti Natasha; “Mi Mala” for his brothers-in-law, Mau y Ricky and Karol G; and “Si Estuviésemos Juntos” for Bad Bunny among others.

Carla Morrison Among Artists Confirmed for Season 3 of HBO’s “HBO Latino Presents: A Tiny Audience”

Posted on April 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Carla Morrison is preparing for her Tiny moment…

A Tiny Audience is unveiling its season 3 lineup, with the 35-year-old Mexican indie-pop singer and composer among the participating artists.

Presented by HBO Latino, the series features intimate live specials with some of Latin music’s hottest acts, including Paulina Rubio in season 2, where the artist is filmed in a live and unfiltered way, revealing a personal secret to the small audience and performing songs that are meaningful to them.

In its new season, HBO Latino Presents: A Tiny Audience will present Morrison, Danna Paola, Jessie Reyez, Justin Quiles, La India, Mike Bahia, Ximena Sariñana, Jay Wheeler, Becky G, Zion y Lennox, Robin Thicke, Manuel Medrano, Leslie Grace, Guaynaa, El Fantasma, Aleks Syntek and a tribute to Celia Cruz.

Season 3 premieres on April 22 on HBO/HBO Max in the U.S. and DirecTV/DirecTV GO in Latin America.

Lilia Luciano Named LA-Based CBS News Correspondent

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lilia Luciano is ready for full-time work…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican investigative reporter and documentary filmmaker has been named a correspondent for CBS News based in Los Angeles.

Luciano joined the network in March, 2020 as a freelance correspondent, and has covered major stories on the West Coast including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, immigration issues at the border and wildfires in Oregon and California.

Luciano previously was an investigative reporter at the ABC affiliate in Sacramento from 2016 to 2019. She also was the chief investigative correspondent for Discovery Channel’s Border Live, and worked as a host and contributor on various platforms for Vice. She also was a correspondent for NBC News, reporting across the network platforms in English and Spanish.

She directed and produced Wars of Others, an HBO Latino documentary about the War on Drugs and the consequences for Colombian farmers. She won a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2018 for a series on Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her coverage of the California wildfires.

She was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. She graduated from the University of Miami with degrees in economics and broadcast journalism.

Paulina Rubio to Appear in Season Two of HBO Max/HBO Latino’s “A Tiny Audience” Concert Series

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Paulina Rubio is preparing for a tiny moment…

HBO’s second season of A Tiny Audience is set to debut on Friday, March 19 on HBO Max and HBO Latino, with the 49-year-old singer/songwriter among the artists featured.

In addition to Rubio, known as the Queen of Latin Pop, the 16-episode run will include sets by chart-topping Latin artists like Carlos Vives, Lauren Jauregui, Pedro Capó and Kany García, among others.

A Tiny Audience‘s second season will kick off with rising Puerto Rican reggaeton and trap artist Lunay who will perform acoustic versions of his hit tracks “Soltera,” ‘Relaciones,” and “Aventuras.”

The concert series will wrap with a special tribute in honor of iconic Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel featuring Justin Quiles, Natalia Jiménez, Carlos Rivera and Cabas performing their favorite JuanGa songs.

The second season was “filmed inside an NBA-style bubble in Miami with a COVID-safe live audience.” The bubble included roughly 150 people composed of select audience members, crew and artists who “underwent extensive quarantining and rigorous testing prior to entering the bubble and throughout the two-week production.” The team executed 17, half-hour specials, and “did not report a single case of COVID-19,” the release added.

New episodes will premiere every Friday on HBO Max and HBO Latino. Season one of HBO Presents: A Tiny Audience is available for streaming now on HBO Max.

Beatriz Luengo’s “Havana Street Party Presents” Concert Special Streaming on HBO Max

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Beatriz Luengo has bared it all…

The 38-year-old Spanish singer, songwriter and actress appeared in an intimate concert special filmed in Havana, Cuba, that premiered on HBO Latino on Friday, February 12.

The second installment of the HBO concert series “Havana Street Party Presents” — filmed before the global pandemic — not only includes live performances of Luengo’s Cuerpo y Alma album, but also taps into personal stories and empowering anecdotes as told by Luengo.

“Prior to the tour that was expected to start in 2020, I started making this documentary as a way to show my fans what my show would be like and as a presentation for those who don’t know me,” Luengo tells Billboard.

Of her 2018 album, she explains “cuerpo” are the songs she composes on top of beats, for artists like Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Wisin, Yandel. “Alma” are the songs she pens for organic instruments, for artists like Reik, Thalia, Ha*Ash, Alejandra Guzman, and Ricky Martin.

“This concert is an opportunity to show how a woman has managed to become a songwriter in such a difficult industry,” she says.

Filmed at the doors of an ancient castle in Habana for a select group of local fans, Luengo’s special guests include Manuel Medrano, Farina, Blas Cantó, and Orishas. She’s accompanied by a gospel choir, string quintet, and live DJ throughout the show.

For Luengo, it was important to bring her concept to life, fusing melancholy with modernity, the past with the future.

“We created a very special ambiance,” she says. “I feel that it is a way of projecting and giving hope, showing the Cuban youth all the advanced technology, such as mapping. The entire production has a very strong message for me. Cuba deserves the best.”

Meanwhile, Luengo is making the rounds with the Yotuel and Omar Montes-assisted “Rebelde,” which has become a viral sensation on TikTok with its vogue-meets-flamenco dance. “It exploded!” she expresses. “The TikTok videos are giving me life, all the outfits, and concepts. I love to see how your music can generate a person’s creativity or simply have fun.”

“Havana Street Party presents Beatriz Luengo” is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Hulu Gives Green Light to Chris Estrada’s Half-Hour Comedy Pilot “Punk Ass Bitch”

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Chris Estrada has a bitchin’ new project…

Hulu has given the green light to Punk Ass Bitch, a half-hour comedy pilot starring the up-and-coming Latino comedian and produced by ABC Signature.

Written by Estrada and Corporate creators Jake Weisman, Matt Ingebretson and Pat Bishop, Punk Ass Bitch is based on Estrada’s comedy and reflects his Latino identity.

It is inspired by Estrada’s life in South Central Los Angeles and nearby Inglewood, where, by his own recollection, he spent his formative years running from loose pit bulls, getting robbed, and geeking out over comic books and punk rock.

The series centers on Julio Lopez (Estrada), a punk-ass bitch with a heart of gold who goes out of his way to help everyone but himself. Inspired by the life and stand-up comedy of star, co-creator and real-life punk ass bitch Estrada, the cinematic half-hour comedy explores Julio’s attempts to better his community, overcome his codependency issues with his family and navigate working class life in South Central.

Estrada executive produces with Fred Armisen,

The pilot, which is already casting, will be directed by Bishop, who directed all episodes of the Comedy Central series Corporate.

Estrada was recently named an “UpNext” Comedian to Watch by Comedy Central and a “Top 10 Comic to Watch” by Time Out LA. He recently performed in a half-hour comedy special Entre Nos for HBO Latino.

HBO Latino Acquires LGBTQ Drama “Lupe,” Starring Rafael Albarrán

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Albarrán’s latest project is headed to cable…

HBO Latino has acquired Lupe, the LGBTQ drama starring the Puerto Rican actor and writer.

Lupe, written and co-directed by André Phillips and Charles Vuolo in consultation from trans artist Celia Harrison who also appears in the movie, shines a light on the complex story of a Cuban immigrant (Albarrán) struggling with their transgender identity while searching for their missing sister (Lucerys Medina) in New York City’s underground sex industry.

Lupe will premiere on February 26 on HBO Latino and be available to stream on HBO Max.

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 Latino’s “Habla Now,” Featuring Diane Guerrero, to Kick-Off the New York Latino Film Festival’s First-Ever Drive-In Showings

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Diane Guerrero’s hitting the festival circuit…

The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) has announced the lineup for the fest’s forthcoming hybrid edition, with HBO Latino’s Habla Now, featuring the 34-year-old Colombian American actress and author, as the Opening Night drive-in feature.

The documentary special, the 15th installment of HBO Latino’s award-winning “Habla” series, features testimonials from US Latinos – celebrities, recognized professionals, and everyday Latinos – who share honest stories about being Latino in the U.S.

In addition to Guerrero, the storytellers include Arturo Castro, Nely Galan, Amara La Negra, Cristina Jimenez, Ozzie Areu, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez, Mark Hugo Lopez, Mariana Atencio, Laurie Hernandez, Justina Machado, Diane Guerrero, Carmen Carrera, José Andrés and many more.

In addition, Angel Manuel Soto’s Charm City Kings will have its New York premiere at the fest.

Produced by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and James Lassiter, with a story by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, Charm City Kings marks the feature directorial debut follows the journey of 14-year-old Mouse who desperately wants to join the Midnight Clique, an infamous group of Baltimore dirt-bike riders who rule the summertime streets.

John Leguizamo’s Critical Thinkingwill also make its New York premiere. The film tells the true story of five Latinx and Black teenagers from Miami Jackson Senior High School who fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

This year’s virtual NYLFF will take place from September 14-20.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, festivals around the world have either canceled or pivoted to an entirely virtual program. NYLFF is one of the Latinx-based fests that continued with plans for the annual fest with the appropriate changes.

The 21st edition will be a combination of virtual events and in-person screenings that celebrate Latinx creators.

The fest will also host the first Latino drive-in experience to take place both in New York and in The Bronx.

This year’s festival features nearly 75 films representing more than 10 countries, spanning all genres including features, shorts, documentaries, web series and experimental films.

“Inspired by the resilience of the Latino community, NYLFF is proud to return with a fresh format featuring our first-ever drive-in experiences,” said Calixto Chinchilla, founder of NYLFF. “We are proud to serve as an important platform for Latino creatives to share culturally relevant stories about intersectionality, diversity, and lived experiences in this country. Gracias to our sponsors for continuing to support our community of content creators and movie-goers. While there’s much learned this year, one thing we can all agree, the culture continues!”

Click here the complete lineup for this year’s NYLFF.

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