Armisen to Produce and Appear on IFC’s “American Documentary”

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is about to document American history… Sort of!

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member, who has starred on IFC’s sketch comedy series Portlandia, will star in a new comedy project called American Documentary (working title).

Armisen created the docu-parody with his fellow Saturday Night Live vets Bill Hader and Seth Meyers.

American Documentary is hailed as a curated series of half-hour documentaries and biopics, each about a completely fictitious subject. Featuring a repertory-like ensemble cast, the episodes will explore important political figures, influential artists, titans of industry, and iconic cultural movements, all utterly fictional.

Produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Television and directed by SNL’s Rhys Thomas, American Documentary will be shot on location in the traditional documentary style.

IFC has ordered six half-hour episodes to premiere in 2015. Meyers will executive produce the series alongside Armisen and Hader, who’ll have recurring roles.

Production is scheduled to begin later this year.

Armisen to Serve as Band Leader on the new “Late Night with Seth Meyers”

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is the leader of the band…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has been named the new bandleader on the new Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Meyers, Armisen’s SNL cast mate for several seasons, just tweeted the announcement.

Armisen, a talented drummer – as evidenced in the video clip below – currently stars on IFC’s sketch series Portlandia opposite fellow musician Carrie Brownstein, who fronted the rock band Sleater-Kinney.

Armisen “will curate and lead the band, and continue to run it even when he’s off shooting Portlandia,” announced Meyers on his Twitter page.

Meyers’ Late Night will make its big debut on February 24.

Armisen to Guest-Star on ABC’s Comedy “Super Fun Night”

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen has a super fun night ahead of him…

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor has signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of comedic actress Rebel Wilson’s ABC sitcom Super Fun Night, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Armisen, a former Saturday Night Live cast member currently starring in IFC’s sketch comedy series Portlandia, will reportedly portray a character named Brian Headfoot, the infuriated head of HR at the law firm where Wilson’s Kimmie works.

In the episode, his character is called in to broker a truce between feuding Kimmie and Kendall (portrayed by Kate Jenkinson).

The episode is set to air early 2014 on ABC.

Armisen is not the first SNL alum to guest on the comedy series, which airs on Wednesday night.

Molly Shannon recently appeared on the show as a relationship guru nicknamed “The Love Lioness.”

Alba to Star in the Action-Comedy Film “Stretch”

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is stretching herself for her next role…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ action-comedy Stretch.

Alba’s co-stars in the film include Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, Chris Pine and Brooklyn Decker.

Directed by The Grey’s Joe Carnahan, Stretch follows a limo driver (portrayed by Wilson) on his last shift who picks up a billionaire (Pine) whose freaky special requests get darker as the night rolls on.

The March 21, 2014 release is being produced by Jason Blum as part of his first-look deal with Universal.

Alba recently wrapped work on Film Arcade’s A.C.O.D. and appears in IFC’s Will Ferrell fronted spoof The Spoils Of Babylon. She returns to Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City franchise next summer in Dimension’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

Louis C.K. Breaks His Own Record with Nine Primetime Emmy Nods

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. has proven to be the Emmy darling once again, breaking his own record for the most nominations in a single year.

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor/stand-up comedian has earned a massive nine individual for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards nods, breaking the record for individual nods in a single year that he set last year.

Louis C.K., the creator of FX’s Louie, earned acting, producing, writing and directing nominations for his work on the critically acclaimed comedy series.

He also earned a Guest Actor in a Comedy nomination for hosting NBC’s Saturday Night Live last fall.

But that’s not all… Louis C.K. also earned producing, writing, directing and editing nominations for his hit HBO special Oh My God.

Louis C.K. isn’t the only multiple nominee…

Bobby Cannavale, who earned two SAG Award nominations in December, has earned two Emmy nods this year.

The 43-year-old half-Cuban American, an Emmy Award winner in 2005 for his recurring role on NBC’s Will & Grace, has earned guest actor nods in the comedy and drama categories for his roles on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.

Meantime, perpetual Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara has landed another nod for her scene-stealing role on ABC’s Modern Family.

The 41-year-old Colombian actress has earned her fourth consecutive Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category.

From fourth to first… Morena Baccarin has earned the first Emmy nomination of her career.

The 34-year-old Brazilian American actress, who is expecting her first child, earned the nod in the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series category for her work on Showtime’s Homeland.

Other Latino nominees include former SNL star Fred Armisen in the Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series category for penning IFC’s Portlandia.

The nominations were announced on Thursday morning in Hollywood by actor Aaron Paul and Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris, who was a last-minute fill-in for actress Kate Mara.

The Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented on September 22 at 8:00 pm on CBS.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latino Emmy nominees in the major categories:

Lead actor in comedy series
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding comedy series
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Girls, HBO
Louie, FX Networks
Modern Family, ABC
30 Rock, NBC
Veep, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad, AMC
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey, PBS
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones, HBO
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland, Showtime

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey, PBS
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, HBO
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife, CBS
Morena Baccarin, Homeland, Showtime
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men, AMC

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, The Big Band Theory, CBS
Jane Lynch, Glee, Fox
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family, ABC
Julie Bowen, Modern Family, ABC
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie, Showtime
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock, NBC
Anna Chlumsky, Veep, HBO

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Nathan Lane, Modern Family, ABC
Bobby Cannavale, Nurse Jackie, Showtime
Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live, NBC
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Will Forte, 30 Rock, NBC

Click here for the complete list of Emmy nominees.

Alba Starring in IFC’s New Original Comedy “The Spoils of Babylon”

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is Babylon-bound.

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress has joined the cast of IFC’s new original comedy The Spoils of Babylon, starring Will Ferrell.

A parody of epic television mini-series, The Spoils of Babylon is produced by Funny or Die and executive produced by Ferrell,

Along with Ferrell and Alba, the cast includes Val Kilmer, Tobey Maguire, Haley Joel Osment, Michael Sheen, Tim Robbins and Kristen Wiig.

“This amazingly talented cast will give this decadent genre its due respect,” said Jennifer Caserta, president and general manager of IFC. “Never before has a parody of a mini-series been more poised for showers of accolades.”

The Spoils of Babylon is a television adaptation of a best-selling epic novel by fictional famous author Eric Jonrosh (Ferrell) whose library spans 57 best sellers in 85 different languages. Jonrosh’s other titles include: The Spoils of Galaxy 7, The Spoils of Grasping for God, The Spoils of the Sahara, The Spoils of the Singing Night Squirrel, The Spoils of the Weeping Falcon and The Spoils Beneath the Sea.

“I’m thrilled my masterwork is finally making it to the screen, albeit the small screen. Although I guess these days people have pretty big screens in their homes but still not as big as “the big screen.” I mean, some people who have home theaters might have screens that big, but most wouldn’t, at least that’s what I would imagine. Still, I’m thrilled, and I personally DO have a giant screen TV so….” trailed off Jonrosh in a quote that was dictated over the phone from his yacht The Super Bard, anchored off his personal island in the Caspian Sea.

The Spoils of Babylon, a century-spanning saga, chronicles the sexy and dramatic lives of the Morehouse family, led by Jonas Morehouse (Robbins), his daughter Cynthia (Wiig) and her adopted brother Devon (Maguire) who made their fortune in the oil business. The series takes viewers from the oil fields of Texas to boardrooms in New York City, through war torn battlefields and velvet-sheeted bedrooms.

Cynthia and Devon’s unbridled and taboo passion for one another cannot be prevented. Add in Cynthia’s evil son Winston (Osment), her put upon husband Chet Halner (Sheen), and Devon’s new love interest Dixie Mellonworth (Alba), and the booze, the pills, more passion, more pills and the heartache, and you have a mercurial potboiler. Then add in illegal arms deals, international espionage, the Shah of Iran (Ferrell), and two US Army Generals (Kilmer, Steve Tom) and it begins to overflow with boiling liquid in a pot on a hot stove that is operational.

Production began June 2 in Los Angeles. Six, half-hour episodes will premiere on IFC in early 2014.

Louis C.K. Wins His First Writers Guild Award

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. has picked up his first Writers Guild Award…

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor, stand-up comedian and Emmy-winning writer was named the winner in the comedy series category at Sunday’s 65th Annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony.

Louis C.K., who will be starring in Woody Allen’s latest film Blue Jasmine this summer, won the award for penning his critically acclaimed FX series Louie, alongside Pamela Adlon and Vernon Chatman.

Fred Armisen won the WGA Award in the Comedy/Variety Series category. The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star took home the prize for penning his IFC series Portlandia, along with fellow writers Carrie Brownstein, Karey Dornetto, Jonathan Krisel and Bill Oakley.

PBS’ Marcela Gaviria won the WGA Award in the Documentary – Current Events category. The Colombia-born journalist and filmmaker earned the award for penning Frontline’s “Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode One” documentary with Martin Smith.

The Writers Guild Awards, presented by the Writers Guild of America, honor outstanding achievement in writing in film, television, radio, new media, and other awards categories.

Hayek Named 2013 Spirit Awards Honorary Co-Chair

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is preparing to display her independent spirit…

The 46-year-old Mexican actress has been named an honorary co-chair for this year’s Spirit Awards by Film Independent.

Hayek will share the honor with Bourne Legacy star Jeremy Renner.

Film Independent bestows the honor on those who exemplify outstanding artistic achievement and embody the organization’s mission to nurture and support independent filmmaking.

Hayek and Renner will attend the Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch on Saturday, January 12 at BOA restaurant in West Hollywood where they will announce Film Independent’s grant winners for 2013.

The 28th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out at a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 23 with the premiere broadcast airing later that evening at 10:00 pm ET on IFC.

Fred Armisen Joins the Voice Cast of IFC’s Animated Series “Out There”

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is heading out there…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has joined the voice cast for the new IFC animated series Out There, premiering February 22.

The cable channel also announced that Ryan Quincy — the show’s creator and a two-time, Emmy-winning animation director and producer of South Park — will voice the main character, Chad Stevens.

Rounding out the chorus of voices: Megan Mullally; Linda Cardinelli; Pamela Adlon (Louie, King of the Hill); John DiMaggio (Futurama); Kate Micucci (Raising Hope, Bored to Death); and Justin Roiland (Fish Hooks).

Out There takes place in the small town of Holford and follows the lives of “socially awkward” Chad, younger brother Jay (Micucci) and best friend Chris (Roiland). DiMaggio and Mullally are Chad’s conservative parents and Armisen voices the “disastrous boyfriend” of Chris’ mom (Adlon). Cardinelli is Chad’s crush, Sharla.

“It was important to have these characters feel real,” said Quincy, who also writes and executive produces the show. “What I love so much about our cast is they are all amazing actors that can create funny, believable and endearing characters.”

Out There is produced for IFC by 20th Century Fox Television.

Peña Earns a Spirit Award Nomination

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña has the spirit…

The 36-year-old Mexican American actor has received a Spirit Award nomination in the Best Supporting Male category for his work in the police drama End of Watch.

Peña, who portrays Los Angeles police officer Mike Zavala in the film, will face off against Magic Mike’s Matthew McConaughey, Middle of Nowhere’s David Oyelowo, Seven Psychopaths’ Sam Rockwell and Moonrise Kingdom’s Bruce Willis.

Meanwhile, Aurora Guerrero has been nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which is given to a picture made for under $500,000. The Mexican American filmmaker earned the nod for writing and directing the film Mosquita y Mari.

Nominees for the Spirit Awards are determined by its “independence” based on guidelines that include uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter and they must be made for budgets up to $20 millions.

Winners of the 2013 Spirit Awards will be announced on February 23, during the annual awards luncheon taking place in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica.

The ceremony will be broadcast at 10:00 pm ET on IFC.

Here’s a complete look at the 2013 Spirit Award nominees:

Best Feature

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Bernie
Keep the Lights On
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director

Wes Anderson – Moonrise Kingdom
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Julia Loktev- The Loneliest Planet
Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Screenplay

Wes Anderson – Moonrise Kingdom
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Ira Sachs – Keep the Lights On
Zoe Kazan – Ruby Sparks
Martin McDonagh – Seven Psychopaths

Best First Feature

Fill the Void
Gimme the Loot
Safety Not Guaranteed
Sound of My Voice
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Best First Screenplay

Rama Burshtein – Fill the Void
Derek Connolly – Safety Not Guaranteed
Christopher Ford – Robot & Frank
Rashida Jones & Will McCormack – Celeste and Jesse Forever
Jonathan Lisecki – Gayby

John Cassavetes Award (given to best picture made for under $500K)

Breakfast with Curtis
Middle of Nowhere
Mosquita y Mari
Starlet
The Color Wheel

Best Female Lead

Linda Cardinelli – Return
Emayatzy Corinealdi – Middle of Nowhere
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Mary Elizabeth Winstead – Smashed

Best Male Lead

Jack Black – Bernie
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
John Hawkes – The Sessions
Matthew McConaughey – Killer Joe
Wendell Pierce – Four
Thure Lindhardt – Keep the Lights On

Best Supporting Female

Rosemarie DeWitt – Your Sister’s Sister
Ann Dowd – Compliance
Helen Hunt – The Sessions
Brit Marling – Sound of My Voice
Lorraine Toussant – Middle of Nowhere

Best Supporting Male

Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike
David Oyelowo – Middle of Nowhere
Michael Pena – End of Watch
Sam Rockwell – Seven Psychopaths
Bruce Willis – Moonrise Kingdom

Best Cinematography

Yoni Brook – Valley of Saints
Lol Crawley – Here
Ben Richardson – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Roman Vasyanov – End of Watch
Robert Yeoman – Moonrise Kingdom

Best Documentary

How to Survive a Plague
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
The Central Park Five
The Invisible War
The Waiting Room

Best International Film

Amour
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
Rust and Bone
Sister
War Witch

Piaget ProduPcers Award

Nobody Walks
Prince Avalanche
Stones in the Sun

Someone to Watch Award

Pincus
Gimme the Loot
Electrick Children

Truer Than Fiction Award

Leviathan
The Waiting Room
Only the Young

Robert Altman Award

Starlet

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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