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.

Cuarón Receives First-Ever Directors Guild Award Nomination

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special first for Alfonso Cuarón…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker has earned the first-ever Directors Guild Awards nomination of his career from the Directors Guild of America.

Cuarón, one of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year in 2013, earned the nod for his critically acclaimed 3D sci-fi thriller Gravity.

The talented director is up against Captain Phillips helmer Paul Greengrass, 12 Years a Slave‘s Steve McQueen, American Hustle’s David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese, who received his 11th DGA nom for his current film, The Wolf of Wall Street.

The nominees in the TV and commercials categories will be announced Thursday, while the documentary nominees are set to be unveiled Monday.

The winners will be announced at the 66th annual DGA Awards ceremony, taking place January 25 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Glee’s Jane Lynch is set to host.

First Trailer Released for Alba’s “A.C.O.D.”

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Jessica Alba is a sex symbol… And, now she’s adding a little sizzle to her next project.

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress is starring in the drama comedy, A.C.O.D., Adult Children of Divorce, which released its first trailer via Yahoo! Movies.

As suggested by the title, the film examines the impact of splitting up when the children are all grown-up. A.C.O.D. tells the story through the life of a successful career man named Carter, played by Adam Scott.

Introduced as Scott’s on-screen bitterly divorced parents are Richard Jenkins and Catherine O’Hara, both of whom are clearly not on very good terms. In the story, Carter is forced to reunite them and their new spouses as his younger brother (Clark Duke) marries his girlfriend of four months.

Things will be far more chaotic for Carter as his own personal problem arise. Already seeing Lauren (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), he’ll soon find himself attracted to the tattooed Michelle (Jessica Alba).

Set for limited release on October 4, A.C.O.D. also stars Amy Poehler and Jane Lynch. It is the directorial debut of Stuart Zicherman, who co-created on ABC‘s series Six Degrees. The Film Arcade and Paramount picked up the movie in April.

“A.C.O.D. is one of the funniest Sundance films we’ve seen … Stu and his incredible cast have shown us that divorce hurts until you laugh,” said The Film Arcade partners in a statement.

Armisen to Appear on NBC’s Game Show “Hollywood Game Night”

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is about to get his game on…

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has signed on to appear on NBC’s new game show series Hollywood Game Night.

Executive produced by Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes and hosted by Glee’s Jane Lynch, features celebrities hanging out and playing games with fun-loving non-celebrity contestants in a cocktail party atmosphere.

Along with Armisen, other celebrities set to appear on the game show include Amy Poehler, Matthew Perry, Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell and fiance Dax Shephard, Maya Rudolph, Minnie Driver, Kristen Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, Molly Shannon and Max Greenfield, with more stars expected to join.

The series, which has an eight-episode order, is based on Hayes’ real-life game nights. In each episode, two contestants will be treated to a night of fun and celebration where they get to rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd. At the end, one of the contestants will walk away with a cash prize and a night of stories and memories.

Valderrama Joins Voice Cast of Fox’s Animated Comedy “Murder Police”

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Wilmer Valderrama will be on the beat soon…

The 33-year-old Venezuelan/Colombian American actor has been cast in Murder Police, an animated series set to debut next season on Fox, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The workplace comedy, which was co-created by 27-year-old Mexican American animator Jason Ruiz and Family Guy’s David A. Goodman, chronicles the adventures of a neurotic detective named Manuel Sanchez (voiced by Ruiz) and his questionable, unreliable colleagues at a city precinct.

Valderrama will assume the role of envelope-pushing undercover cop Donel.

Fox has ordered 13 episodes of the show, which also includes Jane Lynch, Will Sasso, Chi McBride, Peter Atencio and Justina Machado among the voice cast.

Lovato Wins People’s Choice Award for Favorite Celebrity Judge

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is the people’s judge…

The 20-year-old part-Mexican actress/singer and The X Factor judge picked up the award for Favorite Celebrity Judge at the 2013 People’s Choice Awards.

Lovato beat The Voice’s Christina Aguilera and American Idol’s Jennifer Lopez, as well as The X Factor’s Britney Spears and The Voice’s Adam Levine to win the coveted trophy.

Meanwhile, Glee star Lea Michele won Favorite Comedic TV Actress. The half-Spanish American actress beat out her co-star Jane Lynch, The Big Bang Theory‘s Kaley Cuoco, Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara and The New Girl’sZooey Deschanel for the public-voted honor.

The 39th annual awards show took place Wednesday night at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, with Cuoco hosting for a second time.

Vergara Receives Her Third Straight Golden Globe Nomination

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The third time could turn out to be the charm for Sofia Vergara…

During a special announcement ceremony this morning co-hosted by Jessica Alba, the 40-year-old Colombian actress received yet another Golden Globe nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

It’s Vergara’s third consecutive Golden Globe nomination in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on ABC’s Modern Family. She lost in 2011 to Glee’s Jane Lynch and to American Horror Story’s Jessica Lange in 2012.

Vergara – who picked up two SAG Award nominations earlier this week – will be competing against Nashville’s Hayden Panettiere, The Good Wife’s Archie Panjabi, Game Change’s Sarah Paulson and Downton Abbey’s Maggie Smith.

Meanwhile, Louis C.K. has earned the first Golden Globe nomination of his career, for his critically acclaimed role on FX’s Louie.

The 45-year-old half-Mexican actor is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series — Comedy Or Musical category. He’ll face off against 30 Rock’s Alec Baldwin, House of Lies’ Don Cheadle, Episodes’ Matt LeBlanc and The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons.

NBC will televise the 70th annual Globes awards show on January 13, with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey co-hosting the event.

Alba’s “Escape From Planet Earth” Trailer Released

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is preparing for her her great escape in February…

The Weinstein Company has released the first trailer for the animated space alien adventure Escape From Planet Earth, which features the 31-year-old half-Mexican American actress’ voice.

Directed by Despicable Me’s storyboard artist Cal Brunker, the 3D computer animated family film centers on Astronaut Scorch Supernova, who finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet.

Based on a story by Leech & Cory Edwards, the film includes the voices of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Lynch, Paul Reubens and Rob Corddry.

This is Alba’s first foray into animated fare on the big screen.

Escape From Planet Earth is scheduled to open February 14, 2013.

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.

Once Upon A Time’s Castro Up For Costume Designers Guild Award

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Once upon a time, Eduardo Castro scored three consecutive CDG Awards for his costuming work on Ugly Betty… And, he could be starting another winning streak for his work on this season’s hottest new show.

The noted Latino costume designer has been nominated for the 14th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards in the period/fantasy television category for his work on ABC’s Once Upon A Time.

Castro, who has more than 30 years experience in costume design, faces stiff competition from John A. Dunn and Lisa Padovani, who won last year for Boardwalk Empire. Other nominees include The Borgias’ Gabriella Pescucci, Game of Thrones’ Michele Clapton and Pan Am’s Ane Crabtree.

Along with winning three CDG Awards for Ugly Betty, Castro also won an award for his work on Elvis in the Outstanding Costume Design for Television Movie/Mini-Series category back in 2006.

The winners will be announced at the guild’s awards gala, hosted by Jane Lynch on February 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees.

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