Cristo Fernandez & “Ted Lasso” Cast to Discuss Mental Health at White House

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cristo Fernandez is heading to Washington, D.C.

The 32-year-old Mexican actor and former professional footballer and his Ted Lasso cast mates will visit the White House on Monday to participate in a discussion with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on “the importance of mental health to promote overall wellbeing.

Apple announced the meeting Sunday afternoon.

President Biden teased the appearance minutes before Apple’s confirmation, posting a reference to the Apple TV+ hit comedy: “Tomorrow.”

“Ted Lasso has inspired the world through its universal themes around optimism, kindness, and determination and the Lasso philosophy to ‘believe,’” reads Apple’s announcement of the meeting of the minds.

Excerpts from the event will be released on the White House’s official social media channels.

The third season of Ted Lasso debuted on Apple TV+ on March 15, kicking off its 12-episode season. There remains uncertainty whether a fourth season of the show will be approved by showrunner and star Jason Sudeikis, who has stated that such a matter “will always be dictated by the stories.”

Sudeikis developed Ted Lasso along with Bill Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt. It’s based on the existing format and characters first featured on NBC Sports.

Sudeikis serves as an executive producer in addition to starring. Lawrence executive produces via Doozer Productions. Hunt, Kelly and Bill Wrubel also executive produce along with Doozer’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer as well as Jane Becker and Jamie Lee. Goldstein is a writer and co-executive producer on the series.

It’s produced by Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

Fernandez portrays the lovable Dani Rojas on the series.

Rosario Dawson to Lead Virtual Online Table Read of Holiday Classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson is bringing the wonderful…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist will star opposite Jason Sudeikis in an all-star virtual online table read of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

The special event will benefit The Ed Asner Family Center (TEAFC), which promotes mental health and enrichment programs to children with special needs and their families.

The one-night-only event is set for December 5, with a cast that also includes Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen, Mandy Patinkin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Phil Lamarr, Ben Mankiewicz, Ron Funches, Ed Harris, and Sudeikis’ real-life uncle George Wendt. The Cheers actor will play Uncle Billy to Sudeikis’ George Bailey.

The Asner benefit is presented in partnership with Turner Classic Movies and sponsored by MeTV, and this year also will honor Mike Darnell, President of Unscripted and Alternative Television at Warner Bros., and his family.

The cast will include Darnell’s daughter and Social Director of TEAFC, Chelsea Darnell, autistic actors Spencer Harte and Domonique Brown along with neurodivergent TEAFC members Ryan Booth and Lucas Salusky. Victor Nelli will return to direct. Tom Bergeron hosts.

“My father’s passing has left an indescribable hole in my heart,” said Matt Asner, son of Ed Asner & Co-Founder of The Ed Asner Family Center. “For our annual fundraising gala this year, I want to honor my father’s legacy as both a legendary actor and a staunch advocate for people of all abilities.”

Tickets start at $25, with commemorative holiday gift items also available. Also planned is a silent auction and a musical intermission.

The live virtual table read begins at 5:00 pm PT on Sunday, December 5. Ticket information can be found here.

Apple Renews “Ted Lasso,” Featuring Cristo Fernández, for Third Season

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cristo Fernández will still be bending it like Beckham…

Apple’s hit comedy Ted Lasso, featuring the scene-stealing Mexican actor as part of the ensemble cast, is returning for a third go-round.

The streamer has given an early season 3 renewal to the comedy starring Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis in the title role, following the series’ breakout first season, early second season renewal, and before production even starts on Season 2 in London in early January.

Ted Lasso, which hails from Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence, is Apple’s No. 1 comedy across all top 50 countries, including the U.S., UK, Germany, France, Canada, Russia, Japan and more. It has broken audience records for Apple TV+, ranking as the No. 1 comedy each week, drawing 25% new viewers to the service since its August 14 launch, according to the streamer. The pop culture phenom has grown its viewership more than 600%, fueled by binge watchers, setting new records for completion and engagement worldwide.

Co-written by Sudeikis and Lawrence, Ted Lasso is based on the popular Coach Ted Lasso character Sudeikis played in NBC Sports videos several years ago. It was developed for television by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt. It stars Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, a small-time college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer. Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed also star.

Sudeikis also serves as executive producer, alongside Lawrence (Scrubs) via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

All episodes of Ted Lasso‘s first season are available for streaming on Apple TV+

Fernández’s previous credits include the short films Jaguar and Mis Mejores Días.

David Blaine Breaks YouTube Original Live Event Record with Helium Balloon ‘Ascension’ Stunt

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

David Blaine has entered the YouTube record books…

The 47-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer’s live stunt Ascension, in which he flew over the Arizona desert using helium balloons, has shattered a YouTube record.

This week’s stunt, which took place on Wednesday, was the most-watched YouTube Original Live Event to date, according to the video streaming platform, with over 770,000 peak concurrent viewers, besting Dear Class of 2020 (665k peak concurrents), The Creator Games Presented by MrBeast (662k peak concurrent), Will Smith: The Jump(more than 300k peak concurrents) and Taylor Swift: Lover’s Lounge (Live) (more than 185k peak concurrents).

“David Blaine exceeded expectations once again!” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube, “What an inspirational moment for viewers all around the world and we’re so thrilled with what he accomplished today live on YouTube.”

The event streamed live exclusively on YouTube, which funded and produced the project.

Blaine lifted off shortly before 8:00 am PT and within 40 minutes had risen to a height of over 19,000 feet. He eventually reached a height of 24,900 feet and then parachuted to the ground. He completed the entire event within an hour.

The livestream event was hosted by YouTube creator and tech expert Marques Brownlee and featured appearances from Casey Neistat, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, professional surfer Jamie O’Brien, among others, with a special appearance from David Blaine’s daughter, Dessa.

Blaine’s original plan was to fly over New York, but he decided to shift to Arizona because of weather concerns and logistical issues.

Trailer Released for Eugenio Derbez’s “The Angry Birds Movie 2”

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbezwill be flying high this August…

The trailer for The Angry Birds Movie 2, with the 57-year-old Mexican actor as part of the voice cast, has been released.

Here’s what’s on the bill: When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride) and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck’s sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina) and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.

In addition to Derbez, who voices the character of Glenn, Bloom, Brown and Awkwafina, the newbie birds for Round 2 are Leslie Jones, Zach Woods, Lil Rel Howery, Pete Davidson, Beck Bennett, Nicki Minaj, Brooklynn Princeand Dove Cameron.

First-time feature director Thurop Van Ormanfeathers the nest from a script by Ice Age franchise veteran Peter Ackerman.

Sony Picturesopens the toon in 2- and 3D on August 16.

2016’s The Angry Birds Movie earned $352.3 million worldwide.

Tyler Posey to Guest Star on YouTube Comedy “Swipe Right”

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Tyler Posey is taking a swipe…

YouTube has rounded out the cast for Swipe Right, its multi-generational relationship comedy, with the 26-year-old half-Mexican American actor signing on as a celebrity guest star.

Rosanna Arquette and newcomer Chelsea Frei will join star Carly Craig as series regulars.

In addition to Posey, best known for his starring role on MTV’s Teen Wolf, celebrity guest stars include Jason Sudeikis, Rick Springfield, Peter Gallagher, Thomas Lennon, Bryan Greenberg, Charles Michael Davis, Christopher McDonald, Rhys Coiro, Craig Frank, Alice Lee and Sarah Burns.

Written by Craig and directed by Daniel Reisinger based on a true story by Craig, Swipe Right revolves around three women. A lifetime of saying no has left Olivia (Craig) single and miserable on her 35th birthday. In Swipe Right, this workaholic verging on a breakdown vows to plunge into the hellish world of Tinder by dating all 252 of her matches. She is spurred on by her sister Jayne (Frei), a young married woman experiencing a seven-year itch. The sisters are joined by their recently widowed mother, Mary (Arquette), who now also is a part of the online dating scene.

The eight-episode comedy series is slated to debut on YouTube Red in 2018.

IFC Renews Armisen’s “Portlandia” for Two More Seasons

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen will spend two more years in the Pacific Northwest…

IFC has picked up the 48-year-old half-Venezuelan actor’s short-based comedy series Portlandia.

The an absurdist series that gently pokes fun at the laid-back city of Portland, Oregon, has been picked up for Seasons 6 and 7, with IFC ordering 10 half-hour episodes for each.

Armisen, a Saturday Night Live alum, and Carrie Brownstein, the show’s creators and stars, will remain at the helm for both seasons. Portlandia is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video.

Season 5 of Portlandia airs Thursdays at 10 PM.

Vanessa Bayer, Ed Begley Jr., Steve Buscemi, Jeff Goldblum, Kyle MacLachlan, Kumail Nanjiani, Jason Sudeikis, Gus Van Sant and Olivia Wilde are among the recurring guest stars who’ve guest-starred on the show over the years.

Cannavale Starring in “Movie 43”

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He may be reportedly dating actress Rose Byrne, but Bobby Cannavale still has plans for a little speed dating later this month…

The 42-year-old half Cuban actor, nominated for two SAG Awards this year for his recurring roles on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, will appear in Movie 43, a series of interconnected short films that follow three kids as they search the depths of the Internet to find the most banned movie in the world.

Cannavale appears as Fake Superman in the segment called “Super Hero Speed Dating,” opposite of Uma Thurman as Fake Lois Lane.

The cast of Movie 43 includes Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Josh Duhamel, Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

The film’s segment directors include Steven Brill, Peter Farrelly, Griffin Dunne and Brett Ratner.

Movie 43 opens January 25.

The Latest Trailer for “Epic,” Featuring Pitbull, Released

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already considered a lively performer… But now Pitbull is getting really animated!

The 31-year-old Cuban American rap superstar, as previously reported, is lending his voice to the animated 3D film Epic. And, now 20thCentury Fox has released the second trailer for the film, directed by Ice Age’s Chris Wedge.

Pitbull voices the character of Bufo in the film, which centers on a girl who finds herself magically transported into a secret universe deep in the forest where there’s a major battle brewing between the forces of good and evil. She bands together with a rag-tag group of characters in order to save their world – and ours.

Along with Pitbull, the voice cast includes Amanda Seyfried, Beyonce, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Jason Sudeikis and Steven Tyler.

Epic will be released on May 24, 2013.

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