Nathan Apodaca Skateboards Through Joe Biden & Kamala Harris’ “Parade Across America”

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Nathan Apodaca’s Dream(s) moment continues…

The 38-year-old Mexican-Native American TikTok star (aka DoggFace) displayed the moves that made him go viral on the social media platform, this time as part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris‘ Parade Across America special — hosted by former Scandal star Tony Goldwyn — part of the Inauguration Day festivities, on January 20.

Apodaca’s new video started with him once again smoothly skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac‘s 1977 hit “Dreams.” Only this time, instead of cruising with a big bottle of Ocean Spray cran-raspberry juice, he had a small U.S. flag in his left hand and a face mask on as he skateboarded around snowy roads in his native Idaho.

Apodaca — whose viral video has received Fleetwood Mac‘s stamp of approval and more than 12.5 million likes since being posted in September — wasn’t the only one rolling around in the clip.

True to the name of the inauguration special, the video also featured Americans from across the country — including Michigan, California, D.C., Massachusetts, Colorado, New York, and more — smoothly skating to “Dreams” in their own states. Like Apodaca, some skateboarders were holding little flags, while others opted to stay true to the original and went with his beverage of choice.

The Parade Across America special also featured appearances by Jon Stewart, a reunion by the New Radicals, DJ Cassidy‘s Pass the Mic, and others. It was just one part of the star-studded Inauguration Day events, which included performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks earlier in the day.

https://twitter.com/BidenInaugural/status/1352003173712420864

Mariah Carey Honors New York’s Essential Heroes During Robin Hood & iHeart Radio’s ‘Heroes of New York’ Event

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is celebrating the true heroes of 2020 the best way she knows how…

The 51-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning chanteuse appeared during Robin Hood and iHeart Radio‘s Heroes of New York event on Tuesday night (December 1) to perform a special medley of her chart-topper “Hero,” “Joy to the World” and David Bowie‘s “Heroes.”

“Seven months ago, New York had its back against the wall. Our neighbors needed help, and Robin Hood reached out to us for our support. New Yorkers answered the call and stepped up,” Carey said in her introduction, before dedicating her number to “the thousands of heroes in New York who did their part to help put our city back on the road to full recovery.”

From there, Carey launched into the hook of Bowie’s classic 1977 single before seamlessly transitioning into her own, similarly named, smash released 17 years later during her Music Box era.

“No nothing could tear us away/ We could be heroes just for one day/ We could be heroes just for one day/ And then a hero comes along/ With the strength to carry on/ And you cast your fears aside/ And you know you/ So when you feel like hope is gone/ Look inside you and be strong/ And you’ll finally see the truth That a hero lies in, a hero lies in you/ That a hero lies in you,” Carey sang from her home studio.

Finally, the star closed out the medley with a passionate, melisma-filled take on “Joy to the World” while backed by a virtual choir.

The one-hour special also featured appearances by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Andy Cohen, Jon Stewart, Kelly Ripa and more, with a special performance of “Smile” by Tony Bennett.

Gina Rodriguez’s “Kajillionaire” to Now Open in Limited Theaters on September 25

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s kajillion will have to wait…

Focus Features‘ Sundance Film Festival acquisition of Annapurna/Plan B’s Kajillionaire, starring the 36-year-old Golden Globe-winning actress and former Jane the Virgin star, will now open in select theaters on September 25, a week later than originally anticipated.

The Miranda July directed film will hit PVOD around October 16. Despite that, the film’s marketing will be driven toward its theatrical release, and the movie will continue to be available to cinemas while it’s on PVOD.

Written and directed by July, Kajillionaire follows con artists Theresa and Robert, who spent 26 years training their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), to swindle, scam and steal at every opportunity. During a desperate, hastily conceived heist, they charm a kind stranger, Melanie (Rodriguez), into joining their next scheme, completely shaking up Old Dolio’s routine. Her unlikely connection with Melanie begins to challenge Old Dolio’s odd and stoic reality — and she finds herself suddenly caught between the only family she has ever known and the prospect of total freedom.

The film also stars two-time Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins and three-time nominee Debra Winger.

During the pandemic when the big circuits were closed, Focus Features played two titles on theatrical PVOD: Jon Stewart’s political comedy Irresistible and the Nisha Ganatra directed music drama The High Note.

Louis C.K. to Perform at This Year’s Stand Up for Heroes

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. is taking a stand…

The 49-year-old Mexican American comedian, actor, writer, producer, director and editor will take part in this year’s Stand Up for Heroes on November 1 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, it will mark the 10th anniversary of the annual event that’s raised more than $33 million for wounded, ill and injured veterans, service members and their families.

Louis C.K. joins an all-star roster that includes Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Stewart.

“We look forward to Stand Up for Heroes each year not only because it’s grown into New York’s biggest night of comedy and music, but because a decade of laughter has translated into a lifetime of immeasurable support for our nation’s injured heroes,” said Bob Woodruff, co-founder and ABC News correspondent. “As we commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and the wars that have followed, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that a small percentage of our population stood up for us — it’s now our turn to stand up for them.”

Woodruff and wife Lee established the Bob Woodruff Foundation after the then-recently installed co-anchor of ABC News was critically injured in 2006 by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The Woodruffs partnered with the New York Comedy Festival founders Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox to stage the first Stand Up for Heroes event in 2007.

“We could not be more proud to partner with the Bob Woodruff Foundation to celebrate such an incredible milestone as the 10-year anniversary of Stand Up for Heroes,” says Caroline Hirsch, Bob Woodruff Foundation board member and founder of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway. “The organization’s remarkable perseverance, passion and contribution to wounded soldiers and their families is outstanding. Nothing would be possible without the time and dedication from all of the performers and supporters of the organization over the years.”\

After its start at New York’s Town Hall and, later, the Beacon Theatre, the event moved to MSG in 2013.

Parra to Serve as a Contributor on “The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore”

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Grace Parra has landed a new gig…

The Latina writer and actress is joining The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore as contributor.

Her first appearance is this week on the Comedy Central show that airs at 11:30 pm ET.

She joins a roster of Nightly Show contributors including Ricky Velez, Holly Walker and Mike Yard.

Parra started her writing career in New York, after graduating from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science. She has written for several network and cable shows and earlier this year hosted the Fuse late-night series White Guy Talk Show.

The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore was created by Jon Stewart and is produced by Stewart’s Busboy Productions.

Trailer Released for Jon Stewart’s Directorial Debut “Rosewater,” Starring Garcia Bernal

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal is earning rave reviews for his latest project… And, now you can see his work for yourself.

Open Road Films has released the official trailer for Jon Stewart’s directorial debut Rosewater, starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor.

The film, an adaptation of Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story Of Love, Captivity And Survival,stars Garcia Bernal as Bahari, the BBC journalist who left London in June 2009 to cover Iran’s presidential elections.

He was kidnapped, spending the next 118 days in Iran’s most notorious prison being brutally interrogated by a man he knew only by one thing: he smelled of rosewater.

Stewart took a summer hiatus from his Comedy Central show to direct his own script.

Rosewater will open in U.S. theaters on November 7.

Open Road Films to Release Garcia Bernal’s “Rosewater” in November

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal’s latest film will hit U.S. theaters in November.

Open Road Films has announced plans to release Rosewater, starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor, on November 7.

The directorial debut from The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, the film is an adaptation of BBC journalist Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story Of Love, Captivity And Survival.

The true story follows the Tehran-born journalist, a Canadian citizen living in London. In June 2009, he returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Moussavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Moussavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as “Rosewater,” who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days. Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.

Garcia Bernal stars as Bahari in the film.

Stewart penned the script and took a summer break from his popular Comedy Central show to direct it.

Open Road acquired the U.S. distribution rights in May to Rosewaterafter a private showing to select buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

Open Road to Release Garcia Bernal’s “Rosewater,” Directed by Jon Stewart, in the U.S.

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gael Garcia Bernal’s latest project is headed to the U.S. theaters.

Open Road Films has picked up the U.S. distribution rights to Rosewater, the political drama starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor.

The film marks The Daily Show host Jon Stewart’s directorial debut. It’s an adaptation of the New York Timesbest-selling memoir Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity and Survival, written by BBC journalist Maziar Bahari.

The story centers on the Tehran-born Canadian broadcast journalist (portrayed by Bernal) who was covering the Iranian elections in 2009. After submitting footage of street riots, Bahari was arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, and for the next 118 days was interrogated and tortured by man he called Rosewater, due to the man’s scent.

Stewart was one of those who followed the story.

A fall release is being planned.

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