Max Renews “Bookie,” Featuring Jorge Garcia, For a Second Season

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Garcia’s bookie life continues…

Max has renewed its sports book series Bookie, featuring the 50-year-old Cuban & Chilean American actor and former Lost star, for a second season.

The renewal comes two weeks after the season one finale of the show, which stars Sebastian Maniscalco.

From Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay, the series follows bookie Danny (Maniscalco) as he and his partner, former NFL star Ray (Omar Dorsey), romp around Los Angeles trying to keep their illegal sports betting operation in play.

The series premiered on November 30.

Season 2 presumably will show whether Danny can win back the affections of his wife Sandra, played by Andrea Anders, after his Super Bowl win seems to have torn them apart, as well as Ray dealing with the fallout of his mother’s wedding, which saw the groom seemingly die at the alter.

Produced by Warner Bros. Television, Bookie also stars Vanessa Ferlito as Danny’s side-hustling sister Lorraine, Garcia as reluctantly reformed drug dealer turned soccer expert Hector and Maxim Swinton as Sandra’s ten year old son.

Charlie Sheen also reunited with Lorre for a few appearances.

“The collaboration between Chuck and Sebastian has proven to be a winning hand and we’re looking forward to continuing the story with this incredibly talented cast and crew,” says Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, HBO Programming, Head of HBO & Max Comedy Series.

Channing Dungey, chairman, Warner Bros. Television Group added, “There’s no doubt that Chuck and Nick’s Bookie won big this season as they took us on a hilarious ride into the underbelly of illegal sports gambling, featuring a cast led by another dynamic duo: Sebastian Maniscalco and Omar J. Dorsey. I’m looking forward to watching more of their antics in Season 2. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew, and thanks to our partners at Max.”

Charlie Sheen to Reunite with Chuck Lorre on Max’s Comedy Series “How To Be a Bookie”

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Sheen has bookie-ed his next project…

The 57-year-old part-Spanish actor and former Two and a Half Men star will reunite with Chuck Lorre on the Max comedy series How To Be a Bookie, according to Deadline.com.

Sheen is set for a recurring role in the single-camera comedy headlined by Sebastian Maniscalco, which hails from Two and a Half Men studio Warner Bros. Television where Lorre is based.

Reps for Max and WBTV declined comment.

The project is part of a television comeback for Sheen, who is also attached to star in the dramedy project Ramble On from Doug Ellin.

Sheen and Lorre’s eight-year collaboration on one of the most successful comedy series of the past two decades, CBS’ Two and a Half Men, starring Sheen and co-created and executive produced by Lorre, came to an abrupt end in the spring of 2011 when Sheen’s public meltdown and verbal attacks on Lorre led to his firing, triggering a $100 million lawsuit against Lorre and WBTV, which was eventually settled.

Since then, Sheen had taken responsibility for his actions and had expressed regret over his Two and a Half Men exit and an intent to make amends with the top comedy showrunner. That has now happened, resulting in the duo’s collaboration on How To Be a Bookie.

In How To Be a Bookie, co-written by Lorre and Nick Bakay, a veteran bookie (Maniscalco) struggles to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, family, co-workers, and a lifestyle that bounces him around every corner of Los Angeles high and low.

Omar J. Dorsey, Jorge Garcia, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito and Maxim Swinton also star.

Lorre, who is directing the first episode, executive produces through his Chuck Lorre Productions and its overall deal with WBTV alongside Bakay, Maniscalco, Judi Marmel and Andy Tennant, who is directing multiple episodes.

The series is currently in production.

Sheen earned four Emmy nominations for his starring role on Two and a Half Men. Following the end of the multi-camera series, he headlined another sitcom, Anger Management, which aired 100 episodes on FX, and guest starred on ABC’s The Goldbergs.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Melissa Barrera’s Drama “All the World is Sleeping”

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Barrera will be sleeping throughout the U.S.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the North American rights to the drama All the World is Sleeping, starring the 32-year-old Mexican actress and Scream reboot star.

The film is slated for release in theaters and on demand on March 17.

Written and directed by Ryan Lacen, All the World is Sleeping follows Chama (Barrera), who as a young girl in New Mexico, strived to be different from her mother. Now in her twenties, she’s found herself falling into a similar cycle of generational addiction. This struggle then threatens her balance as a mother to her own daughter. As Chama tries to keep it all together, a harrowing accident will spiral her out of control, causing her daughter to be taken from her custody. With nothing left, she’ll have to confront her past in order to fight for a future — one that can either guide her closer to getting her daughter back or lead her deeper into this dangerous cycle.

The film also stars Jackie Cruz, Jorge Garcia, Kristen Gutoskie, Valentina Herrera, Lisandra Tena and Luis Bordonada.

“This film is not only based on the lived experiences of seven women with a history of addiction, it was made by them. Through a unique collaboration with the non-profit Bold Futures, their stories and input shaped this film throughout its development and production,” Lacen told Deadline. “As a director, whose own family has been affected by addiction, my intention was to create a film that felt truthful while unraveling in a unique, visually cerebral way. All the World is Sleeping is grounded in the axiom that while this is a movie, we understand that these moments are happening all around us. Hopefully it gets the audience talking.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing All the World is Sleeping to theaters and homes this upcoming March,” added Gravitas’ Senior Director of Acquisitions, Danielle Gasher. “Melissa Barrera delivers an incredible performance as a young mother battling addiction. We are proud to be the North American partner for such a hard-hitting drama.”

Barrera was introduced as Sam Carpenter — the daughter of Ghostface killer Billy Loomis, who comes to have her own brush with death — in 2022’s Scream relaunch from Paramount, and will reprise the role in the classic horror franchise’s latest entry Scream IV, out on March 10.

Also coming up for her is the Kwame Kwei-Armah film The Collaboration, based on the play of the same name, which has her starring alongside Paul Bettany, Daniel Brühl, Jeremy Pope and more.

Jorge Garcia to Star Opposite Sebastian Maniscalco in HBO Max’s Comedy Series “How To Be A Bookie”

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Garcia is bookie-ing it…

The 49-year-old Chilean and Cuban American actor and comedian will star opposite Sebastian Maniscalco in HBO Max’s original comedy series How To Be A Bookie, from Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros. Television.

Garcia, who rose to acclaim on ABC’s Lost, is among a list of new cast additions that includes Omar J. Dorsey, Andrea Anders and Vanessa Ferlito.

Co-written by Lorre and Nick Bakay, in How To Be A Bookie, veteran bookie Danny (Maniscalco) struggles to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, family, co-workers, and a lifestyle that bounces him around every corner of Los Angeles, high and low.

Garcia will portray Hector. A weed dealer whose business cratered when pot became legal, Hector is a cautionary tale for Danny and Ray as they watch sports betting go legit, state by state. Now reduced to driving for Lyft and none too pleased about it, Hector makes himself an invaluable, if occasionally volatile asset to the operation.

Lorre and Bakay will serve as executive producers along with Maniscalco and Judi Marmel. Warner Bros. Television, where Lorre and his Chuck Lorre Productions are under an overall deal, is the studio.

Garcia is known for his roles as Jerry Ortega on Hawaii Five-O and as Hugo ‘Hurley’ Reyes on Lost. On the big screen he can currently be seen in The Munsters directed by Rob Zombie.

Netflix to Release Garcia’s “The Ridiculous Six” on December 11

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare for a little ridiculousness from Jorge Garcia in December…

The half-Chilean and half-Chilean actor will star opposite Adam Sandler in the The Ridiculous Six, one of the first batch of theatrical-quality films from Netflix.

As part of the streaming service’s feature film initiative, the film is the first of four films that Sandler will star in and produce through his Happy Madison banner.

The comedy premieres on Netflix on December 11, with Sandler and Garcia starring alongside Terry Crews, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson and Nick Nolte.

Sandler’s The Wedding Singer helmer Frank Coraci directed the comic ensemble Western from a script by Tim Herlihy and Sandler, and Sandler and Allen Covert produced it.

Garcia Promoted to Series Regular on CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O”

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Garcia is heading back to Hawaii.

The 40-year-old Cuban/Chilean-American actor has been promoted to series regular on the recently announced fifth season of CBS’ Hawaii Five-O, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Garcia has guest-starred twice on the police procedural, portraying Jerry Ortega, a conspiracy theorist and former high school classmate of his former Lost co-star Daniel Dae Kim‘s Detective Lt. Chin Ho Kelly.

“Jorge very quickly made Jerry an unlikely and valuable part of the Five-O Ohana,” executive producer Peter Lenkov tells THR. “We have many opportunities planned to put Jerry’s unusual and infectious desire to put the bad guys to good use.”

The move brings Garcia back to Hawaii, where ABC‘s Lost filmed for six seasons.

In Hawaii Five-O‘s four-season run, the series has staged several Lost reunions, featuring guest turns from Henry Ian Cusick, Tania Raymonde, Cynthia Watros, Terry O’Quinn and Sam Anderson.

Garcia, who last year booked a role on CBS‘ drama pilot The Ordained, has guest-starred on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, CBS’ Becker, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Showtime’s Californication.

The Hawaii Five-O promotion marks his latest series regular role following Fox’s Alcatraz.

Serricchio’s “The Wedding Ringer,” Starring Kevin Hart, Opening Next January

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Make your calendar! Ignacio Serricchio latest film project is headed for the big screen next January.

The 31-year-old Argentine actor and soap opera star’s The Wedding Ringer, starring comedian Kevin Hart, will hit theaters on January 16, 2015, during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.

Serricchio, best known for his roles on The Young and the Restless and General Hospital, stars as Edmundo in the film.

The Wedding Ringer is described as a comedy about a loner and the friendship he forms with the guy he hires to pose as the best man at his upcoming wedding.

The Screen Gems/Miramax film, directed by Jeremy Garelick, also stars Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco and Jorge Garcia.

Serricchio Joins Cast of “The Wedding Ringer”

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Ignacio Serricchio is reporting for wedding duty…

The 31-year-old Argentine American actor has been added to the cast of Kevin Hart and Josh Gad’s comedy The Wedding Ringer, which is currently in production.

Helmed by Jeremy Garelick in his feature directorial debut, the film centers on Hart, a charismatic guy named Jimmy who provides best man services for socially challenged guys who can’t get somebody to agree to stand by them on the day of their wedding.

Gad portrays a groom-to-be who finds himself in just such a situation. To make matters worse, he makes up the names of not only a best man but nine groomsmen as well. When all else fails, he seeks out Jimmy’s services to carry out a charade designed to make him look his best but threatens to destroy everything if it fails.

The film was written under the title The Golden Tux by Garelick and Jay Lavender during the time they were writing partners on films like The Break-Up.

No word on Serricchio’s role in the film, but our money’s on him playing one of Gad’s groomsmen.

Along with Hart, Gad and Serrichio, who is best known for playing Diego Alcazar on General Hospital and as Alejandro “Alex” Chavez on The Young and the Restless, the film also stars Kaley Cuoco, Olivia Thirlby, Jorge Garcia and Cloris Leachman.

Garcia to Star in the Zombie-Themed Horror Comedy “Cooties”

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It appears Jorge Garcia has a serious case of the cooties…

The 40-year-old half-Cuban/half-Chilean American actor has signed on to star in the prepubescent horror comedy Cooties.

Garcia, who last starred in Fox’s short-lived drama Alcatraz, will portray a teacher in the film, which follows a zombie-like epidemic that originates from an infected chicken nugget and turns elementary school students into rampaging savages.

Written by Insidious’ Leigh Whannell and Glee co-creator Ian Brennan, the film also stars Elijah Wood, Alison Pill, Rainn Wilson, Jack McBrayer and Nasim Pedrad.

Filming is expected to begin on July 15 in LA with Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion directing.

Garcia, who rose to acclaim on ABC’s Lost, most recently guest-starred on the fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time.

Garcia Lands Role in CBS’ “The Ordained” Pilot

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Garcia could be appearing on “the Eye network” in the near future…

The 39-year-old half-Cuban/half-Chilean American actor, who recently guest-starred on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, has landed a role in CBS’ drama pilot The Ordained.

Starring Charlie Cox and Nestor Serrano, the project centers on Tom Reilly (Cox), the son of a Kennedy-like family who leaves his life as a priest and becomes a lawyer at a noted New York firm to prevent his politician sister from being assassinated.

The Lost alum will portray Carlos, the law firm’s staff investigator.

Garcia’s television credits include a starring role in Fox’s short-lived series Alcatraz, as well as guest-starring role on Showtime’s Californication.

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