Jennifer Lopez to Appear as Part of YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” Global Virtual Commencement Ceremony

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is ready to motivate this year’s graduates…

YouTube has added several speakers and musical performances to Dear Class of 2020, its global virtual commencement ceremony set for June 6, including the 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar.

In addition to Lopez, others joining Barack and Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and more as part of the special event are Beyoncé Knowles-Carter— who will deliver an inspirational message to the graduates — La La Anthony, Andy Cohen, Lana Condor, Misty Copeland,Kevin Durant, FINNEAS, Bill & Melinda Gates, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Demi Lovato, Hasan Minhaj, Janelle Monáe,Antoni Porowski, Billy Porter, Phoebe Robinson, Yara Shahidi, Michael Strahan, Taylor Swift, Ciara & Russell Wilson, the casts of Euphoria and Riverdale, Today’s Jenna Bush Hager and Natalie Morales, and YouTub ecreators Emma Chamberlain, John Green, NikkieTutorials, and Mark Rober.

The multi-hour event premieres on Saturday, June 6 on YouTube. Other speakers and performers include BTS, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Chloe x Halle and Zendaya, among others.

Barack and Michelle Obama each will deliver commencement speeches – as well as a joint heartfelt message – to this year’s high school and college seniors who are missing graduation celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, Michelle Obama’s Higher Reach Initiative will host a full hour of content to kick off the celebration.

“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Content for YouTube. “We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favorite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”

In “Dear Class of 2020,” people from around the world will join the class of 2020 as a singular community to celebrate their resilience, and the endless possibilities of their future, says YouTube.

“The festival-style line up combines classic commencement day themes with a diverse array of entertainment that will capture all of the emotions of graduation including pride, hope, optimism, and camaraderie.”

YouTube is working in partnership with Higher Reach, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, TODAY, and Ideas United to showcase student stories and feature graduates around the world, including a crowd-sourced commencement speech. The special will be produced by Done + Dusted.

“Dear Class of 2020” can be streamed on the YouTube Originals channel and the Learn@Home site.

The full schedule of commencement events is available on the Learn@Home site.

Salvador Chacon Lands Recurring Role on Showtime’s “The Chi”

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Salvador Chacon is Windy City bound…

The 35-year-old Mexican actor has landed a recurring role on the Lena Waithe-created Showtime drama series The Chi.

Chacon, Cory Hardrict and Joel Steingoldare set for multi-episode arcs in season three.

The series is currently in production in Chicago and will return to the network in 2020.

Produced by Fox 21 Television Studios,The Chiis a timely coming-of-age story about a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

Chacon will play Tomas Gutierrez, a nurse who works alongside Jada (Yolonda Ross) whose view of his native Chicago and the people in it is influenced by his cultural heritage.

The season three cast includes Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael Epps and Birgundi Baker. Luke James, La La Anthonyand Lil Rel Howeryalso are set to recur in Season 3.

Chacon, who has a recurring role on FX’s Mayans M.C., has appeared in Bad Labor, The Get, NCISand Ex-Best.

La La Anthony Lands Recurring Role on Showtime’s “The Chi”

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is heading to Chicago’s South Side…

The 38-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican actress and television personality has landed a recurring role on Season 3 of Showtime’s The Chi.

Created and executive produced by Lena Waithe and executive produced by Common, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents in Chicago’s South Side who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

In Season 3, Anthony will play Dominique “Dom” Morris, a savvy businesswoman with dreams of more lucrative opportunities.

The season three cast includes Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross and Shamon Brown Jr.

The Chi is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios.

Production is underway on Season 3 with new showrunner and executive producer Justin Hillian.

Anthony’s previous credits include television appearances on Power, Star and Daytime Divas.

La La Anthony Lands Recurring Role on Fox’s Drama Series “Star”

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony’s Star is rising.

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican actress and television personality has landed a recurring role on Fox’s music-fueled drama series Star.

Anthony will portray Paola, the estranged mother of Angel (guest star Evan Ross) who also happens to have a connection to Jahil (Benjamin Bratt).

Co-created by Lee Daniels and Tom Donaghy, Star follows three talented singers – running from their pasts and desperate for a new start – with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cutthroat music business.

Anthony’s recent television credits include Starz’s Power and the Lifetime telepic The New Edition Story. She also has appeared in the recent features Double Play, Deuces and Destined.

She first earned national attention in the early 2000s as a VJ on MTV’s Total Request Live and went on to host a number of reality shows for its corporate sibling VH1 including Flavor of Love. She also starred in the reality television programs La La’s Full Court Wedding and La La’s Full Court Life.

Anthony Signs Exclusive Production Partnership with ITV America

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is looking to bring new content to television…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actress and reality television star has signed an exclusive production partnership with reality producer ITV America.

The deal would allow Anthony to create and produce projects in the urban, music and pop culture space via her LaLaLand label, under the ITV America banner.

Anthony is already developing a hip-hop docuseries that takes an inside look at the business side of New York City’s hip-hop scene with Timbaland and Leftfield Entertainment/ITVA prodco Leftfield Pictures. They also are in development on several other projects that include documentaries and scripted series, as well as true-crime and live-event series.

“I’m beyond excited to be partnering with Leftfield and ITV America,” Anthony said. “I have a long history of working with David George, and I truly feel this company will help bring my ideas to life.”

Added Leftfield Entertainment CEO David George: “I’ve known La La a long time, as a friend and colleague, and she is one of the hardest-working, most driven and connected people in our business. We’re thrilled to be deepening our relationship with La La and to take her inspiring voice and entrepreneurial fierceness to multiple genres and platforms.”

Anthony’s TV credits include the hit Starz series Power, BET’s The New Edition Story and A&E’s Unforgettable. Her film credits include Think Like a Man, Think Like a Man Too, Baggage Claim, Chi-Raq and the upcoming Earnest Dickerson film Double Play. Anthony is also a twice-published, New York Times best-selling author and recently made her Broadway producing debut with the Tony-nominated play Eclipsed, which featured Broadway’s first all-female, all-black cast.

Anthony’s “The Love Playbook” Getting Film Adaptation

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is bringing her Playbook to the big screen…

Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Entertainment and Codeblack Films are partnering to co-produce and co-finance an adaptation of the 37-year-old Puerto Rican actress and reality television star’s book The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex, and Happiness.

Published in 2014, Anthony’s book became a New York Times bestseller.

The former star of VH1‘s La La’s Full Court Life channeled her life and love lessons into a personal playbook, offering no-nonsense advice on dating, love and marriage — advising women on how to take control of their relationships, rise above adversity and live their lives by their rules.

Anthony will also executive produce for the project through her LaLa Land company.

Anthony to Star in BET’s Three-Part Miniseries “New Edition: The Movie”

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony has a new addition to her resume…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican television personality and actress has been added to the cast of BET’s three-part miniseries New Edition: The Movie.

Anthony, who starred in Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man Too, joins new additions to the cast that include Yvette Nicole Brown, Monica Calhoun, Lisa Nicole Carson and Sandi McCree. They’ve have signed on to play the mothers of the iconic 1980s R&B/pop group.

Anthony will play Flo DeVoe, mother of the young Ronnie DeVoe, Brown will play Michael Bivins’ mother Shirley Bivins, Calhoun is Ralph Tresvant’s mother Patricia Tresvant, Carson will play Ricky Bell’s mother Mae Bell and McCree is Bobby Brown’s mother Carole Brown.

They join previously cast Bryshere Y. Gray, Elijah Kelley, Luke James, Keith Powers, and newcomers Algee Smith and Woody McClain.

Written by Abdul Williams, the miniseries follows the group from their humble beginnings as kids in Boston to global megastardom – weathering the highs and lows of controversy, personnel changes, and the ultimate cost of fame.

Anthony Teaming with Timbaland to Develop a Hip-Hop Docuseries

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is shining a light on the hip-hop industry…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress, author and producer is teaming up with and Grammy-winning producer Timbaland and Leftfield Pictures to develop a hip-hop docuseries.

The project will focus on Jeff Janvier and Session Cruz’s Face Time Agency, the industry’s premiere casting agency for booking music video and hip-hop fashion models, with clients including Drake, Kanye West and Robin Thicke.

Set inside the New York City nightlife scene – where clubs have become the new boardrooms – the series exposes the cutthroat entrepreneurial side of hip-hop, with models, DJs and social media stars “hustling” to break through as fashion, music and media moguls.

“La La and Timbaland are perfect examples of what can be achieved when talent, determination and creativity collide with entrepreneurship,” said Leftfield Entertainment CEO David George. “We’re thrilled to be in business with these two entertainment innovators to create a series that uncovers a unique, rarified faction of hip hop and provides a true soundtrack for the unpredictable journey toward fame and fortune.”

Anthony will executive produce the project, with Timbaland serving as exec music producer.

“I’m thrilled to be executive producing a project that offers a true insider’s look into the business side of hip hop, especially one that explores the lives of fascinating women who have used hip hop as their platform to become successful entrepreneurs in fashion, music and more,” said Anthony.

La La to Star in Spike Lee’s Amazon Studios Film “Chi-Raq”

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is experiencing a Spike in her movie career…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress, businesswoman and radio/television personality has joined Spike Lee’s Amazon Studios film Chi-Raq.

Anthony will portray Hecuba, a very strong, fiesty, outspoken woman who is part of a female crew/gang.

Set against the violence in inner city Chicago, Chi-Raq touts a top-billed cast that includes Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.

Anthony is a series regular on A&E’s Unforgettable and starred in the Think Like A Man franchise.

La La Anthony to Star on A&E’s “Unforgettable”

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It could be an unforgettable year for La La Anthony…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actress and reality television star, whose real name Alani Nicole Anthony, has joined the cast of Unforgettable as a series regular.

The crime procedural, formerly appearing CBS and now running on A&E, is produced by Sony Television and has a 13-week order for its fourth season.

Anthony, also a fashion-and-cosmetics mogul and best-selling author of The Love Playbook (and the new The Power Playbook; her husband is New York Knicks power forward Carmelo Anthony, will play Delina Michaels, an up-and-coming medical examiner successful in everything but, alas, love. She becomes indispensable at the Major Crimes lab of the NYPD, as well as romantically challenged in her new job.

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