Netflix Releases Trailer for Sofia Vergara’s Drama Series “Griselda”

Sofia Vergara is bringing the drama…

Netflix has released the official trailer for Griselda, starring the 51-year-old Colombian actress and television personality. The series will premiere on January 25th.

Sofia Vergara, GriseldaIn the series about Narco queenpin, the titular Griselda Blanco, Vergara flexes her dramatic skills.

From creators Eric Newman, Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda and Carlo Bernard, the six-episode series chronicles the life of Colombian-born Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. In 1970s-80s Miami, Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as “the Godmother.”

Alberto Guerra (Dario Sepúlveda), Christian Tappan (Arturo Mesa), Martín Rodríguez (Rivi Ayala), Juliana Aidén Martinez (June Hawkins), Vanessa Ferlito (Carmen Gutiérrez) also star.

Sofia Vergara, GriseldaGuest stars include Fredy Yate (Chucho Castro), Paulina Dávila (Isabel), José Zúñiga (Amilcar), Camilo Jiménez Varón (Rafa Salazar), Julieth Restrepo (Marta Ochoa), Gabriel Sloyer (Raul Diaz), Diego Trujillo (German Panesso) and Alberto Amann (Alberto Bravo).

New images from the series also reveal Carolina Giraldo, who is better known as Urban Latino superstar Karol G, in the role of Griselda’s friend Carla.

Andrés Baiz directs all episodes of Griselda. Escajeda and Miro serve as co-showrunners. Narcos and Narcos: Mexico showrunner and directing team Newman and Baiz executive produce, along with Miro, Escajeda, Carlo Bernard. Vergara and Luis Balaguer with Latin World Entertainment also executive produce.

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara to Host Roku Competitive Cooking Show “Celebrity Family Cook Off”

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara is heading to the kitchen…

Roku has ordered a celebrity cooking show Celebrity Family Cook Off, which will be hosted by the 31-year-old Colombian actor and executive produced by his mother Sofia Vergara.

Manolo Gonzalez Vergara & Sofia VergaraThe streamer has greenlit the new series, which will see famous families face off in the name of charity.

In each episode, a food-loving celebrity and a family member compete against another celebrity family duo in a two-round battle, dinner followed by dessert. Each round of the competition will feature a culinary challenge inspired by a hit movie or television series. The winning celeb-family duo will receive a cash prize to donate to a charity of their choice.

Gonzalez Vergara will be joined by judges Kalen Allen and Fariyal Abdullahi.

The six-episode series is produced by Butternut, the Wheelhouse company run by former Food Network boss Courtney White and Latin World Entertainment, the company founded by Luis Balaguer and Vergara.

It is Roku’s latest food show after The Great American Baking Show, Morimoto’s Sushi Master, Martha Cooks and Emeril Tailgates.

Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Originals, Roku Media, said, “It’s incredible to have the opportunity to collaborate with Sofia Vergara and Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, alongside the production teams at Butternut and Latin World Entertainment, to serve up Celebrity Family Cook Off, a new Roku Original series that will dish out food, family and competitive spirit in the name of charity.”

“We’re so excited to be partnering with Roku to bring you a fun, new cooking competition! Working as a family is great and doing it in the spirit of giving back is even better,” said Manolo Gonzalez Vergara.

Courtney White added, “This show perfectly blends Sofia and Manolo’s infectious love for family with their shared passion for food. We think this series will be an absolute delight for viewers and a great addition to Roku’s endless entertainment offerings. Our team at Butternut is excited to be part of the fun.”

Sofia Vergara to Portray Drug Queenpin Griselda Blanco in New Netflix Series “Griselda”

Sofia Vergara is dealing her way to the small screen…

The 49-year-old Colombian-American actress, television producer, presenter and model is set to portray notorious drug queenpin Griselda Blanco in a new Netflix limited series.

Sofia VergaraThe six-episode series Griselda chronicles the real-life of Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. A devoted mother, Blanco’s lethal blend of charm and unsuspecting savagery helped her expertly navigate between family and business leading her to become widely known as the “Black Widow”.

The series comes from writer Ingrid Escajeda, who is showrunner, writer, and executive producer, as well as Eric Newman, Doug Miro, Andrés Baiz, and Carlo Bernard— the creative team behind Narcos – but it is unrelated to Netflix’s drug thriller franchise.

Vergara will also serve as executive producer of the project with Luis Balaguer for Latin World Entertainment. Colombian native Baiz will direct all episodes.

“Griselda Blanco was a larger-than-life character whose ruthless but ingenious tactics allowed her to rule a billion dollar empire years before many of the most notorious male kingpins we know so much about,” Vergara said. “We are thrilled to have found the perfect partners in Eric, Andrés and Netflix to help us bring this story of her life to the screen.”

Newman added, “Griselda Blanco has long been a passion project for Sofia and we are grateful that she and her partners at LatinWe have chosen us to help her tell that story. Sofia is a brilliant talent and her passion combined with a fantastic story from Doug and Ingrid, and the amazing Andrés Baiz at the directing helm, means we have a very exciting series to share with audiences.”

Peter Friedlander, VP, UCAN scripted series at Netflix, said, “Eric Newman has deftly brought to life among the most dynamic characters and stories on screen today. We’re excited to continue on this creative path with him and for this collaboration with Sofia Vergara — a force in entertainment and a world-beloved talent. With an incredible team at the helm — we can’t wait for the world to see how Ingrid Escajeda, Doug Miro, and Andrés Baiz take on the twists and turns of Griselda Blanco’s epic story.”

Blanco burst onto the pop culture scene after her exploits were highlighted in the 2006 documentary Cocaine Cowboys and its sequel two years later from Billy Corben. She was portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Lifetime biopic Cocaine Godmother in 2018.

Jennifer Lopez announced she’d portray Blanco in the film The Godmother, a project she is rumored to also direct.

Sofia Vergara’s Latin Digtal Media Company Raze Closes Development Deals with Netflix, Hulu & TNT

Sofia Vergara’s razing the roof…

Raze, the Latino digital media company co-founded by the 45-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star, has struck production and development deals with NetflixHulu, and TNT.

Sofia Vergara

Co-founded by Latin World Entertainment founder Luis Balaguer, and industry leader Emiliano Calemzuk, the fast-growing company will roll out three series across the aforementioned platforms.

Raze is moving forward into production with the original series Catrina, la Santa Muerte for Netflix. They are also developing Mi Hermanastro for Hulu and Black Veil for TNT.

“In just one year, Raze has jumped to a leadership position as a multi-purpose Latino creative engine capable of growing a digital media and social platform, as well as supplying high-quality long-form product to top distributors in the US and Latin America,” said Calemzuk. “As we move forward with this original programming slate, we will bring the best content to our viewers through their favorite platforms.”

“At Raze, we continue working to develop and produce original content that changes the narrative on how Latin-centered stories are told,” adds Mari Urdaneta Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer. “We work with an excellent team of creative writers and producers who will provide unique and innovated plots that will resonate with viewers across key demos.”

Raze has teamed with Hollywood leading creative writers Natasha Ybarra-Klor, Liz Sczudlo, and Luisa Leschin to bring the Latino stories to the market

Here’s the programming slate:

Catrina: La Santa Muerte is heading to production at Netflix. Starring international star Blanca Soto, the series marks Soto’s comeback to the small screen. The action series is set on the geographical border between Mexico and the United States, at a time when the metaphysical border between the world of the living and the Land of the Dead is beginning to blur. Produced by Raze, the series is executive produced by Blanca Soto and is written by Natasha Ybarra-Klor whose credits include Netflix hit series Ingobernable, Cadena 3, Las Aparicio and Infames, and Fox/Argos Dos Lunas, among others.

Mi Hermanastro (My Step-brother) is set up as a script at Hulu. Based on the online Latin American smash hit series with the same name, Mi Hermanastro is about two teenage step-siblings at odds with each other and struggling to find their place in life, who accidentally sleep together during a debauched game of seven minutes in heaven. Produced by Raze, the script is written by Liz Sczudlo whose credits include Lifetime’s Sea Change, Freeform’s Switched at Birth, Fox’s The Following, and CW’s 90210.

The Black Veil is set up at TNT. The events and characters depicted in The Black Veil are fiction, though inspired by actual events described in newly-released Inquisition documents from the Vatican regarding a criminal case against an Italian order of nuns, around 1800. The series centers around the cloistered Convent of St. Agatha’s, nestled in New Mexico’s Blue Mountains overlooking the town of Sagrado. As the U.S. enters WWII and New Mexico readies to send over 1800 of its rough-hewn cowboy, Navajo and Mexican- American soldiers overseas, the hierarchical population of nuns, novitiates and staff living behind the high stone walls of the convent struggle to remain solvent and unaffected by the war. To maintain their sanctuary hidden from the outside world, the nuns live in symbiotic collusion under the strong hand of a cultish Abbess. The isolation and constant search for enlightenment creates a hothouse atmosphere of religious ecstasies, miracles, sexual repression and powerful intrigue. A sophisticated, authentically depicted, nighttime series, The Black Veil features forbidden love, lust, poisonings, feigned miracles and murder. Produced by Raze, the script is written by Luisa Leschin whose credits includes Amazon’s Just Add Magic, Hulu’s East Los High, and ABC’s George Lopez, among others.

Nazario to Serve as Guest Speaker at the Billboard Latin Music Conference

It’ll be all about “me” for Ednita Nazario in April…

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and Latin Grammy-winning artist will be a guest speaker at the newly announced panel discussion “Me, Me, Me” at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Ednita Nazario

Other speakers on the panel, which will explore why Latin stars are a “hot commodity for memoirs and biopics,” include Creative Artists Agency agent Bruno del Granado, Luis Balaguer (CEO and co-founder — along with Sofía Vergara — of Latin World Entertainment), and executive producer and literary agent Raymond García (known for negotiating memoir deals for superstars like Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez).

Nazario is releasing her autobiography, Una Vida, on May 2, 2017 via Penguin/Random House.

“Many people will be surprised by some of the anecdotes,” Nazario tells People en Español. “Some were evident, others not. What I want to do with the book is let them discover that part that I kept private. “

The Billboard Latin Music Conference will kick off April 24 in Miami with other panels like “Superstar Q&A’s” and marquee sessions like the “Urban Music Panel,” the “Divas Panel” and “How I Wrote that Song, the New Generation.”

Colombian superstar Maluma was previously announced as a panelist taking center stage at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Conference on the new panel, “Socializing Maluma.”

The chart-topping artist and also a seven-time 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards finalist will give the audience an inside look on how he works his social media.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach. To register, visit www.billboardlatinconference.com.

Vergara: Television’s Highest Paid Actress for a Third Straight Year

It’s mo’ money, mo’ honors for Sofia Vergara

For the third straight year, the 42-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star tops Forbes’ list of the television’s highest paid actresses.

Sofia Vergara

Vergara reportedly earned an estimated $37 million between June 2013 and June 2014, according to the financial magazine. That’s more than the top-earning television actor, Ashton Kutcher ($26 million).

While the actress earns a reported $325,000 per episode on her Emmy-winning ABC comedy series, the bulk of her earnings come from her lucrative endorsements and licensing deals.  Vergara is the face of Diet Pepsi, CoverGirl, Head & Shoulders, AT&T and the medication Synthroid.

She’s the also the co-founder of Latin World Entertainment, a multi-million dollar empire. The talent management and entertainment-marketing firm recently teamed up with CNET to launch a Spanish-language tech news site. Vergara’s brand also continues to grow thanks to her 12-year deal with Kmart, a strategic move to better appeal to Hispanic shoppers.

Earlier this year, she also launched her first fragrance for HSN and starred in the indie movie Chef, which received rave critical reviews and became the only summer indie to hit $30 million at the box office.

Vergara’s annual take is up from last year’s high of $30 million and her $19-million estimate in 2012.

Vergara to Executive Produce “Killer Women” for ABC

Sofia Vergara has lined up her next television project… Only this time, it’ll find her behind the camera…

ABC has given a script commitment to Killer Women, with the 40-year-old Colombian actress and Modern Family star attached to serve as executive producer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Sofia Vergara

Killer Women is described as a soapy procedural revolving around a female Texas Ranger.

The hour-long project is based on the Argentine series, Mujeres Asesinas, which is actually based on the book trilogy of the same name by Marisa Grinstein.

Hannah Shakespeare (The Raven) will pen the script and executive produce alongside feature director Martin Campbell, Vergara and her Latin World Entertainment partner Luis Balaguer.

The drama hails from ABC Studios.

Vergara started her career in Colombia as a model/actress, eventually playing Alicia Oviedo on the local version of Desperate Housewives.

Vergara: Television’s Highest-Paid Actress

She’s one of the hardest working women in Hollywood… And, now Sofia Vergara is reaping the rewards for her red-hot career…

Forbes magazine has just released its list of the highest paid actresses on television in the past year, with the 40-year-old Colombian actress unseating Eva Longoria at the top of the list.

Sofia Vergara

Forbes estimates that Vergara, who reportedly got engaged last week, raked in $19 million from May 2011 to May 2012. That hefty sum is due in large part to the seven-figure advance from her Kmart clothing line (to the tune of $7 million dollars by the end of 2012), English-language endorsement deals with Cover Girl and Diet Pepsi, as well as Spanish-language endorsement deals with Burger King, Comcast and State Farm (which amount to a whopping $12 million). Vergara serves as one half of the management company Latin World Entertainment, which should help secure her status as a rising entertainment mogul.

Vergara narrowly beat out Kim Kardashian, with the reality star earning an estimated $18 million over the same time frame. Kardashian’s earnings include $10 million for her E! wedding special. Kardashian, like Vergara, also has her hand in the fashion industry with a cost-conscious clothing line through Sears, which she designs alongside her sisters.

Meanwhile, last year’s No. 1, Eva Longoria, dropped to third place despite increasing her earnings by $2 million.  The 37-year-old Mexican American actress pulled in a grand total of $15 million during the same time period. Longoria earned an estimated $8 million for her role on the final season of ABC’s Desperate Housewives. In addition, Longoria’s endorsement deals with L’Oreal and Pepsi Next earned her $5 million and sales of her cookbook, two fragrances and a handful of small movie roles rounded out her earnings.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 female earners in TV:

1. Sofia Vergara: $19 million

2. Kim Kardashian: $18 million

3. Eva Longoria: $15 million

4. Bethenny Frankel: $12 million

5. Khloe Kardashian Odom: $11 million

6. Tina Fey: $11 million

7. Mariska Hargitay: $10 million

8. Zooey Deschanel: $9 million

8. Felicity Huffman: $9 million

8. Ellen Pompeo: $9 million