William Levy Lands Series Regular Role on Fox’s Music Drama Series “Star”

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

William Levy’s star is on the rise…

The 37-year-old Cuban actor is joining the cast of Fox’s music drama series Star as a new series regular for the upcoming third season.

Levy will play Mateo Ferrera, a driven media mogul who can charm the devil into church. He is rich, successful, smooth as silk and married to his equal, Nina Ferrera, played by Camila Banus. Mateo makes and breaks his own rules as he sprints toward success. The first generation son of immigrant parents, he is determined to make his mark and build his legacy by any means necessary.

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.

The large ensemble cast includes Queen Latifah, Benjamin Bratt, Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady, Amiyah Scott, Quincy Brown, Miss Lawrence, Michael Michele, Stephen Dorff and Luke James.

Telenovela star Levy’s Spanish-language Triunfo Del Amor was the most watched scripted series on American television. On the film side, Levy appeared in Lionsgate’s Addicted, Universal’s Term Life alongside Vince Vaughn, and most recently, Universal’s blockbuster Girls Trip.

John Leguizamo to Take Part in The People’s State of the Union

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is heading to State…

The 53-year-old Colombian actor/comedian will take part in what’s being dubbed as The People’s State of the Union.

Taking place a day before U.S. President Donald Trump deliverers his State of the Union speech, Lequizamo will join celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, activists, and representatives from political organizations in New York City on Monday, January 29.

The goal? To unite against Trump’s agenda and spur voters to win back U.S. Congress in the mid-term elections.

“In essence, it’s a better reflection of our state of the union based on a more populist point of view, based on the people’s point of view,” Ruffalo told People of the event. “I think it’s important because we have a president who has a difficult time with the truth, who has a radical, divisive agenda, and spends an enormous amount of time focusing on the negative and hopelessness and despair.”

“We want to celebrate this moment that we’re in of what is now probably one of the most influential and powerful and really beautiful movements to come into play in the United States since the civil rights movement,” Ruffalo continued, going on to describe the event as “a celebration of the power and the beauty of this movement, but also of our accomplishments and to focus on what’s to come in the immediate future.”

Other participants will include Whoopi Goldberg, Cynthia Nixon, Michael Moore, Kathy Najimy, Wanda Sykes, Lee Daniels, Rosie Perez and Fisher Stevens, as well as Andra Day and Common, who will perform their song “Stand Up for Something” from the film Marshall.

To watch the speakers and hear the topics discussed, tune into the live-stream at peoplessotu.org.

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).

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.

Fox Renews Bratt’s Drama Series “Star” for a Second Season

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Benjamin Bratt’s star is still shining bright…

Fox has renewed its freshman drama series Star, starring the 53-year-old half-Peruvian American, for a second season.

The music-centric series was co-created by Lee Daniels, the co-creator of Fox’s hit series Empire, as well as Tom Donaghy.

It 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. The Season 1 finale airs March 15 before Empire returns to the Wednesday 9 PM time period. Guest stars set to appear on Star over the next four weeks include Naomi Campbell, Big Boi, Rickey Smiley, Missy Elliott and Paris Jackson.

“Lee Daniels is a true visionary, and he and Tom Donaghy have delivered a series with a unique and meaningful point of view,” Fox Entertainment president David Madden said.

Launching behind the fall finale of Empire, Star hasn’t been a breakout hit like the soapy hip-hop family drama. But it has had a stable audience, averaging a Live+Same Day rating between 1.2 and 1.3 in adults 18-49 for the past five weeks, rising to about 1.9 in Live+7. Its L7 average of 2.1 demo rating is below Lethal Weapon (2.5) and above Lucifer (1.9), both of which were recently renewed, along with Fox flagship Empire.

Star, whose cast includes Bratt, who plays talent manager Jahil Rivera, Queen Latifah, Jude Demorest, Brittany O’Grady, Ryan Destiny, Amiyah Scott and Quincy Brown, averages 7.5 million multi-platform audience, according to Fox.

Star is a production of 20th Century Fox Television in association with Lee Daniels Entertainment.

Smollett & His Empire Castmates to Appear at This Year’s PaleyFest Los Angeles

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Jussie Smollett is bringing his Empire to this year’s PaleyFest…

Fox’s hip-hop drama Empire, starring the 32-year-old Brazilian American actor/singer, will make its debut at the 33rd annual PaleyFest Los Angeles in March, headlining the lineup unveiled by the Paley Center for Media.

Smollet will be joined onstage by the show’s leads Terrence Howard and newly minted Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson and other cast members, as well as creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and executive producer Ilene Chaiken.

Empire will be joined by panels featuring the casts and creators of FX’s anthology Starz drama Power, which launches it third season in June; and Fox’s freshman Scream Queens.

Also on the schedule this year: Fear The Walking Dead on March 19 and ABC’s Scandal on March 15.

This year’s William S. Paley Television Festival runs March 11-20 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Here’s the list so far of panels with Latino cast and crew making an appearance, along with dates and times:

Friday, March 11

Opening Night Presentation Empire (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Terrence Howard, “Lucious Lyon”
Taraji P. Henson, “Cookie Lyon”
Jussie Smollett, “Jamal Lyon”
Bryshere Gray, “Hakeem Lyon”
Trai Byers, “Andre Lyon”
Grace Gealey, “Anika Calhoun”
Kaitlin Doubleday, “Rhonda Lyon”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Becky”
Ta’Rhonda Jones, “Porsha”
Serayah, “Tiana Brown”
Lee Daniels, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Danny Strong, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Ilene Chaiken, Executive Producer
Brian Grazer, Executive Producer

Scream Queens (7 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Emma Roberts, “Chanel Oberlin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Dean Cathy Munsch”
Lea Michele, “Hester Ulrich”
Abigail Breslin, “Chanel #5”
Skyler Samuels, “Grace Gardner”
Keke Palmer, “Zayday Williams”
Billie Lourd, “Chanel #3”
Niecy Nash, “Officer Denise Hemphill”

Tuesday, March 15

Scandal (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kerry Washington, “Olivia Pope”
Guillermo Diaz, “Huck”
Darby Stanchfield, “Abby Whelan”
Katie Lowes, “Quinn Perkins”
Tony Goldwyn, “President Fitzgerald ‘Fitz’Grant”
Jeff Perry, “Cyrus Beene”
Bellamy Young, “Mellie Grant”
Joshua Malina, “David Rosen”
Scott Foley, “Jake Ballard”
Portia de Rossi, “Elizabeth North”
Cornelius Smith Jr., “Marcus Walker”
Joe Morton, “Rowan Pope”
Shonda Rhimes, Creator & Executive Producer
Betsy Beers, Executive Producer

Saturday, March 19

Fear the Walking Dead (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kim Dickens, “Madison Clark”
Cliff Curtis, “Travis Manawa”
Frank Dillane, “Nick Clark”
Alycia Debnam-Carey, “Alicia Clark”
Lorenzo James Henrie, “Christopher Manawa”
Ruben Blades, “Daniel Salazar”
Mercedes Mason, “Ofelia Salazar”
Colman Domingo, “Victor Strand”
Dave Erickson, Showrunner/Executive Producer/Co-Creator/Writer
Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer

Sunday, March 20

Power (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, “Kanan” & Executive Producer
Omari Hardwick, “James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick”
Lela Loren, “Angela Valdes”
Naturi Naughton, “Tasha St. Patrick”
Joseph Sikora, “Tommy Egan”
Courtney Kemp Agboh, Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer

Gonzalez to Star in Fox’s Untitled Music-Themed Pilot from “Empire” Co-Creator Lee Daniels

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Nicholas Gonzalez us ready to make a little music…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actor has been cast opposite Queen Latifah and Benjamin Bratt in Fox’s untitled pilot from Empire co-creator Lee Daniels (aka Star).

Co-written by Daniels and Tom Donaghy and directed by Daniels, the pilot follows three young women (Jude Demorest, Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady) who form a girl group with the hope of making waves in the music industry, and the choices they face along the way.

Gonzalez will play the abusive foster father of Simone (O’Grady), the younger sister of Star (Demorest).

Gonzalez recently wrapped work on the indie film Praying For Rain and had recurring roles on The CW’s Jane The Virgin and Amazon’s Bosch.

Carey In Talks to Voice Commissioner Gordon in “The Lego Batman Movie”

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey may be going Bat-ty…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer/actress is in talks to take on the role of Commissioner Gordon in The Lego Batman Movie, the spinoff of The Lego Movie from Warner Bros.

The studio is trying to keep everything under lock and key, but sources tell Deadline.com that Carey will join Ralph Fiennes (Alfred the Butler), Will Arnett (Batman), Michael Cera (Robin), Rosario Dawson (Batgirl) and Zach Galifianakis (The Joker).

Earlier this year, the Grammy-winning songstress aligned herself to a Christmas-themed movie pitch that New Line pre-emptively bought from RatPac Entertainment, writers David Diamond and David Weissman and producer Jon Shestack.

Carey will star in the yuletide themed pic., a natural for the woman who wrote and performed “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the insta-Christmas classic released in 1994 tune that has sold more than 14 million copies globally to become the biggest holiday perennial in recent memory and the biggest international hit of Carey’s career.

Her past screen credits include the Lee Daniels-directed Precious and the box office miss Glitter.

Carey to Receive Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is about to twinkle a little brighter in Hollywood…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, August 5, according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Following the news, Carey took to her Instagram account to share her excitement over the honor and to thank her fans for all their love and support over the years.

“Super excited and feeling so humbled about my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thank you so much to the fans for making this happen for me,” she captioned a photo of a mock-up star imprinted with her name.

Next week, Carey will be the 2,556th celebrity to receive a plaque on the walkway. Directors Lee Daniels and Brett Ratner and Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid are expected to speak about the “Without You” songstress during the ceremony.

Throughout her more than 25-year career in the music industry, Mariah — who has four-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with her estranged husband, Nick Cannon — has released 18 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has won five Grammys.

She’s currently performing in Las Vegas with a residency at Caesars Palace, which began on May 6.

Fox Gives Early Renewal to Smollett’s Hip-Hop Musical Drama “Empire”

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jussie Smollett will be in an Empire state of mind for another year…

Fox has given an early sophomore season renewal for the 31-year-old Brazilian actor/singer’s new drama series Empire.

The order for Empire was a no-brainer, as the show has performed extremely well for the network and made plenty of noise in social media.

The Imagine Television/20th Century Fox Television drama was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson lead the ensemble cast in the primetime sudser about a hip-hop music mogul.

Smollet portrays Jamal Lyon on Empire, which also features Rafael de la Fuente in a recurring role as Smollet’s love interest.

Smollet’s previous credits include appearances on Revenge, On Our Own and The Mindy Project.

Fox to Premiere “Empire,” Featuring de la Fuente, in January

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael de la Fuente is expanding his Hollywood empire…

Fox has announced plans to unveil its new drama series Empire, starring the 28-year-old Venezuelan actor and singer, on January 7, with limited commercial interruption, following the season premiere of American Idol.

Empire centers on Lucious Lyon (portrayed by Terrence Howard), a charismatic music superstar who is about to take his company Empire Entertainment public. Taraij P. Henson stars as Lucious’ ex-wife Cookie, and she’s still looking for a share of his success.

de la Fuente portrays Michael Sanchez on the series, which also stars Gabourey Sidibe and guest stars Courtney Love. Timbaland will serve as the song producer and songwriter, creating new tunes for the show and curating old ones.

Idol will air Wednesday, January 7 from 8:00 – 9:00 pm ET and Thursday, January 8 from 8:00 -10:00 pm ET.

Empire will debut that Wednesday from 9:00 – 10:00 pm ET.

The drama hails from Lee Daniels, Danny Strong and Brian Grazer. Empire is from Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television.

de la Fuente’s other television credits include Every With Way, Grachi, Aurora and Mas sabe el diablo.

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