Ana Ortiz to Star in ABC’s Action-Comedy Pilot “Whiskey Cavalier”

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Ortiz is getting a little cavalier…

The 47-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and former Ugly Betty and Devious Maids star has been cast opposite Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan in Whiskey Cavalier, ABC’s hourlong action-dramedy pilot from Bill Lawrence, Dave Hemingson and Warner Bros. Television.

Written by Hemingson, Whiskey Cavalier, from WBTV and Lawrence’s studio-based Doozer Prods., follows the adventures of FBI agent Will Chase (codename: Whiskey Cavalier) — played by Foley — who, following an emotional break-up, is assigned to work with quick, cunning and completely fearless CIA operative Francesca “Frankie” Trowbridge (codename: Fiery Tribune) — played by Cohan. Together, they lead an interagency team of spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance and office politics.

Ortiz will play Susan Sampson. Based out of the FBI’s New York office, Dr. Susan Sampson is the FBI’s top behavioral scientist — and Will’s (Foley) best friend. However, that doesn’t stop her from developing a fast friendship with Will’s rival (and future partner), Frankie (Cohan).

This marks Ortiz’s return to ABC where she co-starred on popular dramedy Ugly Betty for its four-season run and also starred in Devious Maids, which was developed and piloted by ABC before landing a series order at Lifetime.

Tanya Saracho Partnering with Big Beach for New Latinx Series, “Brujas”

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the witching hour for Tanya Saracho…

The Mexican playwright and television writer will serve as the showrunner for a new series titled Brujas, a show in development via Big Beach.

The series will follow four Afro-Caribbean/Latinx women in Chicago and series explore the relationships and community born out of the growing identification with the Bruja movement.

Brujas marks the continuing collaboration between Saracho and Big Beach. The new show will use the brujería counter-culture as a foundation. The brujería culture is a means for Latinx feminists to reconnect with their heritage through music, style, nightlife, and art. It’s a powerful return to indigenous practices and a reclamation of feminine strength. It’s also a headline-grabbing movement reflected from coast to coast by artists from Princess Nokia with her single “Brujas” to Beyonce’s opus of female empowerment, “Lemonade.”

Saracho is writing the series and will serve as executive producer alongside Big Beach’s Robin Schwartz, Peter Saraf, and Marc Turtletaub.

Saracho has written for Lifetime’s Devious Maids, HBO’s Girls and Looking, and ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder.

She was previously named Best New Playwright by Chicago Magazine, one of the 9 national “Luminarios” by Café Magazine and given the first “Revolucionario” award in theater by the National Museum of Mexican Art.

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.

Gisele Bündchen: Forbes’ Highest-Paid Latina Model

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

She may not top the list, but Gisele Bündchen is still on top…

After 15-years as the world’s highest-paid model, the 37-year-old Brazilian supermodel drops to No. 2 on Forbes’ yearly list of the highest-paid models, behind Kendall Jenner.

But Bündchen is still standing tall, as the high-ranking Latina on the list, with earnings totaling $17.5 million.

Despite retiring from the runway in 2015, she still makes millions from contracts, including a lucrative fragrance deal with Carolina Herrera, as well as campaigns for Arezzo shoes and Vivara jewelry in her native country.

Bündchen has appeared on more than 1,200 magazine covers in her two-decade career, and she earned more money than any other model between 2002 – 2016.

The only other Latina in the Top 10, Bündchen’s compatriot Adriana Lima.

The 36-year-old Brazilian supermodel, the longest-running Angel in Victoria’s Secret history, comes in at No. 4 with earnings of $10.5 million.

Lima first strutted her stuff for Victoria’s Secret in 2000. Her seniority earns her a supersized deal with the lingerie maker.

She’s also the face of Sportmax and Marc Jacobs fragrances, and she hosts the hair and makeup competition show American Beauty Star on Lifetime.

Alejandro Muñoz to Star in Lifetime’s “UnReal”

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s about to get (un)real for Alejandro Muñoz…

The Spanish actor has joined the cast of Lifetime’s UnReal for Season 4.

Set against the backdrop of the hit dating competition show Everlasting, UnReal is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), a young producer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with, and among, the contestants in order to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program’s dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Constance Zimmer), demands.

Muñoz will portray Rodrigo, a cocky, international soccer star and former suitor who will have all the girls vying for his affection.

UnReal Season 3 was originally set to set to debut this summer, but it will now premiere on February 26, 2018 at 10/9c.

No premiere date for Season 4 has been announced.

Muñoz’s credits include the Spanish television series El secreto de Puente Viejo and the TV movie Ein Sommer in Barcelona.

Tatyana Ali to Star in Lifetime’s Holiday Movie “Secret Santa”

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Tatyana Ali is getting into the Christmas spirit…

The 38-year-old half-Afro-Panamanian American actress and former The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star will star in the recently greenlit Lifetime holiday movie Secret Santa (working title).

Ali will star opposite Mindy Sterling, Dan Lauria and Brendan Fehr in the two-hour original movie, which is currently shooting in Salt Lake City, Utah for a premiere this winter.

The plot: Christmas is Hillary Nash’s (Ali) least favorite time of year. As the Senior Financial Analyst at the upscale Hudson Valley Outdoor Mall, she has to be the annual Christmas Grinch and cancel the leases of under-performing stores by the end of the year. One afternoon, her 8-year-old niece Molly, asks the mall Santa to help find a boyfriend for her beloved aunt. Unbeknownst to Molly, and Hillary, the mall Santa is just a substitute filling in and is actually Ryan McCue (Fehr), a lawyer-turned-artist who is decorating the mall for Christmas and trying to find his way after quitting his job and losing his fiancee. As Hillary and Ryan begin to fall for each other, they each don’t realize the other’s true identity: Hillary who is tasked with closing a failing gift wrap shop run by Ryan’s Aunt Patty and Ryan who is too ashamed to tell Hillary that he is the acting mall Santa.

The cast also includes Kim Fields and Jasmine Guy.

Sterling plays cheery Agnes, who along with her husband, played by Dan Lauria, run the mall cookie store, bringing a combination of sweetness, advice and answers to all.

Ali’s recent credits include television

Raul Mendez to Star in Lifetime’s Original Movie “Cocaine Godmother”

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Raul Mendez has landed a Godmother of a role…

The 42-year-old Mexican actor will star in Lifetime’s original movie Cocaine Godmother, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Directed by Guillermo Navarro, Cocaine Godmother is based on the life of Miami drug lord Griselda Blanco (Zeta-Jones), one the original “Cocaine Cowboys” who pioneered the drug trade between Colombia and the U.S. in the 70s and 80s.

Mendez will star as Dario, an associate of Pablo Escobar and Griselda’s third husband.

In addition to Mendez, the list of recent cast additions includes Jenny Pellicer (The Bridge) as Carolina, one of Griselda’s female lovers; Jose Julian (A Better Life) as Uber, Griselda’s second-oldest son (she had 4 boys); Juan Pablo Espinosa (La Fan) as Alberto, one of Griselda’s criminal associates, and her second husband; and Warren Christie (The Catch) as Jimmy, the DEA agent who hunted her down.

Blanco was living in Queens, NY, when she became embroiled with local drug runners. After moving to Miami to expand her empire, the death of her second husband gave rise to her nickname The Black Widow. She later moved to California, was deported to Colombia and was gunned down in 2012. In her lifetime, Griselda’s drug distribution network spanned across the United States and she was suspected of ordering over 200 murders.

The film will go into production this year and premiere in 2018 on Lifetime.

Mendez’s credits include major recurring roles on Narcos and Sense8.

Cocaine Godmother is produced by Asylum Entertainment for Lifetime.

Navarro (Pan’s Labrynth, Narcos) will direct from a script written by David McKenna (American History X).

Adriana Lima to Host New Competition Series “American Beauty Star”

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Adriana Lima is ready to take America by Star…

A+E Networks and Herrick Entertainment are joining forces on a new competition series, American Beauty Star, hosted by the 35-year-old Brazilian model, actress and Victoria’s Secret Angel, to air on Lifetime.

The series brings together 12 celebrity stylists and salon professionals to compete in a series of challenges, from creating high-end editorial looks to the most current glam creations for red carpets and runway shows. At the end of the season, only one contestant will be named American Beauty Star.

Celebrity stylist Sir John will mentor the contestants while former longtime Vogue Beauty director Sarah Brown will serve as a judge, alongside celebrity guests and beauty industry influencers.

Production begins in Los Angeles this June on 10 hourlong episodes.

“We are thrilled to be in partnership with A+E on the series, as it’s the perfect home for our highly engaging and entertaining beauty competition series,” said Executive Producer Norton Herrick of Herrick Entertainment. “Global sensation Adriana Lima will host alongside a slate of the highest-caliber names in beauty and lifestyle. The collection of talent and creativity makes the series a must-watch for beauty enthusiasts of all ages and interests.”

Martinez to Star in Fox’s Drama Pilot “Behind Enemy Lines”

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Benito Martinez is facing an Enemy…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor will star in Fox’s drama pilot Behind Enemy Lines, loosely based on the 2001 movie, in a recasting.

Written by Nikki Toscano and directed by McG, Behind Enemy Lines is described as a military soap thriller wherein a group of U.S. soldiers find themselves trapped behind enemy lines. It closely follows our soldiers on the ground and the officers and service men and women on a nearby aircraft carrier, along with intelligence officers in D.C. as they attempt to bring our heroes home safely and under the radar.

Martinez will play Mateo Rodriguez, a respected career Navy man and Executive Officer on the aircraft carrier USS Tyson. He replaces Nestor Carbonell, who originally was cast in the role. The decision was made after the Thursday table read, with the character getting slightly reconceived.

The pilot’s cast includes Marg Helgenberger, B.J. Britt, Gabriel Chavarria, Melia Kreiling, Colm Feore, Willa Fitzgerald and Dylan Bruno.

Martinez, an alum of The Shield, is doing a major arc on the current third season of ABC’s American Crime after co-starring in the first installment and guest starring in the second.

He’s finishing production on the Menendez Brothers movie for Lifetime. Martinez, who worked opposite Tom Cruise on the crime thriller American Made and had recurring roles on How to Get Away with Murder and The Blacklist.

Behind Enemy Lines hails from 20th Century Fox Television — whose feature sibling was behind the movie — studio-based Temple Hill and Davis Entertainment.

Ortiz to Star in ABC’s Comedy Pilot “Charlie Foxtrot”

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Ortiz is all about that base…

The 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has been cast as the female lead in ABC’s comedy pilot Charlie Foxtrot.

Hailing from writer Sam Sklaver, Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios, the project is set at Fort Bragg, an Army base in North Carolina.

It centers on Angelina Torres (Ortiz) and her two children, who live on the base. But, when Angelina loses her fiancé, Joe Taylor, killed in action in Iraq, it looks as though she’ll have to move. But Joe’s brother, Charlie Taylor (Jason Biggs), a dentist at the base, and usually a pushover, isn’t about to let that happen.

Torres’ Angelina is a well-meaning, fierce single mother-lion who believes in putting her kids first, even if that means crossing a few lines.

The casting of Ortiz, who starred in Devious Maids and Ugly Betty, stems from a talent deal ABC and ABC Studios signed with Ortiz immediately after Ortiz’s previous series, ABC Studios’ dramedy Devious Maids, ended its four-season run on Lifetime last summer. She decided on Charlie Foxtrot after being presented with several scripts.

This is Ortiz’s third consecutive pilot for ABC and ABC Studios, following the hourlong Ugly Betty and Devious Maids, both of which went to series, with the latter moving from ABC to Lifetime. Ortiz earned an ALMA Award and Imagen Award for her performance as Hilda on Ugly Betty.

Her television credits include appearances on How to Get Away with Murder, Revenge and Black-ish.

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