Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias to Lend Voice to Comedy Central’s Animated Series “Everybody Still Hates Chris”

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias still hates Chris…

The 48-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor will guest star on Chris Rock’s animated series Everybody Still Hates Chris. which will premiere on Comedy Central on September 25.

Iglesias is among a roster of guest voice actors that includes Ayo Edebiri, Sally Jessy Raphael, Busta Rhymes, Tisha Campbell, Sam Richardson and Bell Biv DeVoe members Ricky Bell, Michael L. Bivins, Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr.

Other guest actors include Jaylen Barron, Todd Bridges, Nicole Byer, Monét X Change, Eugene Cordero, Andy Daly, Loretta Devine, Earthquake, Ron Funches, Jaida Essence Hall, Jackée Harry, Phil Hendrie, Dave Herman, Thirstin’ Howl III, Rob Huebel, Phil Lamarr, Rack-Lo, Jessica Lowe, Vincent Martella, Laraine Newman, Gabrielle Nevaeh, Kevin Michael Richardson, Natasha Rothwell, Latrice Royale, Lindsey Stoddart, Cree Summer, Vanessa Vanjie and Jenny Yang.

Elsewhere, Paul Ben-Victor, Mike Estime, Antonio Fargas, Kevontay Jackson, Mikey Kelley, Jacqueline Mazarella, Paulina Singer and Ernest Thomas will be reprising their roles from the original, live-action series.

Everybody Still Hates Chris features Rock as Adult Chris, narrating stories inspired by his experience growing up as a skinny nerd in a large working-class family in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, during the late 1980s.

Terry Crews will voice his father Julius, a gentle giant with a relentless work ethic, and tightwad approach to life. He grew up dirt poor, so he knows the cost of everything down to the penny. He works two jobs to support the family, and on his days off, he takes on a third job.

Tichina Arnold will voice his mother Rochelle, who is smart, strong-willed, and has a nurturing spirit, but she can also be hot-headed, especially when it comes to her kids. She tolerates zero nonsense, so she quits more jobs in a month than most people do in a lifetime.

Tim Johnson Jr. voices Young Chris, Ozioma Akagha voices his baby sister Tonya, Terrence Little Gardenhigh voices his brother Drew and Gunnar Sizemore voices his friend Greg.

The series, which is based on Everybody Hates Chris, which ran for four seasons on UPN and The CW between 2005 and 2009, is produced by CBS Studios’ animation arm Eye Animation Productions and Chris Rock Enterprises.

Sanjay Shah is showrunner and executive produces alongside Rock, Everybody Hates Chris co-creator Ali LeRoi, Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina from Titmouse, which serves as the animation studio.

Starz Renews Psalms Salazar’s “P-Valley” for Third Season

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more Valley-time in Psalms Salazar’s future…

Starz has renewed P-Valley, featuring the part-Puerto Rican actress, has been renewed for a third season.

Similar to Season 2 of the Lionsgate-produced drama series, the third season will consist of 10 episodes.

Season 2 of the show debuted on Starz in June and wrapped up in August.

“P-Valley continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it captures the nuances of the Mississippi Delta with an unprecedented level of humanity and artistry,” said Kathryn Busby, president of original programming at Starz. “This layered drama gets beyond the glitz through authentic and complex characters that have captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. We cannot wait to see what Katori has in store for us in season three.”

P-Valley was created by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall, based on her play Pussy Valley. The show is set at The Pynk, a strip club in the Mississippi Delta, and follows the employees as they try to get by in the fictional town of Chucalissa.

In addition to Salazar, the series also stars Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Tyler Lepley, Jordan M. Cox, Skyler Joy, John Clarence Stewart, Miracle Watts, Shamika Cotton, Gail Bean, Loretta Devine, Thomas Q. Jones and Bertram Williams, Jr.

Per the official description for Season 2, “P-Valley revealed a whole new Pynk as it struggled to remain open during a pandemic, a battle for the throne, and the possibility of some new blood shaking up the locker room.”

“I am blessed beyond measure for this opportunity to write the next chapter of ‘P-Valley,’” Hall said. “With its complex, dynamic, and beautifully flawed characters, this show is a love letter to marginalized communities in the American South who rarely see themselves reflected on screen, and it brings me immense joy to know that it has been embraced by folx worldwide. We wouldn’t be getting back up on that pony, without our fiercely devoted Pynk Posse. Y’all are our fire. And special thanks to the fuel: everyone who laid hands on this show. From the writers and producers to the cast to the crew to the executives, this show is made with great love, grit and glitter. It’s gonna take us a Mississippi minute before we’re back on your screens again, but best believe it’ll be well worth the wait.”

Per Starz, P-Valley currently averages 10.3 million viewers per episode across all platforms. In addition to creating the series, Hall serves as executive producer and showrunner. Dante Di Loreto also executive produces. Lionsgate Television is the studio.

Shiela E. Joins Voice Cast of Disney Jr.’s Animated Preschool Series “Eureka!”

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Sheila E. is getting animated…

The 64-year-old half-Mexican American percussionist, singer and actress has joined the voice cast of Eureka!, Disney Jr.’s upcoming animated preschool series.

Sheila E. appears on a roster of new cast additions that includes Loretta Devine and Misty Copeland.

Also cast in recurring roles are Ellie Kemper, Jack McBrayer, Ryan Michelle Bathé and Wendell Pierce.

They join previously announced leads Ruth Righi, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lil Rel Howery and Javier Muñoz.

Set in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls, Eureka! follows the story of Eureka (Righi), a young girl inventor who is way ahead of her time. She designs inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era.

Goldsberry and Howery voice Eureka’s parents Roxy and Rolle, and Muñoz portrays her teacher.

Sheila E. and Copeland will voice the characters of Yurt, a traveling musician, and Rockanne, a dance teacher, respectively.

Rounding out the voice cast is Kai Zen as Pepper, Devin Trey Campbell as Barry, Fred Tatasciore as Murphy, Cree Summer as Verna, Kevin Michael Richardson as Dima, Aydrea Walden as Olive and Groopy, Connor Andrade as Bog,

Also cast in recurring roles are Ellie Kemper, Jack McBrayer, Ryan Michelle Bathé and Wendell Pierce.

Eureka! is produced by Oscar-nominated animation studio Brown Bag Films (Doc McStuffins) in association with Disney Junior. Emmy winner Norton Virgien and award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Niamh Sharkey are the series’ creators and executive producers. Emmy-nominated Erica Rothschild \developed the series with Virgien and Sharkey and serves as co-executive producer and story editor. Film and television writer and director Rusty Cundieff and Emmy-nominated television producer Donna Brown Guillaume are consulting producers.

Christiana “Chee” McGuigan, a science educator who has worked at the California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, serves as the series’ science education consultant. Biomedical scientist, social entrepreneur and former senior policy advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. Knatokie Ford, advised on the original series development. Engineering experts from Disney’s Imagineering team advised on the early development of Eureka‘s inventions.

The series is set to premiere Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 pm EDT/PDT on Disney Junior. An initial batch of episodes will also premiere the same day on on-demand platforms and streaming on Disney+.

UMC & RLJE Films to Release Rocsi Diaz’s Indie Drama “Always and Forever” in November

Posted on October 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rocsi Diaz has found her always and forever home…

UMC and RLJE Films are partnering for the release of the indie drama Always and Forever, starring the 38-year-old Honduran and Chilean actress and television/radio personality.

In addition to Diaz, the film also stars Lauren London, Loretta Devine, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robbie Jones and Wood Harris.

Directed by Chris Stokes, the film will get a day and date release in limited theaters and on VOD platforms on November 20 then UMC will exclusively stream the film beginning in early 2021.

The plot follows Nicole (Addai-Robinson), who seems to have it all – a great job, an adoring husband (Jones) – but her perfect world is shattered when her childhood friend is suddenly found dead. The tragedy reunites Nicole with her best friends from years ago, but they each soon find themselves in danger, targets of a deranged stalker. As the secrets of their past come back to haunt them, they’ll soon realize that a deadly nightmare is just beginning for those who long ago pledged their loyalty to each other, “always and forever.”

Patrick Johnson Jr., Marques Houston, Jerome Jones, Jarrell Houston, Shondrella Avery, and Alana Brown produced the film in association with Footage Films and Novus Content.

“Last year, UMC began testing the waters of the theatrical game with the release of Master P’s I Got the Hook-Up 2 to great success,” said Brett Dismuke, Chief Content Officer of UMC. “While a lot has changed in our industry over the last few months of the pandemic, we’re excited to continue developing our film distribution efforts with Always and Forever – a star-studded, jaw-dropping thriller that is sure to have audiences at the edge of their seats.”

Diaz, who was a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight during 2012–2014, previously appeared in the films Gangs of Roses 2: Next Generation, Soul Ties and The Last Letter.

Tony Plana to Star in the Indie Comedy “Headshop”

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Tony Plana is going independent…

The 64-year-old Cuban actor and former Ugly Betty star has been cast in the upcoming indie comedy Headshop, directed by Kim Bass.

Plana will co-star opposite Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Deon Cole, Michael Jai White, Reno Wilson, Marla Gibbs, Kris Marshall, Donis Leonard Jr., and Claudia Zevallos round out the cast of the film, which is currently shooting in Los Angles.

Written by Bass, the film follows therapist Dr. Latrice Monroe who, after a devastating loss, tries to reconnect to her roots by opening her new office in a neighborhood that’s very resistant to her services. As her new neighbors slowly open up, they inadvertently teach her the true meaning of community.

Plana’s previous credits include the television shows Jane the Virgin, Alpha House, Desperate Housewives and Colony.

Austin Lending His Voice to 3D Animated Film “Khumba”

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jake T. Austin is about to get animated again…

The 18-year-old Latino actor of Puerto Rican, Argentine and Spanish descent, who served as the voice of Diego on the animated educational series Dora the Explorer and it’s spin-off Go, Diego, Go!, has joined the cast of Khumba.

The South Africa-based 3D animated feature centers on a plucky half-striped zebra blamed for a drought by his superstitious herd who meets a wacky group of characters as he goes on a journey to earn his full stripes.

In addition to Austin, who will be starring opposite Cierra Ramirez in ABC Family’s new drama series The Fosters this summer, the voice cast includes Laurence Fishburne, Liam Neeson, AnnaSophia Robb, Loretta Devine and Richard E. Grant.

Raffaella Delle Donne and Anthony Silverston wrote the story in consultation with Lion King co-writer Jonathan Roberts.

Silverston directed the film, which is in post-production. Khumba should be released in the U.S. later this year.

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