Ralph Barbosa Signs Deal for a New Stand-Up Comedy Special with Hulu

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a new Hulu-va comedy special in Ralph Barbosa’s future.

The 28-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian is the latest to ink a deal for a new special with Hulu.

Barbosa joins Hacks scribe Joe Mande amidst the streamer’s aggressive expansion into the stand-up space.

Barbosa’s currently untitled special will launch domestically on Hulu and Disney+ internationally at a date not yet disclosed. No other details were provided.

Barbosa is coming off of the Netflix special Ralph Barbosa: Cowabunga, which spent two weeks on the streamer’s Top 10 chart in the fall of 2023, debuting at #3.

Previously teaming with Gwen La Roka on the Max comedy special, Entre Nos: The Winners 3, he’s also put out a set for the digital series Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring, which has topped 5.7 million views on YouTube, and unveiled a Don’t Tell Comedy performance, which now has over 6.1 million views on the same platform.

Known for his disarming and laid-back style, Barbosa has been touring North American theaters this year with his Super Cool Ass Tour. He is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment and UTA.

Hulu’s new stand-up brand, Hularious, launches on November 22 with The Skinny, the latest special from Jim Gaffigan. Other previously announced comedians bringing new specials to Hulu under the Hularious banner include Bill Burr, Chris Distefano, Ilana Glazer, Sebastian Maniscalco, Andrew Santino, and Roy Wood Jr., to name a few.

As part of its new comedy initiative, Hulu is also launching a curated collection of licensed stand-up specials ranging from iconic comedy specials to recent releases from 800 Pound Gorilla and Comedy Dynamics, among others.

Francisco Ramos Releases Debut Comedy Special “Venezuela’Merican” on YouTube

Posted on July 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Francisco Ramos’ debut comedy special online is …

The Venezuelan stand-up comedian, known for his unique perspective on the immigrant experience, has posted his debut comedy special Venezuela’Merican on YouTube via 800 Pound Gorilla.

No logline was provided for the special, filmed in Las Vegas at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club inside the MGM Grand.

Produced by Garrett, Ed Conover and 800 Pound Gorilla Records, Ramos’ special was directed by Michael Malone.

“I’m beyond thrilled for everyone to finally see the special(ito) we’ve been cooking up!” said Ramos in a statement to Deadline. “Huge shoutout to Brad Garrett for producing it and to the fantastic team at 800 Pound Gorilla for their incredible support. Now, fingers crossed for 1 million views—because that’s the magic number that might finally make my mom stop asking, “When are you getting a real job?””

Ramos’ special comes following the release of his comedy album, Vayalo!. Working as a comic over the course of the last decade, his credits include reaching the Top 10 on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, appearing in Max’s Entre Nos comedy specials, and providing voice work for the animated movie Rio.

He’s also made guest appearances on popular television shows like Shameless, Lady Dynamite, Gentefied and This Fool.

Later this year, Ramos will be seen in his first feature role in The Unexpecteds, an action comedy starring Veep‘s Matt Walsh.

Sony Pictures Television Extends’s Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz’s Overall Development Deal

Posted on June 22, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz is getting an extension…

Sony Pictures Television has extended the Latina comedy writer and showrunner’s overall deal, per Deadline.

Under the new two-year pact, Muñoz-Liebowitz will continue to develop scripted comedy series across cable and streaming as well as the possibility of exploring a drama, which is where she began her career.

Most recently, she served as showrunner of The Gordita Chronicles, created by Claudia Forestieri, which is currently streaming on Hulu and Tubi.

Before that, she was co-executive producer of the critically acclaimed comedy One Day at a Time for Sony Pictures Television and co-executive producer on the Max comedy anthology series Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick and William Jackson Harper.

She recently wrote and directed the short film Some of US Watch The Sunset, Too.

Muñoz-Liebowitz started her career as a writer on the Fox/NBC series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Her other TV credits include co-executive producer on the Disney+ comedy Diary of a Future President for CBS Studios, supervising producer on the NBC comedy Abby’s for Universal Television, and supervising producer on TBS’ People of Earth with Greg Daniels and Warner Horizon. She has also developed for Hulu with Berlanti Prods./WBTV and CBS/CBS Studios.

Muñoz-Liebowitz is a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and has a Masters in Producing from Columbia University School of the Arts. At Columbia, she developed and produced the short film Cigarette Candy, which won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW.

Matt Lopez to Serve as Executive Producer & Showrunner of CBS’ “Sheriff Country”

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Matt Lopez has gone country…

The Latino television writer and producer has joined CBS’ recently picked up drama series Sheriff County as executive producer and showrunner.

The Fire Country spinoff, headlined by Morena Baccarin, is slated to debut during the 2025-26 season, with a writers room expected to open in late summer.

Sheriff Country was introduced when Baccarin guest starred in an April episode of the mothership series.

Like the Fire Country pilot, the planted spinoff was written by Joan Rater and Tony Phelan from a story the duo co-wrote with series’ star Max Thieriot, whose real-life experiences inspired Fire Country.

Thieriot also directed the backdoor pilot episode.

The offshoot also is following Fire Country‘s leadership pattern.

While Grey’s Anatomy alums Rater and Phelan are executive producers and a writers room fixtures on the mothership series, Tia Napolitano was brought in as day-to-day showrunner. Lopez is taking on the duties for Sheriff Country. He was already in negotiations when CBS in May announced a series pickup for the spinoff.

Sheriff Country stars Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country), who investigates criminal activity as she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater.

The series, from CBS Studios, is executive produced by Thieriot, Phelan, Rater, Lopez as well as Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed for Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

Lopez created, executive produced and served as showrunner of ABC’s 2022 family drama series Promised Land.

His feature writing credits include Max’s top-rated original Father of the Bride, from Warner Bros., and several Disney movies, including The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Lopez is a former entertainment lawyer and DreamWorks business affairs executive.

Ruby Cruz to Appear on Season Three of Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls”

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ruby Cruz is heading to college…

The 24-year-old Mexican American actress has joined the cast for the upcoming third season of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Cruz, who most recently starred in Bottoms, is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Devin Craig, Michael Provost and Roby Attal.

All four will recur as students at Essex College.

Created by Kaling and Noble, Max‘s The Sex Lives of College Girls follows four college roommates in their first year at New England’s prestigious Essex College. Season 2 picked up with the students returning after their fall break, tackling the challenges that were thrown their way at the end of Season 1, while also facing their next semester filled with new faces, parties and predicaments.

Returning series regulars for Season 3 are Pauline Chalamet, lyah Chanelle Scott, Amrit Kaur, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Paulino and Renika Williams.

Reneé Rapp has exited the series as a regular for the upcoming season. She’ll reportedly appear in a handful of episodes and will depart after those episodes. Craig, Cruz, Provost and Attal join a recurring cast for Season 3 that includes Rebecca Wisocky, Nabeel Muscatwalla and Michael Hsu Rosen.

The series is executive produced by Kaling, Noble, who serves as showrunner, and Howard Klein. Kaling International and 3 Arts Entertainment produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Cruz was most recently seen as one of the young stars in Orion’s critical darling Bottoms opposite Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri.

On the television side, Cruz co-starred in Disney+ series Willow as Princess Kit.

She’ll next be seen in indie feature The Threesome, opposite Jonah Hauer King and Zoey Deutch.

Eva Longoria to Host CNN’s Latest “Searching for” Series, “Searching for Spain”

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is sill searching…

The 49-year-old Mexican American actress, producer, director and business woman is returning to CNN for a revival of the Searching For franchise, with the latest installment focused on Spain.

Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain was announced during the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront in New York, with plans for a premiere in 2025.

Per CNN, the series will feature “a gastronomic pilgrimage across the rich tapestry of Spanish cuisine.” Longoria “will enjoy some of Spain’s most iconic traditional dishes and explore how innovative Spanish cuisine is propelling the future of fine dining.”

Longoria previously partnered with CNN on Searching for Mexico. The series order is a signal that the network, after announcing a cutback in original series and films from outside suppliers, is returning to an emphasis on such longform projects under new CEO Mark Thompson.

Searching for Spain comes from Hyphenate Media Group.

Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez and Shauna Minoprio are executive producers for Hyphenate Media Group. Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm are the executive producers for CNN Original Series. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution of the series.

Episodes of Searching for Mexico are available on Max.

Johnny Sibilly Guest-Starring on ABC’s “Station 19”

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Johnny Sibilly is ready to respond…

The 36-year-old Cuban & Dominican American actor and producer has landed a guest-starring role on ABC‘s Station 19.

In multiple episodes of the seventh and final season, Sibilly will play Dominic, a recently single, charming, charismatic EMS firefighter whose calming nature puts people in crisis at ease.

His debut airs Thursday, April 11 starting at 10:00 pm EDT in the fifth episode of the season titled “My Way” following Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz) as she fearlessly leads her team during a life-or-death emergency at Seattle’s most beloved landmark.

Additionally, Vic (Barrett Doss) struggles with emotional burnout and Maya (Danielle Savre) helps Carina (Stefania Spampinato) navigate some difficult news.

Station 19, created by Stacy McKee, is set in Seattle and focuses on the lives of the men and women at Seattle Fire Station 19.

The series also stars Jason George, Grey Damon, Jay Hayden, Boris Kodjoe, Carlos Miranda, Josh Randall and Merle Dandridge.

McGee executive produces alongside Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. The series is produced by Shondaland and ABC Signature.

This season kicked off with two new showrunners: Zoanne Clack and Peter Paige.

Sibilly was most recently seen as a series regular on Peacock’s Queer As Folk and as ‘Wilson the water cop’ in the Emmy Award-winning comedy series Hacks on Max. He also played Costas Perez in the groundbreaking drama Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals; as well as Season 2 of the web series Liza On Demand.

In addition to his work in television, Sibilly is a fervent advocate for LGBTQ+ and Latinx rights.

Frankie Quiñones Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Frankie Quiñones has new representation…

The 40-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian and actor has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA) for for representation in all areas.

Quiñones is perhaps best known for starring as Luis, former gang member turned Hugs Not Thugs program participant, on Hulu’s critically acclaimed series This Fool, having been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the Independent Spirit Awards last year.

He also has a recurring role on FX’s acclaimed vampire comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, as well as Fired on Mars and Victor & Valentino on Max.

His additional acting credits include Mr. Mayor (NBC), Feliz Navidad (Lifetime), The Dress Up Gang (TBS), Papi Chulo (Blue Fox Entertainment) and AMC’s spin-off miniseries The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, to name a few.

Most recently, Quiñones wrapped a pilot for his own sketch show at Hulu titled Get Frankie, with more details forthcoming.

Launched in 2021, his podcast The Frankie Quiñones Show, produced by Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network and iHeart Radio, features sketches of colorful characters based on the friends and family that helped shape him into the comedian he is today.

Taylor Zakhar Perez Signs with Paradigm

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Taylor Zakhar Perez has new representation…

The 32-year-old part-Mexican American actor and breakout star of Amazon’s hit rom-com Red, White & Royal Blue, has signed with Paradigm for representation.

In the film from director Matthew Lopez, which adapts the New York Times bestselling novel from Casey McQuiston, Perez plays Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of the American President (Uma Thurman), whose feud with a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine) threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. Subsequently, the pair are forced into a staged truce that sparks something deeper.

Produced by Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schecter, the film premiered in August 2023 and became the No. 1 movie globally on Prime Video in its premiere weekend, remaining the platform’s most-watched film worldwide for the first three weeks after its release.

Touted by Amazon as spurring “a huge surge in new Prime membership signups,” the film is also now among Prime Video’s top three most-watched romantic comedies of all time.

Previously, Perez caught attention when he joined Netflix’s hugely popular YA film series The Kissing Booth, based on the novels by Beth Reekles, for its second and third installments. Additionally, he was featured in the first season of Max’s critically acclaimed series Minx, opposite Ophelia Lovibond, as well as Buzzfeed Studios’ 1UP, available on Prime Video.

He was recently named a SAG Awards Ambassador for the 30th annual SAG Awards, an appointment given to actors exemplifying the utmost values of the profession,

Tubi Acquires Rights to Olivia Goncalves’ Former Max Series “Gordita Chronicles”

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Olivia Goncalves is preparing for a tubi-ular time…

The Max original Gordita Chronicles, starring the Latina actress, is getting a second life on Tubi after the company acquired the rights to Season 1 and will be the exclusive AVOD home of the comedy.

All 10 episodes of the single-cam series will be available on March 29 at 7:30 a.m. PT.

Created by Claudia Forestieri based on her real-life childhood experiences, Gordita Chronicles is about family, opportunity, love, resilience and boldly defying the status quo in pursuit of the “American Dream.”

It tells the story of Cucu “Gordita” Castelli (Goncalves), who has just said goodbye to all of her friends and family in Santo Domingo and moved to Miami with her marketing executive father Víctor (Juan Javier Cardenas), bold and vivacious mother Adela (Diana-Maria Riva) and status-obsessed older sister Emilia (Savannah Nicole Ruiz). While life in America is far from what they imagined, the Castellis are determined to take charge of their strange new world.

Additionally, Dascha Polanco voiced adult Cucu.

The series also boasted a list of executive producers with big names from Latino Hollywood like Eva Longoria, who also directed the pilot, and Zoe Saladana alongside her sisters/producing partners, Cisely and Mariel Saldana. Additional EPs are Josh Berman, Jennifer Robinson and Christopher King.

Gordita Chronicles was one of the only series showing an authentic representation of a Latino family living in the U.S. Max canceled the series last summer as the streamer decided to pull back on live-action kids and family programming following WarnerMedia’s acquisition by Discovery. The show’s studio Sony Pictures Television was also behind the series One Day at a Time—also a show about a Latino family— developed by Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce, which found a second and third life at PopTV and CBS following Netflix’s cancellation after three seasons.

“Thanks to the tireless folks at Sony and my favorite new streamer Tubi, Gordita lives! Beyond happy to give the shows’ fans another chance to view our episodes and looking forward to sharing them with a new audience, too,” Forestieri, who also served as co-showrunner, writer and Executive producer, tells Deadline in an exclusive statement.

Adds co-showrunner and executive producer Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz, “We’re so thrilled that Gordita Chronicles now has a home at Tubi. This is a huge win for comedy, for underrepresented audiences, and for fans who have been relentless in their support of the show. It gives me hope that all the stories and incredible creative work we lost in the streaming purge can continue to live on.”

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