Carla Jimenez Starring in Hulu’s Horror Comedy “Carved”

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Carla Jimenez is carving out another scene-stealing role…

The 50-year-old Latina character actress is starring in Carved, a horror comedy starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee and produced for Hulu Originals by WorthenBrooks (formerly 20th Digital Studio).

The film will premiere exclusively on Hulu later this year.

Directed by up-and-comer Justin Harding, from his script written with Cheryl Meyer, Carved is based on the 2018 short of the same name, written and directed by Harding for Hulu’s Bite Size Halloween.

The story is about a heartbroken teenage playwright, her younger brother, and a group of survivors who become trapped in a historical reenactment village on Halloween night and must band together to survive a relentless attack by a sentient and vengeful pumpkin.

Others in the cast include Corey Fogelmanis (Ma), Wyatt Lindner (Titans), Sasha Mason (Ozark), Jonah Lees (The Phantom of the Open), DJ Qualls (The New Guy), Marc Sully Saint-Fleur (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Elvis Nolasco (Godfather of Harlem), Matty Cardarople (Stranger Things), Jackson Kelly (Chucky), and Chris Elliott (Schitt’s Creek).

Part of WorthenBrooks’ first-look horror slate with Hulu Originals, the film was developed by WorthenBrooks, with David Brooks, Debbie Liebling, Arbi Pedrossian and Jenna Cavelle serving as producers.

Jimenez’s previous roles include Lincoln Heights, Nacho Libre, Lady in the Water, Accepted, My Name Is Earl and Little Britain USA.

Carla Jimenez to Star Opposite Dean Cain in the Family Sports Comedy “Little Angels”

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Carla Jimenez is a little happy…

The 47-year-old Mexican American actress will star opposite Dean Cain in the family sports comedy Little Angels.

Cain, best known for his starring role in Supergirl, will also direct the film, which he wrote.

Helena Mattsson, Torrance Coombs, Juliet Donenfeld, Alex Jayne Go and Ryan O’Quinn will also star opposite Cain in his directorial debut, which is currently in production in Los Angeles.

Little Angels revolves around Jake Rogers (Cain), a Division I college football coach at the top of his game who uses a female placekicker as a publicity stunt. When the player misses a field goal, the coach makes an offhand comment in the media about female athletes and is immediately suspended by the university. In an effort to get his job back, Rogers must coach a 12-year-old girls soccer team for the remainder of the season.

Jimenez’s previous credits include My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and Little Britain USA. Her other credits include Nacho Libre, Lady in the Water, and Accepted.

Shakira Barrera to Star in Greg Garcia’s IMDb TV Comedy “Sprung”

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira Barrera has sprung…

The Nicaraguan-American actress/dancer and former GLOW star has joined the cast of Sprung, IMDb TV’s new single-camera comedy from My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and The Guest Book creator Greg Garcia, 3 Arts and Amazon Studios.

Barrera joins a list of new cast additions that includes James Earl and newcomer Clare Gillies.

Barrera, Earl and Gillies join previous cast Garret Dillahunt, Illeana Douglas and Philip Garcia in the project, which follows an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good,

Sprung follows Jack (Dillahunt), a convicted criminal who is determined to change course and reclaim his lost years after serving more than two decades in prison. With no place to live post-release, and a global pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, Jack moves in with his former cellmate Rooster (Garcia), Rooster’s mom Barb (Douglas) and Jack’s former prison girlfriend Gloria. Bound by their marred past and unusual living circumstances, they decide to start righting some of society’s wrongs, targeting those people selfishly taking advantage of others during the pandemic.

Barrera will play Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age.

Outside of acting, Barrera serves as a goodwill ambassador for organizations that specialize in humanitarian aid in Nicaragua.

Phillip Garcia to Star in Greg Garcia’s IMDb TV Comedy Series “Sprung”

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Phillip Garcia is getting sprung…

IMDb TV, Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming service, has given a formal series green light to Sprung, starring the Latino actor.

The single-camera comedy hails from My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and The Guest Book creator Greg Garcia, 3 Arts and Amazon Studios.

Sprung, centered on an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good, will also star Garret Dillahunt and Illeana Douglas.

Sprung follows Jack (Dillahunt), a convicted criminal who is determined to change course and reclaim his lost years after serving more than two decades in prison. With no place to live post-release, and a global pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, Jack moves in with his former cellmate Rooster (Phillip Garcia), Rooster’s mom Barb (Douglas), and Jack’s former prison girlfriend Gloria. Bound by their marred past and unusual living circumstances, they decide to start righting some of society’s wrongs, targeting those people selfishly taking advantage of others during the pandemic.

“I couldn’t be more excited to start working with this talented cast and I’m very grateful to 3 Arts, Amazon Studios and IMDb TV for helping me bring this idea to life,” said Garcia. “The support and creative partnership with the folks at IMDb TV has been amazing and working with Garret Dillahunt again is an absolute treat. With any luck we’ll create something entertaining that gives the audience a few laughs and makes their day a little brighter.”

In conjunction with the pickup of Sprung, Garcia’s Emmy-winning NBC series My Name is Earl will join the IMDb TV library on May 1.

“I’m so proud of this show. Greg Garcia is one of the most talented people I know, and I feel so lucky to be working with him again,” said Dillahunt. “The world really needs a good laugh – and we’ve been working hard to that end.”

Phillip Garcia had notable guest starring roles in Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T. and Station 19.

Nadine Velazquez to Star in ABC’s Pilot “Queens”

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Nadine Velazquez is hoping to become television royalty…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star opposite Brandy, Eve and Naturi Naughton in ABC’s hour-long pilot Queens, from Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and ABC Signature.

In Queens, written by McGhee and directed by Tim Story, four estranged and out-of-touch women in their 40s — Naomi (Brandy), Jill (Naughton), Brianna (Eve) and Valeria (Velazquez) — reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches – their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.

Velazquez plays Valeria, aka Butter Pecan. Better known in the 90s as Puerto Rican rapper, Butter Pecan, Valeria is the fourth member of the hip-hop group, the Nasty Bitches. Valeria wasn’t an original member, added by the groups’ manager, Eric, for her effortless star quality. It worked. The ladies catapulted into superstardom with a number-one record and iconic video. Valeria quickly became the face of the group, ruffling the other members’ feathers along the way. But she could care less. She’s not here for friends, she’s here to win. Valeria is an ambitious and ruthless hustler with cunning charm born out of a difficult childhood. When we catch up with her twenty years later, she’s the only member of the group still in the limelight. Valeria hosts The Shade — America’s top-rated morning talk show. So, Valeria has no reason to reunite with the group when the opportunity arises. However, when her blind ambition trips her up, Valeria considers turning back to the only family she’s ever had: the Nasty Bitches.

Pepi Sonuga co-stars in the pilot. ABC Signature, part of Disney Television Studios, is the studio.

Velazquez wrote and is set to star/produce La’Tina, a series in the works at Showtime from Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Frankie Shaw’s Our Lady Productions.

She’s best known for her breakout lead role as Catalina on NBC’s My Name Is Earl. She co-starred in the History series Six and in Universal’s Ride Along 2.

Her series credits also include major roles on FX’s The League, the CW’s Hart of Dixie and TNT’s Major Crimes.

Ortiz to Guest Star on TBS’ “The Guest Book”

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz has signed in…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor will guest star on TBS’ The Guest Book, the new 10-episode comedy series from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia.

The Guest Book emerged from Garcia’s habit of writing fictitious stories in the guest books of various rental cabins in an effort to freak out the next renters. Now he is bringing some of those stories to life on screen centering on the vacation home Froggy Cottage and its visitors. While the house and cast of characters living in this small mountain town remain the same, each episode will feature a different set of vacationing guests.

The anthology-style show, written by Garcia and executive produced by him and Alix Jaffe, will premiere in August.

It will star Kellie Martin (Army Wives), Charlie Robinson (Hart of Dixie), Aloma Wright (Suits), Carly Jibson (Broadway’s Hairspray), Lou Wilson (Tween Fest), Garret Dillahunt (The Mindy Project), Laura Bell Bundy (Scream Queens) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl).

Martin will play Officer Kimberly Leahy, who serves on the police force in the small mountain town of Mount Trace. Robinson is Wilfrid, an easygoing, friendly gentleman who manages a group of mountain rental cottages with his wife, Emma, played by recurring guest star Wright. Jibson is Vivian, a tough, strong-willed woman who runs a bikini bar called Chubbys with her stepson Frank, played by Wilson.

In addition to Ortiz, other guest stars include Danny Pudi (Community), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the new Black), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Michael Rapaport (Sully), Kate Micucci (Raising Hope), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Stockard Channing (The Good Wife), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), David Zayas (Gotham), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Margo Martindale (The Good Wife) and Stephnie Weir (The Comedians).

Principal Photography Ends on Santiago’s Dark Comedy “Trash Fire”

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a wrap on Ray Santiago’s latest project…

Principal photography has officially ended on the dark comedy Trash Fire, featuring the 31-year-old Latino actor.

From writer-director Richard Bates Jr., the film stars Adrian Grenier (Entourage) and Angela Trimbur.

The film is a comedy take on psychological thrillers, focusing on a man forced to confront his past when he and his girlfriend end up entangled in a web of lies, deceit and murder.

It also stars Fionnula Flanagan, AnnaLynne McCord, Matthew Gray Gubler, Sally Kirkland, Ezra Buzzington and Molly McCook.

Filming took place in Los Angeles.

Santiago’s previous projects include television appearances on My Name is Earl, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order: LA and Dexter.

Garcia Developing Two New Comedy Projects for CBS

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia has two chances to return to CBS…

The 45-year-old Mexican American television director, producer and writer has partnered with two writers who worked on his most recent series, CBS’ The Millers — Stephnie Weir and Bobby Bowman — for two new comedy projects at the network through CBS Television Studios, where Garcia’s company Amigos de Garcia Productions is based.

The untitled Weir multi-camera comedy, also known as Y’all in the Family, is set in Texas and centers on a conservative, small town family forced to reconcile their family values when they discover their children’s lives are less than perfect.

Weir will write the script and executive produce with Garcia. She served as a consulting producer on The Millers.

Meanwhile, How To Speak American, written by Bowman, is a hybrid comedy about a coddled millennial who teaches ESL to a variety of immigrants, who in turn, teach him about grit, courage and hustle.

Bowman and Garcia will executive produce. Bowman has a long history with Garcia. He has worked as co-executive producer/executive producer on all of Garcia’s series, Yes, Dear and The Millers on CBS, My Name Is Earl on NBC and Raising Hope on Fox.

Garcia won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2006 for penning the pilot episode of My Name is Earl.

Velazquez to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “Love Is A Four Letter Word”

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Nadine Velazquez is ready for Love…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actress has landed a lead role on NBC’s drama pilot Love Is A Four Letter Word.

From playwright-television writer Diana Son, 20th Century Television and Fabrik, the project chronicles the collision of race, sexuality and gender roles when three diverse couples put modern marriage to the test.

Velazquez will portray Rebecca, a Cuban American woman who is deeply in love with Julie and very happy with their marriage, but doesn’t realize her wife is actively considering getting back together with her ex, Nick.

Velazquez, who rose to acclaim on My Name Is Earl, recently reprised her recurring roles on Major Crimes and The League.

She recently wrapped a starring role opposite Shemar Moore in The Bounce Back.

She’s currently filming the Harold Kloser–Mario Sorrenti feature Discarnate.

Santiago Joins Cast of Starz’s Series “Ash vs. Evil Dead”

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Things are about to get downright evil for Ray Santiago…

The 30-year-old Latino actor has been cast opposite Dana DeLorenzo and Bruce Campbell in Starz’s 10-episode series Ash vs. Evil Dead, the follow-up to the cult film franchise.

In it, Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons – personal and literal.

Santiago, who appeared in Meet the Fockers, will play Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick – a Sancho Panza to Ash’s Don Quixote. Pablo believes in Ash’s heroism even if Ash himself doesn’t.

The series is set to film on location in New Zealand this spring for a premiere on Starz in late 2015.

Santiago’s other credits include appearances on My Name is Earl, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order: LA and Dexter.

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