Rosario Dawson Earns Two Black Reel TV Awards Nominations

Rosario Dawson is reeling in the recognition…

The Black Reel TV Awards nominations have been revealed, with the 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist earning two nods.

Rosario DawsonDawson is nominated in the Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series category for her performance in HBO Max’s limited series DMZ.

She is also nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series category for her performance in Hulu’s limited series Dopesick.

Colman Domingo is nominated in the Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series category.

The 52-year-old Guatemalan American actor earned the callout for his work on HBO’s Euphoria.

 

Nadine Velazquez and Kasseem Swizz Beatz Dean earned a nod in the Outstanding Original Song category for their single “Nasty Girls,” from the ABC series Queens.

Velazquez, a  Puerto Rican actress/singer, earned the nod as a performer, while Swizz Beatz, a half-Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur, co-wrote the single.

Latina music supervisor Mary Ramos earned a nod in the Outstanding Music Supervision category for her work on the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

The Black Reel Awards annually recognize the excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora, in the global film and television industry.

“This is a big transitional year for Black television,” said Black Reel Awards founder Tim Gordon. “With the conclusion of perennial Black Reel favorites like This Is Us, Insecure and Black-ish and more, it is wonderful to see that there are so many new shows, new stories and outlets willing to add these refreshing and new stories to their programming.”

Here’s a look at the nominees:

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” | Quinta Brunson, showrunner (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” | Stephen Glover, showrunner (FX)
  • “Black-ish” | Courtney Lilly, showrunner (ABC)
  • “Insecure” | Prentice Penny, showrunner (HBO)
  • “South Side” | Bashir Salahuddin & Diallo Riddle, showrunners (HBO Max)

Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series

  • Anthony Anderson | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Don Cheadle | “Black Monday” (Showtime)
  • Donald Glover | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Keegan-Michael Key | “Schmigadoon!” (Apple TV+)
  • Lamorne Morris | “Woke” (HULU)

Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series

  • Quinta Brunson | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Regina Hall | “Black Monday” (Showtime)
  • Issa Rae | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Robin Thede | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

  • Jay Ellis | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Brian Tyree Henry | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Dulé Hill | “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
  • LaKeith Stanfield | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Tyler James Williams | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series

  • Zazie Beetz | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Janelle James | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Yvonne Orji | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Natasha Rothwell | “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” (“Ava v. The Superintendent”) | Matthew A. Cherry, director (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” (“Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga”) | Donald Glover, director (FX)
  • “Atlanta” (“Tarrare”) | Donald Glover, director (FX)
  • “The Flight Attendant” (“Drowning Women”) | Pete Chatmon, director (HBO Max)
  • The Wonder Years (“Love & War”) | Numa Perrier, director (ABC)

Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” (“Pilot”) | Quinta Brunson, writer (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” (“Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga”) | Donald Glover, writer (FX)
  • “Atlanta” (“Three Slaps”) | Stephen Glover, writer (FX)
  • “Insecure” (“Out, Okay?”) | Issa Rae, writer (HBO)
  • “Ted Lasso” (“Do the Right-est Thing”) | Ashley Nicole Black, writer (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series

  • Reggie Hayes | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Lil Rel Howery | “South Side” (HBO Max)
  • Orlando Jones | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Sam Richardson | “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+)
  • Kofi Siriboe | “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series

  • Quinta Brunson | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
  • Lizzo | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
  • Michelle Obama | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Adriyan Rae | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Da’Vine Joy Randolph | “Only Murders in the Building” (HULU)

DRAMA

Outstanding Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” | Morgan Cooper, showrunner (Peacock)
  • “Euphoria” | Sam Levinson, showrunner (HBO)
  • “Lupin” | George Kay, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “This Is Us” | Dan Fogelman, showrunner (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” | Max Borenstein, showrunner (HBO)

Outstanding Actor, Drama Series

  • Sterling K. Brown | “This Is Us” (NBC)
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Damson Idris | “Snowfall” (FX)
  • Omar Sy | “Lupin” (Netflix)
  • Forest Whitaker | “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)

Outstanding Actress, Drama Series

  • Tawny Cypress | “Yellowjackets” (Showtime)
  • Naomie Harris | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Queen Latifah | “The Equalizer” (CBS)
  • Patina Miller | “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (Starz)
  • Zendaya | “Euphoria” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series

  • Giancarlo Esposito | “Better Call Saul” (AMC)
  • Wood Harris | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (HBO)
  • Adrian Holmes | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Clarke Peters | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Olly Sholotan | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series

  • Adjoa Andoh | “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
  • Coco Jones | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Audra McDonald | “The Gilded Age” (HBO)
  • Lorraine Toussaint | “The Equalizer” (CBS)
  • Susan Kelechi Watson | “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Directing, Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” (Dreams and Nightmares”) | Morgan Cooper, director (Peacock)
  • “Better Call Saul” (“Axe and Grind”) | Giancarlo Esposito, director (AMC)
  • “Bridgerton” (“The Viscount Who Loved Me”) | Cheryl Dunye, director (Netflix)
  • “This Is Us” (“Our Little Island Girl: Part Two”) | Kevin Hooks, director (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (“Pieces of a Man”) | Tanya Hamilton, director (HBO)

Outstanding Writing, Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” (“Dreams and Nightmares”) | Malcolm Spellman, Morgan Cooper, TJ Brady & Rasheed Newsome, writers (Peacock)
  • “Snowfall” (“Celebration”) | Walter Mosley, writer (FX)
  • “This Is Us” (“Every Version of You”) | Kay Oyegun, writer (NBC)
  • “This Is Us” (“Our Little Island Girl”) | Eboni Freeman & Susan Kelechi Watson, writers (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (“Acceptable Loss”) | Rodney Barnes & Max Borenstein, writers (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series

  • Colman Domingo | “Euphoria” (HBO)
  • Ron Cephas Jones | “This Is Us” (NBC)
  • Delroy Lindo | “The Good Fight” (Paramount +)
  • Jonathan Majors | “Loki” (Disney+)
  • Rob Morgan | “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series

  • Rosario Dawson | “The Book of Boba Fett” (Disney+)
  • Whoopi Goldberg | “Star Trek: Picard” (Paramount+)
  • Cush Jumbo | “The Good Fight” (Paramount+)
  • Sanaa Lathan | “Succession” (HBO)
  • CCH Pounder | “The Good Fight” (Paramount+)

TV Movie or Limited Series

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” | Michael Starrbury, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “DMZ” | Roberto Patino, showrunner (HBO Max)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” | Diane Houslin, showrunner (Apple TV+)
  • “True Story” | Eric Newman, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “We Own This City” | George Pelecanos, showrunner (HBO)

Outstanding Actor,TV Movie/Limited Series

  • William Jackson Harper | “Love Life” (HBO Max)
  • Kevin Hart | “True Story” (Netflix)
  • Derek Luke | American Refugee (EPIX)
  • Samuel L. Jackson | “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (Apple TV+)
  • Jaden Michael | “Colin in Black & White” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Viola Davis | “The First Lady” (Showtime)
  • Rosario Dawson | “DMZ” (HBO Max)
  • Cynthia Erivo | “Roar” (Apple TV+)
  • Zoe Kravitz | Kimi (HBO Max)
  • Wunmi Mosaku | “We Own This City” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Michael Ealy | “The Woman Who in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window” (Netflix)
  • Jamie Hector | “We Own This City” (HBO)
  • David Oyelowo | “The Girl Before” (HBO Max)
  • Wesley Snipes | “True Story” (Netflix)
  • Glynn Turman | “Women of the Movement” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Rosario Dawson | “Dopesick” (HULU)
  • Dominique Fishback | “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (Apple TV+)
  • Regina Hall | “Nine Perfect Stranger” (HULU)
  • Moses Ingram | “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Disney+)
  • Natasha Rothwell | “The White Lotus” (HBO)

Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” (“Cornrows”) | Ava DuVernay, director (Netflix)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (“Ptolemy”) | Hanelle C. Culpepper, director (Apple TV+)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (“Robyn”) | Debbie Allen, director (Apple TV+)
  • “We Own This City” | Reinaldo Marcus Green, director (HBO)
  • “Women of the Movement” (“Mother and Son”) | Gina Prince-Bythewood, director (ABC)

Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” (“Cornrows”) | Michael Starrbury, writer (Netflix)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (”Ptolemy”) | Walter Mosley, writer (Apple TV+)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (”Robyn”) | Walter Mosley & Jerome Hairston, writer (Apple TV+)
  • “Maid” (“Sea Glass”) | Marcus Gardley, writer (Netflix)
  • “We Own This City” (“Part Three”) | D. Watkins, writer (HBO)

DOCUMENTARY

Outstanding Documentary

  • “Biography: Bobby Brown” | J. Kevin Swain, director (A&E)
  • “Black and Missing” | Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha M. Knowles, Yoruba Richen & Nadia Hallgren, directors (HBO)
  • “JANET JACKSON” | Benjamin Hirsch, director (A&E)
  • “They Call Me Magic” | Rick Famuyiwa, director (Apple TV+)
  • “We Need to Talk About Cosby” | W. Kamau Bell, director (Showtime)

VARIETY / TALK / SKETCH – Series or Special

Outstanding Talk/Sketch/Variety Series or Special

  • “The Amber Ruffin Show” | Jason Carden, Jennifer Sochko, Zoie Mancino, producers (Peacock)
  • “A Black Lady Sketch Show” | Robin Thede, showrunner (HBO)
  • Dave Chappelle: The Closer | Sina Sadighi, producer (Netflix)
  • Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel | Bo Burnham, Jerrod Carmichael, Eli Bush, Josh Senior, Matthew Vaughn, executive producers (HBO)
  • “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” | Jen Flanz, showrunner (Comedy Central)

MUSIC

Outstanding Music Supervision

  • “Atlanta” (FX) | Jen Malone, music supervisor
  • “Bridgerton” (Netflix) | Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor
  • “Euphoria” (HBO) | Jen Malone, music supervisor
  • “Insecure” (HBO) | Kier Lehman, music supervisor
  • “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (HULU) | Mary Ramos, music supervisor

Outstanding Musical Score

  • “Bridgerton” | Kris Bowers, composer (Netflix)
  • “Euphoria” | Labrinth, composer (HBO)
  • “Insecure” | Raphael Saadiq, composer (HBO)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” | Nicholas Britell & Robert Glasper (HBO)
  • “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” | RZA, composer (HULU)

Outstanding Original Song

  • “All I Know” (The Wonder Years) | Scotty Grand, performer; Scotty Grand, Jacob Yoffee & Roahn Hylton, writers – ABC
  • “Change” (We the People) | H.E.R. performer; Flippa, Max Moore, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, H.E.R. & Swagg R’Celious, writers – Netflix
  • “Get It Girl” (Insecure) | Saweetie & Raedio, performers; Fresh Kid Ice, Luther Campbell, Lil’ Jon, David Hobbs, Liana Banks & Saweetie, writers – HBO
  • “I’m Tired” (Euphoria) | Labrinth & Zendaya, performers; Labrinth, Zendaya & Sam Levinson, writers – HBO
  • “Nasty Girl” (Queens) | Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, performers; Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges & Algernod “Piles” Lanier Washington, writers – ABC

ABC Releases Full-Length Trailer for Nadine Velazquez’s New Series “Queens”

Nadine Velazquez is ready to Queen(s) out

ABC has released a full-length trailer for its upcoming musical drama series Queens, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican actress, EveBrandy and Naturi Naughton.

Nadine Velazquez, Queens, ABC

Velazquez and her co-leads star as members of the former ‘90s girl group the Nasty B—-es.

Queens tells the story of four former bandmates who decide to reunite in their 40s after a major, public breakup on stage 20 years prior.

“The dumbest thing we ever did was throw away friendships that most people never have. Let’s get this group back together,” Naomi (Brandy) aka Xplicit Lyrics tells the other three members. But stepping back into the spotlight is not going to be easy as each member is tackling problems in their personal lives. The trailer shows Brianna (Eve) aka Professor Sex trying to raise five children while dealing with marriage struggles.

“Don’t let the fame define you because when it’s all gone you won’t know who you are,” Jill (Naughton) aka Da Thrill warns. The clip also includes scenes of the ladies performing, looking caught off guard on the red carpet, and Valeria (Velazquez) aka Butter Pecan having an outburst in a car.

The hip-hop series was ordered to series in May. Zahir McGhee wrote the script for the show and serves as executive producer.

Queens will premiere on ABC on October 19.

ABC Picks Up Nadine Velazquez’s Drama “Queens” to Series

It’s a royal moment for Nadine Velazquez

ABC has picked up the music-themed drama Queens, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican actress, to series for the 2021-22 season.

Nadine Velazquez

The series is headlined by Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton, Velazquez and Pepi Sonuga.

Estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s 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.

Queens stars Eve as Brianna aka Professor Sex, Naturi Naughton as Jill aka Da Thrill, Velazquez as Valeria aka Butter Pecan, Taylor Selé as Eric Jones, Pepi Sonuga as Lil Muffin and Brandy as Naomi aka Xplicit Lyrics.

Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and Tim Story are executive producers.

The series is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios. The pilot episode is written by McGhee and directed by Tim Story.

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

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.

Nadine Velazquez

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.

History Renews Raba’s Navy SEAL Drama Series “Six” for Second Season

Juan Pablo Raba has six reasons to celebrate…

History has ordered a 10-episode second season of its breakout Navy SEAL drama series Six, starring the 40-year-old Colombian actor, up from its current eight-episode first season.

Juan Pablo Raba

From A+E Studios and Weinstein Television, and created by father/son duo William and David Broyles, Six has been a strong ratings performer for History, averaging 2.9 million total viewers in Live+3 over the first four weeks. The January 18 premiere drew 3 million total viewers in Live+7, including 1.4 million in adults 25-54 and 1.2 million in adults 18-49.

Six follows members of Navy SEAL Team Six, modern American warriors, whose covert mission to eliminate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan goes awry when they uncover a U.S. citizen working with terrorists. In the first season, former SEAL Team Six troop leader, Richard ‘Rip’ Taggart (Walton Goggins), is captured by Boko Haram and it’s up to his former SEAL Team Six brothers – led by Joe Graves (Barry Sloane), Alex Caulder (Kyle Schmid) and Ricky “Buddha” Ortiz (Raba) – to put their differences aside to locate and rescue their former troop leader.

Edwin Hodge, Dominic Adams, Brianne Davis, Nadine Velazquez, Jaylen Moore, Donny Boaz, and Nondumiso Tembe also star.

Six is a captivating drama series that embraces our recent history, while being immensely relevant in the climate of today’s culture,” said Jana Bennett, President & General Manager of History. “It has struck a genuine chord with our audience and we’re proud to continue to tell the courageous stories, both on and off the battlefield, of the complex lives of this elite military group.”

Six is part of the post-election shift in television toward more patriotic fare spotlighting America’s heroes in the military. Six followed the breakout success of new USA Network drama Shooter, about a heroic former Marine, which also was renewed for a second season. The broadcast networks have followed suit with four military drama pilots this season: NBC’s For God and Country, Fox’s Behind Enemy Lines, CBSSEAL project and the CW’s Valor.

Six, which airs Wednesdays at 10 PM, may have put an end to a lengthy search by History over the last several years for a second strong scripted series to join flagship Vikings.

The renewal announcement comes ahead of the show’s March 8 Season 1 finale.

Production is set to begin this summer.

Velazquez to Star in “The Charnel House”

Nadine Velazquez has closed on a House

The 36-year-0ld Puerto Rican actress will star opposite Callum Blue, Makenzie Moss and Erik LaRay Harvey in The Charnel House, a film that reunites Miss Meadows producers Sandra Siegal and Mark B Johnson.

Nadine Velazquez

From Siegal Entertainment and directed by Craig Moss, the film follows an accomplished British architect (Blue) who finally achieves his dream of converting the long-abandoned Fairmont Meat Company slaughterhouse into ultramodern lofts. His family and tenants will be exposed to a decades-long mystery that cannot be covered up by the building’s high-tech makeover.

Danielle Lauder, Andy Favreau and Kate Linder co-star.

Shooting on The Charnel House is currently underway in Cleveland.

Velazquez, who appeared on TNT’s Major Crimes, starred opposite Denzel Washington in Flight.

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

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.

Nadine Velazquez

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 KloserMario Sorrenti feature Discarnate.

AMC to Release Melendez’s “Journey of a Female Comic” Doc in Southern California

Kiki Melendez’ Hollywood journey will take her to theaters in Southern California…

The award-winning actress, comedienne, writer and producer’s documentary comedy Journey of a Female Comic will be released through AMC TheatresAMC Independent Program in Los Angeles and San Diego just in time for CInco de Mayo.

Kiki Melendez

“I am so grateful to AMC Independent for the opportunity to share my story. My hope in making this film, is to encourage and inspire women to take their dreams into their own hands,” says Melendez.

Journey of a Female Comic, which will hit theaters on Friday, May 2, 2014 with other major markets to follow, is an inspirational film for audiences of all races, genders, and backgrounds.

It centers on Melendez’ life growing up in a developing country, being raised by a single immigrant mother, and her career in Hollywood pursuing the American Dream. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Melendez’ journey is thought-provoking, inspiring audiences to discover the difference between fame and fulfillment.

AMC’s independent program added the 88-minute film to its slate after it received an enthusiastic reception at test screenings.

The feature began as an experimental short film, premiering at the DR Global Film Festival. It also opened at Miami’s Hispanicize Film Showcase and The Broadway International Film Festival in 2012, where it represented the U.S. and won Best Documentary.

Journey of A Female Comic fits perfectly within our AMC Independent programming initiative, which opens our screens to movies that resonate with our diverse audiences,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President of Alternative Content at AMC. “Melendez’ story is honest and entertaining, and will connect with many of our guests.”

Journey of A Female Comic also features appearances by other Latino trailblazers in Hollywood, including Edward James OlmosJacob VargasEsai MoralesNadine Velazquez, the late Lupe OntiverosMaria Conchita Alonso and Guy Ecker.

Melendez also has lively conversations with international stars including Aaron Spelling, UsherSofia VergaraHalle BerryHugh JackmanJohn TravoltaShakira and Marc Anthony.

Melendez is best known for creating Galavision’s No. 1 entertainment show in 2000, Kiki Desde Hollywood, and Showtime’s hit show Hot Tamales Live! in 2008, the longest running all-female comedy show, available on HULU.

Velazquez Starring in the Indie Film “Sister”

Nadine Velazquez has lander her own sister act…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the cast of the indie drama Sister.

Nadine Velazquez

Inspired by true events, the story centers on a struggling, self-centered actor (portrayed by Reid Scott) forced to take custody of an 11-year-old adopted sister that he barely knows.

Velazquez, appearing in the second season of TNT’s Major Crimes, joins a cast that includes Illeana Douglas, Serinda Swan, John Heard and Barbara Hershey.

David Lascher is directing from a script he co-wrote with producer Todd Camhe.

Velazquez’s credits include television roles on Prison Break, My Name is Earl, Hart of Dixie and The League, as well as a breakout role in the film Flight with Denzel Washington.

Sister is currently filming in Los Angeles.

Velazquez Cast as a Series Regular on TNT’s “Major Crimes”

Nadine Velazquez will be going on a Crimes spree this summer…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the cast of TNT’s drama series Major Crimes as a series regular.

Nadine Velazquez

Velazquez, who starred opposite Denzel Washington in Flight last year, will portray deputy district attorney Emma Rios on the upcoming second season.

Newly assigned to the Phillip Stroh case on the spin-off of TNT’s hit series The Closer, Velazquez’s character Emma interviews Rusty (portrayed by Graham Patrick Martin) about his involvement as a key witness in the murder case. She immediately causes a stir within the department, coming into conflict with Captain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) when she questions Raydor’s intentions as Rusty’s guardian and challenges her authority.

Velazquez’s television credits include My Name Is Earl, Hart of Dixie, Raising Hope and recent recurring role on FX’s The League.

On the big screen, Velazquez recently appeared in Dwayne Johnson’s Snitch and will next star in Aztec Warrior.

The second season of Major Crimes will premiere on Monday, June 10 on TNT.