NBC Picks Up Five Additional Episodes of “Happy’s Place,” Starring Belissa Escobedo

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

There are more happy times in Belissa Escobedo’s future.

NBC has handed a Back 5 order to Happy’s Place, starring the 26-year-old Latina actress and Reba McEntire.

By picking up five additional episodes of the multi-camera comedy, Happy’s Place will have an 18-episode total, which is considered a full-season order by today’s network standards.

As a precursor to the episodic order, NBC recently picked up five extra scripts of Happy’s Place, a move used by the broadcast networks on shows they are bullish on.

Likely boosted by McEntire’s coach role on The Voice, Happy’s Place has been a Friday breakout.

Its premiere, which improved the 8PM timeslot by +90% in total viewers and +88% in adults 18-49, logged a solid 4M linear Live+Same Day viewers that has grown to 14M cross-platform viewers. The series, which reunites several key creative auspices of McEntire’s previous sitcom, Reba, also registered the best new comedy launch on Peacock ever.

In Happy’s Place, McEntire’s Bobbie inherits her father’s tavern, named Happy’s Place, and is surprised to discover that she has a new business partner, Isabella (Escobedo), a twentysomething half-sister she never knew she had.

Created by Kevin Abbott and Julie Abbott, the series also stars Reba‘s Melissa Peterman as well as Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn.

Kevin Abbott executive produces with McEntiren.

Happy’s Place is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

NBC Gives Series Order to “Happy’s Place,” Starring Belissa Escobedo

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Belissa Escobedo has found her happy(’s) place…

NBC has given a series order to Happy’s Place, starring the 25-year-old Latina actress and Reba McEntire.

The comedy sees McEntire play Bobbie, who inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had.

In addition to McEntire and Escobedo, the multi-cam series also stars Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn.

Writer Kevin Abbott executive produces with Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis, Julie Abbott and McEntire.

It’s produced by Universal Television.

Happy’s Place, which reunites McEntire with members of her Reba team, was the first pilot of the season to be ordered, in January.

Escobedo’s previous credits include Blue Beetle, Hocus Pocus 2, The Baker and the Beauty and American Horror Stories.

Garcia Swisher to Star in ABC‘s Drama Series “Astronaut Wives Club”

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

JoAnna Garcia Swisher has landed an out of this world role…

The 34-year-old half-Cuban American actress has been cast as one of the leads in ABC‘s drama series Astronaut Wives Club, which was recently picked up for the summer with a 10-episode straight-to-series order.

Written by Stephanie Savage and based on Lily Koppel’s novel, the project comes from ABC Studios.

It tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history during the height of the space race.

Garcia Swisher will portray Betty Grissom, the wife of one of the original astronauts. A bouncy redhead with curls askew and a folksy Hoosier accent, she’s got a down-home appeal, which endears her to the public.

Astronaut Wives Club extends Swisher’s relationship with ABC and ABC Studios following her recent arc as The Little Mermaid Ariel on their hit series Once Upon A Time.

Garcia Swisher’s other credits include Better with You, Reba, Gossip Girl, Royal Pains and How I Met Your Mother.

Garcia to Guest Star on Fox’s “The Mindy Project”

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

JoAnna Garcia Swisher is heading to the Mindy city…

The 34-year-old half-Cuban actress has been cast in the Fox comedy The Mindy Project in a potentially recurring role, according to TVLine.

Swisher will portray the sister of Dr. Peter (Adam Pally).

She’s slated to appear for one episode at the moment, but she could be back for a second.

Fans of the show are also set to meet Dr. Danny’s brother, Richie, played by The Social Network‘s Max Minghella, this season.

Swisher, who is best known for her roles on Reba, Privileged, Gossip Girl and Royal Pains, most recently guest-starred on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

The Mindy Project airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on Fox.

Garcia to Star as the Little Mermaid on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… JoAnna Garcia is heading under the sea for her latest role.

Following rumors of her Arieltastic role nearly two years ago, ABC has confirmed that the 34-year-old half-Cuban actress has been cast as the Little Mermaid for the upcoming third season of Once Upon a Time.

For now, Garcia is expected to appear in two episodes of the hit fairytale drama, according to TV Guide Magazine.

It was revealed at Comic-Con that the Little Mermaid would be making an appearance in the new season, which kicks off on September 29, with a teaser revealing Ariel/Little Mermaid.

As is ordinary practice on the ABC fairy tale drama, expect the Little Mermaid to have a slight twist from the 1989 animated feature classic.

Garcia’s casting comes weeks after Once Upon a Time cast Rose McIver in the role of Tinker Bell, with executive producer Adam Horowitz hinting that she will have a “surprising connection” to a main character.

Garcia recently starred in NBC‘s short-lived comedy Animal Practice and was a regular on The WB‘s Reba. She has also recently recurred on Royal Pains and starred in ABC’s Better with You.

Garcia Expecting Her First Child

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like JoAnna Garcia will be on diaper duty in the near future…

“So happy to finally be able to share our news!” tweeted the 33-year-old half Cuban American actress on November 12 about starting a family with husband Nick Swisher. “Nick and I are expecting our first baby in 2013! Feeling so blessed and beyond excited!”

Garcia and Swisher went into more detail about their news via Swisher’s Facebook page.

“Words can’t describe how blessed we feel to be expanding our family and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new addition,” wrote the happy couple. “Your support and kindness has meant so much to us throughout the years and we wanted to personally share the news with you all.”

Garcia, who most recently appeared on NBC’s short-lived series Animal Practice, and Swisher, 31, got hitched in December 2010 after a seven-month engagement. The star-studded wedding party included Reba McEntire, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Lance Bass.

Garcia’s television credits include Reba, Privileged, Gossip Girl, Better With You and Freaks and Geeks.

Until recently, Swisher was the right fielder and first baseman for the New York Yankees; he is currently a free agent after declining a $13.3 million one-year qualifying offer from the team.

Garcia to Star in “Interns”…

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

JoAnna Garcia is about to get her Vaughn on…

The 32-year-old half-Cuban/half-Spanish American actress has signed on to star in the feature film Interns opposite Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Garica—who was recently announced as the female lead in NBC’s upcoming comedy series Animal Practice—is set to portray Vaughn’s girlfriend in the Shawn Levy-directed comedy, which will feature Vaughn and Wilson as two middle-aged guys who lose their jobs and have to start at the bottom in the new American workforce.

Interns will be filming in Atlanta this summer.

This is the former Reba and Better With You star’s first feature film since 2006’s A-List and 2001’s Not Another Teen Movie and American Pie 2.

García Swisher Headlining CBS Comedy Pilot

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Joanna García Swisher may be returning to network television in the near future.

The 32-year-old half-Cuban/half-Spanish American actress has been chosen as the female lead in a yet-to-be-titled CBS comedy pilot from Greg Malins and Greg Berlanti.

The multi-camera project, coming from Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Berlanti Prods., centers on Nick who has a health scare and realizes that Wendy (García Swisher), his best friend and business partner of 15 years, is “the one.” The show will follow him as he tries to figure out how to break it to her.

This marks the third consecutive Warner Bros. TV pilot for García Swisher after her work on Privileged and Better With You, both of which went to series.

In addition, García Swisher had a story arc on the studio’s CW drama Gossip Girl and will be guest-starring on ABC’s hit series Once Upon a Time.

This new project marks the latest multi-camera comedy for García Swisher who started off on the WB’s Reba.

Garcia’s Ariel Adventure?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Once Upon A Time’s Lana Parrilla could soon be sharing screen time with fellow Latina actress Joanna Garcia.

The 32-year-old half-Cuban-American actress could reportedly make guest-star on ABC’s new hit series, playing The Little Mermaid.

During the American Music Awards, Once Upon A Time’s Jennifer Morrison told E! Online producers of Garcia’s possible involvement on the show.

“They are after Joanna Garcia for one of the roles, which would be amazing,” revealed Morrison

While Morrison didn’t specify which role the “Gossip Girl” and “Reba” star would fill, PerezHilton.com is reporting that she’ll play The Little Mermaid’s Ariel in a yet-to-be determined episode.

Once Upon A Time—which has already featured Snow White and Cinderella—is ABC’s breakout hit of the season.

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