John Leguizamo to Star in Apple‘s Upcoming Drama Series “Firebug”

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is buggin’…

The 63-year-old Colombian Emmy– & Tony Award-winning actor will star alongside Taron Egerton in Apple‘s upcoming drama series Firebug.

Hailing from Apple Studios and creator Dennis Lehane, the series will be directed and executive-produced by Kari Skogland.

Written by Lehane and loosely inspired by true events, Firebug will follow a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator (Egerton) as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Leguizamo with play Esposito, a former policeman with a lot of bad habits and a lot of good instincts.

Jurnee Smollett will also star in the series.

In addition to starring, Egerton will serve as executive producer alongside Richard Plepler through Eden Productions, Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas through Imperative Entertainment and Kary Antholis.

Leguizamo is host and executive producer of MSNBC’s hit travel show, Leguizamo Does America, which is currently in production on its second season.

He recently starred in Amazon series The Power, alongside Toni Collette, in Showtime’s five-part drama series Waco: The Aftermath, and in Mark Mylod’s horror comedy The Menu.

Leguizamo stars in the independent film Bob Trevino Likes It, which recently premiered at SXSW, winning the SXSW Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award in the Narrative Feature category.

He also stars as federal agent Gordon Rogers in The Green Veil drama series, which he produced alongside director Aram Rappaport.

Upcoming, he hosts the PBS documentary series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, a project he co-created with director Ben De Jesus. He’ll also be seen in the upcoming thriller feature Tin Soldier, opposite Robert Di Niro, Jamie Foxx and Rita Ora.

Cardi B to Perform from Miami During “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” Program

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is preparing for a rockin’ New Year’s Eve.

Only five days before it airs, has added the 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar and hip-hop legend LL Cool J to its lineup.

The “Up” singer will appear poolside from Fontainebleau Miami Beach, while her “WAP” collaborator Megan Thee Stallion was previously on the bill.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn-raised rap icon LL Cool J will perform in Times Square just before midnight.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is also introducing a new vertical of comedic show segments with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Matt Friend, Ms. Pat and Sebastian Maniscalco adding commentary on the past year.

Ryan Seacrest returns as host of the ABC and Dick Clark Productions live show with co-host Rita Ora leading the festivities from New York’s Times Square with artists Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyla.

Jeannie Mai will lead the Hollywood festivities, with Aqua, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Loud Luxury x Two Friends with Bebe Rexha, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones and Thirty Seconds to Mars to perform in California.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will once again feature a Spanish language countdown with Dayanara Torres returning as co-host from Puerto Rico’s Convention Center.

Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars to Perform During “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024”

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto will be rockin’ into the New Year…

The 51-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer’s rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars has been announced as part of the lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024.

Leto and his brother Shannon’s Thirty Seconds to Mars joins a lineup that includes Aqua, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, Loud Luxury x Two Friends with Bebe Rexha, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell and Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones.

Jeannie Mai and Rita Ora join Seacrest as new co-hosts for the upcoming 52nd edition of the venerable holiday telecast. While Mai will emcee the Hollywood party in the Pacific Time zone, Ora will be live in Times Square.

Ringing in the new year at midnight in the Atlantic Time zone (11pm ET), New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will once again feature a Spanish language countdown with Dayanara Torres returning as co-host from Puerto Rico’s Convention Center.

Eliminated from the lineup is the Central Time zone countdown from New Orleans, which had been part of the show since 2017. (Last year, Rockin’ Eve also added a Disneyland location to kick off Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, which is not coming back.)

The changes come in Rockin’ Eve’s first year under new ownership at DCP, which was acquired in January by Penske Media Eldridge. The annual program was recently renewed through January 1, 2029.

The No. 1 New Year’s Eve special for over 30 years, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 drew 13.8 million total viewers and averaged 4.1/29 among adults 18-49 last year. It peaked at 17.9 million viewers and a 5.3 18-49 rating in the midnight quarter-hour.

Airing December 31, live on ABC at 8:00 PM EST, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 will feature more than 5 1⁄2 hours of music performances, guests and a look at New Year’s celebrations around the globe.

Mariah Carey Among Inaugural BRIT Billion Award Honorees

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a BRIT-ish invasion for Mariah Carey.

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer is among the first recipients of the new BRIT Billion Award, denoting 1 billion career UK streams.

Carey is among a list of honorees that includes Lewis Capaldi, Whitney Houston, Coldplay and Sam Smith.

The BRIT Billion award, which, like the existing BRIT Certified program and its platinum, silver and gold tiers, is verified using Official Charts data.

Other artists in the inaugural class of recipients are ABBA, AJ Tracey, Anne-Marie, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Headie One, RAYE and Rita Ora. More artists who have surpassed the threshold will be announced in due course.

“I’m really honored to be one of the recipients of the BRIT Billion Award,” Carey said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to my fans for their endless and enduring support. I love you UK lambily and cannot wait to come back to your side of the pond and create more magical moments together.”

This is the first time in its five-decade history that the BPI’s certifications program has recognized an artist’s combined success across multiple projects. The One Billion career total will include tracks an artist has appeared on either as the principal performer or as a featured artist, as credited by the Official Charts.

The introduction of BRIT Billion reflects the extent to which streaming has transformed the music landscape for artists and fans alike over the past decade. More than 85% of the UK’s recorded music consumption now takes place through streaming.

Sophie Jones, BPI chief strategy officer and interim chief executive, said in a statement: “For a recording artist, there can be few greater sources of pride than having a Platinum or Gold disc on their wall, but in an era when success in measured in the hundreds of millions and indeed billions of streams, it was clear that we needed a new and additional way to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievement in recorded music, and I feel certain that having a BRIT Billion Award will become equally prized.”

The BRIT Billion award represents the first significant upgrade to the certifications program since April 2018, when it was rebranded from the BPI Awards to the BRIT Certified Awards.

Jennifer Lopez to Perform at Charity Gala for Ukraine Children & Families

Posted on July 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is helping to raise funds for the children of the Ukraine…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is set to perform on the Italian island of Capri at a Ukraine-focused charity gala for UNICEF.

Expected guests at the exclusive event, which is called LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF, include Leonardo DiCaprio; Jamie Foxx; Elon Musk’s mother, the supermodel Maye Musk; Naomi Campbell, Jared Leto, and Vanessa Hudgens.

The intimate Capri charity event will take place in the island’s Certosa di San Giacomo, a 14th-century monastery with a large grassy cloister area and a stunning view of the Mediterranean.

Lopez will be the main musical act at the exclusive gala, where the hit-making DJ Diplo and singer/actress Sofia Carson, as well as Switzerland’s DJ Cruz, are among other artists that are expected to take the stage, Italy’s La Repubblica reported.

Past editions of the charity concert have been complemented with performances by the likes of John Legend, Katy Perry and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, as well as Rita Ora, Ricky Martin and Ellie Goulding, according to Variety sister publication Women’s Wear Daily, which broke the news in May that Lopez would headline the Capri gala.

After kicking off with musical entertainment, the event will be followed by a lavish dinner and charity auction.

The guest list also includes Dutch supermodel and actor Lara Stone; U.S. producer and director Tonya Lewis Lee; Saudi producer and philanthropist Mohammed Al Turki; and, from Italy, singer and songwriter Sangiovanni and actor Matilde Gioli, according to La Repubblica.

During the charity gala, UNICEF representatives based in Ukraine will join the soirée remotely. A documentary will also screen, detailing the work being done by UNICEF at the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps in Jordan that welcome Syrian children and their families.

It’s Lopez’s first stage performance since marrying actor Ben Affleck earlier this month.

Kali Uchis Featured in Pirelli’s Official 2022 Calendar

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kali Uchis is officially a calendar girl…

Pirelli’s annual calendar for 2022 has arrived, backed by a star-studded cast of 10 stars, including the 27-year-old Colombian American Grammy-winning singer, photographed by musician Bryan Adams.

In addition to Uchis, this year’s photo shoot — which follows an “On the Road” theme pitched by Adams himself — features Cher, Iggy Pop, Jennifer Hudson, Rita Ora, Normani, Grimes, St. Vincent, Bohan Phoenix and Saweetie posing for portraits at Los Angeles’ iconic Palace Theatre and the Chateau Marmont, as well as Italy’s Capri at the La Scalinatella Hotel.

Continuing the trade magazine’s more subtle image (the calendar was once known for its racy imagery prior to the 2010s), this year’s stars went for glamour, each in their own unique way.

Speaking about the inspiration for this year’s theme, Adams told Pirelli, “It wasn’t too difficult, if I’m honest, because on the road is what I’ve been doing for the last 45 years. When I proposed it, I almost thought maybe this had been done before because it’s such an obvious thing, and I thought the symbiotic relationship would be good, the idea of musicians who travel and a company that makes tyres. It makes sense to me. I thought they might have thought it was a bit too much on the nose, but in the end they loved it.”

Karol G to Give First-Ever Performance at This Year’s MTV Europe Music Awards

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is ready for a special European debut…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer is set to give her first performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards during this year’s ceremony.

Karol G is nominated in the Best Video and Best Collaboration categories for her Nicki Minaj collaboration, “Tusa.” She’s also up for Best Latin.

Karol G joins a roster of performers that includes Little Mix, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Maluma, a nominee in the Best Latin category, Doja Cat, DaBaby, David Guetta, YUNGBLUD, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae and Jack Harlow.

The show will feature appearances from DJ Khaled, Lewis Hamilton, Winnie Harlow, Bebe Rexha, Rita Ora, Big Sean, Roman Reigns, Anitta, Madison Beer, Anne-Marie, Aya Nakamura, Barbara Palvin and Raye.

The 2020 MTV EMAs will take place on November 8 from various places across the European Union.

Click here to see this year’s list of nominees.

Mariah Carey Masters Bottle Cap Challenge Using Only Her Voice

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey isn’t just busting out notes… She’s also busting off bottle caps!

The 49-year-old half-Venezuelan American chanteuse has magically mastered the Bottle Cap Challengeusing only her voice.

Carey posted a video on social media over the weekend where she jokingly spins the cap right off a bottle with one of her signature high-pitched notes.

“Challenge accepted! #bottlecapchallenge,” she captioned the clip.

The viral challenge, which has been going on for about a month, requires participants to untwist a cap using only just a spin kick without touching any other part of the bottle.

The astonishing feat didn’t go unnoticed by Carey’s millions o fInstagram followers. Ex-husband Nick Cannon commented that the stunt was “Hilarious!” while Rita Ora noted, “You win hands down.” Katharine McPhee chimed in, writing, “Girl all the bottle caps in my room just popped off while watching this ———-.”

View this post on Instagram

Challenge accepted! #bottlecapchallenge

A post shared by Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey) on Jul 7, 2019 at 9:00am PDT

Carey isn’t the only musical artist to take on the Bottle Cap Challenge. Justin Bieber ,John Mayer, Diplo, Ellie Goulding and Blake Shelton, among others, have also hilariously taken it on.

Sofia Reyes Joins Voices with Anitta & Rita Ora for New Single “R.I.P.”

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Reyesis putting the BS to rest…

The 23-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has joined voices with Anitta and Rita Ora for the trilingual track, “R.I.P.”

The new song follows Reyes’ 2018 one-off single “1,2,3,” which featured Jason Deruloand De La Ghetto.

Kicked off with a cumbia shuffle and infectious hook, the Fliptones-produced song shrugs off negative vibes in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

“R.I.P. to the bullshit/Brush it off like Cool Whip,” recommends Reyes, who maneuvers a Catholic cross into a dance move.

Shot in Los Angeles, the sumptuous video, directed by Eif Rivera, sees the international trifecta strut their troubles away amid a lush jungle refuge.

“We all need to be encouraged to walk away from all the bullshit that’s holding us back,” said Reyes in a press release. “It was also incredibly empowering for me to work with these two super women. I loved that we got to mix all of our cultures up with one message that we can all agree on.”

“R.I.P. to boring people, to wasting time!” adds Anitta, who suffused the song with her native Portuguese.

Signed at 16 to D’León Records— Prince Royce’s label under Warner Music Latina— Reyes released her full-length debut, Louder!in 2017.

She is currently working on new music.

Luis Fonsi Named an All-Star Ambassador for New Grammy Music Education Coalition Campaign

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Fonsiis raising awareness about music education…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer/songwriter has been named to the Grammy Music Education Coalition’s (GMEC) national campaign on behalf of its new All-Star Ambassador program.

Additional members of the All-Star Ambassador program include singer Bebe Rexha, pop/R&B artist Rita Ora, Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth, Grammy winner Stephen Marley, country newcomer Caroline Jones, classical pianist Lang Lang, Guns N’ Roses’ Matt Sorum, saxophonist Mindi Abair, songwriter Regina Spektorand Philadelphia rock band War on Drugs.

Selected for their personal connections to music education, the diverse group of creatives will be working to spread awareness and raise funds for music education.

In a release announcing the Ambassador program, GMEC executive director Lee Whitmore said, “The Grammy Music Education Coalition is thrilled to be celebrating universal music education participation by American elementary, middle and high school students. Today, we join with our GMEC member and partner, the Grammy Museum Foundation, to inspire a future vision for careers and the arts for young people from around the Los Angeles area.”

Whitmore also announced that the GMEC has launched intensive music programs in Philadelphia and Nashville. Focusing on funding and services for both cities’ public school systems, the goal for this inaugural school year is to invest $1 million in each district while overseeing and coordinating the programs established by the Coalition’s partners. For instance, the Philadelphia slate includes a commercial music curriculum developed with DASH, Live Nationand Recording Academymembers along with a program coordinator. The Nashville investment will feature an elementary music coach, a program coordinator and professional development through spring/summer music and audio technology events for all teachers.

“Our commitments in these first two school systems for the next three years are focused and will have a lasting impact,” added Whitmore. “The Coalition and community investment goals for the school systems are $5 million each.” Rounding out its series of announcements, the GMEC revealed members of its Founders Circle, board and executive advisory council (grammymusiced.org).

The campaign will get underway this spring.

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