Lin Manuel Miranda Named to DoSomething.org’s Annual Celebs Gone Good List

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lin Manuel Miranda has gone good…

DoSomething.org has released its annual Celebs Gone Good list for 2017, with the 37-year-old Puerto Rican Tony Award-winning Broadway star and Hamilton musical creator making the grade.

The list recognizes celebrities who used their impact to affect social change in the world, as these celebs helped raise awareness for causes such as mental health, education, gun violence, LGBTQ, sexual assault, hurricane/disaster relief and the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Miranda, who comes in at No. 12, partnered with a nonprofit, and in November, announced a $2.5 million hurricane recovery fund to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

But Miranda isn’t the only Latino/a celebrity to make the list.

Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui comes in at No. 13.

The 21-year-old Cuban American singer has been vocal about women’s rights, and has donated to charitable groups including Chime for Change, ACLU, UNICEF, Planned Parenthood and more.

Jennifer Lopez, who appears on Miranda’s Puerto Rico hurricane relief single, comes in at No. 14.

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican superstar had been vocal about helping the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and in September, she put her money where her mouth is. The singer and actress announced at a press conference with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that she would donate $1 million to help Puerto Rico rebuild.

Demi Lovato comes in at No. 16.

The 25-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress continued her mental health advocacy work this year, which has also earned her the Artistic Award of courage. She also celebrated five years of sobriety by donating thousands to charity, including $5,000 to Ace of Hearts, an animal rescue group.

Bruno Mars ranks No. 20.

The 32-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer donated $1 million from his sold-out Michigan concert in August to help those who have been impacted by the city of Flint’s water crisis. “Ongoing challenges remain years later for Flint residents, and it’s important that we don’t forget our brothers and sisters affected by this disaster,” he said in a statement. “As people, especially as Americans, we need to stand together to make sure something like this never happens in any community ever again.”

The organization also selected eight Celebs to Watch in 2018, featuring young talent who give back, including Riverdale star Camila Mendes.

View the 2017 Celebs Gone Good rankings below:

Chance the Rapper
Colin Kaepernick
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Beyoncé
JJ Watt
Kesha
Yara Shahidi
Zendaya
Bethenny Frankel
Nicki Minaj
Lin Manuel Miranda
Lauren Jauregui
Jennifer Lopez
Shawn Mendes
Demi Lovato
Ava DuVernay
John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
Miley Cyrus
Bruno Mars

Celebs to Watch in 2018

Jacob Sartorius
Skai Jackson
Halima Aden
Camila Mendes
Chloe and Halle
Cameron Boyce
Rowan Blanchard
Kiersey Clemons

Mark Consuelos Headed to the CW’s “Riverdale”

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos has landed the father of a role…

The 46-year-old half-Mexican actor has joined the cast of the CW’s Riverdale as a new series regular for Season 2.

Consuelos will play Hiram Lodge, a ruthless, handsome, charismatic businessman who is coming back to Riverdale after weathering a financial scandal that almost destroyed him.

He is there to reconnect with his wife Hermione (Marisol Nichols) and, especially, his daughter Veronica (Camila Mendes), who is the apple of his eye.

Consuelos, who rose to acclaim after starring as Mateo Santos on ABC’s soap opera One Life to Live, most recently co-starred in Fox’s baseball drama series Pitch.

His other television credits include Queen of the South, Kingdom, Alpha House and American Horror Story: Asylum.

Mendes to Appear at “Riverdale” Presentation at This Year’s WonderCon

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s a wonder(con) for Camila Mendes…

The 22-year-old Brazilian American actress will attend this year’s WonderCon to take part in a special video presentation and Q&A with her Riverdale castmates.

Hosted by Warner Bros. Television, the presentation on Friday, March 31 will help “unlock the mystery of Riverdale,” according to organizers.

Along with Mendes, who portrays Veronica Lodge on the CW series based on characters from Archie Comics, KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, Mädchen Amick and Mendes’ TV mom Marisol Nichols will also participate in the event.

Additionally, an exclusive screening of a brand new episode of Riverdale will take place on

This year’s WonderCon will take place from March 31-April 2.

But Mendes and Nichols aren’t the only Latinas set to take WonderCon by storm…

Genesis Rodriguez will take part in her own special video presentation and Q&A for her drama series Time After Time on Friday March 31.

The 29-year-old Cuban and Venezuelan American actress will be joined by fellow cast members Josh Bowman and Nicole Ari Parker to give fans the scoop on the suspenseful new drama and a sneak peek at what lies ahead in the first season.

Check out the schedule below, with more guests set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Friday, March 31

2:45–3:45 p.m. Riverdale Special Video Presentation and Q&A — Unlock the mystery of Riverdale and leave your innocence behind. Join stars KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, Mädchen Amick and Marisol Nichols, along with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater as they dive into the secrets that continue to loom over what may look like a quiet, sleepy town. While new details of Jason Blossom’s death emerge, tension grows between the Riverdale High students, as Jughead’s connection to the Southside Serpents is revealed. Based on the characters from Archie Comics and produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, this one-hour drama is a bold, subversive take on the surreality of small-town life. Arena

3:30-4:30 p.m. Time After Time Special Video Presentation and Q&A — Time After Time makes its WonderCon debut to give fans the scoop on the suspenseful new drama and a sneak peek at what lies ahead in the first season. Who will gain control of the Time Machine? Will H.G.’s and John’s goals become aligned? What is Project Utopia? Will Vanessa discover Griffin’s betrayal? Join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with executive producer Marcos Siega and series stars Josh Bowman, Genesis Rodriguez and Nicole Ari Parker. The series is based on the novel written by Karl Alexander and produced by Outerbanks Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Saturday, April 1

3:15-4:15 p.m. Riverdale Exclusive Screening of Brand New Episode — A WonderCon exclusive! Don’t miss a special advance screening of a brand new episode of Riverdale, airing Thursday, April on CW. Entitled “La Grande Illusion,” the episode will feature a special appearance by Shannon Purser (“Barb” from Stranger Things) as Ethel Muggs, and we uncover more secrets about the long-standing family feud between the Blossoms and the Coopers. Plus, Betty’s relationship with Polly faces additional challenges and Archie finds himself oddly entangled with Cheryl Blossom. Arena

Sunday, April 2

12-1 p.m. Teen Titans Go! All-New Episode and Q&A — WonderCon attendees GO! to this panel and be ready for a fun afternoon with your favorite teen DC Super Heroes. Producers Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath and Peter Michail will join voice actor Greg Cipes to screen an all-new episode and answer your questions about all things Titans. Room 300AB

1-2 p.m. Justice League Action All-New Episode and Q&A — Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Comics Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action. No need to wait for the good stuff to start, as each 11-minute episode has lightning-fast action and heroics. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes is up to any challenge. Voice cast members P.J. Byrne, Rachel Kimsey and Jason J. Lewis, along with producers Jim Krieg and Butch Lukic, will be on hand to screen an all-new episode as well as participate in a Q&A. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Room 300AB

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lucifer Special Video Presentation and Q&A — If you thought all hell broke loose when Lucifer arrived in the City of Angels, just imagine how things will heat up in his absence. Indulge your deepest desires and be among the first to see what’s in store for Chloe Decker and the Devil himself after his mysterious departure in the midseason finale. Join us for a sizzling sneak peek at the second half of season two, followed by a Q&A with stars Tom Ellis, Lauren German, DB Woodside and executive producers Joe Henderson (White Collar) and Ildy Modrovich (CSI: Miami). From Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television and based upon characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for Vertigo from DC Entertainment. Arena

1:45-2:45 p.m. Gotham Special Video Presentation and Q&A — As Gotham City descends into anarchy, join the hit show as it returns to WonderCon to give fans the scoop on all the shocking moments in store for the remainder of season three. With Penguin out of the picture, and a power grab taking place, who will become the new leader of the Gotham underworld? How will Nygma’s embrace of his Riddler persona alter the balance of power, and will any of it matter when the Court of Owls reveals its plans for the city? All will be judged! Join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with series stars and executive producers. The series hails from Warner Bros. Television.

Nichols to Star in CW’s Archie Comics-Based Pilot “Riverdale”

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Marisol Nichols is reporting for mom duty…

The 42-year-old part-Spanish/part-Mexican actress has been cast as Hermione Lodge in Riverdale, the CW pilot based on the Archie Comics characters from producer Greg Berlanti.

Set in present time, Riverdale is a subversive take on Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes) and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.

Nichols will play Hermione Lodge, Veronica’s upscale mother. Hermione has now returned to Riverdale, eager to start fresh with her daughter following the scandalous incarceration of her husband.

In the pilot, from Warner Bros. Television, Nichols also joins Ashleigh Murray (Josie), Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones), Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom) and Luke Perry (Archie’s dad Fred Andrews).

Nichols recurs as Desert Wolf on Teen Wolf, recurred on Criminal Minds and NCIS, and starred on ABC’s Good Christian Belles.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s Brides of Dracula-Themed Project Lands Pilot Production Commitment at NBC

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

NBC is taking a bite out of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s latest project…

The Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer’s gothic soap opera drama with top television producer Greg Berlanti, Brides, has landed at NBC with a pilot production commitment.

Written by Aguirre-Sacasa, Brides is described as a sexy reimagining of Dracula as a family drama with a trio of strong, diverse female leads, a show about empowered women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their non-traditional family.

The project hails from Warner Bros. Television and studio-based Berlanti Productions, with Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti and Sarah Schechter executive producing.

Known in popular culture as the Brides of Dracula, the three characters, originally introduced in Bram Stoker’s classic novel, are portrayed as beautiful and powerful female vampire “sisters” who reside with Count Dracula in his castle in Transylvania where they use their charm to seduce and bewitch men before preying on them. They manage to entrance Van Helsing too before he shakes off their spell and kills them. The characters are a staple in the Dracula mythology and have appeared in most Dracula screen adaptations, headlining the 1960 British movie The Brides Of Dracula.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s project imagines what would have happened if Van Helsing had not killed the three brides of Dracula. What if they survived for centuries and are now living in New York City?

Brides expands the relationship between Aguirre-Sacasa, chief creative officer of Archie Comics, and Berlanti. The two teamed last season for Riverdale, a live-action drama based on the characters from the Archie comics. The project, originally set up at Fox, recently relocated to the CW where it is in active development.

Aguirre-Sacasa previously worked for Marvel Comics, did stints on HBO’s Big Love and Looking and Fox’s Glee, and wrote the feature remakes of Carrie and The Town That Dreaded Sundown as well as the Broadway-bound stage musical adaptation of American Psycho.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s Drama “Riverdale” Headed to the CW

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Archie is moving…

Riverdale, a one-hour drama based on the iconic Archie comic book characters, is moving to the CW.

The subversive take on the well-known franchise’s wholesome town of Riverdale and residents Archie, Betty, Veronica, as well as Josie and the Pussycats, originally was being developed at Fox.

Greg Berlanti still is exec producing via Berlanti Productions, in association with the Nicauraguan-American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer.

Aguirre-Sacasa, Archie Comics’ chief creative officer, is writing the pilot.

“When Greg and I started talking about bringing these characters to life, our first thought was that the best home for them would be the CW,” Aguirre-Sacasa told Deadline. “It took a little longer for us to get there, but now that we’re here, it’s feeling terrific.”

In addition to shepherding Riverdale, Aguirre-Sacasa also is a consulting producer on Supergirl. Aguirre-Sacassa might be best known for writing Afterlife with Archie, in which the Riverdale gang is visited by the undead, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which has been described as the more “nuanced” of the two titles and tracks Sabrina’s encounters with witches and covens.

Archie Comics recently relaunched its flagship character with a new Archie #1. Like Riverdale, the new comic, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Fiona Staples, is a reboot of the classic.

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