Nathan Apodaca Skateboards Through Joe Biden & Kamala Harris’ “Parade Across America”

Nathan Apodaca’s Dream(s) moment continues…

The 38-year-old Mexican-Native American TikTok star (aka DoggFace) displayed the moves that made him go viral on the social media platform, this time as part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala HarrisParade Across America special — hosted by former Scandal star Tony Goldwyn — part of the Inauguration Day festivities, on January 20.

Nathan Apodaca

Apodaca’s new video started with him once again smoothly skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac‘s 1977 hit “Dreams.” Only this time, instead of cruising with a big bottle of Ocean Spray cran-raspberry juice, he had a small U.S. flag in his left hand and a face mask on as he skateboarded around snowy roads in his native Idaho.

Apodaca — whose viral video has received Fleetwood Mac‘s stamp of approval and more than 12.5 million likes since being posted in September — wasn’t the only one rolling around in the clip.

True to the name of the inauguration special, the video also featured Americans from across the country — including Michigan, California, D.C., Massachusetts, Colorado, New York, and more — smoothly skating to “Dreams” in their own states. Like Apodaca, some skateboarders were holding little flags, while others opted to stay true to the original and went with his beverage of choice.

The Parade Across America special also featured appearances by Jon Stewart, a reunion by the New Radicals, DJ Cassidy‘s Pass the Mic, and others. It was just one part of the star-studded Inauguration Day events, which included performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks earlier in the day.

https://twitter.com/BidenInaugural/status/1352003173712420864

Oscar Nuñez to Star in Netflix’s Quarantine Anthology Series “Social Distance”

Oscar Nuñez is keeping his distance…

The 61-year-old Cuban actor and comedian has been cast in Netflix’s upcoming quarantine anthology series Social Distance.

Oscar Nuñez

Hailing from Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan, the series will also star Scandal’s Guillermo Diaz, Love Victor’s Isabella Ferreira, Katy Keene & In The Heights star Daphne Rubin-Vega, Danielle Brooks, Mike Colter Asante Blackk, Peter Scanavino, Lachlan Watson, Max Jenkins and Marsha Stephanie Blake.

Set in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Distance is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation. Each standalone episode is told through a virtual lens and captures the unique emotional experience of being forced apart by circumstance and having no choice but to communicate remotely and rely on technology to maintain any sense of connection. Through these varied and deeply human stories, Social Distance aims to provide some much-needed catharsis during a tumultuous time while also capturing a snapshot of this singular moment in history.

The project was conceived, cast and executed entirely remotely during quarantine. The writers never met during the writing process, Diego Velasco directs talent remotely, Hilary Weisman Graham runs production from her living room and the cast acts and films themselves from home. Some of the actors’ real-life relatives also guest star in the series.

“Many of these stories required casting actors who were quarantined with other actors. That hurdle seriously hindered our options and so casting non-actors was sometimes essential,” said Weisman Graham on the decision to cast actors’ family members. “It was definitely a roll of the dice, but thankfully, we were thrilled to discover that talent really does breed talent. These family members may not have had aspirations to be in front of the camera when we first started, but they should all quit their day jobs immediately.”

Weisman Graham, who also serves as showrunner, executive produces with Tara Herrmann, Blake McCormick and Kohan. Velasco, who directed an episode of Orange Is the New Black and is working with Kohan on her upcoming series Teenage Bounty Hunters is directing and will co-executive produce.

Social Distance cast members include (in no particular episodic order):

Danielle Brooks with real-life mother LaRita Brooks and brother DJ Brooks; Marsha Stephanie Blake with real-life daughter Rocco Luna; Misha Brooks; Isabella Ferreira; Oscar Nunez; Daphne Rubin-Vega with real-life husband Tom Costanzo and son Luca Costanzo; Guillermo Diaz; Miguel Sandoval; Camila Perez; Olli Haaskivi; Giana Aragon; Mike Colter; Okieriete Onaodowan; real-life spouses Heather Burns and Ajay; Shakira Barrera; Steven Weber with real-life son Jack Hohnen-Weber; Helena Howard; Asante Blackk with real-life father Ayize Ma’at; Lovie Simone;

Max Jenkins; Brian Jordan Alvarez; Peter Vack; Rana Roy; Peter Scanavino with real-life son Leo Bai-Scanavino; Ali Ahn; Tami Sagher; Barbara Rosenblat; Michael Mulheren; real-life spouses Becky Ann Baker and Dylan Baker; Sunita Mani; real-life spouses Raymond Anthony Thomas and Marcia Debonis; Kylie Liya Page; Lachlan Watson; David Iacono; Will Meyers; Niles Fitch; and Ava Demary.

Nuñez is best known for starring on NBC’s The Office.

Susan Santiago to Star in The CW’s Drama Pilot “Glamorous”

Susan Santiago is livin’ theglamorouslife…

The Spanish actress will star opposite Peyton ListBrooke Shields and Ben J. Pierce in The CW’s drama pilot Glamorous.

Susan Santiago

The project hailsfrom Damon Wayans Jr. and his Two Shakes Entertainment, writer Jordon Nardinoand CBS Television Studios.

Written by Nardino and directed by Eva Longoriain her pilot-directing debut, Glamorous centers on Marco (Pierce), a gender-nonconforming recent high school graduate who lands the gig of a lifetime interning at a cosmetics company whose products he panned on YouTube.

Santiago will portray Julia, a no-nonsense lawyer who has raised her son in a loving and supportive environment where he’s always been held to the highest of standards. As her son leaves the nest for the first time, Julia fights to keep him on the ambitious (if colorless) path in life she is absolutely certain is best for him

List will play AlyssaSays, an over-the-top YouTubepersonality with a competitive edge who finds an unexpected home at the same cosmetics firm as Marco.

Santiago was recently seen in the critically praised The Hate U Give and is best known for her guest-starring and recurring appearances on Grey’s AnatomyLongmireScandalHow to Get Away With Murder and Criminal Minds. Her producing debut, Illegal, in which she also stars, will premiere in competition at the upcoming Pasadena Film Festival

Justina Machado Wins First-Ever Imagen Award for Her “One Day at a Time” Performance

The third time’s the charm for Justina Machado

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican actress, a three-time nominee, picked up her first Imagen Award. The awards honor the positive portrayal and creative excellence of Latinos and Latino cultures on screen.

Justina Machado

Machado, who’d previously been nominated for her performances on HBO’s Six Feet Under in 2005 and 2006, took home the Best Actress – Television award for her performance in Netflix’s One Day at a Time, which was named Best Primetime Television Program – Comedy.

Machado’s on screen children, Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz, also picked up awards. Gomez was named Best Supporting Actress – Television; Ruiz was named Best Young Actor – Television.

Scandal star Guillermo Diaz was named Best Actor – Television, his first Imagen Award in two attempts.

Peter Gadiot picked up his first Imagen Award, and his first acting prize in his first-ever nomination. The 31-year-old half-Mexican actor was named Best Supporting Actor – Television for his work on Queen of The South.

In film, Miguel Arteta won the best director award for Beatriz at Dinner, while Diego Luna was named best actor – feature film for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Best actress – feature film was awarded to Salma Hayek for her work in How to be a Latin Lover.

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family were given the Imagen Foundation’s President’s Award for their humanitarian and artistic contributions.

The Imagen Awards were hosted by comedian/actress Aida Rodriguez before more than 600 attendees.

The Imagen Awards 2017 winners were judged and selected in seventeen categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. The Imagen Awards program was established in 1985.

Here’s a look at the complete list of 2017 Imagen Awards winners:

Best Picture: How to be a Latin Lover
Best Director: Miguel Arteta, Beatriz at Dinner
Best Actor – Feature Film: Diego Luna, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Best Actress – Feature Film: Salma Hayek, How to be a Latin Lover
Best Primetime Television Program – Drama: Queen of the South
Best Primetime Television Program – Comedy: One Day at a Time
Best Primetime Program: Specials, Movies, & Mini-Series: American Crime
Best Actor – Television: Guillermo Diaz, Scandal
Best Actress – Television: Justina Machado, One Day at a Time
Best Supporting Actor – Television: Peter Gadiot, Queen of The South
Best Supporting Actress – Television: Isabella Gomez, One Day at a Time
Best Young Actor – Television: Marcel Ruiz, One Day at a Time
Best Variety or Reality Show: Fluffy Breaks Even
Best Children’s Programming: Elena of Avalor
Best Documentary: ESPN Features: SC Reportajes “The Heights”
Best Informational Program: Gaycation with Ellen Page
Best On-Air Advertising: Acura MDX: “Family Home”

Chavira to Star in CBS’ NASA-Themed Drama Pilot “Mission Control”

Ricardo Chavira’s career is going out of this world…

The Mexican-American actor has been cast as a series regular in CBSNASA-themed drama pilot Mission Control.

Ricardo Chavira

He is joining the project, from The Martian author Andy Weir, The Martian producer Simon Kinberg and CBS Studios, in a recasting.

Written by Weir and directed by Jeremy Podeswa, Mission Control revolves around the next generation of NASA astronauts and scientists who juggle their personal and professional lives during a critical mission with no margin for error.

Chavira will play Diaz, director of the Johnson Space Center. He replaces Nestor Serrano, who originally was cast in the role.

Chavira, who starred on Desperate Housewives, just wrapped a season-long recurring arc as Bruce on the CW’s Jane the Virgin, also from CBS Studios.

Additionally, he is coming off high-profile arcs on ABC’s Scandal and Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet.

Pino to Star in Procedural Drama Series “Gone”

Danny Pino is going, going, Gone

The 42-year-old Cuban American actor and former Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Cold Case alum will star opposite Chris Noth and Leven Rambin in Gone, a 12-episode procedural drama series for NBCUniversal International Studios, Germany’s RTL and France’s TF1.

Danny Pino

The series, which eyes a launch in winter 2017-18, was created by Matt Lopez (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) based on Chelsea Cain’s novel One Kick.

The project tells the fictional story of Kit “Kick” Lannigan (Rambin), survivor of a famous child-abduction case, and Frank Booth (Noth), the FBI agent who rescued her. Determined never to fall victim again, Kick trains in martial arts and the use of firearms. She finds her calling when Booth persuades her to join a special task force he created dedicated to solving abductions and missing persons cases. Paired with former Army intelligence officer John Bishop (Pino), Kick brings her unique understanding of the mind of a predator. Bishop is initially skeptical about bringing Kick onto the team, but over the course of the season, he will come to appreciate her unique skill-set and they will become a formidable crime-solving duo.

Pino most recently starred opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Tony Shalhoub in CBS’ critically praised series Braindead. He previously played Detective Nick Amaro on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for multiple seasons, and starred for seven seasons as Detective Scotty Valens on Cold Case. He also recurred on ABC’s Scandal.

Cardenas Cast as a Series Regular on FX’s “Snowfall” Pilot from John Singleton

Juan Javier Cardenas is bracing for a White season 

The Latino actor has been cast as a series regular on FX’s Snowfall, the 1980s cocaine-epidemic drama pilot from John Singleton.

Juan Javier Cardenas

Co-created and executive produced by Boyz N The Hood director Singleton and Erick Amadio, and directed by El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the pilot has been undergoing a revamp.

In addition to Cardenas, who has made appearances on The Good Wife, Blue Bloods and Law & Order SVU, new additions to the cast include Carter Hudson, Angela Lewis and Filipe Valle Costa.

Hudson will play Teddy McDonald, a CIA operative banished to the Los Angeles office after a tragic misstep in the past. When he sees an opportunity to reverse his fortunes, Teddy risks everything to get his life back on track. Lewis will portray Louise Saint, Franklin’s (Damson Idris) party girl aunt.

Cardenas will play Alejandro Usteves, a calculating rebel from the Nicaraguan Contras movement who is determined to keep his revolution alive by any means necessary.

Costa will play Pedro, the cocky heir apparent of a Mexican crime family that sells marijuana throughout Los Angeles.

Cardenas’ other TV credits include Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, NCIS: Los Angeles and Scandal.

Costa’s credits include Blue Bloods, Gotham, and the feature film Hamlet.

Chavira to Star in Netflix’s Comedy Series “Santa Clarita Diet”

Ricardo Chavira is going on a diet

The 44-year-old Mexican American actor and former Desperate Housewives star, who has a high-profile recurring role on Scandal this season, is set to co-star opposite Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant in Santa Clarita Diet, Netflix’s upcoming single-camera comedy series

Ricardo Chavira

From creator Victor Fresco, the series is set for 2017 debut.

In Santa Clarita Diet, Joel (Olyphant) and Sheila (Barrymore) are husband and wife realtors leading vaguely discontented lives in the L.A. suburb of Santa Clarita, until Sheila goes through a dramatic change sending both their lives down a road of death and destruction — but in a good way.

Chavira will play their neighbor, a law-enforcement officer who loves his work.

Chavira plays presidential candidate Senator Vargas on ABC’s Scandal this season.

Smollett & His Empire Castmates to Appear at This Year’s PaleyFest Los Angeles

Jussie Smollett is bringing his Empire to this year’s PaleyFest…

Fox’s hip-hop drama Empire, starring the 32-year-old Brazilian American actor/singer, will make its debut at the 33rd annual PaleyFest Los Angeles in March, headlining the lineup unveiled by the Paley Center for Media.

Jussie Smollett

Smollet will be joined onstage by the show’s leads Terrence Howard and newly minted Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson and other cast members, as well as creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and executive producer Ilene Chaiken.

Empire will be joined by panels featuring the casts and creators of FX’s anthology  Starz drama Power, which launches it third season in June; and Fox’s freshman Scream Queens.

Also on the schedule this year: Fear The Walking Dead on March 19 and ABC’s Scandal on March 15.

This year’s William S. Paley Television Festival runs March 11-20 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Here’s the list so far of panels with Latino cast and crew making an appearance, along with dates and times:

Friday, March 11

Opening Night Presentation
Empire (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Terrence Howard, “Lucious Lyon”
Taraji P. Henson, “Cookie Lyon”
Jussie Smollett, “Jamal Lyon”
Bryshere Gray, “Hakeem Lyon”
Trai Byers, “Andre Lyon”
Grace Gealey, “Anika Calhoun”
Kaitlin Doubleday, “Rhonda Lyon”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Becky”
Ta’Rhonda Jones, “Porsha”
Serayah, “Tiana Brown”
Lee Daniels, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Danny Strong, Co-Creator & Executive Producer
Ilene Chaiken, Executive Producer
Brian Grazer, Executive Producer 

Scream Queens (7 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Emma Roberts, “Chanel Oberlin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Dean Cathy Munsch”
Lea Michele, “Hester Ulrich”
Abigail Breslin, “Chanel #5”
Skyler Samuels, “Grace Gardner”
Keke Palmer, “Zayday Williams”
Billie Lourd, “Chanel #3”
Niecy Nash, “Officer Denise Hemphill” 

Tuesday, March 15

Scandal (7:30 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kerry Washington, “Olivia Pope”
Guillermo Diaz, “Huck”
Darby Stanchfield, “Abby Whelan”
Katie Lowes, “Quinn Perkins”
Tony Goldwyn, “President Fitzgerald ‘Fitz’Grant”
Jeff Perry, “Cyrus Beene”
Bellamy Young, “Mellie Grant”
Joshua Malina, “David Rosen”
Scott Foley, “Jake Ballard”
Portia de Rossi, “Elizabeth North”
Cornelius Smith Jr., “Marcus Walker”
Joe Morton, “Rowan Pope”
Shonda Rhimes, Creator & Executive Producer
Betsy Beers, Executive Producer 

Saturday, March 19

Fear the Walking Dead (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Kim Dickens, “Madison Clark”
Cliff Curtis, “Travis Manawa”
Frank Dillane, “Nick Clark”
Alycia Debnam-Carey, “Alicia Clark”
Lorenzo James Henrie, “Christopher Manawa”
Ruben Blades, “Daniel Salazar”
Mercedes Mason, “Ofelia Salazar”
Colman Domingo, “Victor Strand”
Dave Erickson, Showrunner/Executive Producer/Co-Creator/Writer
Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer 

Sunday, March 20

Power (2 PM)
Moderator: TBA
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, “Kanan” & Executive Producer
Omari Hardwick, “James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick”
Lela Loren, “Angela Valdes”
Naturi Naughton, “Tasha St. Patrick”
Joseph Sikora, “Tommy Egan”
Courtney Kemp Agboh, Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer

Fox Developing Latino-Themed Romeo and Juliet Project

It looks like William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet is getting a Latin makeover…

Fox, showing commitment to getting a Latino drama series off the ground, is looking at an untitled project written/executive produced by Mexican writer-producer  Eduardo Cisneros (Instructions Not Included) and Jason Shuman (Role Models, Lone Survivor).

Romeo and Juliet

From 20th Century Fox Television, it’s described as a modern Romeo and Juliet tale set against the backdrop of Los Angeles’ new Latino wealth in the music and radio industry.

Fox recently took a stab at a  Latino-themed Urban Cowboy remake, which did not go beyond the pilot stage.

Romeo and Juliet has been a popular classic concept for the networks to exploit. This development season, ABC has Still Star-Crossed, a Romeo And Juliet sequel drama based on a book from Scandal co-executive producer Heather Mitchell.