Peacock Now Streaming Gina Torres’ “Suits” Spin-off “Pearson”

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres is suiting up for Peacock…

Peacock is hoping to drive viewership to Pearson, the short-lived Suits spin-off starring the 54-year-old Cuban American actress, after the latter became a surprising hit on Netflix this summer.

The NBCUniversal streamer has officially added the show, which starred Torres as her Suits character Jessica Pearson, to its service. The hope: that new Suits fans may discover the spinoff as well, which isn’t available on Netflix.

Pearson ran for one season on the cable network in 2019 but was canceled a month and a half after its season ended.

Pearson centered on Torres’ powerhouse lawyer as she enters the dirty world of Chicago politics.

It also stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Morgan Spector, Chantel Riley, Simon Kassianides, Eli Goree and Isabel Arraiza.

Pearson originated on Suits, whose Season 7 finale served as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff.

The offshoot, which hailed from Universal Cable Productions, was executive produced by Suits creator and EP Aaron Korsh; Suits EP Daniel Arkin, who served as showrunner; Torres; and Suits executive producers Doug Liman, David Bartis and Gene Klein of Hypnotic.

The move will see NBCU try and win over some Netflix subscribers who may have binged (or be binging) parent show Suits, which has spent six weeks on top of the Nielsen charts.

Earlier this summer, the series broke a Nielsen streaming record for acquired programming; it drew 3.1B viewing minutes during the week of June 26 to July 2 across Netflix and Peacock. The first season of the show was also watched for 27.7M hours in the w/c June 19 after being added to Netflix and stayed in that streamer’s top ten for a number of weeks.

All Seasons of Lana Parrilla’s “Once Upon a Time” to Begin Streaming on Hulu in September

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s once more time for Lana Parrilla.

All seven seasons of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, starring the 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress as Regina Mills/The Evil Queen, will start streaming on Hulu on September 1.

The fairytale drama has been streaming exclusively on Disney+ since it left Netflix; it will now be shared by the two Disney entertainment platforms.

Exclusivity, considered paramount in the early stages of the streaming wars, has taken a back seat to media companies’ push for additional revenue and profitability. The strategy shift has led to original HBO series streaming on Netflix, for example, with NBCUniversal’s Suits also finding its way to the global streamer.

At Disney, there has been increasing cross-pollination between previously walled-up Disney+ and Hulu.

Once Upon a Time is considered a quintessential Disney+ series as it has been built on classic Disney IP, including most Disney princesses.

The move comes as both Disney+ and Hulu shed dozens of series and specials earlier this year in a cost-cutting measure as Disney is preparing to roll out a single streaming app with programming from both Hulu and Disney+ by the end of this year.

Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, One Upon a Time, which streamed on Hulu during its run on ABC, blends the fantastical and real worlds with fairytale characters living in Storybrooke, ME. Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas and Lana Parrilla star.

Gina Torres to Star in Netflix’s Romantic Comedy “The Perfect Find”

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a perfect find for Gina Torres…

The 52-year-old Cuban-American actress has joined the cast of Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers’ Netflix romantic comedy feature The Perfect Find.

Torres is reportedly stepping in for Niecy Nash, who departed the project due to a scheduling conflict.

The Leigh Davenport- and Numa Perrier-scripted movie, based on the Tia Williams novel, follows a 40-year-old woman with everything on the line: Her high-stakes career, ticking biological clock, bank account as she risks it all for an intensely lusty secret romance with the one person who could destroy her comeback. Perrier also directs.

Torres stars as Tommy Vega on 9-1-1: Lone Star and also starred on ABC’s The Catch, NBC’s Hannibal, USA’s Suits and Firefly and its feature movie Serenity, as well as the Matrix franchise movies.

Gina Torres & Her “Suits” Co-Stars to Reunite for “Suit Up For Georgia: A Game Night”

Posted on December 26, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s game on for Gina Torres…

The original cast of USA Network’s hit series Suits, including the 51-year-old Cuban American actress, along with fan-favorite recurring players and creator Aaron Korsh, will headline Suit Up For Georgia: A Game Night reunion.

Hosted by Suits star Patrick J. Adams and his wife, Pretty Little Liars actress Troian Bellisario, the Democratic Party of Georgia event will be held on Sunday, December 27 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

Adams and Bellisario will be joined by Suits regular/recurring cast members Torres, Rick Hoffman, Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, Rachael Harris, Amy Acker, DB Woodside, Denise Crosby, Amanda Schull, Max Topplin, David Costabile and Ray Proscia, Suits creator and executive producer Korsh, and special guests.

They are not expected to include original co-star Meghan Markle who, as a member of the British Royal family, has refrained from taking sides in an U.S. election.

“There is no better reason to revisit the world of Suits than to help turn out the vote for the Senate runoff election in Georgia,” said Adams. “I’m looking forward to bringing Mike Ross back to life for a fun night with Troian and my Suits friends, new and old, in support of such a crucial effort.”

To watch the reunion, fans can make a donation of any amount at SuitUpforGeorgia.com, with all proceeds and efforts going towards getting out the vote for Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock and flipping the U.S. Senate. They will include Adrienne White, Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

“As a longtime fan of the show, I’m thrilled to have so many members of the Suits cast join us here in Georgia to host a virtual game night,” said White. “With New Years’ and January 5 just around the corner, Georgia Democrats are determined to go into 2021 with momentum in these runoff elections. The grassroots donations and volunteer sign-ups from this event will give us the boost we need, and I’m so thankful to the cast of Suits for their support.”

Fox Releases First Trailer for Gina Torres’ Drama “9-1-1: Lone Star”

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres is readying for an explosive return to television…

Fox has released the first trailer for Season 2 of its spinoff drama 9-1-1: Lone Star, starring the 51-year-old Cuban American actress and former Suits/Pearson star.

In keeping with the franchise’s past season openers, a major disaster is hitting town — and it’s up to the first responders to keep their heads and save our souls.

The Los Angeles-set mothership 9-1-1 has launched previous seasons with an earthquake, a tsunami and a dam break, and now the Austin-set Lone Star team must deal with a volcanic eruption.

Season 2 sees the arrival of Torres in the series-regular role of Paramedic Capt. Tommy Vega, following Liv Tyler’s exit after the first season.

“Welcome to the 126,” Capt. Owen Strand (Rob Lowe) tells Vega in the teaser. “I think we’re gonna have some fun together.” She replies, “Oh, you bet we are.”

Ronen Rubinstein, Jim Parrack, Sierra McClain, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Julian Works and Rafael Silva also star in 9-1-1: Lone Star, which will follow its parent series on Mondays this season. Both will launch on January 18.

9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Century Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.

Gina Torres to Star on Season Two of Fox’s Drama Series “9-1-1: Lone Star”

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres is Texas bound…

The 51-year-old Cuban American actress has been cast as a series regular for the second season of Fox’s 9-11 spinoff series 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Torres, best known for her role as Jessica Pearson on USA Network’s Suitsand Pearson, will star opposite Liv Tyler and Rob Lowe on the series.

9-1-1: Lone Star hails from 9-1-1 creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear.

Set in Austin, it follows Owen (Lowe), a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to the Texas capital and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

Torres will play Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters. For eight years life was great, until COVID-19 changed her life. With her husband’s restaurant going under, Tommy has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.

The role reunites Torres and Minear, who worked together on Fox’s sci-fi drama series Firefly.

“We are so excited to be expanding our 9-1-1-verse with the addition of Gina Torres,” said Minear. “I’ve been dying to write for her again ever since Firefly. Gina brings warmth, intelligence and command to everything she does. 2020 is finally looking up.”

9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Century Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.

Season 2 is scheduled to begin production in Los Angeles later this fall for a premiere in early 2021 as part of the network’s midseason schedule.

Torres earned an ALMA Award, an Imagen Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series for her role as Jessica Pearson.

She most recently was cast as the lead of the Dracula reimagining drama pilot The Bridesat ABC. The Alias and Angel alumna also did an arc on HBO’s Westworld.

Gina Torres to Star in ABC’s Supernatural Drama Pilot “The Brides”

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres is vampin’ things up…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actress will lead the cast of The Brides, ABC’s supernatural drama pilot from Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina developer/executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

Written by Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Maggie Kiley, The Brides, a sexy contemporary reimagining of Dracula, is a family drama with a trio of powerful female leads at its heart. With strong horror elements, The Brides is a vampire soap about empowered, immortal women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their nontraditional family.

Torres plays Cleo Phillips. One of the three Brides of Draculaand the leader of this vampire trio, Cleo is an imperious woman with a queenly manner —understandably, as she was a queen in her former life who was turned by Dracula after the death of her husband. Now a maven of New York City real estate, Cleo is challenged professionally by a mysterious newcomer — even as her ties to her sisters are dangerously fraying.

While the focus will be on the women, the character of Dracula is featured in the show.

Torres recently played Jessica Pearson, first on USA Network’s popular original series Suits and then in the network’s Chicago-set spinoff series Pearson, which Torres headlined and executive produced. The role has earned Torres an ALMA Award, an Imagen Awardand the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series.

At ABC, Torres co-starred on the Shondalanddrama series The Catch, recurred on Revenge and toplined the 2016 pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez. Angel and Firefly alumna Torres also did an arc on HBO’s Westwood.

USA Network Renews Alice Braga’s “Queen of the South” for Fifth Season

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Alice Braga’s reign continues…

USA Network has picked up a fifth season of its hit drama series Queen of the South, starring the 36-year-old Brazilian actress. The announcement comes on the heels of the show’s Season 4 finale.

Now that Suits is coming to an end, Queen of the South will take the mantle of USA’s longest-running scripted series on the air.

Despite running largely under the radar with no major awards recognition or big name film stars, Queen of the South has been one of USA’s most reliable ratings performers. A co-production between Fox 21 Television Studiosand UCP, Queen of the South is Thursday’s #1 cable drama in P18-49, P18-34, P25-54, and P2+ year to date.

Starring Braga, Queen of the South is based on the bestselling book La Reina del Surby Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Braga), a woman who’s forced to run from the Mexican cartel and seek refuge in America. In Season 3, Teresa struck out on her own, determined to build a new empire for herself. But as enemies old and new closed in, she realized that being queen would require more work — and more sacrifice — than she ever imagined.

Queen of the Southmarked Braga’s first big U.S. television role.

Gina Torres to Star in “The Hating Game”

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torresis joining the Game…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actress and Suitsstar will star opposite Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell in the rom-com The Hating Game, which is set to start shooting in New York in August.

Peter Hutchingswill direct Christina Mengert’s adaptation of the best-selling novel by Sally Thorne.

The film tells the story of kind-hearted Lucy Hutton (Hale) and her cold-efficient nemesis Joshua Templeton (Amell). Resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against Josh, a rivalry that is impossibly complicated by her growing attraction to him.

Torres will star as a co-CEO of two recently merged publishing houses where Lucy and Josh work.

Torres currently stars in and co-executive produces USA Network’s Pearson, the Torres-pitched spinoff of the network’s hit series Suits.

Isabel Arraiza to Star in USA Network’s “Suits” Spinoff Series with Gina Torres

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Isabel Arraiza is Suits-ing up…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of USANetwork and Universal Cable Prods.’s upcoming Suits spinoff series starring Gina Torres.

Arraiza joins a cast that includes Bethany Joy Lenz, Chantel Riley, Eli Goree, Simon Kassianides and Morgan Spector.

Centered on powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson (Torres) as she adjusts to the dirty world of Chicago politics, the spinoff hails from UCPand is executive produced by Suitscreator and executive producer Aaron Korsh alongside executive producer and showrunner Daniel Arkin.

The project was introduced in the Season 7 finale of Suits, which served as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff. It featured four main characters at the center of the offshoot, played by Torres, Kassianides, Spector and Rebecca Rittenhouse.

The role played by Rittenhouse in the backdoor pilot is being recast with Lenz. Riley will reprise a character that she played as a guest star in the backdoor pilot, while Arraiza and Goree play new characters.

Arraiza will portray Yoli Castillo, Jessica’s passionate assistant who will learn from the best how to most effectively channel her intensity.

The series is starting production in Los Angeles.

Arraiza’s previous credits include television appearances on The Oath, Elementary and American Dreamer.

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