Eva La Rue Among the Former ABC Soap Opera Stars to Be Featured in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Benefit

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eva La Rue is joining the Children for a special fundraising event…

The 54-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress will join some of her former All My Children cast members, as well as stars of ABC’s other classic daytime dramas One Life to Live and General Hospital for a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit.

La Rue and her fellow soap opera stars will reunite next month to present a streaming concert of their past musical performances.

ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway will gather musical performances by soap stars including La Rue, Susan Lucci and Anthony Geary during the seven annual benefit concerts staged in New York from 2005-11. The daytime actors will revisit the performances in new interviews as part of the special.

The special will stream free of charge on February 11.

The lineup of performers includes Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan, Vincent Irizarry, La Rue, Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Eden Riegel, Chrishell Stause and Walt Willey (from All My Children); Kristen Alderson, BethAnn Fuenmayor, Kathy Brier, Kassie DePaiva, David Gregory, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Catherine Hickland, Mark Lawson, Hillary B. Smith, Jason Tam and Brittany Underwood (One Life To Live); and Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash and Anthony Geary (General Hospital).

“There are no fans like ABC Daytime fans,” said Lucci in a statement. “Their love and support continue to astonish us. We can’t wait to share these special performances with them and help raise money for so many in need during this difficult time.”

The concerts were staged at New York City’s Town Hall, and included production numbers, Broadway show tunes, ballads and comedy skits. The concert series began in 2005 as a one-night-only benefit to mark the 35th anniversary of All My Children, but fan support prompted ABC to stage the annual event for another six years. Over its seven-year run, ABC Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares raised $1.85 million.

Tom Viola, Broadway Cares Executive Director, said, “We are so thankful to the stars from ABC Daytime for joining us again as we relive moments from this delightful tradition, while helping to provide lifesaving medication, healthy meals and emergency support to those struggling during this ongoing pandemic.”

This free streamed event can be viewed beginning February 11, 8:00 pm ET, here, as well as on Broadway Cares’ YouTube channel, across ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and each of the eight station’s websites around the country, including abc7ny.com in New York; and on Good Morning America’s Facebook page.

While the stream is free, donations will be accepted for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, with all proceeds to provide people affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses with healthy meals, lifesaving medication, emergency financial assistance, housing, counseling and more. The donations also support and champion organizations focused on social justice and anti-racism.

Mark Consuelos Developing “Pine Valley,” the Primetime Version of ABC’s Beloved Soap Opera “All My Children”

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos is returning to his soap opera roots…

ABC is in early development on Pine Valley, a primetime version of the network’s beloved daytime drama All My Children, with the 49-year-old half-Mexican actor and his wife Kelly Ripa executive producing alongside Andrew Stearn and filmmaker Robert Nixon, son of the late AMC creator Agnes Nixon.

In the All My Children followup, written/executive produced by Leo Richardson, a young journalist with a secret agenda comes to expose the dark and murderous history of a town named Pine Valley only to become entangled in a feud between the Kane and Santos families. The series explores all the secrets that come with the Kane and Santos family names.

Kane was one of AMC’s founding families, with Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) becoming one of television’s most popular characters. Ripa and Consuelos, who played Hayley & Mateo Santos on the original series, executive produce via their Milojo Productions alongside the company’s Albert Bianchini. Stearn executive produces through his Andrew Stearn Productions. The company is based at ABC Signature, which is the studio on the project.

Pine Valley will feature a new generation of characters and some old favorites. There are currently no deals in place with original cast members, but the plan is to invite a number of them to make an appearance, with Ripa and Consuelos also possible making a cameo.

Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children aired for 41 years on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011, originally in a half-hour format before expanding to hourlong episodes in 1977. The series was set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictional suburb of Philadelphia, which is modeled on the actual Philadelphia suburb of Rosemont.

Pine Valley plans to continue the original series’ legacy of tackling difficult issues and being inclusive. AMC was the first series to comprehensively address the Vietnam War and to have a character undergo a legal abortion. The soap also featured a transgender storyline a decade and a half ago.

As it will be in primetime, Pine Valley will have a heightened tone and will wink to the daytime soap genre similar to how the CW’s Jane the Virgin paid homage to telenovelas.

Lifetime Renews Sanchez’s “Devious Maids” for Fourth Season

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sánchez has more Devious days ahead…

Lifetime has picked up Devious Maids, starring the 42-year-old actress/singer for a fourth season.

The announcement comes a month after the soapy mystery drama finished airing its third season.

“Devious Maids is a steady hit that continues to deliver for us. It has found a loyal audience that is socially engaged with the show,” says Lifetime Executive Vice President Liz Gateley about the renewal.

Devious Maids‘ third season launched with 1.47 million viewers in Live+Same Day and ended with a 1.53 million. Additionally, the series wrapped the season with an uptick, hitting season highs with the last two episodes (1.52 million, 1.53 million).

In addition to total viewers, the August 24 finale also logged season highs among adults 25-54 and women 25-54.

Devious Maids, from ABC Studios and executive producers Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria, stars Sánchez, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramírez, Judy Reyes, Rebecca Wisocky and Susan Lucci.

It’s set in a world where murder and mayhem collide in the mansions of Beverly Hills’ wealthiest and most powerful families.

Inspired by the hit telenovela, Ellas son… la alegría del hogar, Devious Maids was created by Cherry.

Lifetime Renews Sanchez’s “Devious Maids” for a 13-Episode Third Season

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more deviousness in Roselyn Sánchez’s future…

More than two months after Devious Maids’ second season came to a close, Lifetime has picked up the 41-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer’s mystery comedy-drama for a 13-episode third season.

Ratings-wise, Devious Maids earned its renewal. Its second season premiere episode in April, which was directed by the show’s executive producer Eva Longoria, was on par with its series debut in total viewers (2 million) and climbed 15% in 18-49. It didn’t experience the ratings upswing of the dramedy’s freshman season, which grew to 3 million in the finale, but has averaged a strong 1.8 million viewers in Live+same day calculations.

Created by Marc Cherry and inspired by the Mexican telenovela Ellas son… la alegría del hogar, Devious Maids stars Sánchez, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramírez, Edy Ganem, Judy Reyes, Rebecca Wisocky and Susan Lucci.

Cherry executive produces the series with Longoria and othes, including Televisa USA’s Paul Presburger and Michael Garcia.

Longoria to Direct Lifetime’s “Devious Maids” Season Two Opener

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is adding another title to her resume… television series director.

The 38-year-old Mexican American actress will direct the season two premiere episode of Lifetime’s hit series Devious Maids, marking her television directorial debut.

The series, executive produced by Longoria and for former Desperate Housewives boss Marc Cherry, stars Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramírez, Roselyn Sánchez, Edy Ganem and Judy Reyes as five maids with ambition and dreams of their own while working for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills, a place where murder and mayhem collide in the posh mansions of the city’s wealthiest and most powerful families.

Inspired by the hit telenovela, Ellas son… la alegría del hogar, Devious Maids is Lifetime’s fastest-growing scripted series ever and is the number one series across cable in its Sunday time period among women. Its finale last September garnered three million total viewers, making the episode Lifetime’s best drama telecast in 2013.

Devious Maids also stars Susan Lucci, Grant Show, Rebecca Wisocky, Tom Irwin, Mariana Klaveno, Matt Cedeño, Melinda Page Hamilton and Drew Van Acker. Joining the cast this season are Dominic Adams, Joanna Adler and Colin Woodell.

Devious Maids returns for its second season on Sunday, April 20 at 10:00 pm ET.

Lifetime Renews Sanchez’s “Devious Maids” for a Second Season

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez will be reporting for maid duty for another season…

As predicted, Lifetime has renewed the 40-year-old Puerto Rican actress’ sudser Devious Maids for a 13-episode second season.

Following a not-so-spectacular premiere, the telenovela adaptation has managed to see ratings steadily improve to become Lifetime’s fastest-growing drama in its history.

On August 4, Devious Maids garnered a series high 2.9 million total viewers, up 45% vs. the show’s June 23 premiere. This past Sunday the series registered 2.7 million viewers.

Devious Maids has made Lifetime the No.1 cable network in the Sunday 10 PM time slot among women.

“One of the most daring series on television, Devious Maids has quickly become a hit,” said Lifetime’s EVP and GM Rob Sharenow.

Created by Marc Cherry and executive produced by Eva Longoria, the series is based on the telenovela Ellas son la alegría del hogar.

Devious Maids centers on a close-knit group of maids (Sanchez, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramírez, Edy Ganem and Judy Reyes), bonded together by their jobs, life struggles and boss’ melodramatic “upstairs-downstairs” universe.

The women turn to one another for support after a fellow maid Flora (Paula Garcés) is brutally murdered at the home of her employers.

Devious Maids also stars Susan Lucci, Rebecca Wisocky, Tom Irwin, Mariana Klaveno, Grant Show, Matt Cedeño, Melinda Page Hamilton, Drew Van Acker, Brianna Brown and Brett Cullen.

Lifetime Releases Teaser Videos of Sanchez’s “Devious Maids”

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

If you’re dying to see Roselyn Sánchez get downright devious, here’s your chance…

Lifetime has released some sneak-peek videos of Marc Cherry’s new soapy dramedy Devious Maids, which stars the 39-year-old Puerto Rican actress, as well as Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez, Susan Lucci and Grant Show.

Coming to Lifetime next year, the series—which is being executive produced by Eva Longoria— follows four ambitious Latina maids with big dreams of their own who work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills.

In one promo video, Rebecca Wisocky‘s Evelyn Powell warns a maid to stay away from her husband before the bloodied housekeeper is seen falling into a swimming pool. Another preview shows four other maids discussing whether or not they should go to police with information that might shed light on the maid’s death.

Devious Maids, based on a popular Televisa telenovela, was originally being developed for ABC. But after the network failed to send it to series, Lifetime swooped in to give it a lifeline.

A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet.

Sanchez’s “Devious Maids” Headed to Lifetime…

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Marc Cherry’s Devious Maids pilot, starring Roselyn Sanchez, will be heading to series at Lifetime.

The cable network has delivered a 13-episode order for the ABC Studios-produced project, which was originally developed for ABC but didn’t get picked to go to series.

“This show and Marc Cherry’s unique story telling voice perfectly articulate Lifetime’s strategy of attracting top-tier creatives with their most original and exciting projects,” said Lifetime’s president Nancy Dubuc and EVP Rob Sharenow in a joint statement.

Based on the hit Mexican telenovela Ellas son la Alegría del Hogar, Devious Maids follows the lives of a group of ambitious maids who work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills while attempting to make their own dreams reality.

Along with Sanchez, Devious Maids stars Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez and Susan Lucci.

The pilot will reportedly undergo some tweaking and reshoots for its move to Lifetime, according to Deadline.com, including the possible elimination of the role played by Angelique Cabral.

Devious Maids will be executive produced by Cherry, who wrote the adaptation, as well as his producing partner Sabrina Wind and Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria.

Production on Devious Maids will be based in Atlanta, with the series slated to launch on Lifetime in 2013.

Estefan’s Rocky Horror “Hotel Nacional” Video?

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s encouraged everybody to do the conga… And, now Gloria Estefan is encouraging people to get their swing on…

The 54-year-old Cuban-born singer recently released the video for her latest single “Hotel Nacional,” the song which helped Estefan make history as the first woman to debut at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Songs chart.

Estefan’s compelling clip—an ode to cinema—is like one part Cabaret, one part The Bird Cage and two parts The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Directed by High School Musical and This Is It director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, the music video features Estefan serving as the welcome wagon to a couple seeking shelter at the hotel during a storm… And, somehow the even end up in their underwear!

And if that’s not all… The video includes a cameo from All My Children’s Susan Lucci, as well as Estefan’s daughter Emily wailing on the drums.

Shot in Miami, the clip includes a laser light show, Estefan’s drag doppelganger, swing-dancing and more!

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