Ana Villafañe to Star in NBC’s Comedy Pilot “Night Court,” a Follow-Up to the Classic Legal Series

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe is holding court…

The 32-year-old Cuban and Salvadoran American actress/singer has landed a series regular in NBC’s half-hour pilot Night Court.

The project is a follow-up to the classic legal comedy series headlined and executive produced by The Big Bang Theory’s Melissa Rauch, with the original series’ John Larroquette reprising his Emmy-winning role.

Written/executive produced by Dan Rubin based on the original series created by Reinhold Weege, the multi-camera Night Court centers on unapologetic optimist judge Abby Stone (Rauch), the daughter of the late Harry Stone, who follows in her father’s footsteps as she presides over the night shift of a Manhattan arraignment court and tries to bring order to its crew of oddballs and cynics, most notably former night court prosecutor Dan Fielding (Larroquette).

Villafañe will play Monica, the court’s assistant district attorney. Type A, superficial and tightly wound. Monica sees the night court as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. She’s above this place and all the people in it, but it’s a good way to get some courtroom experience under her belt. It’s all part of her plan to land a job at one of the big firms. Thirty will be here before she knows it and if she’s not wildly successful by then…well it’s best not to think about it.

Villafañe is recurring on the final season of Younger, which streams on Paramount+.

She has also recurred on two NBC/Universal Television series, drama New Amsterdam and comedy Sunnyside.

On stage, Villafañe originated the role of Gloria Estefan in the Broadway production of On Your Feet and starred throughout the musical’s entire 2014-2017 run, winning the 2015 Theatre World Award for Best Actress.

She later starred as Nina Rosario in the Kennedy Center’s 2018 production of In the Heights and made her off-Broadway debut in MCC’s Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties in 2018. She is a two-time Drama League Award nominee for On Your Feet and Collective Rage.

NBC Renews America Ferrera’s Comedy Series “Superstore” for Fifth Season

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more in (super)storefor America Ferrera…

NBC has ordered a fifth season of its critically acclaimed comedy series Superstore, starring the 34-year-old Honduran American actress.

The series has maintained solid ratings in its current season to date. In Live+7, Superstore is averaging a 1.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall its Thursday 8-8:30 pm timeslot against rival programming as The Big Bang Theory, Grey’s Anatomy and NFL Thursday Night Football.

In delayed viewing, Superstore’s next-day 0.85 rating in adults 18-49 increases by 154% to 2.16 rating after seven days of linear and digital viewership.

The series also is a strong digital performer, deriving 44% of its live plus seven day plus digital rating in adults 18-49 from non-linear sources, the second biggest percentage on the NBC schedule behind only Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

“Week after week Justin Spitzer, our amazing writers, and cast and crew masterfully deliver a comedy that not only makes us laugh but speaks to the larger issues of the day,” said Lisa Katzand Tracey Pakosta, Co-Presidents of Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment.

Created and written by Justin Spitzer, Superstore centers around Amy (Ferrera), the store’s most stalwart employee as well as the glue holding the place together. Jonah (Ben Feldman), who is often the target of his colleagues ribbing, is joined on the floor with his fellow associates, including sardonic Garrett (Colton Dunn), the ambitious Mateo (Nico Santos) and sweet teenager and new mom Cheyenne (Nichole Bloom).

Superstore is produced by Universal Television in association with the Spitzer Holding Company and The District.

Superstore returns to the NBC lineup for the remainder of its fourth season at 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 7.

CBS Renews Angelique Cabral’s Comedy “Life in Pieces” for Fourth Season

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

There’s still plenty of pieces to Angelique Cabral’s story…

CBS has picked up its comedy Life in Pieces, starring the 39-year-old Latina actress, for a fourth season.

The family comedy, which has delivered solid ratings in its third season, is well received and features a strong ensemble cast. It’s also the fourth highest-rated and most watched CBS comedy series behind The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon and Mom.

Created by Justin Adler, Life in Pieces, from 20th Century Fox Television and Kapital Entertainment, is a comedy about one big happy family and their sometimes awkward, often hilarious and ultimately beautiful milestone moments as told by its various members.

Along with Cabral, the series also stars Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Zoe Lister-Jones, Colin Hanks, Thomas Sadoski, Betsy Brandt, Dan Bakkedahl, Niall Cunningham, Holly J. Barrett, Giselle Eisenberg and Hunter King.

Gomez to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Living Biblically”

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ian Gomez is preaching new heights…

The 52-year-old Latino actor has been cast as a series regular role in CBS’ comedy pilot Living Biblically, from The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki, writer Patrick Walsh and Warner Bros. Television.

Based on A.J. Jacobs’ bestselling book The Year of Living Biblically, the project centers on a modern-day man at a crossroads in his life who decides to live according to the Bible.

Gomez will play Father Gene. A dryly funny priest at Chip’s (TBD) church, Father Gene is impressed by Chip’s determination, and they form an unlikely friendship when he helps him translate the rules of the Bible to a modern world.

Gomez is best known for his series-regular roles as Javier on Felicity and Andy on Cougar Town.

Gomez, who most recently recurred on the CW’s Supergirl, has guest-starred on The Real O’Neals, Angels from Hell and Drop Dead Diva.

Cruz’s “Orange Is the New Black” Named Best Comedy Ensemble at the SAG Awards

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s still a SAG (award) for Jackie Cruz…

The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards recognized the best performances for the year in both television and film on Sunday night, with the 30-year-old Dominican-American actress, musician and former model’s Orange Is the New Black taking home the best ensemble in a comedy series award.

Orange Is the New Black won the comedy ensemble trophy for the third straight year.

The prison comedy-drama series topped The Big Bang Theory, Black-ish, Veep, and Modern Family, which won the award for four years before Orange Is the New Black started its streak.

In addition to Cruz, Latina actresses in the ensemble cast include Laura Gómez, Diane Guerrero, Selenis Leyva, Dascha Polanco and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

The awards were handed out at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

Canals-Barrera to Star in CMT’s Pilot “His Wives and Daughters”

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Maria Canals-Barrera has gone country…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actress has booked a series regular role opposite Jane Seymour in CMT’s soapy, comedic pilot His Wives and Daughters.

Created and produced by Dina Chapman and Steve Sessions, the project centers on the eclectic and cunning wives and daughters of larger-than-life country music legend (and infamous womanizer) Eddie Ray Banks (Jeff Kober).

After his estranged family is brought together unexpectedly, tempers flare and old rivalries resurface, setting the stage for startling secrets to emerge as an unforgettable mystery begins to unfold.

Canals-Barrera will play Magdalena Guzman, Eddie’s housekeeper and personal assistant for nearly 30 years. She’s been his loyal confidante through multiple marriages and may know him better than anyone else, and also is hiding a big secret.

The Cristela and Wizards of Waverly Place alumna recently guest-starred on The Big Bang Theory.

CBS Renews Cabral’s “Life in Pieces” for Second Season

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Angelique Cabral is picking up the pieces…

CBS has renewed its freshman comedy series Life in Pieces, starring the 37-year-old part-Latina actress, for another season.

It appears the well-received family show will be one of only a couple of single-camera CBS comedies to get to a second season since the end of M*A*S*H* in 1983 and the first in more than two decades, since Brooklyn Bridge ran for two seasons from 1991-1993.

Life in Pieces, which had received a full-season order, had been considered a safe bet to return. The series, from 20th Century Fox Television, got CBS’ premier half-hour slot, behind flagship The Big Bang Theory, and was kept there for its entire freshman run.

With that lead-in, Life in Pieces ranked as this season’s No. 1 new comedy in viewers (10.53 million) and adults 18-49 (2.7 rating).

In addition to Cabral, who portrays Colleen, the series also stars Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Zoe Lister-Jones, Colin Hanks, Thomas Sadoski, Betsy Brandt, Dan Bakkedahl, Niall Cunningham, Holly J. Barrett and Giselle Eisenberg.

The series was created by Justin Adler.

Leyva and Her “Orange Is the New Black” Castmates Take Home Second Consecutive SAG Award

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s still a SAG for Selenis Leyva…

This weekend, the 43-year-old Cuban and Dominican actress and her fellow Orange Is the New Black castmates took home the award for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Netflix series was nominated alongside CBS‘ The Big Bang Theory, Comedy Central‘s Key & Peele, ABC‘s Modern Family, Amazon‘s Transparent and HBO‘s Veep.

In addition to Leyva, other Latinas who form part of the ensemble cast include Jackie Cruz, Dianne Guerrero, Dascha Polanco and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette presented the award to the OITNB cast, who won in the comedy ensemble category for the second consecutive year.

The 22nd Annual SAG Awards, honoring achievements in film and television, took place at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

Here’s a complete look at this year’s winners.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Queen Latifah, Bessie

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Idris Elba, Luther

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Spotlight

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Leonardo DiCaprio, The

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Brie Larson, Room

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Mad Max: Fury Road

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
Game of Thrones

Armisen Lending His Voice to NBC’s Animated Special “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas”

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen will be ringin’ (and singin’) in the holiday season.

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has been added to the voice cast of NBC’s animated holiday special Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas.

Toplined by The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons, the animated special is set to air on December 16 at 8:00 pm ET. Parsons will voice Buddy in the special based on the 2003 film Elf starring Will Ferrell and the hit Broadway show Elf: The Musical.

Santa narrates the story of Buddy’s travels to New York City to meet the father he never knew he had. Along the way his unrelenting cheer transforms the lives of everyone he meets and opens his father’s eyes to the magic of Christmas.

In addition to Armisen and Parsons, the Voice cast also includes Mark Hamill, Ed Asner, Jay Leno, Matt Lauer, Gilbert Gottfried, Kate Micucci, Rachael MacFarlane, Max Charles and Steve Higgins.

Bonham Carter Earns Critics’ Choice Television Award Nod for “Burton and Taylor”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Helena Bonham Carter’s on-screen transformation as a Hollywood legend is still earning recognition…

The 47-year-old part-Spanish actress, who earned a British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ TV Awards nomination last month, has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award from the Broadcast Television Journalists Association.

Bonham Carter received the nod in the Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series category for her portrayal of the late Elizabeth Taylor in the BBC biopic Burton and Taylor.

She’ll face off against Return to Zero’s Minnie Driver, A Day Late and a Dollar Short’s Whoopi Goldberg, Bonnie & Clyde’s Holliday Grainger, American Horror Story: Coven’s Jessica Lange and The Trip to Bountiful’s Cicely Tyson.

Meanwhile, Louis C.K. has been nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in his FX series Louie.

The 46-year-old Mexican American actor, who just earned a similar nod from the Television Critics Association, will compete against The Mindy Project’s Chris Messina, Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch, The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons, Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott and The Crazy Ones’ Robin Williams.

Programs and performances for this round of Critics Choice Television Awards are eligible if they were telecast between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. But submissions still are being accepted for The Most Exciting New Series category, and any series premiering after May 1, 2014 is eligible – including any announced summer, fall or winter premieres.

That category will be announced on June 9 — 10 days before CW broadcasts the Critics Choice Television Awards on June 19, at 8:00 pm ET, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer.

The awards show will be tape-delayed for an 8:00 pm PT start time.

Here’s a look at the nominees:

BEST COMEDY SERIES 
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Broad City (Comedy Central)
Louie (FX)
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Veep (HBO)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Louis CK, Louie (FX)
Chris Messina, The Mindy Project (FOX)
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Robin Williams, The Crazy Ones (CBS)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ilana Glazer, Broad City (Comedy Central)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Goldbergs (ABC)
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Emmy Rossum, Shameless (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)
Keith David, Enlisted (FOX)
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
Albert Tsai, Trophy Wife (ABC)
Christopher Evan Welch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
Jeremy Allen White, Shameless (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Sarah Baker, Louie (FX)
James Earl Jones, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Mimi Kennedy, Mom (CBS)
Andrew Rannells, Girls (HBO)
Lauren Weedman, Looking (HBO)

BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Americans (FX)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Masters of Sex (Showtime)
True Detective (HBO)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Hugh Dancy, Hannibal (NBC)
Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel (A&E)
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO)
Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX)
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex (Showtime)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel (A&E)
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS)
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)
Keri Russell, The Americans (FX)
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Josh Charles, The Good Wife (CBS)
Walton Goggins, Justified (FX)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Peter Sarsgaard, The Killing (AMC)
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Jeffrey Wright, Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS)
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Annet Mahendru, The Americans (FX)
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Maggie Siff, Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Bellamy Young, Scandal (ABC)

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Walton Goggins, Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Joe Morton, Scandal (ABC)
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife (CBS)
Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones (HBO)

BEST MOVIE
An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Killing Kennedy (National Geographic Channel)
The Normal Heart (HBO)
Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST MINI-SERIES
American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Bonnie & Clyde (A&E/History/Lifetime)
Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Fargo (FX)
The Hollow Crown (PBS)
Luther (BBC America)

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES 
David Bradley, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Martin Freeman, Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo (FX)

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero (Lifetime)
Whoopi Goldberg, A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Holliday Grainger, Bonnie & Clyde (A&E/History/Lifetime)
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Warren Brown, Luther (BBC America)
Martin Freeman, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Colin Hanks, Fargo (FX)
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Blair Underwood, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Amanda Abbington, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Ellen Burstyn, Flowers in the Attic (Lifetime)
Jessica Raine, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Allison Tolman, Fargo (FX)

BEST REALITY SERIES
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (FOX/National Geographic Channel)
Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
Duck Dynasty (A&E)
Mythbusters (Discovery)
Top Gear (BBC America)
Undercover Boss (CBS)

BEST REALITY SERIES – COMPETITION
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
Shark Tank (ABC)
Survivor (CBS)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

BEST REALITY HOST
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Carson Daly, The Voice (NBC)
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef (FOX)
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo)
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (FOX/National Geographic Channel)

BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Time Telepictures)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Conan (TBS)

BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Archer (FX)
Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Family Guy (FOX)
Phineas and Ferb (Disney XD)
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: The Big Bang Theory