TNT Renews Cruz’s “Major Crimes” for a Third Season

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Raymond Cruz’s crime-solving days aren’t over yet…

TNT has ordered a 15-episode new season of The Closer spinoff Major Crimes, which stars the 52-year-old Mexican American actor as Detective Julio Sanchez.

The police procedural series, which received an additional four-episode order this season, ranks among basic cable’s Top 10 series with total viewers this summer.

Major Crimes, which has been picked up for a third season, is drawing more than 6.7 million viewers in Live + 7. It’s set to wrap up its summer run on August 19 and will return in November for the second half of the season.

The series also currently stars Nadine Velazquez and Jonathan Del Arco as series regulars..

Cruz’s “Major Crimes” Gets Additional Four-Episode Order from TNT

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like you’ll be seeing more of Raymond Cruz and his Major Crimes co-stars this season.

TNT has ordered four additional episodes of the network’s The Closer spinoff, which stars the 51-year-old Mexican American actor, Jonathan Del Arco and Mary McDonnell. Additionally, this season will see the arrival of Nadine Velasquez as a series regular.

TNT’s order bring Major Crimes’ episode count to 19, nearly twice the number of episodes the police procedural aired in its 10-episode first season.

Major Crimes‘ debut, which aired immediately after the blockbuster series finale of The Closer last August, drew 9.5 million viewers, a new record as basic cable’s most-watched series launch ever.

With an average audience of nearly 7 million, Major Crimes’ first season ranked as cable’s No. 1 new series for last year.

Major Crimes’ second season will debut on June 10 on TNT.

Sandoval to Star in CBS’ “The Surgeon General” Drama Pilot

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Sandoval is getting political in his next role…

The 61-year-old Latino actor has signed on to star in CBS’ drama pilot The Surgeon General.

The project centers on Dr. John Sherman (portrayed by Jason Isaacs), the most powerful doctor in the nation, the Surgeon General, who has 315 million patients.

Sandoval, best known for portraying D.A. Manuel Devalos on Medium, will portray Senator Nortega in the pilot.

Sandoval’s other television credits include appearances on Entourage, The Closer and Alias. His film credits include Get Shorty, Tortilla Heaven and Do the Right Thing.

Hernandez to Star in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Maximiliano Hernandez has a superhero future ahead of him…

The 39-year-old Honduran-American actor will be reprising his role as Agent Jasper Sitwell in the Captain America sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Hernandez, who currently stars on FX’s spy drama series The Americans, also appeared in two of Marvel Studios’ other superhero flicks: Thor and The Avengers.

Hernandez’s other credits include appearances on the TV shows Ringer, The Closer and 24, as well as roles in the films Warrior, Pride and Glory and Hotel for Dogs.

The Joe and Anthony Russo-directed Captain America sequel, which will feature Chris Evans back in the titular role and Emily VanCamp as his new leading lady, will be released April 4, 2014.

Velazquez Cast as a Series Regular on TNT’s “Major Crimes”

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Nadine Velazquez will be going on a Crimes spree this summer…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the cast of TNT’s drama series Major Crimes as a series regular.

Velazquez, who starred opposite Denzel Washington in Flight last year, will portray deputy district attorney Emma Rios on the upcoming second season.

Newly assigned to the Phillip Stroh case on the spin-off of TNT’s hit series The Closer, Velazquez’s character Emma interviews Rusty (portrayed by Graham Patrick Martin) about his involvement as a key witness in the murder case. She immediately causes a stir within the department, coming into conflict with Captain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) when she questions Raydor’s intentions as Rusty’s guardian and challenges her authority.

Velazquez’s television credits include My Name Is Earl, Hart of Dixie, Raising Hope and recent recurring role on FX’s The League.

On the big screen, Velazquez recently appeared in Dwayne Johnson’s Snitch and will next star in Aztec Warrior.

The second season of Major Crimes will premiere on Monday, June 10 on TNT.

Martines Lands Recurring Role on USA’s “Burn Notice”

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Stephen Martines is about to feel the burn…

The 37-year-old Latino actor and former General Hospital star has landed a recurring role on USA’s Burn Notice for its upcoming seventh season.

Martines will portray Carlos Cruz, a swashbuckling bounty hunter and Fiona’s (Gabrielle Anwar) charming new boyfriend.

Production on what could be the final season of Burn Notice, which will mark the series’ 100th episode, begins on Monday in Miami.

Martines, who portrayed Nikolas Cassadine on GH from 1999-2003, has appeared on Guiding Light, The Closer, Bones, CSI: Miami and The Vampire Diaries.

Del Arco Promoted to Series Regular on TNT’s “Major Crimes”

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare to see more of Jonathan Del Arco on TNT’s Major Crimes…

The 47-year-old Uruguayan-born actor, who has been a recurring actor on TNT’s The Closer and its spin-off series Major Crimes, has been upped to series regular for Major Crimes’ second season.

Del Arco has portrayed the prickly but endearing medical examiner Dr. Morales.

He gained acclaim for his role as Hugh the Borg on Star Trek: The Next Generation. His other credits include appearances on Nip/Tuck, 24, The Sopranos and Dollhouse.

Major Crimes will return for its second season on TNT later this year.

Beatriz Cast in Fox’s Andy Samberg Police Comedy Pilot

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Stephanie Beatriz is joining the force…

The Latina actress has been cast in Fox’s still-untitled police comedy pilot starring former Saturday Night Live star Andy Samberg and former One Life to Live alum Melissa Fumero.

The comedy from Parks and Recreation‘s Dan Goor and Mike Schur centers on a diverse group of detectives at a New York City precinct.

Beatriz, who most recently guest-starred as Sofia Vergara‘s hermana on ABC’s Modern Family, will play Meghan, a sexy and frightening police officer who is tough, opinionated and unpredictable and scares the bejesus out of the other police officers just as much as she does the criminals she detains.

Samberg will play the station’s top, with Fumero recently landing the co-starring role of Amy, a smart cop and former middle-school teacher. Newsroom‘s Terry Crews also co-stars.

Beatriz’s credits include The Closer and the ABC comedy pilot The Smart One last season.

Rios to Appear in FX’s “The Bridge” Pilot

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Emily Rios is making a run for the border…

The 23-year-old Mexican American actress has been cast in FX’s drama pilot The Bridge.

The Bridge pilot, to be directed by Mexican filmmaker Gerardo Naranjo, will star Oscar-nominated actor Demián Bichir.

The project, an adaptation of the Scandinavian series Bron, centers on two detectives from the U.S. and Mexico – El Paso Police Homicide Detective Sonya North (Kruger) and Marco Ruiz (Bichir) — who must work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Rios, who most recently appeared in a recurring role on Breaking Bad, will play the recurring role of Adrianna Perez, a young, diligent reporter who works at the El Paso Times.

Rios’ television credits include Men of a Certain Age, Friday Night Lights, House and The Closer. She also appeared in the films Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son and Quinceañera.

Peña to Guest Star on ABC’s “Modern Family”

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Elizabeth Peña is about to share screen time with Sofia Vergara…

The 51-year-old Cuban American actress has signed on to guest star as Gloria’s (Vergara) mother on ABC’s Modern Family.

Peña, whose film credits include La Bamba and Rush Hour, starred in the short-lived I Made Dora back in 1987-88.

Meanwhile, The Closer’s Stephanie Beatriz will portray Gloria’s sister, according to TVGuide.com.

Peña and Beatriz will appear in Episode 12, which is titled “Fulgencio.”

Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET on ABC.

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