Garcia Swisher to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “The Kicker”

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Joanna Garcia Swisher’s career is getting a big kick(er)…

The 36-year-old half-Cuban American actress will co-star opposite Geoff Stults and David Spade in CBS’ The Kicker, a multi-camera comedy pilot from the 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt trio of Tina Fey, Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock.

Written by Burditt, The Kicker centers on Daryl Thorkelsonan (Stults), an oddball athlete who drives family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team.

Swisher will play Bambi, Daryl’s (Stults) intelligent and patient wife and a physical therapist to pro athletes. Spade plays Russ Thorkelson, Daryl’s (Stults) brother and sports agent.

Swisher recently co-starred on ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club and recurs as Ariel on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

Gonzalez Iñárritu to Lead Panel Discussion at Produced By: New York Conference

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu will school people on his process and latest project…

The 52-year-old Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker will be the featured speaker at the second Produced By: New York conference later this month.

The headlining panel, Producers’ Masterclass: An Adventurous Partnership with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, will feature the Oscar and Producers Guild Award-winning filmmaker alongside his producing team — Mary Parent, Steve Golin, and Brad Weston — as they talk about their latest film, The Revenant.

Iñárritu and his team join previously announced Tina Fey and a roster of leading industry producers and executives including Effie Brown, Bruce Cohen, Barbara Hall, John Hoffman, Navid Khonsari, Michelle King, Robert King, Michael London, Gary Lucchesi, Tom McCarthy, Lori McCreary, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Peter Saraf, Darren Star & Christine Vachon.

Discovery Communications is the presenting sponsor of PBNY, which takes place Saturday, October 24th and is hosted by Time Warner Inc. and HBO at the Time Warner Center in New York City.

Molina to Star in Paramount Pictures’ Untitled Tina Fey-Margot Robbie Project

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina is about to do the Taliban Shuffle…

The 61-year-old half-Spanish actor has signed on to appear in Paramount Pictures’ Untitled Tina Fey–Margot Robbie–Martin Freeman project.

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the film is based on the autobiography The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker. The book is being adapted by 30 Rock scribe Robert Carlock.

Production has already started in New Mexico.

Molina joins a cast that includes Billy Bob Thornton, Sheila Vand, Christopher Abbott, Nicholas Braun, Stephen Peacocke and Evan Jonigkeit.

Molina most recently appeared on the big screen in the drama Love is Strange.

Leguizamo to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Taxi-22”

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo has flagged down his next role…

The 50-year-old Colombian actor has been cast as the lead in CBS’ Taxi-22, a single-camera comedy project that had been shepherded by the late James Gandolfini.

Based on the hit French Canadian comedy, Taxi-22 centers on a politically incorrect NYC cab driver (Leguizamo). In addition to starring, he’ll also co-executive produce the project.

Written/executive produced by Tad Quill, CBS’ Taxi-22 adaptation originally was ordered to pilot in January 2014. After difficulties casting the lead in a competitive pilot casting marketplace, CBS pushed the project. The network and CBS Television Studios, which produces the project, explored several casting choices in the off-season and made it clear that the pilot remained a priority.

CBS bought the project, with Gandolfini on board to executive produce, just two weeks before the Emmy-winning actor’s tragic death in June 2013.

Taxi-22 had been a passion project for Gandolfini, who first developed it at HBO. The project went through three incarnations at the pay cable network with different writers and Gandolfini loosely attached to play the lead at one point.

Gandolfini is getting a posthumous exec producer credit on the pilot and potential first season of the series.

Leguizamo recently completed the films The Nest with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; Stealing Cars; and The Experimenters, which will premiere at the Sundance film festival.

Currently, he’s playing his one-man show, Latin History For Dummies, around the country.

Rodriguez Earns First-Ever Golden Globe Nomination

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is a globe-al sensation…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actress has earned her first-ever Golden Globe nomination.

Rodriguez picked up the nod from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in the Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy category for her breakout starring-role on the CW’s Jane the Virgin.

She’s up against Girls’ Lena Dunham, Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco, Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Orange Is the New Black’s Taylor Schilling.

Additionally, Rodriguez’s Jane the Virgin, which made the American Film Institute’s list of the best televisions shows of the year, was nominated in the Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy category.

But Rodriguez isn’t the only Hispanic Golden Globe nominee…

Louis C.K. has picked up his second career nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The 47-year-old Mexican American received the nod in the Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy category for his starring role in FX’s He’s up against House of Lies’ Don Cheadle, Derek’s Ricky Gervais, Shameless’ William H. Macy and Transparent’s Jeffrey Tambor.

In the motion picture categories, Alejandro González Iñárritu has earned two individual nominations for his dark comedy Birdman.

The Mexican filmmaker is up for Best Director – Motion Picture, as well as Best Screenplay – Motion Picture for co-penning the script for Birdman with Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo.

In addition, González Iñárritu’s Birdman is nominated for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.

Antonio Sanchez, meantime, has picked up his first-ever Golden Globe nomination.

The 43-year-old Mexican jazz drummer and multiple Grammy winner has been nominated in the Best Original Score – Motion Picture category for his work on Birdman.

Sanchez’s drumming serves as the main musical ingredient in Iñarritu’s film. His work has already won the Sound Stars Award for best Film Score at the 2014 Venice Film Festival and won the Hollywood Music in Media Awards prize for best original film score.

The Guillermo del Toro-produced The Book of Life has received a nod in the Best Animated Feature category. The Day of the Dead-themed film is up against Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and The Lego Movie.

The 72nd Golden Globe Awards will be held on January 11 with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning as the show’s hosts.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latino/a nominees:

MOTION PICTURES

Best Comedy
“Birdman,” produced by Alejandro González Iñárritu
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Into the Woods”
“Pride”
“St. Vincent”

Best Director
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Ava Duvernay, “Selma”
David Fincher, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Best Screenplay
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Graham Moore, “The Imitation Game”

Best Animated Feature
“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life,” produced by Guillermo del Toro
“The Boxtrolls”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“The Lego Movie”

Best Score
“The Imitation Game”
“The Theory of Everything”
“Gone Girl”
“Birdman,” composed by Antonio Sanchez
“Interstellar”

TELEVISION

Best TV Comedy or Musical
“Girls”
“Jane the Virgin”
“Orange Is the New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Transparent”

Best Actress in a TV Comedy
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Gina Rodriguez, “Jane the Virgin”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black”

Best Actor in a TV Comedy
Louis CK, “Louie”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Ricky Gervais, “Derek”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

The Final Season of Plaza’s “Parks And Recreation” to Air on Tuesdays Beginning in January

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the beginning of the end for Aubrey Plaza…

NBC has scheduled the seventh and final season of Parks And Recreation, starring the 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian, to air on Tuesdays beginning in January.

The series will premiere on January 13 and air back-to-back episodes from 8-9 PM until February 24, when it will wrap its run with an hourlong finale following the Tuesday cycle premiere of The Voice.

Throughout its run, Parks And Recreation had aired on Thursdays since its launch, as part of the network’s

signature Thursday comedy block.

The series will launch two days after NBC’s January 11 broadcast of the 72nd annual Golden Globes, co-hosted by Parks & Recreation star Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

“Mike Schur and Amy Poehler, along with their incredible producers, cast, and crew, have given us one of the great television comedies of all time, and we’re inordinately proud of Parks And Recreation,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. “In an effort to give it the send-off it deserves, we wanted to ‘eventize’ the final season to maximize the impact of these episodes, which really do take the show to a new level.”

Parks & Recreation also stars Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott and Jim O’Heir.

Last season, the series averaged a 1.6 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall in Live+7 averages. It was the third-most-upscale primetime series on the Big 4 in 18-49 living. It was also the youngest show on ABC, CBS or NBC last season, with a median age for its audience of 41.7.

Leguizamo to Star Opposite Tina Fey & Amy Poehler in “The Nest”

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is flying to the nest…

The 49-year-old Colombian actor has landed a role in The Nest, a comedy starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as two 30-something sisters who throw one last party in their parents’ soon-to-be-sold house.

Directed by Pitch Perfect-helmer Jason Moore froma screenplay by Paula Pell, the film will also star John Cena, James Brolin, Ike Barinholtz and Maya Rudolph.

No word yet on Leguizamo’s character in the film for Universal Pictures.

Earlier this year, he starred in the hit comedy Ride Along, where he co-starred with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. He was also recently seen in the Open Road pic Chef and has a handful of projects set to go into production, including Fugly and American Ultra.

The multi-hyphenate has also begun expanding his brand outside of film with his HBO special Ghetto Klown premiering in March and his PBS special American Masters: The Boomer List currently in pre-production. He will also be performing at Central Park SummerStage on July 28th.

The Nest is set for release on December 18, 2015.

Herrera Leads the Pack of Latino Fashion Designers Dressing the Stars at the Golden Globes

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Carolina Herrera may not have attended this year’s Golden Globes… But her presence was definitely felt on the red carpet.

The 75-year-old Venezuelan fashion designer dressed several of today’s hottest starlets for Sunday’s 71s Annual Golden Globe Awards, including this year’s hostess with the mostess Tina Fey.

Here’s a look at some of Herrera’s most eye-catching dresses of the night…

Everything was coming up roses for Fey on the red carpet. The former 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live star turned heads in Herrera’s black and red rose printed dress. She paired the princess-like dress with jewelry by Fred Leighton and Brian Atwood shoes.

During the live telecast, Fey returned in another Herrera gown, a form-fitting, embellished maroon look. The SNL alum, wearing her hair down, accessorized the dress with jewels by Lorraine Schwartz and Brian Atwood shoes.

Meanwhile, Modern Family star Julie Bowen donned a red and purple velvet dress by Herrera. The actress paired the dynamic dress with Jimmy Choo heels, and Jacob & Co jewels.

Lastly, pop-country singing sensation Taylor Swift, nominated for Best Original Song or her song “Sweeter Than Fiction” from the film One Chance, chose an Herrera gown in her favorite color, Red, which happens to be the name of her latest Grammy-nominated album.

Swift completed her look with Christian Louboutin shoes, a Jimmy Choo clutch, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

But Herrera wasn’t the only Hispanic fashion designer represented on the red carpet…

Two-time nominee Juila Louis-Dreyfus picked a red-hot Narcisco Rodriguez dress for the night’s festivities.

Dreyfus paired the custom-designed, scarlet-hued, crepe gown with antique gold and pearl jewels by Fred Leighton.

Last but certainly not least, Oscar de la Renta dressed two beauties for this year’s Golden Globes.

Michelle Dockery in Oscar de la Renta

First up, Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery in a strapless gown from the 81-year-old Dominican fashion designer’s 2013 collection.

The dress, which featured gold speckled detail, fell shorter at the front, showing off Dockery’s simple satin heels.

Zooey Deschanel in Oscar de la Renta

And New Girl star Zooey Deschanel’s de la Renta dress has been described as “vintage glam” with a “modern-day edge.”

The kitschy dress featured a crop top, mullet hem and oh-so-sparkly embroidery.

Saldaña to Announce Golden Globe Nominations This Week

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be an early start for Zoë Saldaña…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress will announce the nominations for the 71st annual Golden Globes on Thursday morning, December 12, 2013 at approximately 5:38 am PST/8:38 am (EST).

Taking place at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton, the announcement will air live on NBC’s The Today Show.

Zoë Saldaña will be joined by Aziz Ansari, Olivia Wilde and Miss Golden Globe Sosie Bacon, as well as Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma.

In all, nominations will be announced in 25 categories in television and film.

The Golden Globes, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the second year in a row, will air on Sunday, January 13, 2014, live coast-to-coast on NBC with the pre-show from 4:00-5:00 pm (PST)/7:00-8:00 pm (EST), and main telecast from 5:00-8:00 pm (PST)/8:00-11:00 pm (EST) from the Beverly Hilton.

The awards show will be seen in more than 160 countries and is produced by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Hayek to Make Cameo in “Muppets Most Wanted”

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek will be seeing green soon…

The 47-year-old Mexican actress will be sharing screen time with Kermit the Frog; she’s signed on to star in next year’s Muppets Most Wanted.

The Frida star’s latest role has thrilled her six-year-old daughter Valentina.

“I have a very little cameo,” Hayek told reporters at the BAFTA Awards. “But I’m very excited because I’m [Valentina’s] hero now.”

Although Hayek’s exact role hasn’t been disclosed, here’s hoping that she shares scenes with Miss Piggy.

The Most Wanted has a cast list that includes Tina Fey, Lady Gaga, Usher and Celine Dion.

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