Pitbull to Perform During Season 21 Finale of “American Idol”

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Idol time for Pitbull…

The 42-year-old Cuban-American rap superstar will appear on the season 21 finale of American Idol.

In addition to this year’s top 12 returning to the stage one last time, producers announced the typical cornucopia of guest performers on tap for the finale, including season two winner/runner-up Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, as well as Ellie Goulding, Jelly Roll, Pitbull, TLC, James Blunt, Jazmine Sullivan, REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin, Kylie Minogue, Lainey Wilson and Lauren Daigle.

The announcement comes following Sunday night’s semifinal, which saw the roster AI hopefuls to just three — Colin Stough, Megan Danielle and Iam Tongi.

Next Sunday’s (May 21) three-hour finale will air live coast-to-coast on ABC beginning at 8:00 pm ET and feature the return of former panelist Keith Urban, who will be back on Idol to mentor the top three (and perform), as well as performances from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

No word yet on what single Pitbull will perform. But he did release the single “Jumpin,” featuring Lil Jon earlier this month.

New Episode of Paramount+’s “Behind the Music” to Feature Jennifer Lopez

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare for a behind the scenes look at Jennifer Lopez’s music…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will be featured in one of the new episodes of Paramount+’s Behind the Music.

In addition to J.Lo, new installments of the documentary series will also feature Boy George, Jason Aldean and Remy Ma.

The new installments of the documentary series will hit the streamer on November 29.

Additionally, remastered episodes spotlighting Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Gloria Estefan, Hootie & the Blowfish, Mötley Crüe, Pink and TLC will drop the same day.

Here are the loglines for the new episodes:

After three decades, Jennifer Lopez is at the very top of her game and shows no signs of slowing down. J.Lo reflects on key moments of her iconic career in music, film and fashion while celebrating her present with husband Ben Affleck.
Boy George reflects on his meteoric rise from outcast to ‘80s global superstar with Culture Club. A tumultuous love affair, intense fame and addiction almost destroyed his career – but 40 years on, he remains an LGBTQ+ pop icon.
Jason Aldean is a small-town kid turned country superstar who never backed down in life, and changed the country music genre forever.
Remy Ma shares her journey to becoming the queen of New York hip hop. Her road to fame with the Terror Squad was paved with loss – a prison sentence almost ended it all – but her comeback inspired millions.

For 14 seasons, Behind the Music has provided an intimate look into the personal lives of pop music’s greatest and most influential artists. Since moving to Paramount+, the series has gone behind the scenes into the lives of stars like Bret Michaels, Busta Rhymes, Duran Duran, Fat Joe, Huey Lewis, LL Cool J, New Kids on the Block and Ricky Martin.

The series is executive produced by Bruce Gillmer, Jennifer Demme and Michael Maniaci for MTV Entertainment Studios.

Jessica Alba to Host & Executive-Produce The Roku Channel’s Home Improvement Series “Honest Renovations”

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Alba is ready to renovate…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actress and entrepreneur will executive produce and host the home improvement series Honest Renovations for The Roku Channel alongside Lizzy Mathis.

The original series follows the pair as they renovate the homes of deserving families while having candid conversations about parenthood across eight one-hour episodes.

Production will kick off later in 2022.

Honest Renovations is produced by High Noon Entertainment, Mexican Spitfire, and 3 Arts Entertainment.

“Becoming a parent was exciting, scary, and confusing all at once. Parenthood is the most transformative life experience, and no matter how much you think you’re prepared; you never really are. I can’t wait to share the stories of the special families and their incredible home renovations with viewers on The Roku Channel,” said Alba in a statement to Deadline.

Added Mathis, “Parenthood turned my world upside down—it filled my cup with so much love and at the same time, tested my patience in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It’s a uniting experience every parent can relate to. That’s why I’m so excited to bring the stories of these deserving families to The Roku Channel and execute truly life-changing home makeovers to help make life as a new parent a little more functional in Honest Renovations.”

High Noon Entertainment, an ITV America company, is behind many of the biggest unscripted television series including HGTV’s Fixer Upper and TLC’s Cake Boss, Good Bones, Farmhouse Fixer with Jonathan Knight, Unsellable Houses, and Bargain Block.

Fat Joe to Perform at Mexico’s Golden Sand Music Festival in January

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is heading south (of the border) for the winter…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American rapper has been added to the throwback lineup for the Golden Sand music festival, which will hit the beach from January 12-16 in Maya Riviera, Mexico.

In addition to Fat Joe, who will face off against Ja Rule in an all-new Verzuz battle this month, the fest will feature a mix of classic R&B and hip-hop stars including 50 Cent, Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland, Lil Kim, Ludacris, Nelly, Sean Paul, T-Pain and TLC.

The site for the Pollen Presents produced event promises to “throw it back to sunnier days and simpler times. 4 days and 4nights in a 5* resort with all food and drink included, featuring the biggest names from the 90s and 00s.”

Among the other promised experiences at the 18+ event are an: opening ceremony, three daytime pool parties, daily yoga, meditation and wellness sessions, sunset beachside cookout, Saturday cartoons & cereal, throwback video game lounge, film screenings with a twist, adventure park with ATVS & more and a COVID-19 money back guarantee.

Visitors at the festival on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula will stay at the Barceló Riviera Maya resort, which is spread across the Maya Riviera, Maya Beach and Maya Caribe. The event features a COVID-19 money back guarantee, which offers a complete refund if the experience is canceled by Pollen, it is rescheduled to a later date the ticket buyer doesn’t want to attend, the ticket buyer tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the start date and there is a quarantine rule in effect six weeks prior to departure and the ticket holder doesn’t wish to travel.

Mariah Angeliq Teams Up with Mariah Becerra & Bad Gyal for “Bobo,” a Reimagining of TLC’s “No Scrubs”

Posted on June 26, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Angeliq is making a TLC classic her own…

The 21-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American singer-songwriter, known as “La Princesa de Miami,” has joined voices with urbana newcomers Mariah Becerra and Bad Gyal for the single “Bobo.”

Co-produced by DJ Chino and her longtime producer Nely El Arma Secreta, “Bobo” gives TLC’s ’90s anthem “No Scrubs” a reggaeton twist with a touch of Mariah’s perreo, Becerra’s urban-pop sounds, and Bad Gyal’s dancehall vibes.

Mariah does not hesitate to describe it as a “lit” collaboration overall.

“This song is going to make a big impact in the industry because we’re three girls,” she affirms.

“Honestly, I have loved this song since I was little,” she says. “I love R&B, and I think that’s one of the reasons that when Chino presented the idea to me I said, ‘Hell yeah!’ because I have that music in my soul.”

Mariah became a household name with her saucy 2019 single “Perreito.” In only two years, she captured the attention of her colleagues, landing major collaborations with Arcangel and Anuel AA, to name a few.

In March, Mariah joined forces with Karol G on “El Makinon,” a focus track from Karol’s KG0516 album. “It has definitely made my career grow,” Mariah tells Billboard, explaining that the Colombian star began supporting her music on social media before extending an invite to work together.

“This song has a lot of elements that identify me and that’s why I believe Karol wanted to do the song with me,” she recalls. “I was sharing my story when we were writing the song and I mentioned that I ran away at 16 to chase my dreams, so for sure, that’s why the song makes reference to that. Karol’s the same. She’s a fighter and she’s been working hard for her dreams since she was young. That’s why we connected on this song.”

“El Makinon,” slang for a big machine, also earned Mariah her first No. 1 on any Billboard chart when it topped the Latin Airplay chart dated June 5, becoming only the third female pairing to rule since the chart’s inception in 1994.

“Everything happened so quickly,” Mariah recalls. “I’m super happy because what’s better than to collaborate with one of the most important women in the industry? I took this as a blessing.”

Up next, Mariah is reportedly working on a full-length album and has 40 to 50 dates confirmed for an upcoming tour that will soon be announced.

The Late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes & Her TLC Mates to be Focus of A&E Network’s “Biography” Documentary

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lisa ‘Left Eye‘ Lopes is getting the biography treatment…

The late part-Mexican American singer, music producer and dancer and her fellow TLC members will be the focus of a two-hour Biography documentary special for A&E Network in 2021. TLC is one of the top-selling girl groups of all time.

The network greenlit the feature film that tells the story of the group’s meteoric rise to fame in T-Boz and Chilli‘s own words. Oscar– and Emmy-winning director Roger Ross Williams and his One Story Up production company, with Emmy-winning producer Geoff Martz, will executive produce, with Matt Kay as director.

“As someone who has long been in awe of TLC and their musical and cultural impact, I am thrilled to be a part of bringing the story of their music, their journey, and their continuing reverence to the screen,” Williams said in a press statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with A&E, as well as filmmaker Matthew Kay, to bring this film to life. We hope this film illuminates a side of this incredible group and Tionne ‘T-Boz‘ Watkins, Lopes, and Rozonda ‘Chilli‘ Thomas that longtime fans and viewers alike have not seen before.”

The ’90s R&B trio has four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, four multi-platinum albums and four Grammy awards to their name. Their sophomore album CrazySexyCool made them the first girl group to earn a diamond-certified album by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

“The Biography banner has always focused on telling the stories of remarkable people who have had a major impact on our collective culture,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, evp and head of programming at A&E Network, in a statement. “As a revolutionary group that broke boundaries and influenced an entire generation, TLC falls directly into that category and we are honored to tell their incredible story as it has never been told before.”

On April 25, 2002, Lopes was killed in a car crash while organizing charity work in Honduras. She swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle, and was thrown from her car. She was working on a documentary at the time of her death, which was released as The Last Days of Left Eye and aired on VH1 in May 2007.

Mark Consuelos & Kelly Ripa to Develop Two ‘Ripped from the Headlines” Movies for Lifetime

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mark Consuelos is bringing the headlines to life…

The 49-year-old half-Mexican American Spanish-born actor/producer and his wife Kelly Ripa have signed a deal with Lifetime to produce two new movies for the network’s Ripped from the Headlines slate via their Milojo Productions banner.

Consuelos, Ripa and Albert Bianchini will serve as executive producers for the untitled projects, which are set to debut in 2021..

“Kelly and Mark have been important voices in popular culture for the past twenty years and we are so incredibly pleased to have them become a part of the Lifetime family,” said Paul Buccieri, Group President, A+E Networks. “We look forward to seeing their creative vision brought to life through these projects.”

The network’s 2020 Ripped from the Headlines slate has been a ratings boon for Lifetime. Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer, Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story, Neighbor in the Window, and You Can’t Take My Daughter reached more than 25 million total viewers, from January – April on Lifetime & LMN1, according to Nielsen Live+7.

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Kelly and Mark and their company into the Lifetime family. We feel like Kelly and Mark have our same sensibilities and instincts for good storytelling,” said Tanya Lopez, EVP of Movies, Limited Series & Original Movie Acquisitions, Lifetime & LMN. “We know our ripped from the headlines slate will be energized by their enthusiasm and we all look forward to bringing these timely stories to their fans.”

Milojo Productions, which has developed and produced for networks including Bravo, Logo, VH1, E!, CMT, HGTV, WeTV, TLC and Discovery, has produced the Emmy-nominated documentary The Streak for ESPN, and critically acclaimed documentary Off The Rez for TLC, both which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The company has been involved in such projects as Masters of Reception, Homemade Millionaire, Dirty Soap, Cheer, Secret Guide To Fabulous, My Diet Is Better Than Yours, Secret Guide to Summer, Fire Island, and the New Now Next Vote election specials with Wanda Sykes.

Milojo is currently in production on Family Reboot, a docuseries for Disney+ and Exhumed, a true-crime series for Oxygen.

“As longtime true crime fans, there is nothing more thrilling than tuning into a Lifetime original movie,” Kelly and Mark added. “We are so excited to be working with Paul, Tanya, and their incredibly talented team to bring these Ripped from the Headlines stories to the screen.”

Mariah Carey Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey has the write stuff, and could soon have the prize to prove it…

The 48-year-old half-Venezuelan American songstress is one of the 2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees.

Carey, a five-time Grammy winner, has penned or co-written some of her biggest hits, including her insta-classic holiday song “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Fantasy,” “We Belong Together,” “Emotions,” and “Make It Happen.”

In all, Carey wrote or co-penned 17 of her 18 Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers:

Songs, Weeks at No. 1
“Vision of Love,” Four Weeks
“Love Takes Time,” Three Weeks
“Someday,” Two Weeks
“I Don’t Wanna Cry,” Two Weeks
“Emotions,” Three Weeks
“Dreamlover,” Eight Weeks
“Hero,” Four Weeks
“Fantasy,” Eight Weeks
“One Sweet Day,” Sixteen Weeks
“Always Be My Baby,” Two Weeks
“Honey,” Three Weeks
“My All,” One Week
“Heartbreaker,” Two Weeks
“Thank God I Found You,” One Week
“We Belong Together,” Fourteen Weeks
“Don’t Forget About Us,” Two Weeks
“Touch My Body,” Two Weeks

Joining Mariah Carey as performing nominees are Missy Elliott, Chrissie Hynde, Vince Gill, Mike Love, Jimmy Cliff, Jeff Lynne, Cat Stevens, John Prine, Lloyd Price, Tommy James and The Eurythmics (Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart).

Non-performing nominees are Jack Tempchin, Dean Dillon, Jerry Fuller, Tom T. Hall, Roger Nichols and Dallas Austin, who wrote hits for TLC, Madonna, Monica, Pink and Boyz II Men.

Nominated non-performing songwriting duos include P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, Russell Brown and the late Irwin Levine, musical theater writers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Bobby Hart and the late Tommy Boyce.

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years.

Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 50th annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 13, 2019. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 17.

Cardi B’s “Girls Like You” Collab with Maroon 5 Notches 3rd Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is still a Girl(s)on top…

Maroon 5‘s “Girls Like You,” featuring the 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation, logs its third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 13.

“Girls Like You” tops the Radio Songs chart for an 11th week, with 125.9 million in audience, down 2 percent, in the week ending October 7, according to Nielsen Music.

The track ties The Chainsmokers‘ “Closer,” featuring Halsey, in 2016, as the longest-leading Radio Songs No. 1 by a duo or group this century; it boasts the longest reign by a duo or group since TLC‘s “No Scrubs” led for 13 weeks in 1999.

“Girls Like You” has logged the longest run atop the chart by any act since Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You,” which spent 12 weeks at No. 1 in 2017 (and which interpolates “Scrubs“). (Goo Goo Dolls‘ “Iris” holds the longevity record atop Radio Songs among all acts, with 18 weeks at No. 1 in 1998.)

TLC to Debut Ochoa’s Series “Tyler Perry’s Too Close To Home” in August

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Christian Ochoa is coming Home this August…

TLC has set August 22 for the premiere of its first scripted series, Tyler Perry’s Too Close To Home, featuring the Cuban-American actor in a recurring role.

Too Close to Home tells the story of a young woman from a modest upbringing who discovers she may have a bright future in Washington D.C.’s fast-paced political scene. When Anna (Danielle Savre) leaves her trailer park home in Alabama in a cloud of dust, she cuts all ties with her family and buries every element of her checkered past. Her friends in Washington think she comes from a wealthy family and know nothing of her real upbringing. Suddenly, the real Anna is exposed when she causes a major political scandal and makes national headlines for her part in an affair with one of the nation’s most powerful players. With nowhere to turn, she’s forced to find sanctuary in the only place she has left – home.

In addition to Ochoa and Savre, the cast includes Brock O’Hurn, Kelly Sullivan, Brad Benedict and Brooke Anne Smith, Alpha Trivette, Trisha Rae Stahl, Robert Craighead, Annie Thrash, Curran Walters, Ashley Love-Mills, Nick Ballard, Charles Justo and Justin Gabriel.

Heather Locklear and Matt Battaglia join the cast as guest stars.

The eight-part drama will kick off with a two-hour premiere at 9:00 pm ET on Monday, August 22.

Ochoa’s other credits include appearances on Burn Notice and Scorpion.

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