Aubrey Plaza to Appear in NBC’s Star-Studded Special “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute”

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is preparing to help honor a late comedy legend…

The 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and comedian will take part in an NBC special commemorating Joan Rivers, whose influence is still strong in the comedy world and pop culture at large more than a decade after her death

The star-studded special Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute will be broadcast on May 13 at 10:00 pm ET/PT, with an extended and uncensored version available the next day on Peacock, featuring today’s comedians putting their own topical spin on Rivers’ legendary cabinet of jokes.

The comedian passed away at the age 81 in 2014.

Filmed in November during the opening night of the 2024 New York Comedy Festival at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, the special features appearances, musical bits and stand-up comedy from the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Patton Oswalt, Plaza, Sarah Silverman, Melissa Rivers, Jean Smart and Rita Wilson.

“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time,” said the late Joan in a letter she left for daughter Melissa Rivers.

“This tribute is everything my mother would have wanted — hilarious, unfiltered and filled with people she respected (and roasted). And as usual, she was still the funniest person in the room,” added Melissa in her own statement. “It’s incredibly moving to see so many iconic comedians come together to celebrate her legacy, especially the women whose careers she helped make possible by breaking down so many doors. I know she’d be thrilled to see how far things have come, and she’d still have notes. This is more than a tribute. It’s a reminder of the trail she blazed and the joy she brought to so many.”

Benefitting the charity God’s Love We Deliver, for which Rivers served on the Board of Directors, the special is executive produced by Melissa Rivers, Chris Convy, Erich Bergen and David Jammy on behalf of Done + Dusted. Michael Matuza is co-executive producer.

“Saturday Night Live” Alum Fred Armisen to Appear on “SNL:50 The Anniversary Special”

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is returning to Studio 8H.

The 58-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor, comedian, musician, writer and former Saturday Night Live cast member will be appearing on SNL:50 The Anniversary Special.

Armisen is among a roster of SNL alums returning for the show’s 50th anniversary special.

He starred on the late-night sketch comedy and variety series from 2002 to 2013.

Some of Armisen’s iconic SNL characters include Garth and Manuel Ortiz. He’s also known for his impressions of Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Ira Glass, Prince and Michael Bloomberg.

Other former/current cast members and guests set to appear on the show include

Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, Will Forte and more.

They join previously announced A-listers Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson.

The live three-hour telecast from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center is set for Sunday, February 16 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.

Ahead of Sunday’s special, Peacock will livestream the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert from Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, on Friday, February, 14 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

Executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson, the concert will include performances by Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s, The Roots and more to be announced.

Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.

Jenna Ortega To Serve as Presenter at This Week’s Golden Globes Awards Show

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is preparing for an extra golden night…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress will serve as a presenter at this year’s Golden Globes awards ceremony.

Ortega, who is a first-time nominee this year for her starring role in Netflix’s Wednesday, was among the latest list of presenters announced today.

But she isn’t the only Latinx talent to be added to the presenter’s list.

Harvey Guillén, who rose to acclaim in What We Do in The Shadows, and former Golden Globe-nominee Salma Hayek Pinault will also take the stage.

Other newly announced presenters include Jennifer Hudson, Claire Danes, Cole Hauser, Henry Golding, Hilary Swank, Glen Powell, Jay Ellis, Jennifer Coolidge, Letitia Wright, Mo Brings Plenty and Regina Hall.

Also participating on the telecast will be Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, offering a special message of peace which will be introduced by actor Sean Penn.

They join the previously announced presenters, which include Ana De Armas, Ana Gasteyer, Colman Domingo, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Natasha Lyonne, Niecy Nash-Betts, Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tracy Morgan and Nicole Byer.

The Golden Globes are set to air live coast-to-coast on January. 10 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. PT/8:00-11:00 pm ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Jerrod Carmichael will host the ceremony, which will held at the Globes’ usual home, the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Calif.

Eddie Murphy will be the recipient of the 2023 Cecil B. DeMille Award. Ryan Murphy will receive the Carol Burnett Award.

Ana de Armas Among First Presenters Announced for Upcoming Golden Globe Awards

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is pretty for her golden hour…

The first string of presenters for the 80th Golden Globe Awards have been announced, with the 34-year-old Cuban and Spanish actress among those set to take the stage.

de Armas, who previously earned a Golden Globe nod for her breakout role in Knives Out, is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama this year for her performance as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez will also present at this year’s awards show.

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress made history when she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, becoming the first transgender actor to win a Golden Globe in the history of the awards.

Colman Domingo has also made the presenters list…

The 52-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor and social justice activist is an Emmy Award winner for his performance on HBO’s Euphoria.

Others set to present Ana Gasteyer, Billy Porter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Natasha Lyonne, Nicole Byer, Niecy Nash-Betts, Quentin Tarantino and Tracy Morgan.

As the Hollywood Foreign Press Association looks to get back on its feet after weathering diversity controversies, it has been buzzed that personal reps wouldn’t allow their clients to get back on stage. However, as the HFPA has expanded its ranks with journalists of color, it appears that the industry is pivoting in its attitude toward the organization.

Jerrod Carmichael will host the ceremony airing live coast-to-coast on January 10 from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Produced by dick clark productions and Jesse Collins Entertainment in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 210 territories worldwide. Helen Hoehne is president of the HFPA. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will serve as executive producers.

Jennifer Lopez to Take Part in Quibi’s Forthcoming Series “Thanks a Million”

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is paying it forward…

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is set to take part in Quibi’s forthcoming series, Thanks a Million, which will feature people literally paying it forward to those who’ve changed their lives.

J.Lo joins a roster of participating celebrities that includes Kristen Bell, Tracy Morgan, Karlie Kloss, Aaron Rodgers and Alex Rodriguez.

Each of the celebrities will lead an individual episode of the series. More participants will be revealed at a later date.

Earlier in March at SXSW, Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg announced the new series as part of their lineup. Each episode of Thanks a Million will feature grateful public figures kick-starting a chain of kindness by gifting $100,000 to an unsuspecting individual who has had a positive impact on their lives. The recipient must then pay it forward by gifting half of that sum to someone else who has done the same, and the chain continues. Across ten episodes, $1,000,000 will be put in the hands of everyday people.

Thanks a Million will be produced by Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Industrial Media’s B-17 Entertainment in association with Universal Alternative Television Studio. Lopez, Elaine-Goldsmith Thomas, Alex Brown, Rhett Bachner, Brien Meagher,Dena Waxmanand Benny Medinaserve as Executive Producers.

Quibi is slated to launch April 6, 2020.

Ricky Martin Among the Presenters for This Year’s SAG Awards

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s a SAGfor Ricky Martin…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer and actor has been added to the list of presenters for Sunday’s SAG Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

He’s part of a second group of presenters that includes Awkafina, Alex Baldwin, Matt Bomer, Laverne Cox, Richard Madden, Tracy Morgan, Chris Pineand Keri Russell.

Previously announced presenters include the top stars from five of this awards season’s biggest movies, who will introduce clips from their films that are nominated for the marquee Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picturetrophy.

They are:

A Star is Born
Bradley Cooper
Sam Elliott
Lady Gaga

Black Panther
Angela Bassett
Chadwick Boseman

BlackKklansman
Adam Driver
John David Washington

Bohemian Rhapsody
Ben Hardy
Gwilym Lee
Rami Malek
Joe Mazzello

Crazy Rich Asians
Henry Golding
Ken Jeong
Constance Wu
Michelle Yeoh

Megan Mullally will host the silver anniversary SAG Awards ceremony, which will air live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditoriumon TNT and TBSstarting at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday.

Horatio Sanz Reunites with Former SNL Castmates for “I Wish It Was Christmas Today” Performance on “The Tonight Show”

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Horatio Sanz is spreading holiday cheer…

The 49-year-old Chilean-American actor and comedian reunited with his former Saturday Night Live cast mates Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan and Chris Kattan for an encore performance of their low-tech, yet festive tune “I Wish It Was Christmas Today” on The Tonight Show, alongside pop diva Ariana Grande.

Donning holiday sweaters in a makeshift Winter Wonderland, it was as if the audience was transported to 2000 when the quartet performed the song for the first time on SNL.

With Sanz on lead vocals and Fallon on keys and backup, they awkwardly jammed out with Kattan and Morgan who were basically just there for low-impact dancing.

Grande was also there but in a moral support capacity. All she did was stand behind Kattan as he carried out his duties as designated keyboard holder.

She bounced with them and stared at the camera longingly as if she was taking a series of pouty Instagram selfies.

Allen Maldonado to Star in Sony’s “Superfly” Remake

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Allen Maldonado is flying high…

The 34-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor will star as Litty in Sony’s Superfly remake, which has Director X at the helm.

Alex Tse will pen the screenplay based on the original Gordon Parks Jr.-directed blaxploitation crime drama, which follows an African American cocaine dealer who tries to secure one more deal before getting out of the business.

Lex Scott Davis, Andrea Londo, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Omar Chapparo will co-star.

The film is slated to open in theaters on June 15.

Maldonado, who recurs on ABC’s Black-ish, co-stars opposite Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish on TBS’ Jordan Peele-created comedy series, The Last O.G, which premieres in April.

First Trailer Released for Gina Rodriguez’s Animated Holiday Film “The Star”

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s star is rising this holiday season…

The first trailer has been released for the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s The Star, an animated holiday film in which the animals run the village.

Steven Yuen stars as Bo, a donkey who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. When finally he summons the courage to break free, his adventure leads him to make friends with a flockless sheep (Aidy Bryant) and ambitious dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Little do they know, but they and a group of eccentric camels and stable animals are about to become unlikely heroes in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Directed by Timothy Reckart from Carlos Kotkin’s script, the toon features a diverse, big-name voice cast that also includes Zachary Levi as Joseph and, Rodriguez as Mary.

Christopher Plummer plays the villainous King Herod. The animal characters include Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias.

Meanwhile Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey voice the trio of wise-cracking camels.

The film from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films in association with Walden Media features a new title song by Mariah Carey, and the trailer sports a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder’s yuletide classic “That’s What Christmas Means to Me.”

Columbia Pictures will release The Star on November 10.

Maldonado to Star Opposite Tracy Morgan in Still-Untitled TBS Comedy Series

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Allen Maldonado is ready for a little family bonding.

The half-Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Tracy Morgan in Morgan’s straight-to-series comedy at TBS.

The untitled series centers on Tray (Morgan). After being released on good behavior from a 15-year prison stint, he’s shocked to see how much the world has changed in his absence. Returning to his newly-gentrified Brooklyn neighborhood, Tray discovers that his former girlfriend has married an affable, successful white man, who’s helping raise the twin sons Tray never knew existed. Wanting nothing more than to connect with his children, but having no money to support them or himself, Tray falls back on the skills he learned in prison to make ends meet.

Maldonado will play Cousin Bobby, Tray’s loyal cousin, not the brightest tool in the shed. He was just 15 when Tray first went to prison, and he’s grown up to be a small-time hustler who is always looking for the latest scam. He helps Tray adjust to life on the outside.

The project, executive produced by Jordan Peele, was first set up at FX with a pilot order. It was picked up by TBS after FX opted not to move forward.

Maldonado has starred for the past three seasons as Curtis on ABC’s Black-ish. He previously played DeShauwn on Survivor’s Remorse and also appeared in the feature Straight Outta Compton.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Tracy Morgan