FX Orders Brian Jordan Alvarez’s Comedy “English Teacher” to Series

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Brian Jordan Alvarez is headed to the classroom…

FX has handed a series order to English Teacher, a comedy created by and starring the 36-year-old half-Colombian American actor, comedian and filmmaker.

Paul Simms serves as an executive producer on the project, which was originally ordered to pilot in June 2022.

English Teacher, also executive produced by Jonathan Krisel, follows a high school teacher in Austin who’s trying to balance the competing demands of the students and their parents in a world where the rules seem to change every day.

Alvarez is joined in the cast by Stephanie Koenig, Enrico Colantoni and Sean Patton.

“Brian is an incredibly talented writer, actor and creator who has fully delivered on his vision for English Teacher,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Together with a creative team featuring Paul Simms and Jonathan Krisel, along with this brilliant cast, they have created a hilarious, original comedy that is fresh, engaging and fun.”

English Teacher is joining FX’s live-action comedy lineup, which is led by another workplace series, the popular and acclaimed The Bear. Its arrival also comes amid increased interest in the world of school teachers sparked by the success of ABC’s Abbott Elementary

Executive producing English Teacher are Alvarez, Simms, Krisel and Dave King. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Alvarez’s previous credits include appearances on Will and Grace, Jane the Virgin and his 2016 web series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.

Bobby Cannavale to Star in A24’s Horror Film “MaXXXine”

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is Maxxximizing his time…

The 52-year-old half-Cuban American actor will star in Ti West’s Mia Goth-led A24 horror film MaXXXine.

Cannavale joins an all-star cast that includes Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon.

MaXXXine is the third title in A24’s first major horror franchise, on the heels of West’s films X and Pearl, both of which were released to much acclaim last year.

The ’70s-set X had Goth pulling double duty as Maxine, who sees her pornography-shooting friends violently murdered in Texas, and one of their elderly assailants, Pearl. The latter film, set in 1918, meanwhile, served up an origin story for the latter villain character.

MaXXXine reverses the franchise’s trajectory through time to pick with Maxine after the violent events of X, as their sole survivor continues her journey towards fame, setting out to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles.

The film heads into production this month.

Two-time Emmy winner Cannavale stars opposite Naomi Watts in Ryan Murphy’s hit Netflix series The Watcher, which has been renewed for a second season.

His other notable television credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Homecoming, Mr. Robot, Angie Tribeca, Will & Grace, Vinyl and Nurse Jackie.

The actor recently appearing in films like Blonde will also soon be seen in comedian Bill Burr’s directorial debut Old Dads, Tony Goldwyn’s comedy Inappropriate Behavior and more.

Bobby Cannavale to Star in Dave & John Chernin’s “Incoming”

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale has incoming work…

The 52-year-old half-Cuban American actor and two-time Emmy-winner will star in Dave and John Chernin’s Incoming, which has begun production in Los Angeles.

In addition to Cannavale, the ensemble cast also includes Kaitlin Olson, Scott MacArthur, Raphael Alejandro, Isabella Ferreira, Ali Gallo, Loren Gray, Ramon Reed and Bardia Seiri.

All of them join previously announced Mason Thames

The Chernin brothers co-wrote the screenplay and are making their directorial film debut on the Artists Road and Spyglass Media production.

Incoming follows four incoming freshmen as they navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party.

Cannavale recently starred in the Rose Byrne produced Australian comedy Seriously Red, which made its world premiere at SXSW.

He stars in the upcoming Netflix movie Blonde opposite Ana de Armas.

His series credits include Boardwalk Empire, Will & Grace, Nine Perfect Strangers, Mr. Robot and Vinyl among several others.

On the big screen he’s starred in Sing 2, the Ant-Man franchise, The Irishman, I, Tonya; Blue Jasmine, The Other Guys and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Cannavale won an Emmy in Best Supporting Actor Drama Series for Boardwalk Empire, and Guest Comedy Actor for Will & Grace.

Alejandro stars on Acapulco, and his credits include Kindergarten Cop 2, How to Be a Latin Lover, Once Upon a Time and The Boss Baby 2: Family Business. He is repped by Paradigm and Atlas Artists.

Ferreira’s credits include Love, Victor and Orange Is the New Black.

Gallo has been seen on Unhuman, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Virtual Mortality.

Brian Jordan Alvarez to Executive Produce, Write & Star In FX’s Comedy Pilot “English Teacher”

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Brian Jordan Alvarez is heading to the classroom..

FX has given the green light to the comedy pilot English Teacher from the 34-year-old Latino producer, actor and writer and Paul Simms.

Alvarez will executive produce, write and star in the pilot.

English Teacher is a comedy about gay high school English teacher Evan (Alvarez) and his fellow teachers in Austin as they try to balance the competing demands of the students and their parents in a world where the rules seem to change every day.

Alvarez has appeared on Will & Grace, Get Shorty, Grace and Frankie and Jane the Virgin.

He also created the web series The Gay and Wonderous Life of Caleb Gallo.

Bobby Cannavale to Star Opposite Bill Burr in the Comedy “Old Dads”

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is reporting for (old) dad duty…

The 51-year-old half-Cuban American actor will star in the original comedy film Old Dads.

Written, directed and co-starring comedian/actor Bill Burr, the film centers on a middle-aged father (Burr) and his two best friends (Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine) who after selling their company to a millennial, find themselves out of step and behind the times as they hilariously struggle to navigate a changing world of culture, career and fatherhood.

Burr and Ben Tishler penned the script and are producing with Bill Block, Monica Levinson and Mike Bertolina.

Production on the film, Burr’s feature directorial debut, kicked off in Los Angeles this week.

Miramax has come aboard to produce in conjunction with Burr’s All Things Comedy.

“I’m very excited to start shooting Old Dads,” said Burr. “This comedy is based on my own and my co-writer, Ben Tishler’s, lives. Miramax has been awesome to work with and I think people are really going to like this movie.”

“Burr is one of the top comedic voices of his generation and he has written a script that’s not just unwaveringly funny, but also full of heart and unfiltered cultural commentary,” added Miramax CEO Bill Block. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with him and this fantastic cast, including Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine.”

Cannavale will next be seen in Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe film Blonde, toplined by Ana de Armas, also featuring in Netflix’s upcoming Big Mouth spin-off Human Resources.

The actor recently featured in the casts of Illumination and Universal’s Sing 2 and Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers. He’s also appeared in such series as Homecoming, Mr. Robot, Angie Tribeca, Will & Grace, Master of None, Vinyl, Nurse Jackie and Boardwalk Empire.

His additional film credits include Superintelligence, The Jesus Rolls, The Irishman, Motherless Brooklyn, Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ferdinand, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, I, Tonya, The Fundamentals of Caring, Daddy’s Home, Danny Collins, Annie, Adult Beginners, Chef, Blue Jasmine, Win Win, The Other Guys, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Snakes on a Plane, Fast Food Nation and The Station Agent.

NBC Gives Pilot Order to Demi Lovato’s Comedy Series “Hungry”

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is officially hungry…

NBC has handed a pilot order to the 28-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer’s Hungry.

Lovato is starring in and executive producing Hungry, a single-camera comedy that follows a group of friends who belong to a food issues group who help each other as they look for love, success and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s going to make it all better.

It’s written and executive produced by Will & Grace writer and Hot In Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin. It comes from Hazy Mills and SB Projects in association with Universal Television. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner & Scooter Braun, Scott Manson and James Shin executive produce.

Hungry’s pilot order comes as Lovato’s recent documentary series Dancing with the Devil recently aired on YouTube. The four-parter documented Lovato her eating disorder as well as use of heroin and crack cocaine.

Demi Lovato to Star in the NBC Scripted Food Issues Comedy “Hungry”

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is hungry for new projects…

The 28-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress will return to scripted television in a food issues comedy in the works at NBC.

Lovato, who got her break in the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock franchise and starred in Sonny with a Chance, is to star in and executive produce Hungry, which has received a put pilot commitment from NBC.

The single-camera comedy is being written and exec produced by Will & Grace writer and Hot In Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin. It comes from Hazy Mills and SB Projects in association with Universal Television.

Hungry follows a group of friends who belong to a food issues group help each other as they look for love, success and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s going to make it all better.

Lovato, herself, appeared in a guest role in the final season of Will & Grace, her first role since guest starring on Glee in 2013. The singer, who has battled bipolar disorder and addiction, is the subject of a YouTube Originals doc series Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, which will premiere at SXSW.

Lovato and Martin will exec produce with Hazy Mills’ Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner and SB Projects’ Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson.

Bobby Cannavale Starring Opposite Rose Byrne in the Musical Dramedy “Seriously Red”

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is seeing Red…

The 50-year-old half-Cuban American Emmy-winning actor is starring opposite Rose Byrne in the musical dramedy Seriously Red, the first feature from Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures.

Cameras are currently rolling on the film in Northern Rivers, Australia.

Krew Boylan wrote the screenplay for Seriously Red, while Gracie Otto is directing

In addition to Cannavale and Byrne, the ensemble cast also includes Daniel Webber. Arclight Films has boarded to handle worldwide distribution rights with Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario) directing.

In the rowdy and rambunctious musical comedy, Red (played by Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious red-haired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party’s dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. As Dolly Parton says, “Be Yourself Because Everyone is taken.”

Parton’s canon is the backbone of Seriously Red, which will also include a soundtrack from notable musical artists and as well as re-recordings.

“Seriously Red is created by an extraordinary all-female filmmaking team, which at Arclight Films we are proud to always champion,” Arclight Films chairman Gary Hamilton said. “The film is a fun, upbeat celebration of women and their journey to self-acceptance. It’s a powerful film that appeals to worldwide distributors who understand that audiences will immediately fall in love with the story, the beautifully drawn characters… and the music!”

Cannavale won Emmys for his work on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and NBC’s Will & Grace. His Recent series credits include the upcoming Nine Perfect Strangers, Mr. Robot and Homecoming. His features include HBO Max/New Line’s upcoming Superintelligence, Universal’s The King of Staten Island, The Jesus Rolls, The Irishman, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the Oscar-winning I, Tonya, Ant-Man and Spy among many others.

Byrne and Cannavale recently starred in The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s theatrical production of Medea before the pandemic closed down theaters in New York City.

Demi Lovato to Host This Year’s People’s Choice Awards

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is the People’s host…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress is set to host the 2020 E!’s People’s Choice Awards, which will air on November 15 live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

The news was revealed Tuesday during a Twitter conversation between the Grammy-nominated singer and the cable network.

Lovato, who has won five People’s Choice Awards in 12 nominations, has had a busy 2020, with performances at the Grammys and the Super Bowl (where she sang the national anthem) and the release of singles “Anyone,” “I Love You” and “I’m Ready,” the latter in a duet with Sam Smith.

Recent singles include “OK No to Be OK” with Marshmello and “Commander in Chief.” On screen, her recent credits including a role on the final season of NBC’s Will & Grace and in Netflix’s Eurovision.

She now will emcee a hybrid People’s Choice ceremony that will present awards in 44 categories across entertainment and pop culture.

Tyler Perry and Jennifer Lopez will receive special honors during the ceremony, which will air from 9:00 -11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Jaime Camil to Star in the CBS Multi-Comedy “Rags to Riches”

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Jaime Camil is on the road to Riches…

The 45-year-old Brazilian-Mexican actor and Jane the Virgin scene-stealer will headline and executive produce Rags to Riches, a multi-camera comedy at CBS from Jane the Virgin creator/executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman’s Sutton St. Productions.

In Riches To Rags, written by Will & Grace executive producer Alex Herschlag, when an outrageously wealthy trust fund baby is cut off by his father, he and his wife move into her sister’s Reseda condo where they delight in the “charms” of the working class but mourn the loss of being the 1% of the 1%.

Camil executive produces via his production company ECABA alongside Herschlag, Urman and Klein as well as Jane exec producer Ben Silverman.

Camil himself often had been talked about for a potential Jane spinoff built around his larger-than-life character, telenovela star Rogelio De La Vega.

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