Amazon to Debut Arias’ Comedy Pilot “Jean-Claude Van Johnson” in August

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Moises Arias is ready to chop and kick…

Amazon has set the lineup for its 2016 comedy pilot season, with the 22-year-old Colombian American actor and former Hannah Montana star’s project Jean-Claude Van Johnson scheduled to debut on August 19 in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Japan.

Starring martial arts film star Jean-Claude Van Damme, the pilot centers on “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” a global martial arts and film sensation…and, operating under the simple alias of “Johnson,” the most dangerous undercover private contractor in the world. Lucky for the world’s bad guys, he’s been retired for years…unlucky for them, a chance encounter with a lost love is about to bring him back to the game…and this time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably.

In addition to Van Damme and Arias, the project also stars Kat Foster and Phylicia Rashad

From Scott Free Productions, the pilot is directed by Peter Atencio and written by Dave Callaham.

Arias credits include television appearances on Wizards of Waverly Place, Everybody Hates Chris and The Suite Life on Deck, as well as an acclaimed role in the coming of age film The Kings of Summer.

Amazon customers can stream and review the pilots to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that will be available for Amazon Prime members.

The pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online.

Gomez & Zedd Release the Official Music Video for “I Want You to Know”

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez wants you to know she’s living the life…

The 22-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress and Zedd have released the official music video for their new dancetastic single “I Want You to Know.”

Gomez and Zedd, who are rumored to be dating, share little screen time in clip.

Instead, the former Wizards of Waverly Place actress is the clear star of the clip, dancing under strobe lights in three different body-hugging outfits surrounded by fellow club kids.

Zedd makes infrequent appearances — sitting against the wall watching Gomez dance or appearing with her face-to-face in trippy, second-long flashes.

Gomez Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is switching agencies…

The 21-year-old former Disney Channel star and pop artist has exited as a client of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME).

The former Wizards of Waverly Place star has also signed with Brillstein Entertainment Partners as she restructures her team and transitions from a teen star to search out more adult projects.

Last year Gomez made a bold leap playing a partying coed in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers.

Gomez has a huge social media following, with 57.9M Facebook fans and 19.3M Twitter followers.

She’ll next be seen in William H. Macy’s directorial debut, Rudderless, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Alonso to Star Opposite Kevin James in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is about to find her love match on the big screen…

The 34-year-old half-Puerto Rican and part-Peruvian actress has been cast as Kevin James’ love interest in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, according to TheWrap.

The Andy Fickman-directed sequel finds Blart attending a Security Guard Expo in Las Vegas, where he takes on a group of dangerous art thieves.

Alonso will portray Divina Martinez, the general manager of the Wynn Hotel, who is completely perplexed when Blart presumes that she’s hitting on him. Flustered yet determined to clarify the situation, she reaches out to Blart several times, only to reinforce his original theory.

In addition to James and Alonso, Eduardo Verastegui, Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place co-star David Henrie and Raini Rodriguez.

Alonso, who next stars on NBC‘s upcoming summer series The Night Shift, recently played fan favorite Nora Clayton on the network’s hit series Revolution.

Verastegui to Star in Kevin James’ Comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Verastegui is heading to Sin City for his latest project…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor has signed on to star in Kevin James’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

The sequel to the hit comedy will see James’ title character attending a security guard expo in Las Vegas with his daughter, where he’s mocked by casino security until he helps them take on a group of dangerous art thieves.

Verastegui, a former telenovela star in his native Mexico, will portray a Vegas hotelier whose hotel becomes a heist target.

In addition to James and Verastegui, the sequel will also star Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place co-star David Henrie as Lane, a charming valet attendant whom Blart’s daughter Maya develops a crush on.

Meantime, Raini Rodriguez is in negotiations to reprise her role as Maya and Molly Shannon is in talks to co-star.

Nicholas Turturro has been cast as one of Blart’s security guard rivals. And James’ brother, comedian Gary ValenVerastegui tine, is set to play a sympathetic fellow security guard.

Andy Fickman is directing Mall Cop 2 from a script by James and Nick Bakay, who wrote the first film.

Santiago Lands Key Role in Fox’s Drama “Gang Related”

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Saundra Santiago is returning to television…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress has joined the cast of Fox‘s midseason drama Gang Related.

Santiago, best known for her role as Detective Gina Calabrese on Miami Vice, replaces Wizards of Waverly Place star Maria Canals-Barrera on the Ramon Rodriguez-starrer, according to The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama centers on Ryan (Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department and rise through its ranks. He must balance obligations to his crime family with an increasing sense of loyalty to his new “family” — the SFPD’s Gang Task Force.

Santiago will recur as Marciela, Javier’s (Cliff Curtis) wife and mother to Carlos (Reynaldo Gallegos) and Dante (Jay Hernandez). Though they’re not related by blood, she considers Ryan to be a third son.

In addition to Miami Vice, Santiago’s credits include Guiding Light, The Sopranos, Damages and One Life to Live.

An exact premiere date for Gang Related has yet to be announced.

Gomez Among This Year’s Imagen Award Nominees

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez’s return to the wizard world has resulted in critical acclaim…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer has received an Imagen Award nomination for reprising her role as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel’s The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.

Gomez will face off against Once Upon a Time’s Lana Parrilla, Meddling Mom’s Sonia Braga and Chicago Fire’s Monica Raymund in the Best Actress/Television category.

Gomez earned five nominations for her star-turning role on the network’s Wizards of Waverly Place, winning the award in 2011.

Presented by the Imagen Foundation, the awards honor portrayals of Latinos and Latino cultures in television and film.

Trophies will be handed out August 17 at the Beverly Hilton and air on PBS SoCal as an hourlong special later.

Here’s the list of nominees:

Best Primetime Television Program
Castle
Chicago Fire
Dallas
Grey’s Anatomy
Private Practice
Switched at Birth

Best Primetime Program: Special or Movie-of-the-Week
George Lopez: It’s Not Me, It’s You
Meddling Mom
We Love Jenni Special

Best Actor/Television
Benjamin Bratt, Private Practice
Guillermo Diaz, Scandal
Jon Huertas, Castle
Danny Pino, Law & Order: SVU

Best Actress/Television
Sonia Braga, Meddling Mom
Selena Gomez, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time
Monica Raymund, Chicago Fire

Best Supporting Actor/Television
Kevin Alejandro, Golden Boy
Nestor Carbonell, Bates Motel
Carlos Gómez, The Glades
Joe Minoso, Chicago Fire
Oscar Nuñez, The Office
Jon Seda, Treme

Best Supporting Actress/Television
Jordana Brewster, Dallas
Wanda De Jesus, Sons of Anarchy
Julie Gonzalo, Dallas
Constance Marie, Switched at Birth
Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation
Gina Torres, Suits

Best Young Actress/Television
Victoria Justice, Victorious
Cierra Ramirez, The Secret Life of the American Teenager
Raini Rodriguez, Austin & Ally
Brittany Underwood, Hollywood Heights
Bella Thorne, Shake It Up!

Best Children’s Programming
Dora The Explorer
Handy Manny
The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex

Best Documentary/Film or Television
Cubamerican
Granito: How to Nail a Dictator
Harvest of Empire
Mariachi High
Precious Knowledge
Voces: Tales of Masked Men
We Women Warriors
Who is Dayani Cristal?

Best Variety or Reality Show
24/7 Chavez-Martinez
Latino 101
Project Runway
Real Time with Bill Maher
The Voice

Best Feature Film
Bless Me, Ultima
Border Run
Dreamer
Tio Papi
Trouble in the Heights

Best Actor/Supporting Actor – Feature Film
E.J. Bonilla, Four
David Castro, Tio Papi
Joey Dedio, Tio Papi
Luke Ganalon, Bless Me, Ultima
Rayniel Rufino, Trouble in the Heights
Jeremy Ray Valdez, Dreamer

Best Actress/Supporting Actress – Feature Film • Miriam Colon, Bless Me, Ultima
Veronica Diaz-Carranza, Blaze You Out
Eva Mendes, The Place Beyond the Pines
Fatima Ptacek, Tio Papi
Patricia Rae, The Big Wedding
Elizabeth Rodriguez, Tio Papi

Best Theatrical Short or Student Film
POV: Sin Pais
The Shooting Star Salesman
Viva America

Best Web Series: Drama
Caribe Road
Fixing Paco
Sin Vergüenza

Best Web Series: Comedy
Noah Comprende
East WillyB
When the Bomb Drops

Best Web Series: Reality or Informational
Energy House Calls
Sin Vergüenza

Gomez Leads the Pack of Latinas on Maxim’s Hot 100 List

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

In the last year Selena Gomez has been edging-up her image in films like Spring Breakers… And Maxim’s readers have taken notice.

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer is the highest-ranking Latina on this year’s Maxim Hot 100 list, coming in at No. 2 behind fellow former Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus.

“This actress turned singer made her debut on the Disney Channel in the show Wizards of Waverly Place. Recently she’s been in the news for breaking up with Justin Bieber and starring in Harmony Korine‘s Spring Breakers,” says the magazine. “Biebs, take it from us: you will not do any better than this beautiful star.”

Gomez, who recently released the video for her new single “Come and Get It,” ranked No. 24 on last year’s list.

But Gomez isn’t the only Latina to make the list this year…

In all, 19 women of Hispanic-descent were named to the Hot 100 list.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latina honorees.

Jessica Alba, No. 17

Arianny Celeste, No. 18

Demi Lovato, No. 26

Sarah Shahi, No, 33

Zoe Saldana, No. 38

Lea Michele, No. 39

Jordana Brewster, No. 43

Naya Rivera, No. 45

Sofia Vergara, No. 49

Shakira, No. 53

Eva Mendes, No. 57

Cameron Diaz, No. 62

Natalie Martinez, No. 75

Aubrey Plaza, No. 85

Rocsi Diaz, No. 86

Kenda Perez, No. 92

Lynsi Torres, No. 93

Daniella Alonso, No. 97

Click here to see the complete Hot 100 list.

Gomez Wins Her Fifth Straight Kids’ Choice Award

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez’s streak of back-to-back Kids’ Choice Awards wins continues…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer picked up her fifth consecutive Favorite TV Actress orange blimp figurine during Saturday’s awards show, which was hosted by Josh Duhamel and featured a performance by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera.

Gomez – who won for her work on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, which ended its four-season run on the network last January – beat out iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove, Victorious’ Victoria Justice and Good Luck Charlie’s Bridgit Mendler for the award.

Gomez, who first won the Favorite TV Actress award at the 2009 Kids’ Choice Awards, broke a tie with Amanda Bynes for most consecutive wins and most wins in the category in awards show history.

has won a total of six orange blimps during her career.

Meanwhile, Justice’s Nickelodeon series Victorious took home the prize for Favorite TV Show. The show beat out Good Luck Charlie, iCarly and Wizards of Waverly Place for the award.

The awards were held at USC’s Galen Center.

Madrigal to Star in NBC’s “About a Boy” Pilot

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The Daily Show’s Al Madrigal will star in the television adaptation of a popular Hugh Grant film.

The 41-year-old Latino actor/comedian has landed a role in About a Boy, the NBC television pilot based on the Nick Hornby’s novel of the same name.

Directed by Jon Favreau and written by Jason Katims, the project follows the relationship between Will (portrayed by David Walton), a bachelor man-child, and the young boy who moves in next door with his kooky single mother Fiona (Minnie Driver).

Madrigal will play Andy, Will’s best friend and the husband of Laurie (portrayed by Anjelah Johnson).

He’s currently a correspondent on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has standup special Why is the Rabbit Crying premiering on Comedy Central in April.

His acting credits include Free Agents, Gary Unmarried, Welcome to the Captain and Wizards of Waverly Place.

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