The CW Renews Pineda’s “The Originals” for a Second Season

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The CW is sticking with Daniella Pineda’s Originals plan…

The network has given an early renewal to its strongest series, including the freshmen drama The Originals, which stars the 26-year-old Mexican-American actress.

After a somewhat discouraging start behind its mothership series The Vampire Diaries, The Originals has flourished in the Tuesday 8:00 pm slot despite gloom and doom predictions about its face-off with ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Its potent pairing with Supernatural has doubled the CW’s Tuesday night ratings year-to-year in adults 18-34 (+100%, 1.4 vs. 0.7), grown +150% in adults 18-49 (1.5 vs. 0.6), and gained +88% in total viewers (3.2 million vs. 1.7 million).

Pineda portrays witch Sophie Deveraux on The Originals.

Her previous credits include appearances on Showtime’s Homeland and TNT’s Men of a Certain Age.

Nolasco to Star in ABC’s Drama Project “American Crime”

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Crime is about to pay for Elvis Nolasco

The Dominican actor has been cast alongside Caitlin Gerard in the ABC drama American Crime, which hails from 12 Years of Slave writer John Ridley.

The project centers on a racially charged murder and the subsequent trial, which are examined through the personal lives of the players involved.

Nolasco and Gerard will portray an interracial couple, both drug addicts.

Nolasco’s credits include guest appearances on Third Watch, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the television mini-series Miracle’s Boys.

He most recently worked on Spike Lee’s film Oldboy, portraying the character of Cortez.

Souza Cast in the ABC Drama Pilot “How to Get Away with Murder”

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Karla Souza is getting’ away with murder…

No, it’s not a crime we’re talking about.

The 28-year-old Mexican actress has been cast in the ABC/ABC Studios drama pilot How to Get Away with Murder.

The sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller centers on ambitious law students and their brilliant and mysterious criminal defense professor who become entangled in a murder plot.

Souzo, who starred in two of last year’s massive hit Mexican comedies Nosotros los nobles and No se aceptan devoluciones, will portray one of the law students.

Souza’s other credits include the film From Prada to Nada and the Mexican television series Terminales.

Garcia Swisher to Star in ABC‘s Drama Series “Astronaut Wives Club”

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

JoAnna Garcia Swisher has landed an out of this world role…

The 34-year-old half-Cuban American actress has been cast as one of the leads in ABC‘s drama series Astronaut Wives Club, which was recently picked up for the summer with a 10-episode straight-to-series order.

Written by Stephanie Savage and based on Lily Koppel’s novel, the project comes from ABC Studios.

It tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history during the height of the space race.

Garcia Swisher will portray Betty Grissom, the wife of one of the original astronauts. A bouncy redhead with curls askew and a folksy Hoosier accent, she’s got a down-home appeal, which endears her to the public.

Astronaut Wives Club extends Swisher’s relationship with ABC and ABC Studios following her recent arc as The Little Mermaid Ariel on their hit series Once Upon A Time.

Garcia Swisher’s other credits include Better with You, Reba, Gossip Girl, Royal Pains and How I Met Your Mother.

Alejandro to Co-Star in the ABC Drama Pilot “Clementine”

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kevin Alejandro has landed a clemendous new role…

The 37-year-old Mexican-American actor has landed a plum role on ABC’s drama pilot Clementine.

From the Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios, the project centers on troubled 28-year-old psychic Clementine Ross (portrayed by Sarah Snook) who sees her life begin to change in unexpected ways when she decides to stop running from her past.

Alejandro will co-star as Charlie Madsen, Clementine’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her young daughter, Lucy. He’s described as a former bad-boy who has transformed into a responsible man after realizing he has to raise Lucy on his own due to Clementine’s personal struggles.

Most recently, Alejandro has been appearing in a recurring role on the CW’s Arrow. He previously co-starred on CBS’ short-lived series Golden Boy.

His other television credits include roles on Southland, True Blood, Weeds, Drop Dead Diva and Sons of Anarchy.

Catta-Preta Lands Role in the ABC Comedy Pilot “My Thoughts Exactly”

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

No need to give Jade Catta-Preta a penny for her thoughts…

The Brazilian actress and comedienne has landed a series regular role in the ABC comedy pilot My Thoughts Exactly.

From Lowell and Brillstein Entertainment Partners and produced by ABC Studios, the half-hour sitcom is described as a romantic comedy that exposes the unfiltered internal monologues of a young couple embarking on a new relationship.

Catta-Preta will portray Amy, Dana’s (portrayed by Analeigh Tipton) former sorority sister who plays guitar, teaches yoga out of her apartment and trained to be a pastry chef at the Cordon Bleu. Jake McDorman also stars.

The series was written and will be executive-produced by Jeff Lowell.

Catta-Preta’s previous credits include appearances on Daddy Knows Best, Sullivan & Son and 2 Broke Girls.

Vergara to Star Opposite Reese Witherspoon in “Don’t Mess with Texas”

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Don’t Mess with Sofia Vergara?

The 41-year-old Colombian actress will star opposite Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon in Don’t Mess with Texas.

The film is described as a female-driven Midnight Run-style comedy.

Witherspoon will play a police officer and Vergara a prisoner who are forced to go on the lam together.

Witherspoon and Vergara have been in talks to participate in this project for some time now, but their deals are now coming together quickly so that Vergara can shoot the film during her hiatus from ABC’s Modern Family this spring.

27 Dresses and The Proposal director Anne Fletcher is currently in talks to helm the action comedy.

Martinez to Star Opposite Ryan Phillippe in the ABC Drama Pilot “Secrets & Lies”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Martinez’s future will could be filled with plenty of secrets & lies…

The 29-year-old Cuban American actress, who most recently starred on CBS’ Under the Dome, has signed on to star in ABC’s drama pilot Secret & Lies.

Martinez will star opposite Ryan Phillippe in the project, an adaptation of the upcoming Australian crime mystery series.

Secrets & Lies centers on a family man (Phillippe) who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young boy when he finds the body. He has no choice but to try to find the real killer as his marriage, his kids, his reputation, and his sanity are all at stake.

Martinez will play Jess, the child’s devastated mother.

She’ll next star opposite Ryan Reynolds in FilmDistrict and Endgame Entertainment’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Selfless.

First Look at Pascal’s “Game of Thrones” Character, The Red Viper

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Game on for Pedro Pascal…

HBO has released the first official images from Game of Thrones‘ fourth season, including images of the 38-year-old Chilean actor in character.

Pascal, who recently landed a role on CBS’ The Mentalist, is set to portray Prince Oberyn Martell, better known as the Red Viper in the upcoming season of the network’s hit series.

Pascal’s character comes to Kings Landing seeking revenge for the death of his sister, who was killed by the Lannisters when the Mad King was overthrown.

Pascal, who had a guest-starring role on Showtime’s Homeland, has previously had arcs on CBS’ The Good Wife, ABC’s Red Widow and USA’s Graceland.

The season four premiere of Game of Thrones is set for Sunday, April 6.

Lopez’s FX Comedy Series “Saint George” to Premiere in March

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez’s return to television is scheduled for March…

The 52-year-old Mexican American comedian’s FX comedy series Saint George will premiere at 9:00 pm on Thursday, March 6.

Saint George, the second of three 10/90 comedy shows set for FX, is part of Debmar-Mercury and Lionsgate Television’s syndication model.

The half-hour, multi-camera ensemble series centers on George Lopez (Lopez), a recently divorced working class guy turned successful entrepreneur caught between two cultures.

If the series hits certain ratings thresholds in its first 10 episodes, it will trigger an additional 90-episode order.

It joins FX’s Charlie Sheen comedy Anger Management, which followed the same model and is now set to enter off-net syndication in September.

Matt Williams and his Wind Dancer Films partner David McFadzean co-created the series with Lopez.

Lopez last appeared on television as the host of the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight from 2009-2011.

His last starring role in a sitcom was as the lead on ABC’s George Lopez.

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