Sarah Shahi Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

It’s a new endeavor for Sarah Shahi.

The 42-year-old part-Spanish actress and Sex/Life star  has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation.

Sarah Shahi

Shahi portrays Billie Connelly in the provocative Netflix drama series which is heading into its second season.

Inspired by BB Easton’s self-published memoir 44 Chapters About 4 MenSex/Life is the story of a love triangle between a woman, Billie Connelly (Shahi), her husband, and her past, which takes a deliciously steamy new look at female identity and desire.

The series quickly became one of Netflix’s best performing shows and drew more than 67 million viewers in its first season.

Shahi received critical praise for her portrayal of DA’s office investigator Rachel Behnam in Showtime’s City on a Hill. She also starred in an episode of the Netflix Dolly Parton anthology series Heartstrings, in which each episode is based on a Dolly song.

She also starred alongside Nathan Fillion on NBC’s The Rookie, and in the Steven Spielberg-produced NBC series Reverie

She also is known for her roles on CBS’ Person of Interest, USA’s Fairly Legal and Showtime’s The L Word.  Her other television credits include Chicago Fire, Life with Damian Lewis, The Sopranos, Ray Donovan and Alias.

Shahi next stars in the anticipated Warner Bros./DC superhero feature Black Adam alongside Dwayne Johnson, set for release in October. She also has signed on to star in the upcoming Amazon film Red, White and Royal Blue, based on the best-selling book, and she is attached to executive produce and star in The Hollys, written by Floriana Lima, Yolanda Pecoraro, and Ilaria Urbinati, with Di Novi Pictures producing.

Gina Torres to Star on Season Two of Fox’s Drama Series “9-1-1: Lone Star”

Gina Torres is Texas bound…

The 51-year-old Cuban American actress has been cast as a series regular for the second season of Fox’s 9-11 spinoff series 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Gina Torres

Torres, best known for her role as Jessica Pearson on USA Network’s Suitsand Pearson, will star opposite Liv Tyler and Rob Lowe on the series.

9-1-1: Lone Star hails from 9-1-1 creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear.

Set in Austin, it follows Owen (Lowe), a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to the Texas capital and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

Torres will play Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters. For eight years life was great, until COVID-19 changed her life. With her husband’s restaurant going under, Tommy has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.

The role reunites Torres and Minear, who worked together on Fox’s sci-fi drama series Firefly.

“We are so excited to be expanding our 9-1-1-verse with the addition of Gina Torres,” said Minear. “I’ve been dying to write for her again ever since Firefly. Gina brings warmth, intelligence and command to everything she does. 2020 is finally looking up.”

9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Century Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.

Season 2 is scheduled to begin production in Los Angeles later this fall for a premiere in early 2021 as part of the network’s midseason schedule.

Torres earned an ALMA Award, an Imagen Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series for her role as Jessica Pearson.

She most recently was cast as the lead of the Dracula reimagining drama pilot The Bridesat ABC. The Alias and Angel alumna also did an arc on HBO’s Westworld.

Sarah Shahi Starring in the Indie Drama “Language Arts”

Sarah Shahi is embracing a new language

The 38-year-old half-Spanish American actress, who is currently starring in NBC’s Reverie, will star as the lead in the indie drama Language Arts.

Sarah Shahi

Directed by Corneli Moore and produced by Larry EstesLanguage Arts follows Allison Forche-Marlow (Shahi), a beautiful, bright, determined, and organized, who never gives up trying to heal her autistic son, whom she fiercely loves, no matter what it demands of everyone.

Shahi, a former NFL cheerleader, previously starred on the television shows Fairly Legal, The L Word, Life and Alias.

Peris-Mencheta’s “Snowfall” to Kick Off This Year’s ATX Television Festival

Sergio Peris-Mencheta will experience Snowfall in Austin…

The ATX Television Festival will kick off with an opening-night screening and panel for John Singleton’s upcoming FX series Snowfall, starring the 41-year-old Spanish actor.

Sergio Peris-Mencheta

Set in Los Angeles circa 1983, the series’ focus is set on the first cocaine epidemic and its impact on the culture of the city.

Peris-Mencheta portrays Gustavo Zapata on the series, which also stars Manuel Uriza, Emily Rios and Camila Banus.

The Snowfall panel joins previously announced ATX fest events including a reunion of Alias writers, a Parks and Recreation community screening; reunions for Designing Women, Northern Exposure, thirtysomething and The Comeback; “Canceled Too Soon” panels with The Black Donnellys and The Middleman; and much more.

The ATX Television Festival will run from June 8-11 in Austin, Texas. For a full list of additional panels and screenings, click here.

Peris-Mencheta’s previous credits include Resident Evil: Afterlife, and the Spanish-language projects A salir de clase and Estripe.

Orci Signs with ICM Partners

Roberto Orci has a new Partner in crime…

The 43-year-old Mexican film and television writer, producer and director has signed with talent and literary agency ICM Partners.

Roberto Orci

Orci’s writing and producing credits include some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including credits two Transformers and Star Trek films and Mission: Impossible III.

Orci, longtime partner of Alex Kurtzman, is also an Emmy-winning television writer-producer, who co-created Fox’s Fringe and Sleepy Hollow. He has also been a writer-producer on Alias and Hawaii Five-O, among other shows.

Orci had previously been at Creative Artists Agency, and he continues to be lawyered by Michael Gendler.

Maestro Lands Recurring Role on ABC’s “Scandal”

It’s a scandalous time for Mia Maestro

The 37-year-old Argentine actress and singer-songwriter, who currently stars on FX’s The Strain, has landed a major recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of ABC’s Washington, D.C., drama series Scandal.

Mia Maestro

As is the case with most castings on Shonda Rhimes’ series, the character Maestro will play is being kept under wraps.

This marks Maestro’s return to ABC, where she had a heavily recurring role on another popular drama series, Alias, as Jennifer Garner’s sister.

Maestro starred in the The Twilight Saga as Carmen.

Braga Lands Role on NBC’s Drama Pilot “The Curse Of The Fuentes Women”

Sonia Braga has been cursed…

The 64-year-old Brazilian actress, best known for her performances in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Moon Over Parador, has landed a regular role in The Curse Of The Fuentes Women, NBC’s drama pilot from Warner Bros. Television.

Sonia Braga

When a magical and mysterious young man (portrayed by Adan Canto) inexplicably emerges from the ocean, he breathes new passion into the lives of the Fuentes women – the beautiful but lonely Lola (Christina Vidal), her ailing mother Esperanza (Rachel Ticotin) and her troubled daughter Soledad (Katie Sarife). Lola has given up on love and dedicated herself to caring for her daughter Soledad, her mother Esperanza and their floundering family restaurant – until a mysterious stranger enters her life, opening up a world of possibilities.

Braga will play Orquidia, the estranged sister of Esperanza (Ticotin). Orquidia has been harboring an enormous grudge against her sister for decades.

Braga, nominated for three Golden Globes and an Emmy, has appeared on television in Sex and the City, Alias and The Cosby Show.

Collins Jr. to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Secrets & Lies”

It’s a case of secrets & lies for Clifton Collins Jr. …

The 43-year-old Mexican and Spanish American actor has signed on to co-star alongside Ryan Phillippe, Juliette Lewis and KaDee Strickland in ABC’s drama pilot Secrets & Lies.

Clifton Collins Jr.

The project centers on Ben (Phillippe), a family man who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young boy when he finds the body.

Collins, who appeared on the network’s short-lived drama Red Widow last season, will portray Ben’s childhood friend and the tenant in Ben’s pool house who is unwaveringly supportive of Ben.

Collins most recently starred in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim and guest-starred on NBC’s The Blacklist. His other television credits include The Event, Southland and Alias.

He’ll next appear opposite Johnny Depp in Transcendence.

Shahi to Host “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014” Special

Sarah Shahi has landed a super (bowl) sized commercial gig…

The 34-year-old half-Spanish actress will co-host Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014 with CBS sports analyst Boomer Esiason.

Sarah Shahi

The special is an interactive countdown special where viewers will be able to vote LIVE on CBS.com for their favorite Super Bowl Commercials.

Beginning today, viewers will get to vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercials from 10 categories (Office, User-Generated, Sexy, Beer, Crazy, Kids, Celebrity, Car, Animal and Soft Drink) and they will go head-to-head on www.cbs.com/superbowl/commercials/, where fans will be able to vote to determine the top three Super Bowl commercials.  Those top three will advance to the live vote during the broadcast, when viewers will decide the outcome and the winner will be revealed at the end of the show.

Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014 will air on Wednesday, January 29 at 8:00 pm ET on CBS.

The winner will be revealed at the end of the show.

Shahi currently stars on CBS’ Person of Interest. The former NFL cheerleader’s other roles include Fairly Legal, The L Word, Alias and Chicago Fire.

Orci Promoted to Co-Executive Producer on NBC’s “The Blacklist”

J.R. Orci has moved up The Blacklist

The Mexican and Cuban American television writer/producer, the brother of noted film and television writer/producer Roberto Orci, has been promoted to co-executive producer on NBC’s The Blacklist, which is one of Fall’s hottest new dramas.

J.R. Orci

Orci, who joined the series after the pilot as a consulting producer, has also signed a two-year overall deal with Blacklist producer Sony Pictures Television.

He wrote the episode guest-starring Robert Sean Leonard as a rogue chemical weapons scientist.

Orci worked with his brother on Fringe, Hawaii Five-0 and Alias.