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

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.

Brian Jordan AlvarezAlvarez 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.

Mercedes de la Cruz to Star in Hallmark Channel’s Rom-Com “Right In Front of Me”

Mercedes de la Cruz is frontin’

The Latina actress, who hails from Canada, will star as a lead opposite Janel Parrish and Marco Grazzini in Right In Front of Me, Hallmark Channel’s upcoming rom-com.

Mercedes de la Cruz

Written by Julie Sherman Wolfe and directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter, Right In Front of Me revolves around Carly (Parrish), the owner of a bridal styling business, gets a second chance at romance with her college crush but isn’t sure how to impress him until her new friend Nick starts giving her advice. Soon she learns who the right man for her really is.

The movie, part of Hallmark Channel’s “Spring Fling” programming event this spring, premieres Saturday, April 17.

De La Cruz plays Carly’s assistant and friend Jennifer, an efficient woman with a keen sense of humor who is well aware of Carly’s previous romantic disasters.

De La Cruz most recently co-starred in Lonestar Christmas for Lifetime. She also appeared in Supernatural, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Get Shorty and opposite Freddie Highmore in Bates Motel.

Joe Minoso to Appear on Third Season of Epix’s “Get Shorty”

Joe Minosois coming up short(y)

The 40-year-old Latino actor and Chicago Fire star has landed a recurring role opposite Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano on the upcoming third season of Epix’s Get Shorty, from MGM Television.

Joe Minoso

Get Shorty is based in part on Elmore Leonard’s 1990 bestselling novel and created for television by Davey Holmes

The dark comedy follows Miles Daly (O’Dowd), muscle for a Nevada crime ring who tries to become a movie producer in Hollywood with the help of a washed-up producer, Rick Moreweather (Romano), as a means to leave his criminal past behind. In season two, Miles struggled to reconcile his ambitions as a filmmaker and a family man with his skill set as a career criminal. His progress in Hollywood was jeopardized when the washed-up producer, with whom he partnered in season one, agreed to wear a Federal wire.

In season three, Miles (O’Dowd) embraces more ruthless methods as he settles scores and attempts to climb the Hollywood ladder.

Minoso will play Hector, a Capotillo gang leader that controls crime in Los Angeles.

Get Shorty
 is produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by MGM.

Minoso plays the series regular role of Joe Cruz on NBC’s Chicago Fire, which premieres its eighth season this fall.

His other credits include television appearances on Boss, Shameless and Prison Break.

Epix to Premiere Season Three of Lidia Porto’s Dark Comedy “Get Shorty” in October

Lidia Portois heading back to the small screen in October…

Epix will premiere season three of the 56-year-old Colombian actress’ dark comedy Get Shorty on October 6.

Lidia Porto

The dark comedy from MGM Television, based in part on the 1990s best-selling Elmore Leonard novel of the same name and created for television by Davey Holmes, will return this fall with seven all-new episodes. 

Season 3 will see Miles Daly, newly released from prison, in a cat and mouse game with studio head Laurence Budd, while Amara (Porto) and Rick flee to the Guatemalan jungle to escape the FBI.

Season 3 ofGet Shorty premieres on Sunday, October 6 at 10:00 pm ET.

Luis Moncada to Guest Star in the Third Season of Epix’s “Get Shorty”

Luis Moncada is preparing for aShort(y) stint…

The 42-year-old Honduran actor has landed a recurring guest starring role on the forthcoming third season of Epix’s Get Shorty

Luis Moncada

He’ll play Queso, a lieutenant in the Capotillo Cartel that controls crime in Los Angeles and butts heads with Yago, who is newly released from prison after the events of season two.

The dark comedy is based on Elmore Leonard’s best-selling novel. In season two of the series, Miles Daly (Chris O’Dowd) struggled to reconcile his ambitions as a filmmaker and a family man with his skill set as a career criminal. His progress in Hollywood is jeopardized when his washed-up producing partner Rick Moreweather (Ray Romano) agrees to wear a federal wire and begins a romantic relationship with dangerous crime boss Amara De Escalones (Lidia Porto). 

Season three finds Miles embracing more ruthless methods as he settles scores in an attempt to continue climbing the Hollywood ladder.

Moncada is best known for his role as Marco Salamanca in Breaking Badand its spin-off Better Call SaulHis other credits include Queen of the SouthThe Night Shift as well as the TV adaptation of Lethal Weapon.

Raymond Cruz to Appear in Season 2 of Epix’s “Get Shorty”

It’s a great Get for Raymond Cruz

The 56-year-old Latino actor and former Major Crimes/The Closer star has landed a recurring role opposite Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano in the second season of Epix’s Get Shorty.

Raymond Cruz

The dark comedy from MGM Television is based in part on the 1990 Elmore Leonard bestseller and created for television by Davey Holmes.

In Season 2, Miles struggles to reconcile his ambitions as a filmmaker and a family man with his skill set as a career criminal. His progress in Hollywood is jeopardized when the washed-up producer (Romano) with whom he partnered in Season 1 agrees to wear a federal wire.

Cruz will play Swayze, the brutal and murderous leader of a Latino prison gang who styles himself after Patrick Swayze, with long, flowing locks of hair and 80s-inspired dance moves.

Cruz recently wrapped the sixth and final season of TNT’s Major Crimes. He also has recurred on Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, among other credits.

Season 2 premieres on Sunday, August 12 at 9:00 pm ET.

Mollà Joins the Cast of FX’s Paul Giamatti Comedy Pilot “Hoke”

Jordi Mollà’s next role is no Hoke

The 45-year-old Spanish actor, filmmaker, writer and artist has joined the cast of FX’s Paul Giamatti comedy pilot Hoke.

Jordi Mollà

Hoke is the story of mid-life crisis and murder that features the hard-boiled and possibly insane homicide detective, Hoke Moseley (Giamatti), in pre-chic Miami circa 1985.

Mollà, who appeared in Bad Boys II, will portray Armando Zuniga, a sociopathic Cuban who arrives on the shores of Miami in the rumpled, faded clothing of a peasant Cuban refugee and integrates into the city posing as a famous poet of the Cuban people.

But Mollà isn’t the only Spaniard joining the cast…

Game of Thrones star Oona Chaplin will plays Ellita Sanchez, a sharp young homicide detective recently promoted from dispatcher to Hoke’s new partner.

Other cast members include Body of Proof’s John Carroll Lynch Nashville’s Robert Wisdom and Guiding Light’s Tammy Blanchard.

Hoke is a darkly comedic take on Charles Willeford‘s series of novels Sideswipe, New Hope for the Dead and The Way We Die Now.

The project hails from writer/producer and Academy Award nominee Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Get Shorty).

Production is set to begin in Miami later this year.

Sandoval to Star in CBS’ “The Surgeon General” Drama Pilot

Miguel Sandoval is getting political in his next role…

The 61-year-old Latino actor has signed on to star in CBS’ drama pilot The Surgeon General.

Miguel Sandoval

The project centers on Dr. John Sherman (portrayed by Jason Isaacs), the most powerful doctor in the nation, the Surgeon General, who has 315 million patients.

Sandoval, best known for portraying D.A. Manuel Devalos on Medium, will portray Senator Nortega in the pilot.

Sandoval’s other television credits include appearances on Entourage, The Closer and Alias. His film credits include Get Shorty, Tortilla Heaven and Do the Right Thing.