NBC Renews Disaster Drama “La Brea,” Starring Jon Seda, for Season 3

There’s more sinkhole action in Jon Seda’s future..

NBC has renewed its disaster drama La Brea, starring the 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor for Season 3.

Jon SedaThe news was announced ahead of Season 2’s midseason return to the network on Tuesday night.

La Brea follows an epic family adventure after a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles, pulling people and buildings into a mysterious and dangerous primeval land where they have no choice but to band together to survive.

In addition to Seda, the series stars Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Nicholas Gonzalez, Chiké Okonkwo, Zyra Gorecki, Jack Martin, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Lily Santiago, Josh McKenzie, Tonantzin Carmelo and Michelle Vergara Moore.

Seda portrays Dr. Sam Velez, while Gonzalez portrays Levi Delgado.

La Brea hails from writer David Appelbaum, who executive produces.

The series has been a strong performer for NBC. Season 1, which debuted in September 2021, was the No. 1 new show of the fall season in the ad-friendly 18-49 demographic. It was also the top drama of the entire 2021-22 TV season.

The Season 2 premiere brought in a 0.49 demo rating and about 4M Live+Same-Day viewers on September 27. So far, the second installment has averaged a 0.39 and 3.6M viewers.

Tonantzin Carmelo Upped to Series Regular on NBC’s “La Brea” for Season Two

Tonantzin Carmelo will be getting more screentime… 

The 46-year-old half-Latina actress and Michelle Vergara Moore have been upped to series regulars on NBC’s La Brea for Season 2.

Tonantzin CarmeloCarmelo and Vergara Moore were recurring guest stars last season.

Production on the show’s sophomore turn is currently underway in Australia.

Carmelo will return to 10,000 B.C. in the role of Paara who is from the Tongva tribe and the leader of the village at the Fort. She’s strong and commanding with a reasonable and sympathetic spirit. She saves Ty’s (Chiké Okonkwo) life but in Season 2, when the survivors at the clearing come into conflict with the fort’s villagers, he increasingly finds himself torn between his loyalty to his friends and his growing relationship with Paara.

Vergara Moore returns as Ella Jones, an artist in her 40s who comes to realize the unexplainable visions she draws in her artwork are actually memories from her past life in 10,000 BC. Upon meeting Gavin (Eoin Macken), Ella discovers she went through the light to 1988 as a young girl named “Lilly”. Looking to save her friend Veronica (Lily Santiago) who Ella knows from her memories is trapped in a bear claw in 10,000 BC, she jumps through the Seattle sinkhole with Gavin and Izzy (Zyra Gorecki).

In La Brea, a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles, tearing a family apart by separating the mother (Natalie Zea) and son (Josh Harris) from the father (Macken) and daughter (Gorecki). Part of the family finds itself in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers. They must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Co-stars also include Jon Seda, Nicholas Gonzalez, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, and Josh McKenzie.

La Brea is produced by Universal Television and Australia’s Matchbox Pictures, both divisions of Universal Studio Group in association with Keshet Studios.

Writer David Appelbaum executive produces.

NBC Renews Nicholas Gonzalez’s Disaster Drama “La Brea” for Second Season

Nicholas Gonzalez’s disaster continues…

NBC has renewed is disaster drama series La Brea for a sophomore run after the ratings success of the Natalie Zea-fronted thriller starring the 45-year-old Mexican American actor.

Nicholas Gonzalez

La Brea stars Gonzales, Zea, Eoin Macken, Jack Martin, Zyra Gorecki, Jon Seda, Chiké Okonkwo, Karina Logue, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Nicholas Gonzalez, Lily Santiago, Chloe De Los Santos and Josh McKenzie.

The series is centered on a mother and son separated from father and daughter after a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles.

La Brea hails from writer David Appelbaum, who executive produces with Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt and Ken Woodruff.

It is produced by Universal Television in association with Keshet Studios.

The show is the No 1 new show of the fall in the adults 18-49 demographic  and NBC said that it had reached more than 47 million viewers across linear and digital platforms.

The pilot, which aired September 28, stands at a 3.6 in 18-49 and 19.8M viewers.

It has also become the best launch of any new NBC show on the network’s sister streamer Peacock and is the No. 3 new show of the season in total Live+3 viewers after NCIS: Hawai’i and FBI International.

Keshet Studios president Traugott says he was pleased with the amount of marketing support surrounding the show, which took a long time to make it to air as a result of the pandemic — it was in the middle of producing its pilot when Covid-19 hit and was picked up straight-to-series in January 2021.

“The only thing worse than a network not liking you show is that they love it so much that there’s that pressure. We have no control with the ratings,” he added. “NBC and Universal have been so supportive because La Brea has the potential to draw in audiences, and if they turn up, the pressure is on us to keep bringing them back.”

NBC to Premiere Jon Seda’s New Drama Series “La Brea” in September

Jon Seda will be officially sinking into his new project in September…

NBC has set the fall premiere date for its new drama series La Brea, starring the 50-year-old Puerto Rican actor, for Tuesday, September 28 at 9:00 pm ET.

Jon Seda

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother and son from father and daughter. When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Seda plays Dr. Sam Velez. The father of a teenage girl, he carries himself like the general of an Army.

In addition to Seda and Zea, the cast also includes Nicholas Gonzalez, Lily Santiago, Vanessa Buckley and Chloe de los Santos.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

Here are the complete premiere dates announced by NBC:

MONDAY, AUGUST 9
10 p.m. The Wall (Time slot premiere)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
9 p.m. Family Game Fight! (Time slot premiere)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
8 p.m. The Voice (Season 21 premiere)
10 p.m. Ordinary Joe (Series premiere)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
10 p.m. New Amsterdam (Season 4 premiere)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
8 p.m. Chicago Med (Season 7 premiere)
9 p.m. Chicago Fire (Season 10 premiere)
10 p.m. Chicago P.D. (Season 9 premiere)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
8-10 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (two-hour Season 23 premiere)
10 p.m. Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season 2 premiere)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
9 p.m. Dateline (Season 30)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
9 p.m. La Brea (Series premiere)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21
8 p.m. The Blacklist (Season 9)

Nicholas Gonzalez to Star in NBC’s Sci-Fi Drama “La Brea”

Nicholas Gonzalez is ready to sink into a new role…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor, who has starred as Dr. Neil Melendez on ABC’s The Good Doctor for the last three seasons, will co-star opposite Eoin Macken, Natalie Zea and Jon Seda in NBC’s sci-fi drama La Brea.

Nicholas Gonzalez

Gonzalez also joins previously cast Veronica St. Clair, Chiké Okonkwo, Jack Martin, Zyra Gorecki and Lily Santiago.

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son (Martin) from father (Macken) and daughter (Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Gonzalez will play Levi Brooks, an Air Force pilot and Gavin’s (Macken) best friend who is recruited to lead the mission to save the people who fell into the sinkhole.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

For the past three seasons, Gonzalez was a series regular on ABC’s hit medical drama The Good Doctor, playing the popular character of Dr. Melendez, who died in the two-part Season 4 premiere. His series credits include Being Mary Jane, How to Get Away With Murder and Pretty Little Liars.

Jon Seda Rejoins Cast of NBC’s Drama Pilot “La Brea”

Jon Seda is heading back to La Brea

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican actor has rejoined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot La Brea.

Jon Seda

Seda, who will star opposite Eoin Macken and Natalie Zea on the series, was originally cast in the project a year ago and released in June due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Hollywood newcomer has joined the cast of the pilot.

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son (Martin) from father and daughter. When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home. (The family’s last name has been changed from Wolcott to Harris.)

Seda plays Dr. Sam Velez (originally Dr. Benjamin Glass). The father of a teenage girl, he carries himself like the general of an Army. Santiago plays Veronica. Very rigid and formal, she does her best to comfort and protect her younger sister.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

Seda starred for seven seasons on the Chicago franchise as Detective Antonio Dawson. One of the original stars of the franchise, he started off as a recurring on the mothership Chicago Fire before he was spun off to Chicago P.D. He also appeared for a time on the short-lived legal drama spinoff Chicago Justice. He previously played Nelson Hidalgo on Treme.

Santiago, a graduate of Northwestern University and LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, has appeared in numerous stage productions including the All-Female Macbeth (Red Bull Theater), Othello (Shakespeare in the Park, Romeo & Juliet (Huntington Theatre), and most recently the Public’s mobile Shakespeare production of Measure For Measure.

Jon Seda to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “La Brea”

Jon Seda is making a return to NBC…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor, who starred on NBC’s Chicago Fire and recurred on Chicago P.D. for several seasons, has landed a lead role opposite Natalie Zea and Michael Raymond-James in the high-concept drama pilot La Brea.

Jon Seda

Hailing from writer David AppelbaumKeshet Studiosand Universal Television, the project begins with a massive sinkhole that mysteriously opens in Los Angeles. It tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son from father (Raymond-James) and daughter (Zyra Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Seda will play Dr. Benjamine Glass, a former Navy Sealwho knows how to take charge.

Thor Freudenthalwill direct the pilot.

Last spring, Seda departed the Chicago franchise after seven years on Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice. As his Chicago character had developed a devoted following, his exit was met with strong reaction by fans, and NBC has been looking for ways to bring him back into the fold.

Seda starred as Detective Antonio Dawson Chicago P.D. One of the original stars of the Chicago franchise, he started off as a recurring on the mothership Chicago Fire before he was spun off to Chicago P.D. He also appeared for a time on the short-lived legal drama spinoff Chicago Justice.

Prior to joining the Chicago franchise, Seda played Nelson Hidalgo on TremeHis other credits include appearances on Hawaii Five-0The Closerand Burn Notice.

Mj Rodriguez Wins Best Actress – Television Prize at the Imagen Awards

Mj Rodriguez is celebrating her Imagen

This year’s Imagen Awards were doled out over the weekend, with the 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress taking home one of the night’s awards.

MJ Rodriguez

Rodriguez was named Best Actress – Television for her role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista on the FX groundbreaking television drama Pose, which was named Best Primetime Program – Drama alongside CBS’ Magnum P.I.

Pose, created by Ryan MurphyBrad Falchuk and Afro-Latino television writer/producer Steven Canals, features the largest cast of transgender actors to be starring as series regulars in a scripted show. In addition to Rodriguez, the series also stars 23-year-old Dominican actor Angel Bismark Curiel.

Anthony Ramos won the Best Actor – Feature Film prize for his role in Monsters and Men, which was named Best Feature Film, while Isabela Moner was namedBest Actress – Feature Film for her role inInstant Family.

Jon Seda was named Best Actor – Television for his role in Chicago P.D., while Wilmer Valderrama was named Best Supporting Actor – Television
for his role on NCIS.

Rita Moreno was named Best Supporting Actress – Television
for One Day at a Time, while Anthony Gonzalez was named Best Young Actor – Television for HBO’s  Icebox.

Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the Imagen Awards were established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in media. The winners were judged and selected in 18 categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latinx community leaders.

The Imagen Foundation also honored Chairman of Endemol Shine Americasand CEO of Endemol Shine North America’s Cris Abregowith the prestigious Imagen President’s Awardand Luisa Leschinwith the Norman Lear Writer’s Award.

The complete list of winners can be read below.

Best Feature Film
Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)

Best Director
Reinaldo Marcus Green, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)

Best Actor – Feature Film
Anthony Ramos, Monsters and Men (NEON/Moviepass Films)

Best Actress – Feature Film
Isabela Moner, Instant Family (Paramount Pictures)

Best Primetime Program – Drama (TIE)
Magnum P.I. (CBS; CBS Television Studios, Universal Television, Perfect Storm Entertainment, Davis Entertainment, 101st Street Productions)
Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)

Best Primetime Program – Comedy
One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)

Best Primetime Program – Specials, Movies & Limited Series
Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)

Best Actor – Television 
Jon Seda, Chicago P.D. (NBC; Wolf Entertainment in association with Universal Television)

Best Actress – Television
Mj Rodriguez, Pose (FX Networks; Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions)

Best Supporting Actor – Television
Wilmer Valderrama, NCIS (CBS; CBS Television Studios)

Best Supporting Actress – Television
Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time (Netflix; Sony Pictures Television for Netflix)

Best Young Actor – Television
Anthony Gonzalez, Icebox (HBO; HBO Films in association with Gracie Films and Endeavor Content)

Best Variety or Reality Show
Hip-Hop Houdini (Fuse; 7Beyond)

Best Children’s Programming
The Loud House (Nickelodeon)

Best Documentary – Great Performances
John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway (PBS; NGL Studios & Diamante Content Production in association with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET & Latino Public Broadcasting)

Best Informational Program
Breaking Big (PBS; Ozy Media)

Best Short-Form Non-Fiction Program
SC Featured – A Dreamer’s Path (ESPN Deportes)

Best On-Air Advertising
Sexism (Orci)

Seda’s “Chicago PD” Renewed for a Second Season

It looks like Jon Seda will serve and protect another season…

NBC has given an early renewal to freshman drama series Chicago PD, which stars the 43-year-old Puerto Rican actor as Detective Antonio Dawson, an Intelligence Unit detective.

Jon Seda in Chicago PD

Chicago PD, which also stars Sophia Bush and Jason Beghe, is a spin-off of the network’s popular drama Chicago Fire.

The series, shot entirely in Chicago, focuses on uniformed police patrol officers and the Intelligence Unit that pursues the perpetrators of the city’s major street offenses.

Chicago PD premiered on January 8, 2014 to 11 million viewers. It’s currently averaging 12.04 viewers per episode.

Olivo Cast as Jon Seda’s Wife on NBC’s “Chicago PD”

America Olivo is headed to the small screen in one of this season’s most anticipated spinoffs…

The 35-year-old part Chilean and part Spanish/Basque actress, singer and model has joined the cast of NBC’s midseason drama Chicago PD, a spinoff of the hit series Chicago Fire.

America Olivo

Olivo will recur as Laura Dawson, a businesswoman and the wife of Antonio Dawson (portrayed by Jon Seda).

Olivo, best known as a member of the band Soluna, has previously starred on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Warehouse 13, Friday the 13th and the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.