Daphne Rubin-Vega to Guest Star in Vivienne Medrano’s Adult Animated Musical Comedy Series “Hazbin Hotel”

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Daphne Rubin-Vega is checking in to a new project…

The 54-year-old Panamanian-American actress, singer-songwriter, dancer and Broadway star will make a guest appearance in Vivienne Medrano’s adult animated musical comedy series Hazbin Hotel.

Rubin-Vega will portray Carmilla Carmine on the series.

Prime Video will premiere Hazbin Hotel on January 19, with episodes dropping exclusively on the streamer in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Created by Medrano, Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.

In addition to Rubin-Vega, best known for originating the roles of Mimi Marquez in the 1996 premiere of the Broadway musical Rent and Lucy in the 2007 premiere of the Off-Broadway play Jack Goes Boating, other guest stars include Darren Criss (Saint Peter), Jeremy Jordan (Lucifer Morningstar), Patina Miller (Sera) and Jessica Vosk (Lute).

They join the previously announced main cast including Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Kimiko Glenn, Blake Roman, Amir Talai, Christian Borle and Joel Perez.

The series will feature original music and lyrics from platinum-certified artist Sam Haft and Emmy-nominated Andrew Underberg.

Medrano serves as executive producer and directed all episodes.

Hazbin Hotel is produced by A24 and Fox Entertainment’s animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.

Stephanie Beatriz to Guest Star on Fox’s “Krapopolis”

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a krap shoot for Stephanie Beatriz.

The 42-year-old Colombian-Bolivian Argentine actress will guest star on Fox’s Krapopolis, the network’s long-awaited animated series premiering on September 24.

Beatriz will be joined by fellow guest stars Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Joel McHale, Dave Franco, Yvette Nicole Brown, Will Forte, Jane Lynch, Daveed Diggs, Steve Buscemi, David Cross, Keith David, Chris Hardwick, Tim Meadows, Bobby Moynihan, Jim Rash, Rob Riffle, Tim Robinson, Michael Urie, Alanna Ubach and Amber Stevens West.

Stiller will bring to life Prometheus, find a preview of his character in the video below.

Set in mythical ancient Greece, Krapopolis tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters trying to run one of the world’s first cities, while also trying their best to not kill each other in the process.

Featuring the voices of Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy and Duncan Trussell, Krapopolis centers on a flawed family of humans, gods, and monsters attempting to guide humanity out of the savage wilderness and into a new lifestyle experiment they’re calling “civilization.”

Ayoade voices “Tyrannis,” the mortal son of a goddess. He’s the self-involved, narcissistic King of Krapopolis trying to make do in a city that lives up to its name. Waddingham plays “Deliria,” Tyrannis’ mother, goddess of self-destruction and questionable choices. Deliria is as petty as she is powerful and only seems interested in defending civilization if it means she’ll get more worshipers out of it than her frenemies up on Mt. Olympus.

Berry is “Shlub,” Tyrannis’ father, a minotaur (half centaur [horse + human], half manticore [lion + human + scorpion]). He’s the self-described life of the orgy. A true pleasure seeker who thinks that everyone should just chill out and, if they need him for anything, he’ll be down at the bar. Murphy voices “Stupendous,” Tyrannis’ half-sister, daughter of Deliria and a cyclops. Trussell plays “Hippocampus,” Tyrannis’ half-brother, offspring of Shlub and a mermaid, and, obviously, a hot mess, biologically speaking.

Krapopolis is owned by FOX Entertainment and produced by FOX’s Bento Box Entertainment. Dan Harmon is the creator and executive producer. Steve Levy also executive produces alongside Season 1 showrunner, Jordan Young and Seasons 2 and 3 showrunner, Alex Rubens.

Arturo Castro Joins Voice Cast of Kid Cudi’s Adult-Animated Music Series “Entergalactic”

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Arturo Castro has landed an out of this world role…

The 36-year-old Guatemalan actor has joined the all-star voice cast of Entergalactic, the adult-animated music series based on the upcoming album of the same name by rapper, singer and actor Kid Cudi (aka Scott Mescudi).

In addition to Castro, new cast additions include Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Ty Dolla $ign, Laura Harrier, Vanessa Hudgens, Christopher Abbott, 070 Shake, Teyana Taylor, Jaden Smith, Keith David and Macaulay Culkin.

The series, which hails from Kenya Barris and Kid Cudi, will showcase music from Kid Cudi’s album.

Entergalactic follows a young artist named Jabari, voiced by Mescudi, as he attempts to balance love and success. Finding the latter brings Jabari a step closer to the former, when moving into his dream apartment introduces him to his new neighbor, photographer it-girl, Meadow, voiced by Williams. An explosion of art, music, and fashion, Entergalactic takes place in the only city that can handle all three: New York.

Character descriptions below.

Kid Cudi’s Jabari, a charming, creative visionary with a splash of goofball, is effortlessly cool. Dressed head-to-toe in the holiest of streetwear grails, Jabari is just one of those kids you can’t help but love. At a first time crossroads of career success and the perfect apartment, he is about to find the final piece of adulthood: true love.

Williams’ Meadow is an on-the-rise photographer who is Jabari’s new neighbor. Meadow is not only the coolest girl at the party, she’s the realest.

Chalamet is Jimmy, Jabari’s best friend and… weed dealer, though with the new drug laws he’s now focusing on crypto and new inventions. An oxymoronic, laid back conspiracy theorist, Jimmy is never without a blunt and a book.

Ty Dolla $ign voices Ky, Jabari’s irreverent, and at times, inappropriate road dog. Ky is always there for Jabari, even though his support can sometimes come in interesting packages.

Harrier is Carmen, Jabari’s recent ex-girlfriend. Stylish and confident, Carmen is the girl you’re supposed to marry.

Hudgens voices Karina, Meadow’s best friend who is trustworthy, grounded and adorably pregnant.

Abbott is Reed, well-dressed shark with a heart and art dealer representing Meadow’s photography. Reed has the kind of chin that is sharp enough to cut glass but not strong enough to take a punch.

070 Shake voices Nadia, Meadow’s associate from the art scene. Born and raised in New York City, Nadia is an in-your-face sculptor whose voice could only be drowned out by the brashness of her own work.

Smith is Jordan. An adolescent BMX superstar, Jordan’s talent earns a pass to kick it with Jabari and Jimmy. Jordan sees the dating landscape in New York City just a bit different than Jabari.

David voices Mr. Rager: Jabari’s superhero creation.

Taylor voices Boxing Coach, Meadow and Karina’s hard-nose boxing instructor at Rumble NYC.

Castro is Len. An upwardly mobile professional, Len is Jabrari’s co-worker at Vision Comics. He wears hard-bottom shoes and a newsboy cap. He’s super smart AND super annoying.

Culkin voices Downtown Pat. Downtown legend and life-long, city-wide delinquent. Despite his gritty exterior, Pat has a very romantic heart and wise words to give.

Mescudi will write, star, and executive produce the series. How To Make It In America creator Ian Edelman will co-write with Mescudi and will also executive produce along with Barris.

Entergalactic premieres this fall on Netflix.

First Look Footage Released for Rita Moreno’s Dark Comedy “The Prank”

Posted on March 12, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is pulling pranks…

The 90-year-old Puerto Rican Hollywood legend is heading back to high school in The Prank, a dark comedy from director Maureen Bharoocha.

In a role unlike anything the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Award) winner has played throughout her lengthy career, she stars as the stern, mean, and cruel physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler. She has been teaching at the high school for decades and has a reputation for being the hardest, coldest, strictest faculty member.

Mrs. Wheeler crosses paths with the film’s protagonist, Ben (Connor Kalopsis), a typical overachiever who is an organized, careful, goal-oriented, and extremely dedicated student who he ends up assigned to her class.

When Mrs. Wheeler discovers someone in her class is cheating, she threatens to fail Ben and his classmates unless the cheater reveals themselves.

But when no one does, Ben and his best friend Tanner (Ramona Young) hatch a plan to ruin her life and frame her for murder on social media.

Rounding up the cast are Keith David, Kate Flannery, Meredith Salenger, Jonathan Kimmel, Nathan Janak, Betsy Sodaro, and Romel De Silva.

The Prank was penned by Rebecca Flinn-White and Zak White. Michael Y. Chow and Glenn Rigberg executive produce and Steven J. Wolfe served as producer.

Vertical Entertainment Acquires U.S. Rights to Eva Longoria’s Comedy “Unplugging”

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria will be unplugging next spring…

Vertical Entertainment has acquired the U.S. rights to the comedy Unplugging, starring the 46-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star, with plans to release it in theaters nationwide next spring.

The film also stars Matt Walsh, Lea Thompson, Keith David and Nicole Byer.

In the feature directorial debut of veteran film editor Debra Neil-Fisher, husband and wife Dan (Walsh) and Jeanine (Longoria) plan a weekend getaway of “digital detox” without kids, phones, or social media. They need—or think they need—only clean fresh air and alone time together to rekindle their romance. But once they forego GPS to guide them and disconnect from the internet, can they reconnect their own internal servers to spark their marriage?

Johnny Pemberton, Al Madrigal, Joel Kim Booster, and Nancy Friedrich round out the cast of the film, scripted by Walsh and Brad Morris.

Longoria executive produced the film.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better time in the director’s chair than with this marvelous cast captained by Eva and Matt, and our dedicated crew,” said Neil-Fisher. “Vertical is the perfect partner to bring Unplugging to audiences next spring.”

“Unplugging unites great talents in front of and behind the camera,” said Vertical Entertainment Partner Rich Goldberg, “and Debra’s storied skills as editor translate to a keen directorial eye for comedy.”

“Having previously partnered on many successful releases (Four Good Days, Buckley’s Chance) we know our friends at Vertical are the perfect distributor to bring the hilarious Unplugging to US audiences,” added Santor, who serves as Productivity Media’s CEO. “Eva and Matt are at the top of their game in this whip-smart, comedic look at relationships in the digital age, and we’re sure audiences will love it just as much as we loved making it.”

Rita Moreno to Star in the Feature Film “The Prank”

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is pranking around…

The 89-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer, an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Award winner) has landed a starring role in the feature film The Prank, which will be directed by Maureen Bharoocha.

Moreno will star opposite Connor Kalopsis and Ramona Young.

The Prank follows two high school students who play a prank on their physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler, played by Moreno. When she fails them on a test; they teach the imperious, demanding, insulting instructor a lesson by falsely accusing her of the murder of a missing student.

Other cast in The Prank includes Keith David, Meredith Salenger, Jonathan Kimmel, Nathan Janak and Kate Flannery.

Filming begins this month in and around Los Angeles.

The dark comedy is written by Rebecca Flinn-White & Zak White.

“Rita Moreno is a force of nature and an icon who continues to redefine herself,” said Bharoocha. “Her brilliant comedic mind lends itself to the perfect ‘Mrs. Wheeler’, a character we have never seen her play, and one that will no doubt surprise audiences.”

Moreno has won an Oscar (West Side Story), a Tony (The Ritz), two Emmys (for her turns respectively in 1977 and 1978 on The Muppet Show and Rockford Files), and a Grammy (Best Children’s Album for The Electric Company).

Moreno has starred on Broadway and London’s West End, appeared in more than 40 feature films and has performed in numerous regional theaters, including her one-woman show, Life Without Makeup, at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She recently co-starred in the critically acclaimed Latinx reimagining of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom One Day At A Time.

Her documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It, produced by Lear, Lin Manuel Miranda and Brent Miller had its world debut at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The film, which was met with acclaim from critics and audiences alike, will have its television debut on PBS’ American Masters nationwide on October 5.

Moreno also co-stars and is an executive producer of the Steven Spielberg remake of West Side Story, set to open on December 10.

The recipient of the Peabody Career Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime contributions to American culture, she was also honored by her peers as the 50th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

Moreno’s all-Spanish-language album, Una Vez Más, was produced by her good friend Emilio Estefan, and she is a New York Times bestselling author with her first book, Rita Moreno: A Memoir. Moreno has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush and the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.

Jonathan Del Arco to Appear on Netflix’s limited series “From Scratch”

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jonathan Del Arco is starting from scratch…

The 55-year-old Uruguayan American actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s limited series From Scratch.

Del Arco joins a roster of cast newcomers that includes Terrell Carter, Medalion Rahimi, Peter Mendoza, Lorenzo Pozzan and Jonathan D. King.

The crew of actors, who will recur in the project form Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar banners, join previously announced cast members Saldana, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Kellita Smith, Judith Scott, Lucia Sardo, Paride Benassai and Roberta Rigano.

Rodney Gardiner, Giacomo Gianniotti, Elizabeth Anweis and Kassandra Clementi will guest star throughout the limited series based on Tembi Locke’s 2019 bestselling memoir.

Adapted by Locke’s sister Attica Locke, who serves as showrunner, From Scratch is the story of an African American woman who falls in love with a Sicilian chef while studying abroad in Florence and goes on to build a life with him in Los Angeles, merging two seemingly opposite cultures. When they are faced with his unexpected cancer diagnosis, Amy becomes her husband’s caregiver and the person who brings their two very different families together, creating a new, blended family for her and her daughter after he dies.

Del Arco plays David, a warm and friendly art professor, who is also Amy and Lino’s (Mastrandrea) landlord.

Del Arco’s previous credits include his roles as Hugh the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, and as medical examiner Dr. Morales in The Closer and Major Crimes.

Mendoza plays Andreas, Lino’s co-worker, who looks after newcomer, and is happy to welcome him to the neighborhood sports bar where their fellow immigrants hang out.

His previous credits include Nathan’s Kingdom, Dead Bullet and Ana Maria in Novella Land.

Cabral’s New Fox Series “Enlisted” Premieres This Week

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Angelique Cabral is reporting for duty this coming week…

Fox will launch the 34-year-old part-Latina actress’ new midseason series Enlisted on January 10.

The heartwarming Army-set sitcom centers on three brothers in a unit of misfits on an Army base in Florida. Along with Cabral, the series stars Geoff Stults (The Finder), Chris Lowell (Veronica Mars), Keith David (Platoon) and Parker Young (Suburgatory).

Cabral portrays Sgt. Jill Perez, the leader of another unit on the base — and the only main female character in a series that’s “all dudes,” as she tells the Monterey Herald.

“It’s like a dream role, because this woman is not the pretty girlfriend, or the pregnant wife,” said Cabral. “She’s a sergeant in the Army. She’s her own boss, she’s tough as nails, she’s got a chip on her shoulder, she’s hardcore. It’s a really fun character for me to play.”

But Sgt. Perez is more than that, according to her Enlisted costars.

”Angelique’s character, Jill, has developed, in a weird way, into the fourth Hill Brother,” Stults tells TV Guide magazine, adding, “Man, she’s not going to like that!”

Cabral agrees with her co-star’s assessment.

“Jill kind of adopts the boys. Much like in my real life, she has FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out – so she’s constantly around their platoon, even though she has her own,” teases Cabral, who wed her longtime love last summer.

Cabral’s previous credits include Don’t Trust The B— in Apartment 23, The Glades, Happy Endings and Free Agents.

Enlisted premieres on Friday, January 10 at 9:30 pm ET.

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