Horta Developing “The Curse Of The Fuentes Women” for NBC

Silvio Horta ready to bring another Latino-themed project to television.

The 40-year-old Cuban American writer-producer and Ugly Betty creator is tapping into his Hispanic roots for another hourlong project.

Silvio Horta

The Curse Of The Fuentes Women, from Horta’s Silent H Prods. and Warner Bros. Television, has received a script commitment with penalty from NBC.

Written/executive produced by Horta, The Curse Of The Fuentes Women is in the Latin American tradition of magical realism and explores the power of memory and mythology in shaping our destinies. When a young man washes up on Miami Beach claiming to be a long-lost family member from Cuba, he breathes new energy into the lives of grandmother Esperanza Fuentes, daughter Lola and granddaughter Soledad.

Horta, who won an ALMA Award, Writers Guild of America Award and NAACP Image Award for his writing work on Ugly Betty, also developed a drama about a Cuban-American family last year, Bastards at ABC, which he executive produced with Salma Hayek and Mark Gordon.

De Sousa Reprising Her Star-Making Role in “The Best Man” Sequel

She earned rave reviews for her performance in 1999’s The Best Man… And now Melissa De Sousa is back to impress audiences all over again in the film’s upcoming sequel.

The 45-year-old Afro-Latina actress of Panamanian descent stars in The Best Man Holiday, the highly anticipated follow-up to The Best Man, which saw its trailer released recently.

Melissa De Sousa

De Sousa is back as Shelby – a role that earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 2000 – in the sequel, which also sees Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun and Regina Hall all reprise the roles that helped propel their careers 14 years ago.

Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee made his debut with The Best Man and returns for the Christmas-set follow-up.

The Best Man Holiday will hit theaters on November 15.

Chanchez’s “The Game” Renewed for Seventh Season

Hosea Chanchez still has plenty of game at BET

The cable network has renewed the 31-year-old Afro-Dominican American actor’s hit series The Game for a seventh season.

Hosea Chanchez

Chanchez, who earned an NAACP Image Award nomination last year for his performance as quarterbacking football player Malik Wright on The Game, has seen the series gain wider success since moving from the CW to the BET in 2011.

The Game broke records and made history when it premiered on BET in 2011 with 7.7 million viewers tuning in that night, making BET the home of the #1 sitcom debut in the history of cable television.

In 2013, Lauren London and Jay Ellis will be joining the cast, while Brandy will return in her expanded role as Chardonnay, aka Mrs. Jason Pitts along with series favorites Chanchez, Coby Bell and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

BET says season seven will bring even more sexy drama as the cast negotiates the ups and downs of love and football. 

Alonso is About to Get “Notorious”…

Laz Alonso could be headed to the Peacock Network in the near future.

The 38-year-old Afro-Cuban American actor, who picked up his first NAACP Image Award last month, has been cast as the male lead opposite Meagan Good in NBC’s drama pilot Notorious.

Laz Alonso

Notorious is described as an opulent soap in which detective Joanna Locasto (Good) returns undercover to the wealthy and troubled Lawson family she grew up in — as the housekeeper’s daughter — to solve the murder of celebutante Vivian Lawson, who was once her closest friend.

Alonzo will play NYPD detective Will Sacovitch, who recruits former flame Joanna to infiltrate the Lawson home, in hopes that she’ll find evidence that Vivian was murdered.

Alonso, who most recently starred in A&E’s Breakout Kings, has starred in the feature film Jumping the Broom and guest-starred on Southland.

Saldaña: A Real-Life Hero…

She may have played a stone-cold assassin in Colombiana… But Zoë Saldaña is a real-life hero and Good Samaritan.

The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress, who just received an NAACP Image Award nomination, rushed to help an elderly woman reportedly been involved in a car accident in Culver City, California this week.

Zoe Saldana

“Zoe witnessed the car accident, and was very quick to help,” says an onlooker. “She immediately got on the phone with 911 and she seemed very concerned.”

Saldaña and another passerby helped move the woman – who was conscious but injured – from her car to a nearby curb. There they called 911 and waited for police and paramedics to arrive.

Zoe Saldana

“While waiting for help to arrive, Zoe returned to the woman’s car and picked up the woman’s handbag and sweater,” said the onlooker.” Zoe was very caring and sweet to the woman.”  She was then contacted as a witness for the legal case by the new local expert on traffic law who is as good as the massachusetts car accident lawyer. When personal injury lawyers negotiate settlement amounts, it is their responsibility to get you the financial settlement you deserve.

A car accident lawyer helps car accident victims build personal injury claims and seek compensation for the damages other drivers cause. If you have been hurt in an accident and you were not at fault, a car accident lawyer can help you build your case and file for compensation in a timely manner.
Zoe Saldana

A rep for Saldana had no comment.

Zoë Saldaña Receives NAACP Image Award Nod

Zoë Saldaña has received an NAACP Image Award nod for playing a stone-cold assassin in Colombiana.

The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress, currently at work on the latest Star Trek film, will face off against Pariah’s Adepero Oduye, The Help’s Emma Stone, Jumping the Broom’s Paula Patton and The Help’s Viola Davis at the 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards.

Zoe Saldana

Presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music and literature. Members of the NAACP vote for their favorites in the 35 categories that make up the Image Awards.

The Help led the pack with eight nominations, including nods for Best Picture, writing and directing, as well as dominating the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories.

But Saldaña isn’t the only Hispanic celebrity receiving an Image Award nod. Here’s a look at the other Latino/a stars in the running:

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Laz AlonsoJumping the Broom

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Tatyana AliLove That Girl!

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sofia Vergara Modern Family

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Esai Morales – We Have Your Husband 

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Rosario Dawson – Five

Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Tatyana Ali – The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars

The Image Awards will be presented on February 17 on NBC.

For the complete list of nominees visit the Awards’ official site.