Scott Mescudi to Star in Sony Pictures’ Zombie-Themed Action Horror-Comedy “Hell Naw”

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Scott Mescudi will be fightin’ the fashionable undead…

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American rapper, singer and actor, known by his stage name Kid Cudi, will star in Sony Pictures’ action horror-comedy Hell Naw.

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson is producing, with screenwriters Keith & Kenny Lucas writing the script, which is in early development.

Mescudi will also produce along with his partners Karina Manashil and Dennis Cummings through their Mad Solar banner.

The plot is being kept under wraps, but the film is reportedly set during Paris Fashion Week and there will be zombies.

“This movie has been five years in the making. I am telling the world now, this film will f*ck you up in all the best ways,” said Mescudi. “I have been a horror fan since I was 7 years old, The first horror movies I ever saw were Night of the Living Dead and Evil Dead. And from that point on, I was hooked on the feeling of being frightened. I’ve been wanting to get into this world creating my own stories for a long time, and now, and after years of working it out in my head, it’s finally happening. Sam, The Lucas Brothers and myself have really crafted a tale we feel everyone who’s a fan of horror and comedy will enjoy. You will laugh, oh yes you will, but the horror aspect of this movie will really be something to see. You will be shook. I promise. Y’all know I don’t play around.”

The project marks a major star vehicle for Mescudi, who recently added the Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff series Knuckles to his future slate, joining Idris Elba last week. He also has the John Woo action film Silent Night.

Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in the John Wick Spinoff “Ballerina”

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Catalina Sandino Moreno will soon chaseé her way into a theater near you…

The 41-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress is joining Ana de Armas in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina in a sizeable role.

Moreno’s part remains under wraps.

Sandino Moreno, whose deal just closed, joins Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick in the Lionsgate release.

Cameras are currently rolling on the Len Wiseman-directed, Shay Hatten-scripted title in the $586M-grossing John Wick universe.

Producer Erica Lee said: “One of the challenges of casting Ballerina is making sure that the new roles are played by actors with as much power, emotional presence, and physical skill as Ana has. After working with Catalina on John Woo’s Silent Night, it was clear that she belonged at the top of our list, and it’s a thrill to be reuniting with her.”

Moreno was Oscar nominated out of the gate for her debut performance in 2004’s Maria Full of Grace.

In her next film, Silent Night, she stars opposite Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi. She recently starred in the indie Barbarians opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She also stars in the Epix horror series From, currently shooting its second season.

Other recent work includes a role as a series regular on Showtime’s The Affair and a starring role on the Duplass Brothers’ HBO series Room 104.

Howie Dorough & Fellow Backstreet Boys Release Claymation Video for “Christmas in New York”

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Everything’s a-oclay for Howie Dorough…

The 49-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys have released a new music video for their holiday track “Christmas in New York.”

The sweet and sentimental visual sees the quintet — Nick Carter, Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson — passionately singing the holiday track while their claymation counterparts explore a twinkling New York City during Christmas time.

The claymation dolls of the boy group witness and participate in classic scenes.

One features a dressed up Santa with an elf at his side ringing a bells and asking for donations with a big red bucket. The dolls head down to the TV-decorated intersection of Times Square, take a horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park, view the holiday windows at Macy’s 34th street and go ice-skating in Rockefeller Center.

“All the elves are busy/ On Macy’s eighth floor/ It’s good to know there is still a miracle on 34th/ But what I love the most/ Is holding you this close/ This is what they made the Season for/ Oh, spending Christmas in/ Oh, another Christmas in/ Oh, yes, another Christmas in New York,” Littrell closes out the song with the rest of the members.

“Christmas in New York” hails from the boy band’s A Very Backstreet Christmas. The LP — which marked the group’s first collection of yuletide songs and its first studio effort in three years — was released on October 14 via BMG. The set charted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 following its release.

In addition to “Christmas in New York,” other holiday tracks like “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are included on the album.

“Christmas in New York” is one of three original Christmas songs on the album; the others are titled “Together” and “Happy Days.”

Jhené Aiko Appears on Def Jam Recordings’ New Holiday Album “Def The Halls”

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jhené Aiko is deffing the halls…

Def Jam Recordings and 4th & Broadway have released a new compilation album featuring the 34-year-old part-Dominican American singer and others singing traditional Christmas songs and original holiday tracks.

Titled Def The Halls, the holiday album also features Coco Jones, Alessia Cara and others,

The album follows the 2019 EP A Def Jam Christmas, which first featured Cara’s “Make It To Christmas.” That song also appears on this new release, alongside August 08’s reworking of “Silent Night” and Aiko’s 2013 ballad “Wrap Me Up.”

Other notables include Jones’ new “Silver Bells” and North Carolina’s Mikhala Jené, who gives an R&B twist to two modern holiday classics: “This Christmas” (from Donny Hathaway) and “Please Come Home For Christmas” (from Charles Brown). Los Angeles duo Calabasas pay homage to the beloved ’80s duo, Wham! with their rendition of “Last Christmas.”

The original Christmas tunes “BBC” by DaniLeigh, and “Underneath The Mistletoe” by August 08 are both collaborations with rising star Kendra Jae. Another duet brings together 4th & Broadway’s Kidd Kenn and Pap Chanel on “Naughty.”

Def the Halls is rounded out by the originals “Trinket” by UK artist Debbie, “Christmas” by global Latin-pop star Trinidad Cardona, “Cold With You” by young Anaheim rapper OHNO, “Everyday” from Kennedy Stephens, “Snowed In” by newly-signed St. Louis artist Bry Bee, and “A Hoe’s Christmas” by Broadway actress Jai’Len Josey.

“Def The Halls” tracklist:
Mikhala Jene – Please Come Home For Christmas
Alessia Cara – Make It To Christmas
Trinidad Cardona – Christmas With You
August 08, Kendra Jae – Underneath The Mistletoe
Debbie – Trinket
Calabasas – Last Christmas
DaniLeigh – BBC (ft. Kendra Jae)
Jhené Aiko – Wrap Me Up
Coco Jones – Silver Bells
OHNO – Cold With You
Kennedy Stephens – Everyday
Mikhala Jene – This Christmas
Kidd Kenn, Pap Chanel – Naughty
Jai’Len Josey – A Hoe’s Christmas

Howie Dorough & the Backstreet Boys to Release Boy Band’s First Christmas Album “A Very Backstreet Christmas”

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Howie Dorough is embracing the holiday spirit…

The 48-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys bandmates will be ringing in Christmas early with the release of A Very Backstreet Christmas, a collection of yuletide classics plus three freshly cut tracks, out October 14.

For their first-ever Christmas album and first studio effort in three years, the boy band has recorded “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and other timeless numbers, along with new songs “Christmas in New York,” “Together,” and “Happy Days.”

In addition, the ‘90s pop superstars will release exclusive versions that include a 15-track CD through Target, which will feature bonus tracks “Feliz Navidad” and “It’s Christmas Time Again,” and a limited-edition red-vinyl on the act’s official store.

“We’ve been wanting to do a Christmas album for nearly 30 years now, and we’re beyond excited that it’s finally happening,” co-founder Dorough said in a statement. “We had such a fun experience putting our BSB twist on some of our favorite Christmas classics and can’t wait to be part of our fans’ holiday season.”

The Backstreet Boys are currently on the North American leg of their DNA World Tour, which kicked off in April with four shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Those dates are in support of DNA, the band’s 2019 album which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the act’s third No. 1, and first leader since Black & Blue spent two weeks at No. 1 in December of 2000.

DNA earned a Grammy nomination in the category for best pop duo/group performance (“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”), and it marked BSB’s 10th top 10 album in the U.S.

Across their 29-year career, the quintet has shifted some 130 million records, according to BMG, which signed the BSB back in 2013.

Here’s the track list for A Very Backstreet Christmas:

“White Christmas”
“The Christmas Song”
“Winter Wonderland”
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
“Last Christmas”
“O Holy Night”
“This Christmas”
“Same Ole Lang Syne”
“Silent Night”
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
“Christmas in New York”
“Together”
“Happy Days”
“Feliz Navidad” *
“It’s Christmas Time Again” *

*Target version only

Mariah Carey Partners with Spotify for Special Holiday Playlist Centered Around “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is living a Christmas stream…

The 49-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress is sharing a new video she recorded for Spotify as part of the streamer’s 25th anniversary celebration of the singer’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” single.

Carey’s perennial holiday chart-topper, with more than 520 million global streams on Spotify — where it is on 12 million playlists — is the centerpiece of a collaboration between the singer and the streaming service called Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You Experience.

The collection, out this week, is curated with original content that compliments the deluxe anniversary edition of Mariah’s Merry Christmas album and will “serve as the ultimate destination” for Carey fans around the world, according to Spotify.

The 37-track collection includes the title song, of course, as well as renditions of “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” “Joy to the World,” “Santa Cluas is Comin’ to Town” as well as a number or remixes and tracks recorded live at St. John the Divine.

Camila Cabello to Take Part in Kacey Musgraves’ First Holiday Special to Air on Amazon Prime Video

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is ready to celebrate a country Christmas…

Country singer Kacey Musgraveshas announced her first holiday special, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, with the 22-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member among her all-star cast of collaborators on a variety of classic and original holiday songs.

Musgraves’ special, directed by Dan Levy will premiere globally on November 29 on Amazon Prime Video and feature Musgraves teaming up with Cabello on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Her other collaborators include Fred Armisen on “Silent Night,” Leon Bridgeson “Present Without a Bow,”James Corden on “Let It Snow,” Zooey Deschanel on “Mele Kalikimaka,” Lana Del Rey on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and Troye Sivanon the world debut of “Glittery.”

Musgraves will also be joined by the Radio City Rockettes, who will do one of their famous kickline routines as Musgraves sings “Ribbons and Bows,” as well as special guest Kendall Jenner.

The show “invites fans in as Musgraves prepares for a most joyful Christmas gathering with a whimsical set and dazzling wardrobe influenced by the artist’s fresh aesthetic,” according to a release announcing the special. “Equal parts heart-warming and cleverly absurd, Musgraves pays tribute to holiday specials of the past whilst also reinventing just what a Christmas special can be, with a magically modern twist.”

“I can say without a doubt that this project is unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” Musgraves says in a statement. “What started as the small seed of an idea one night over a year ago has turned into something I’m so proud of. Some truly brilliant comedic and musical guests are featured in the show — as well as my own Grandma. My vision was to bring my old Christmas album to life visually and create a modern and fashionable, fresh take on a classic format. It’s a nostalgic, Wes Anderson-inspired reimagining of the holidays. It’s heartfelt, funny, and most of all, real. I can’t wait to finally share.”

The show will be accompanied by an official soundtrack available on Amazon Musicand other digital services on November 29 as well.

Lovato Performs Moving Rendition of “Silent Night”

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is embracing the silence…

The 24-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress, who has said she plans to take a break from “music and the spotlight” come 2017, has released a special video of her singing “Silent Night.”

Featuring a piano and little else, the minimalistic production allows for Lovato’s impressive vocal runs to get all the attention they deserve.

Lovato posted the video to Twitter, stating that she wanted to share “my favorite holiday song with you guys.

Archuleta’s “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Performance Goes Viral

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Archuleta continues spreading holiday cheer this season…

The 23-year-old Honduran/Spanish American singer and former American Idol runner-up took center stage last weekend at the Celebration of Christ: an Interfaith Concert in Utah.

But a video of his performance has gone viral as people around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Archuleta teamed up with Pentatonix singer and cellist Kevin Olusola for a moving and spiritual rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

In 2009, Archuleta released a Christmas album entitled Christmas from the Heart.

In addition to classics like “Joy to the World,” “The First Noel” and “Silent Night,” the album also featured a Christmas song penned by Archuleta himself, “Melodies of Christmas.”

The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart.

Ramirez Renews Her “Grey’s Anatomy” Contract for Two More Years

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Sara Ramirez will be on call for a little longer…

The 38-year-old half-Mexican actress/singer has signed a new two-year deal to continue portraying Dr. Callie Torres on Grey’s Anatomy.

Ramirez joins the ABC medical drama’s lead actors Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo, who inked new deals in January.

Ramirez joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy as a recurring star for the show’s second season in 2006. She was then promoted to series regular in the third season.

Ramirez provided a cappella vocals in the song “Silent Night” for the soundtrack of the show’s sixth season episode “Holidaze,” which airied November 19, 2009. On December 21, 2009, that version of the song was released as a single on iTunes. Ramirez’s voice was also showcased in the musical episode of Grey’s Anatomy, Ep. 718 “Song Beneath the Song“, which aired March 31, 2011.

In addition to Ramirez, Dempsey and Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson and Justin Chambers renewed their contracts as well.

Now that the majority of t show’s stars have signed new deals, an 11th season renewal for the series from Shonda Rhimes is considered a formality.

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