Sofia Vergara Lending Voice to Illumination’s Animated Film “Despicable Me 4”

It’s a despicable time for Sofia Vergara.

The 51-year-old Colombian actress is starring in Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, the first Despicable Me film in seven years that sees Gru, the supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent, return with his Minions.

Sofia VergaraFollowing the 2022 summer blockbuster of Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gruwhich earned almost $1 billion worldwide, the animated franchise now begins a new chapter as Gru (Steve Carrell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and their girls —Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Madison Polan)—welcome a new member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

The film features new characters voiced by Joey King, Stephen Colbert and Chloe Fineman.

Pierre Coffin returns as the iconic voice of the Minions and Steve Coogan returns as Silas Ramsbottom.

Despicable Me 4 is directed by a co-creator of the Minions, Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets), and is produced by Illumination’s founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Brett Hoffman (executive producer, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minions: The Rise of Gru).

The film is co-directed by Patrick Delage, and the screenplay is by Mike White and the veteran writer of every Despicable Me film, Ken Daurio.

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates to Perform on “A Late Show: Super Bowl Edition,” A Live Special Edition

Robert Trujillo’s preparing for a super Sunday…

The 56-year-old half-Mexican American musician and songwriter and his Metallica bandmates will appear on A Late Show: Super Bowl Edition, a live special edition of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show.

Robert Trujillo & Metallica

It will follow late local news after Sunday’s Super Bowl LV, beginning at approximately 11:35 PM ET/8:35 PM PT on CBS.

Super Bowl LV, from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fl, will be CBS’ 21st Super Bowl broadcast overall, the most of any network.

This year’s Super Bowl will be unlike any seen in the past due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will limit the number of fans in attendance.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a production of The Late Show Inc., airs weeknights (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Ariana DeBose to Take Part in Virtual Concert to Benefit the Covenant House Charity for Homeless & Trafficked Youth

Ariana DeBose  is helping homeless and trafficked youth…

The 29-year-old half-Afro-Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer, known for her work in musical theatre and on So You Think You Can Dance, will take part in a virtual concert event to benefit the Covenant House charity for homeless and trafficked youth.

Ariana DeBose

DeBose joins a 50-plus roster of stars who’ll perform or appear for the May 18 fundraiser that includes Meryl StreepDiane Keaton, Jon Bon JoviRachel BrosnahanStephen ColbertMartin ShortDolly PartonDionne WarwickStephanie J. BlockTony ShalhoubCharlie DayChris O’DowdZachary Leviand Zachary Quinto.

A Night of Covenant House Stars, to be held on Monday, May 18 at 8:00 pm ET on the Broadway on Demand streaming platform, will be co-hosted by six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald and 60 Minutes orrespondent John Dickerson, both members of the Covenant House Board of Directors.

The event is designed to support Covenant House, the international, mostly privately funded charity providing housing, food and healthcare to children and youth facing homelessness, and the front-line staff working during the COVID-19crisis.

“This virus does not get the last word,” said Covenant House President & CEO Kevin Ryan. “This amazing group of stars uniting in love to help us care for kids is proof positive of that.”

Other stars slated to appear include Robin Thicke, Deborah CoxQuentin Earl DarringtonDarius de HaasMary Elizabeth EllisEden EspinosaJordan FisherStephanie Hsu,Randy JacksonCapathia JenkinsJeremy JordanRamona KellerAlex NewellKaren OlivoDawn O’Porter, Laura OsnesBenj PasekJodi Picoult, Shereen PimentelAndrew RannellsKeala SettleJake David SmithWill SwensonBobby Conte ThorntonAna VillafaneFrank Wildhorn, and the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir.

Event proceeds will benefit Covenant House’s work across 31 cities, in six countries.

The May 18 fundraiser will mark the launch of the Broadway on Demand platform (the company had previously announced a May 17 program). Viewers can watch the Covenant House event free of charge.

In addition to Broadway on DemandA Night of Covenant House Starscan be streamed on iHeartRadio BroadwayFacebookTwitchYouTube, and Stars in the House.

Tom Segura to Take Part in This Year’s New York Comedy Festival

Tom Segura is ready to crack up the Big Apple

The 40-year-old half Peruvian American stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster has been added to the lineup of headliners for this year’s New York Comedy Festival

Tom Segura

The 16th annual edition will take place this November, featuring a roster that includes Segura, as well as late-night TV hosts Stephen ColbertBill Maher and Trevor Noah.

More than 200 comedians, sketch performers, TV hosts and podcasters will perform in more than 100 shows at various venues across the city.

Other headliners include Nate BargatzeNicole ByerComedy Bang! Bang!Vir DasKathleen MadiganDemetri MartinNorm McDonaldRandy RainbowBenito SkinnerJenny Slate, Kevin Smithand Jay MewesNo Such Thing As A Fish, and Betches Media’s U Up? Live

More performers and shows will be announced in the coming months.

The NYCF this year is partnering with The Female Quotient(The FQ), a woman-owned business committed to advancing equality in the workplace. Through the partnership, the FQ will aim to increase female comedic representation both on and off the stage via its signature pop-up experience, The FQ Lounge. The venue will be inside the flagship Bloomingdale’s department store on 59th Street and Lexington in New York on November 7 and 8. 

“As we mark 16 years of the New York Comedy Festival, we celebrate the varied and diverse talent – both up-and-coming and established stars – who continue to come out to put on a great show each and every year,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway. “We’ve always supported and championed those in the industry, and we’re excited to continue to bring the very best comedic talent to entertain comedy fans this November.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Perform at This Year’s Tony Awards

Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his triumphant return to the Tony Awards

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican composer, playwright, actor and singer will perform on Sunday’s Tonycast, almost one year after his hit Broadway musical Hamilton swept the awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The casts of Bandstand, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Falsettos, Groundhog Day The Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and War Paint will perform during 71st Annual Tony Awards, which CBS will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall from 8:00 to 11:00 PM.

There’s still no word on what Miranda will perform.

There will be additional performances by The Radio City Rockettes and Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton).

There will be additional appearances by Scott Bakula, Sara Bareilles, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bloom, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Brian d’Arcy James, Cynthia Erivo, Tina Fey, Sutton Foster, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Mark Hamill, Taraji P. Henson, Christopher Jackson, Allison Janney, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, John Legend, John Lithgow, Patina Miller, John Mulaney, David Oyelowo, Chazz Palminteri, Sarah Paulson, Lea Salonga, Tom Sturridge, Tommy Tune, Olivia Wilde, and 2017 Tony nominees Sally Field, Josh Groban, Bette Midler and Ben Platt.

Although Midler will appear as a presenter in one of the acting categories, she is not scheduled to participate in the Hello, Dolly! segment, which will be led by co-star Hyde Pierce. The blockbuster production’s offer to present the title song, or another of Dolly’s show-stoppers, live via remote from the Shubert Theatre was declined by the Tony producers.

The ceremony will be hosted by Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.