The Kid Mero to Promote New Book “God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx” with Virtual Book Tour

The Kid Mero is ready to share some life lessons virtually…

The 27-year-old Dominican American television personality, writer and comedian, whose real name is Joel Martinez, and Desus Nice will be heading out on a book tour.

The Kid Mero

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,Desus & Mero, as they’re known on their Showtime late-night talk show of the same name, set up the virtual tour to promote God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx.

The book, published by Penguin Random House, will be released on September 22.

Tickets to the experience will include the virtual live show and a pre-order copy of the life advice book. Some tickets will be available for a virtual meet-and-greet.

The ‘tour’ kicks off on August 14 in the mid-Atlantic, before wrapping up in the south on September 20.

“We want to share all we’ve learned, after years in the Bronx streets, with you: the people. So with a lifetime spent building up a plethora of information from trials and tribulations and a handful of misdemeanors, we decided to write this book—a sequel to the Bible, or maybe to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, depending on how big a nerd you are. Let this book be your North Star,” the pair said.

This comes as Showtime moved their show from its previous Monday night slot to Sunday evenings. It also airs on Thursday nights.

“The network believes in us, and Sunday night, you know, that’s the night for the big shows,” Desus, otherwise known as Daniel Baker, told Deadline. “Imagine it like a baseball lineup. You just want to have your best hitters right after each other, boom, boom, boom. You’ve got all the crème de la crème shows in one package on Sunday night, and it gives our show a chance to be in front of more eyes so more people could see it.”

Mero added, “The lead-in to your show is super important. If you have American Ninja Part 3 playing before your show, you’re not going to get a lot of [viewers]. But if you have The Chi or Billions, you get more eyeballs.”

Gomez to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Living Biblically”

Ian Gomez is preaching new heights…

The 52-year-old Latino actor has been cast as a series regular role in CBS’ comedy pilot Living Biblically, from The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki, writer Patrick Walsh and Warner Bros. Television.

Ian Gomez

Based on A.J. Jacobs’ bestselling book The Year of Living Biblically, the project centers on a modern-day man at a crossroads in his life who decides to live according to the Bible.

Gomez will play Father Gene. A dryly funny priest at Chip’s (TBD) church, Father Gene is impressed by Chip’s determination, and they form an unlikely friendship when he helps him translate the rules of the Bible to a modern world.

Gomez is best known for his series-regular roles as Javier on Felicity and Andy on Cougar Town.

Gomez, who most recently recurred on the CW’s Supergirl, has guest-starred on The Real O’Neals, Angels from Hell and Drop Dead Diva.

First “A.D.” Miniseries Trailer Released Featuring di Pace as Jesus Christ

Juan Pablo di Pace is taking on one of the holiest roles in history…

NBC has released the first trailer for NBC‘s A.D., featuring the 35-year-old Argentine actor, singer and director as Jesus Christ.

Juan Pablo di Pace as Jesus Christ in A.D.

The television minisries offers a look at the aftermath of the Crucifixion of Christ, how it shakes those closest to him and changes Rome.

Christ’s death has a massive impact on his disciples, his mother Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world in an instant. The disciples struggle to survive and share their beliefs, while trying to protect themselves from a government that worries about a potential uprising.

Meanwhile, those who believe in the Resurrection are waiting for his return. “High priest, the tomb is now opened and the Nazarene is gone,” so a soldier tells Caiaphas.

The project is a follow-up to History Channel‘s hit original series The Bible.

In addition to di Pace, the cast also includes Richard Coyle (as Caiaphas), Vincent Regan (as Pilate), Adam Levy (as Peter), Emmet Scanlan (as Saul), Chipo Chung (as Mary Magdalene), Jodhi May (as Leah, wife of the High Priest Caiaphas), Joanne Whalley (as Claudia, wife of Pilate), Greta Scacchi (as Mother Mary) and Babou Ceesay (as John).

The 12-episode miniseries is executive produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who also shepherded The Bible.

It will premiere Sunday, April 5 on NBC.

Aguirre-Sacasa to Script Mark Burnett & Roma Downey’s Faust-Based Drama Series

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has landed a devilish project…

The Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer is set to pen a drama series based on the classic German legend of Faust.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

From husband and wife duo Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the executive producers of The Bible and the upcoming follow-up A.D., Faust is described as a faith-based medical procedural and a contemporary take on the popular tale about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil for ultimate knowledge, which will explore questions of faith and the supernatural in a grounded, realistic way.

Set in Washington, DC, the Aguirre-Sacasa-penned drama centers on an ambitious surgeon forced to confront a terrible truth: That he may lose everything good in his life—his job, his family, his very soul—when a diabolical stranger from his past arrives, to collect on a bargain they made thirteen years earlier.

Aguirre-Sacasa will executive produce with Burnett and Downey.

The series hails from Downey and Burnett‘s LightWorkers Media, the faith and family division of United Artists Media Group, Burnett and Downey’s joint venture with MGM and Hearst.

Aguierre-Sacasa serves as the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics. His film and television credits include Big Love, Glee and the 2013 Carrie remake.

Di Pace to Star in NBC’s Event Series “A.D.,” A Follow-Up to “The Bible” Miniseries

Juan Pablo Di Pace is headed to Bible study…

The 35-year-old Argentine actor, singer and director has been cast in Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s 12-episode NBC event series A.D., which is set to premiere on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Juan Pablo Di Pace

A follow-up to Burnett and Downey’s highly rated The Bible miniseries, A.D. chronicles the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion as the tiny band of followers fight for survival while they try to spread the Word to the world. But they have hope and soon they have power: the amazing miracle of the resurrection, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon them.

Di Pace, who most recently starred on TNT’s Dallas, will portray Jesus, the charismatic leader who appears only when dying on the cross, or in resurrected divine form.

Di Pace’s other credits include the films Mamma Mia! and Survival Island, as well as television appearances on Camp.

Boneta Lands Recording Contract with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Diego Boneta is ready to make sweet music in America…

The 23-year-old Mexican actor and singer, who has made a name for himself in television and film, has landed a recording deal Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Diego Boneta

Boneta, best known for portraying Rocco on the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, is a rising star in Hollywood who has become a fixture on U.S. television with roles on MTV’s Underemployed, CW‘s 90210 and ABC Family‘s Pretty Little Liars. He’s also starred in several films, most notably the film adaptation of the Broadway hit musical Rock of Ages, where he starred as Drew Boley and performed nine tracks on the film’s acclaimed soundtrack.

Now, Boneta is hoping to advance his musical career further with his newly inked record deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin. The label plans to release material in both English and Spanish, beginning with an EP that could come out in early 2015.

“Diego is a brand and music is an integral part of his artistic identity,” says Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, who plans to find Boneta opportunities in multiple media, including opportunities for Boneta’s music in the many films he acts in.

His upcoming projects include the horror flick Summer Camp and Pelé, the biopic about the legendary Brazilian soccer player, in which Boneta plays archrival Pedro alongside Vincent D’onofrio and Rodrigo Santoro.

“The idea is not to simply release an album but create a strategy that’s congruent with my career,” Boneta said in an exclusive interview with Billboard. However, Boneta points out, “Diego the actor and Diego the singer are managed completely separate from one another.”

Boneta actually started out as a singer, taking voice lessons when he was only 8 years old and becoming a finalist on music reality show Codigo F.A.M.A. when he was 12. At 15, Boneta landed his star-making role on the popular soap opera Rebelde and went on to release two successful solo albums with EMI.

By 2010, at 20 years old, Boneta was already making a mark in Hollywood with his roles in Pretty Little Liars and 90210, plus a role in Mean Girls 2. He was signed briefly to Adam Levine‘s label but finally went to Sony, where he’ll work in both languages and across many mediums.

Now, Boneta is writing new tracks even as he prepares to begin shooting the miniseries The Dovekeepers, from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (The Bible).

The trick to the balancing act, he says, is “finding the time. I’d like to be doing what Justin Timberlake does.”

Saldaña to Star in NBC’s “Rosemary’s Baby” Miniseries

There’s something seriously wrong with Zoë Saldaña baby…

No, no! The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress isn’t expecting. But she has landed the lead role in a new adaptation of a classic thriller.

Zoë Saldaña

The Avatar and Star Trek star has been cast in NBC’s four-hour miniseries Rosemary’s Baby, an adaptation of the 1967 best-selling suspense novel by Ira Levin.

The miniseries centers on Rosemary (Saldana), a young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband, moves into a Paris apartment that has a darkly storied past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child.

Mia Farrow famously played the role in Roman Polanski’s 1968 feature film adaptation.

“Zoe has proven that she is one of our most gifted actresses, and we think she has the perfect combination of spirit and gravitas to take on the title role from Ira Levin’s infamous novel,” said NBC’s head of longform Quinn Taylor. “With Zoe leading the cast under the direction of Agnieszka Holland, this reimagined event miniseries is off to a great start.”

Holland is directing the project from a script by Scott Abbott.

Production is set to begin shortly in Paris.

Saldaña recently appeared in the Christian Bale drama Out Of The Furnace, and her upcoming projects include Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Blood Ties.

Rosemary’s Baby is the first miniseries greenlighted by NBC as part of its renewed push in the longform arena. It was followed shortly by an order for The Bible sequel A.D.