Jhené Aiko to Be Honored by The Revels Group at BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024

Jhené Aiko is celebrating the future now

The 36-year-old part-Dominican and part-Spanish American R&B singer-songwriter and rapper will be honored at this year’s BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024 in Los Angeles.

Jhené AikoAiko is among a roster of decorated music executives and artists across the industry who’ll be honored during the ceremony. Other honorees include include Cash Cobain and Rachelle Jean-Louis.

BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024 is hosted by The Revels Group, alongside the Black Music Action Coalition, Amazon Music and Live Nation, announced plans for the third annual

The celebratory brunch will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15 and serve as a lead into BMAC Gala Week (starting Sept. 19). 

Following her successful North American run on the Magic Hour Tour, Aiko will receive the “Brilliant BeyondCreative Artistry Award.

The burgeoning Cash Cobain is slated to take home the “Future Phenom NowAward while Blake Brown-Grakal will accept the “L(Eagle) Eye” Attorney of the Year Award.

“We’re super excited to be kicking off BMAC week once by celebrating the future and now of Black excellence,” said The Revels Group CEO Jamil Davis. “When I started the BFN and the Brunch my mission was to bring together a diverse room to highlight the creatives, executives and thought leaders of tomorrow that are having breakout years, or typically don’t get as much shine.”

Esai Morales to Star in “So Much For Love”

Esai Morales is lovin’ his new role…

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Finn Wittrock and Sylvia Hoels in So Much For Love, which is currently shooting in Louisville, Kentucky.

Esai MoralesA re-teaming filmmaker Lina Roessler with Best Sellers scribe Anthony Grieco, the film follows Sam Davies (Wittrock), a trust fund supported bon vivant and bachelor, who is living his best life – right up until the day he turns 35. Much to his horror, that’s when he learns his deceased parents have a provision in the trust that will terminate his installments and force him to earn his keep. Cast out of his posh Hollywood Hills digs and landing in La Grange, Kentucky, Sam has a calendar year to learn the value of hard work, the meaning of purpose, and the true price of love – or lose it all.

The story is originally by Paul Robarts and Gigi Gaston. The film is being produced by Cassian Elwes’ Elevated Films along with Paul Robarts, Arielle Elwes and Veronica Radaelli).

“I knew this film would be something special when I started collaborating again with Anthony on the script,” says Roessler. “Being back on set and getting to work with Finn, Sylvia and Esai has been absolutely wonderful. It has also been a magical experience working again with Cassian and Arielle along with our amazing crew in Louisville.”

Morales had notable roles in the films Bad Boys with Sean Penn and La Bamba with Lou Diamond Phillips. His television roles include the PBS 2002 drama series American Family, the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd. (2000–2002), portraying Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue (2001–2003), Joseph Adama in the science fiction series Caprica (2009–2010), Camino del Rio in the Netflix original series Ozark (2017), and the DC Comics supervillain Slade Wilson / Deathstroke in the superhero series Titans (2019).

Selena Gomez Among Talent Named as Presenters for Upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards

Selena Gomez has a date with Emmy

The Television Academy and ABC have announced the talent lineup slated to appear on the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, with the 32-year-old Mexican American signer/songwriter and actress making the list.

Selena GomezOthers on the lengthy roster include Gael Garcia Bernal, John Leguizamo, Diego Luna, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Martin Sheen, Jimmy Smits and George Lopez..

The 76th Emmy Awards, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, will broadcast live on ABC Sunday, September 15, 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A.

Here’s the talent list so far:

Christine Baranski — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Kathy Bates
Meredith Baxter
Candice Bergen
Gael Garcia Bernal
Matt Bomer — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Zach Braff
Connie Britton
Nicola Coughlan
Billy Crystal
Viola Davis
Giancarlo Esposito
Colin Farrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Lily Gladstone — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Selena Gomez — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Dulé Hill
Ron Howard
Brendan Hunt
Joshua Jackson
Allison Janney
Don Johnson
Mindy Kaling
Jimmy Kimmel — Nominee, Outstanding Talk Series, Outstanding Writing For a Variety Special, Outstanding Variety Special Live (Winner)
Padma Lakshmi
Greta Lee — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
John Leguizamo
George Lopez
Diego Luna
Jane Lynch — Nominee, Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Steve Martin — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Nava Mau — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series or Movie
Reba McEntire
Janel Moloney
Ebon Moss-Bachrach — Nominee, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Niecy Nash-Betts
Taylor Zakhar Perez
Mekhi Phifer
Melissa Peterman
Da’Vine Joy Randolph — Nominee, Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Sam Richardson
Maya Rudolph
Richard Schiff
Martin Sheen
Martin Short — Nominee, Outstanding Actor In A Comedy Series
Jean Smart — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Jimmy Smits
Antony Starr
Gina Torres
Dick Van Dyke
Susan Kelechi Watson
Damon Wayans
Kristen Wiig — Nominee, Outstanding Actress In A Comedy Series
Henry Winkler
Bowen Yang
Steven Yeun

In addition, there will be special appearances from Olympic gold medalist swimmer Caeleb Dressel and Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby player Ilona Maher.

Bruno Mars Remans at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts with Lady Gaga-Collab “Die With a Smile”

Bruno Mars is still smiling atop the charts…

The 38-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar and Lady Gaga’s “Die With a Smile” has scoree a second week at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.

Bruno MarsTwo weeks earlier, the duet debuted at the runner-up rank on each list.

“Die With a Smile” tops the Global 200 with 105.8 million streams, up 9% week-over-week, and 10,000 sold (down 13%) worldwide August 30-September 5. The ballad, released August 16, is Lady Gaga and Mars’ first No. 1 each since the chart began.

“Die With a Smile” concurrently leads Global Excl. U.S. with 79.2 million streams, up 18%, and 5,000 sold (down 7%) outside the U.S. August 30-September 5. As on the Global 200, it became Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ first No. 1 each since the survey started.

The Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Floriana Lima to Appear on Season 21 of “Grey’s Anatomy”

Floriana Lima is brushing up on anatomy

The 43-year-old part-Spanish American actress has joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy for Season 21 in a recurring role.

Floriana Lima Lima will play Nora, a childhood friend of Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Megan Hunt’s (Abigail Spencer). Nora comes to Grey Sloan when a routine operation at another hospital results in dangerous complications. A devoted mother and recent divorcee, Nora is determined to do whatever it takes to survive so that she can be there for her children and experience the next chapter of her life.  Her character will be introduced in the October 3 episode.

In an interview last month with Deadline, showrunner Meg Maranis gave a hint of what’s to come in the upcoming season. Season 20 concluded with several of the doctors at Grey Sloan without jobs, and Maranis said Season 21 will “pick up pretty close to where we ended after the finale, and we’re gonna see how and if those doctors get their jobs back.”

She also suggested that Jason George’s Ben Warren will return to Grey Sloan quite swiftly, as the actor is rejoining the cast as a series regular following the cancellation of Station 19.

Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), who has scaled back her on-screen presence, is set to be in at least seven of Season 21’s 18 episodes.

Following Season 20, Meredith’s career is at crossroads after she defied her boss and head of the Catherine Fox Foundation (Debbie Allen) by refusing to give up her controversial Alzheimer’s research and hand all her notes to Koracick. Instead, Meredith published an abstract online.

 

On the bright side, Meredith’s relationship with Nick (Scott Speedman) got a major boost in the finale after he flew in from Boston to profess his love and she revealed that she had put an offer on the house he had scouted for the two of them and Ellen’s kids to move in together.

Season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy will premiere on September 26 on ABC.

Lima most recently portrayed Darcy Cooper in A Million Little Things. She also appeared on all six seasons as Maggie Sawyer in Supergirl and portrayed psychiatrist Krista Dumont in Netflix’s The Punisher.

Marcello Hernandez Upped to Main Cast for Season 50 of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”

Marcello Hernandez is getting a promotion…

The 27-year-old Cuban & Dominican American stand-up comedian, writer and actor has been promoted to the main cast of NBC’s Saturday Night Live for its milestone 50th season that will be marked by celebrations, reunions and high profile guests.

Marcello HernandezIn 2022, Hernandez joined the cast of CNL, becoming the show’s first cast member from Generation Z.

Meanwhile, up-and-coming comedy performer Ashley Padilla is among the new cast additions on NBC’s venerable late-night sketch program

Padilla will be a featured playerson the show next season

The majority of SNL performers, including all longtime veterans, will be back for Season 50, which premieres September 28, with alumna Maya Rudolph returning to reprise her Kamala Harris impersonation through the Presidential election. Those departing the show this season include Chloe Troast, Punkie Johnson and Molly Kearney.

Created and executive produced by Lorne Michaels, Saturday Night Live, the #1 entertainment series across broadcast and cable for the 2023-24 season in 18-49, is produced in association with Broadway Video.

The show’s 50th season celebrations are set to culminate with a live primetime special February 16.

Padilla comes from The Groundlings where has been a member of the Main Company since 2021. She recently guest starred on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and NBC’s Night Court.

Ana Ortiz to Star in Lifetime’s “Ripped from the Headlines” TV Movie “Nobody Dumps My Daughter”

It’s a lifetime project come true for Ana Ortiz. 

The 53-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star in one of Lifetime’s highly anticipated “Ripped from the Headlines” films this fall.

Ana Ortiz, Nobody Dumps My DaughterOrtiz, best known for her work on Ugly Betty, will star alongside Jasmine Vega and Sheila E in Nobody Dumps My Daughter.

The original television movie will premiere on October 12th at 8/7c.

In Nobody Dumps My Daughter, after Jimmy breaks up with Theresa (Vega), her overbearing mother, Mary (Ortiz), becomes obsessed with mending their relationship after learning that Jimmy took her daughter’s virginity. Determined to reunite the couple, Mary does everything she can to convince Jimmy to change his mind… including bribing him. When her tactics fail, Mary becomes desperate and her meddling ways turn to murderous when she enlists the services of a fortune teller named Anna (Sheila E.) and a hitman to murder Jimmy in an attempt to reclaim her daughter’s purity.

The Lifetime Original is produced by Lighthouse Pictures with Gemma Martini, Jamie Goehring and Jameson Parker serving as executive producers. Stan Brooks directs from a script by Richard Blaney & Gregory Small.

New York Yankees Call Up Jasson Domínguez Ahead of Series Opener Against Kansas City Royals

Jasson Domínguez has received his call up…

The New York Yankees called up the 21-year-old Dominican professional baseball outfielder, nicknamed El Marciano, ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, abruptly answering the question hovering over the club since rosters were expanded at the beginning of the month.

Jasson Domínguez,,Domínguez was in the Yankees’ starting lineup Monday, playing center field and batting sixth. Manager Aaron Boone said he’ll play “a lot” as the Yankees continue battling the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East title.

“This is a dream,” Domínguez said. “Since I started playing, I wanted to play in the big leagues and now I’m here again and it’s exciting and I’m happy [about] it.”

The Yankees’ decision to not promote the switch-hitter on September 1, when teams were first allowed to field 28-man rosters, was surprising to outsiders.

A significant swath of the fan base reacted with furor.

Domínguez was producing at the Triple-A level while Alex Verdugo, the Yankees’ everyday left fielder, was one of the worst everyday players in the majors since June. Why wait?

Boone gave two primary reasons: First, injuries — a late start to the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last September and an oblique strain in June — disjointed Domínguez’s season and limited his game action.

Secondly, Domínguez would only get called up to play every day, and Yankees decision-makers decided they wanted to give Verdugo, a 28-year-old veteran with postseason experience, more time to rebound.

On Friday, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters in Chicago that Verdugo gave the team “the best chance to win.”

Three days later, after taking two of three games from the Cubs but scoring just six runs, the Yankees were back home, Domínguez had a locker in their clubhouse and Verdugo, an impending free agent, was effectively demoted to the bench. What changed?

“I don’t know about change other than, look, the roster is a living, breathing organism every day that’s always kind of evolving and you’re always paying attention,” Boone said. “And like I said on Sept. 1, when we didn’t initially recall Jasson, he’s in the conversation every single day. I think as much as anything, it’s just continuing to build the momentum he’s built here over the last few weeks.”

Domínguez’s return to the Bronx comes a year after he provided a dose of electricity as a September call-up for a club en route to a disappointing 82-win season without a playoff appearance. Domínguez homered in his debut and hit three more home runs over the next seven games. But his season was cut short after he was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter, which pushed his 2024 debut back to mid-May.

Domínguez reached Triple-A Wilkes/Barre in June, appearing in nine games before suffering an oblique strain that sidelined him for over a month. His only major league action this season before Monday was as the Yankees’ 27th man in the Little League Classic against the Detroit Tigers last month. He batted fifth and played left field, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts before he was sent back to the minors, where he pummeled pitching.

Domínguez batted .347 with four home runs and a .958 OPS in 18 games after the cameo. Overall, he slashed .314./376/.504 with 11 home runs in 58 games across three minor league levels this season, solidifying his place as a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball and a key part of the Yankees’ future. That future started Monday.

“I’ve been a huge fan ever since I met him,” Boone said. “Just love his makeup, his talent. And he’s earned this opportunity.”

The Yankees also activated infielder Jon Berti from the injured list, placed infielder DJ LeMahieu on the injured list with a right hip impingement, and designated left-handed reliever Anthony Misiewicz for assignment.

Berti, a 34-year-old speedster acquired the day before Opening Day, had been out since May with a left calf strain he reaggravated in July. Boone said LeMahieu has been dealing with hip discomfort for “a few weeks.” He added he isn’t sure if LeMahieu, a two-time batting champion having the worst season of his career, will play again in 2024.

Selena Gomez Reaches Billionaire Status

Selena Gomez has a billion reasons to smile…

The 32-year-old Mexican American singer, actress, producer and businesswoman has taken her beauty brand Rare Beauty all the way to the bank after five years.

Selena GomezGomez, a Golden Globe nominee, has reached billionaire status, according to a new report that finds her wealth has been largely driven by her Rare Beauty cosmetic brand, which she launched in 2019, as well as other ventures that leverage her 424 million Instagram followers.

With an estimated $1.3 billion worth, she’s now one of the country’s youngest female billionaires, per Bloomberg.

Rare Beauty makes up 81.4% of Gomez’s fortune.

The value also takes into account her interest in the Wondermind mental health startup, the estimated value of her music album sales and real estate properties, as well as earnings from streaming deals, brand partnerships, concert tickets and acting.

Although Gomez’s last solo tour was 2016’s Revival Tour, and her last album was 2020’s Rare, she has remained busy as a star and executive producer on Only Murders in the Building, which was recently renewed for Season 5.

Thanks to Only Murders in the Building, Gomez is currently nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, her first nod in the category. The Hulu show is also up for Outstanding Comedy Series for the third consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Gomez is preparing to return to her roots with Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, a sequel series to her 2007-’12 Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place, premiering Oct. 29 at 8pm ET/PT. Gomez and returning co-star David Henrie also serve as executive producers.

Carlos Vives Unveils His Wax Figure at Mexico City’s Wax Museum 

Carlos Vives is waxin’ nostalgic. 

The 63-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter and actor now has his double at the Wax Museum of Mexico City.

Carlos VivesVives helped unveil his figure on Thursday night at the institution, where it will share space with Mexican cultural figures, like painter Frida Kahlo and wrestler El Santo.

“I’m happy with this recognition that the Mexican people give me, that’s how I feel,” Vives said during the ceremony, evidently moved. “We have come to Mexico so much, our hearts have been touched by its music, by its art, by its cinema, its television.”

Carlos Vives Wax FigureHe added: “Being here in the museum, next to so many figures from the world, but above all next to the Mexican stars, who from my childhood and my youth had been a great example and inspiration — being here with them is the greatest honor I’ve received from the Mexican people.”

The new wax figure shows Vives looking a bit younger and taller than the real artist.

It carries a guitar and wears fitted leather pants and a black t-shirt emblazoned with his name and the title of his sixteenth album, Cumbiana (2020). It’s located in the main hall of the museum, close to those of Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Solís.

Vives — who is performing this Saturday, September 7 before 10,000 people for a sold-out show at the National Auditorium in Mexico City — shared the honor with the Colombian musicians who inspired him in his youth and who are part of his history.

“They are here with me and represent what I wanted to show the world: a beautiful and diverse oral tradition like our country,” he said.

His addition to the museum comes two months ahead of his honoring as the Latin Recording Academy 2024 Person of the Year in November, during the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys in Miami.

Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music and a pioneer of a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating to it pop and rock sounds. With No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts such as “Volví a Nacer,” “Fruta Fresca” and “La Bicicleta” with Shakira, among others, he has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world.

“He has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of people and today he will be immortalized at the Wax Museum of Mexico City,” said the museum in a press release prior to Thursday’s ceremony.

Located in the central neighborhood of Colonia Juárez, in an old Art Nouveau style mansion, the Wax Museum of Mexico City celebrates this year its 45th anniversary.

In its 14 thematic rooms, visitors can appreciate some 260 wax figures of characters from history, art, politics, and sports, from Diego Rivera and Salvador Dalí, to Bill Gates, Ronaldinho, Hugo Sánchez, ‘Canelo’ Álvarez; Gene Simmons, Michael Jackson, Chaplin, Alex Lora, Chabelo, and more.

According to the museum, the wax figures are made by its team of sculptors and many wear clothes that belonged to the real character. The creation of each figure takes approximately four to eight months.