Juliana Aidén Martinez to Star on Eighth Season of CBS’ “FBI”

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Juliana Aidén Martinez is joining the Fed.

The Latina actress will star on CBS’ FBI series as a series regular for its upcoming eighth season.

No details about Martinez’s character are being provided.

With FBI‘s Stuart Scola (John Boyd) still looking for a permanent partner after the departure last fall of Tiffany Wallace (Katherine Renee Kane), Martinez could play a new agent paired with him.

Lisette Olivera was initially cast as a series regular last season to succeed Kane but left after a handful of episodes as Scola’s new partner Syd Ortiz.

Emily Alabi was subsequently added as a recurring, playing Dani Rhodes, a temporary partner for Scola. Alabi will return in the fall to wrap Dani’s story, sources tell Deadline.

In addition to Boyd, Martinez joins returning FBI series regulars Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza.

Martinez previously starred on Law & Order: SVU as a series regular.

Both Law & Order: SVU and FBI hail from Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television

Other actors who have moved from one Wolf Entertainment show to another as new characters include Dylan McDermott (Law & Order: Organized Crime to FBI: Most Wanted), Jesse Lee Soffer (Chicago P.D. to FBI: International) and, most recently, Brandon Larracuente (On Call to Chicago Fire).

Known for her breakout role in Netflix’s limited series Griselda opposite Sofia Vergara, Martinez played Detective Kate Silva on Season 26 of SVU.

Martinez also starred in the 2022 indie thriller Boundary and guest starred on 9-1-1, The Blacklist and Prodigal Son.

ABC Renews Ryan Guzman’s “9-1-1” Series for Eighth Season

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Guzman has more emergency responses in his future…

ABC has renewed 9-1-1, starring the 36-year-old half-Mexican American actor, for an eighth season.

Guzman, who joined the cast in Season 2, portrays Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz in the procedural drama .

The season seven premiere of 9-1-1 in March delivered a cumulative audience of 11.76 million total viewers within the first seven days, and marked the series’ highest-rated multi-platform telecast in nearly two years in Adults 18-49. It paid homage to the disaster thriller The Poseidon Adventure.

The drama stands as ABC’s most-watched current series across all platforms this season.

Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, 9-1-1 is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios, in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.

9-1-1 moved to ABC after six seasons on Fox ,where it was consistently one of the highest-rated shows. It now fits nicely into ABC’s Thursday lineup with Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, both of which do well for for the Disney-owned broadcaster. This week’s new episode will mark the series’ 100th episode.

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Ryan Guzman to Star in the Family Comedy “The Present”

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ryan Guzman is living in the present…

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American actor has replaced Ross Butler in the family comedy The Present.

From director Christian Ditter, the film will now star Guzman alongside Isla Fisher, Greg Kinnear, Easton Rocket Sweda, Shay Rudolph and Mason Shea Joyce.

The reasons for Butler’s departure haven’t been disclosed.

In the film from Stuart Ford’s independent content studio AGC Studios, a brilliant boy discovers he can manipulate time using an enchanted family heirloom, then teaming up with his siblings to go back to the eve of their parents’ separation in hopes of changing the outcome. As their schemes become more elaborate, the siblings will learn about family bonds and what they can and can’t control.

Fisher and Kinnear are playing the parents in search of reconciliation, with Sweda, Rudolph and Joyce portraying the siblings who just might be the only people who can make that happen.

The Present was written by Emmy winner Jay Martel (Key and Peele).

Ford, who serves as Chairman and CEO of AGC Studios, is producing alongside Linda McDonough for the company, with Marcei Brown and Jessica Malanaphy for CatchLightStudios.

Martel, CatchLight’s Jason Clark, and AGC’s Zach Garrett and Miguel Palos are serving as executive producers

Guzman is best known for his role as firefighter Eddie Diaz on Fox’s 9-1-1 and has also been seen on such series as Notorious, Heroes Reborn and Pretty Little Liars.

His big-screen credits include Step Up Revolution and Step Up All In, as well Everybody Wants Some!! and Jem and the Holograms.

Gabriela Quezada Upped to Series Regular on The CW’s “Walker Independence”

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more independence in Gabriela Quezada’s future…

The Latina actress, originally hired for a recurring role on The CW’s new fall Walker prequel Walker Independence, has been upped to series regular ahead of the premiere, which is yet to be announced.

Starring Matt Barr and Katherine McNamara, Walker Independence, written by Seamus Fahey based on a story by him and Anna Fricke, and directed by Larry Teng, is set in the late 1800s.

It follows an affluent Bostonian named Abby Walker (McNamara), whose husband is murdered in front of her while on their trek out West. Consumed by a need for vengeance, Abby crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins (Barr), described as a “lovable rogue in search of a purpose” in the logline. The pair soon find themselves in Independence, Texas, where they encounter a diverse and eclectic cohort of citizens hiding from their demons and chasing their dreams, all while becoming agents of change themselves in the small town.

Quezada plays Lucia Reyes. Being the daughter of a rancher and the girlfriend of an outlaw isn’t always the easiest, but Lucia carves out her own path in the town of Independence. Using her gift of song, Lucia summons the courage to find her voice singing to the adoring fans of Hagan’s dance hall, hoping it will lead to a brighter future. After a family tragedy keeps her in town to help save the family ranch, Lucia finds a deeper strength to defend the ranch and find those responsible for doing harm to those close to her.

In addition to Barr and McNamara, Findlay joins previously announced series regulars Philemon Chambers, Lawrence Kao, Greg Hovanessian and Justin Johnson Cortez.

CBS Studios is the studio behind both Walker and Walker Independence.

Quezada’s previous television credits include guest-starring roles on 9-1-1, Schooled and The Goldbergs.

NBC Renews Grasie Mercedes’ Sitcom “Grand Crew” for Second Season

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more crew time in Grasie Mercedes’ future…

NBC has ordered a second season of comedy series Grand Crew, starring the 44-year-old Afro-Latina actress, writer, filmmaker and podcast host.

In addition to Mercedes, the series also stars Echo Kellum, Justin Cunningham, Carl Tart, Aaron Jennings and Nicole Byer.

Grand Crew, which hails from writer-producer Phil Augusta Jackson, revolves around a group of Black friends who unpack the ups and downs of life and love at a wine bar.

The first season of the series, which comes from Universal Television, reached 17 million total viewers, according to the network across all platforms and the premiere episode was NBC’s top digital comedy launch on Peacock.

Mercedes portrays Fay on the series.

Her previous credits include appearances on Good Trouble, The Affair and 9-1-1.

Vico Ortiz Signs with Paradigm

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Vico Ortiz has new representation.

The Latinx, non-binary and gender-fluid actor has signed with Paradigm.

Ortiz is a known for their work in HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death and The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Starz’s Vida.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ortiz’s first breakthrough role was in Amazon Prime Video’s Transparent. They then appeared in recurring roles for Freeform’s The Fosters and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, and Netflix’s Lucifer. They appeared in Starz’s Vida, where their drag king alter ego Vico Suave made their screen debut.

Currently Ortiz is a series regular on Our Flag Means Death, appearing opposite stars Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby. They play Jim, the first non-binary pirate to exist in a period piece. Their additional credits include S.O.Z: Soldados o. Zombies, American Horror Story: 1984, Criminal Minds, 9-1-1, Ray Donovan and Jane The Virgin.

Beyond television, they were a co-lead in The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night, which premiered at TIFF in 2021. Ortiz also received a 2021 Queerties Award nomination for their performance in the buzzed about queer digital series, These Thems.

Beyond their on-screen work, Ortiz is an activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They championed organizations including The Dru Project and the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center..

Ortiz is a known for their work in HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death and The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Starz’s Vida.

Beyond their on-screen work, Ortiz is an activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They championed organizations including The Dru Project and the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center.

José Moreno Brooks to Appear on ABC’s New Musical Drama Series “Queens”

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

José Moreno Brooks will soon be in the presence of royalty…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American actor and former Telenovela scene stealer has landed a key recurring role opposite Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton and Nadine Velazquez on ABC’s new musical drama series Queens.

From Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and ABC Signature, the series centers on four estranged and out-of-touch women in their 40s — Naomi (Brandy), Jill (Naughton), Brianna (Eve) and Valeria (Velazquez), who reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world.

Brooks will play Rodrigo, gorgeous, sexy, and the most in-demand music video director currently working.

The series is written by McGhee and directed by Tim Story.

Brooks’ previous credits include Telenovela opposite Eva Longoria and 9-1-1.

Juan Carlos Coto Developing First-Responders Drama Series for CBS, “Rescue: MIA”

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Carlos Coto is coming to the rescue…

The Latino producer, writer, and veteran film and television showrunner is developing Rescue: MIA, a first-responders series for CBS.

Coto, executive producer on 9-1-1 who also served as consulting producer on 9-1-1: Lone Star, wrote the pilot from a story co-written by NCIS: Los Angeles director James Hanlon who also has directed episodes of Station 19 and Chicago Fire.

The drama is executive produced by a star of one of CBS’ hit procedurals, NCIS: Los Angeles’ Eric Christian Olsen, via his Cloud Nine Productions.

Somewhat in the vein of CBS’ juggernaut Blue Bloods, Rescue: MIA revolves around a legendary family of first responders that works together to rescue the citizens of Miami from emergencies and disasters, even as long-buried secrets threaten to tear apart their familial bonds.

Hanton was a NYC firefighter on the ground during and in the aftermath of 9/11, and his documentary film 9/11 won a Peabody Award as well as two Emmys.

Coto, Hanlon and Olsen executive produce Rescue: MIA. CBS Studios where Cloud Nine has a deal, is the studio.

Coto is writing and serves as executive producer/showrunner on The Ledger, an action drama at Will Packer Media headlined by Cobra Kai’s Xolo Maridueña.

Known for his work as showrunner on Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Coto also previously co-executive produced the CW’s Nikita and worked on NBC’s Heroes and Fox’s 24.

Xolo Maridueña to Star in & Executive Produce the Action Drama Series “The Ledger”

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Xolo Maridueña is livin’ on the ledge(r)…

The 20-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor and Cobra Kai star has been cast in and will executive produce the action drama series The Ledger, which hails from veteran showrunner and producer Juan Carlos Coto and Will Packer Media.

Coto, who has worked on 9-1-1 and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, will write and serve as showrunner. Will Packer will produce and Alvie Hurtado, Director of Development, WPP will oversee the project. Brandon Guzmán will executive produce.

The series will be shopped to streaming networks and premium cable.

Maridueña stars as Miguel Diaz on Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which is heading into its fourth season.

He is also set to star as Blue Beetle for Warner Bros. and DC. Maridueña is represented by UTA, Valor Entertainment and John Meigs

Best known for his work as showrunner on Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Coto currently is executive producer on Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear’s hit Fox drama series 9-1-1. He also served as consulting producer on 9-1-1: Lone Star. Coto previously co-executive produced the CW’s spy thriller Nikita and has written and produced critically acclaimed series including NBC’s Heroes and Fox’s 24.

Grasie Mercedes to Star on NBC’s “Grand Crew”

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Grand opportunity for Grasie Mercedes.

The 43-year-old Afro-Latina actress has joined the cast of NBC’s Grand Crew as a series regular.

The comedy, from Phil Augusta Jackson and Dan Goor, follows a group of young L.A. professionals navigating the ups and downs of life and love. When they’re ready to unpack it all, they meet at their favorite local bar for a “wine down.”

Mercedes will portray Fay, a recently divorced transplant to Los Angeles who becomes fast friends with the regulars at Eastside Cru.

Jackson will write and executive produce. Mo Marable will direct and co-executive produce the pilot. Goor will executive produce.

Previously announced cast members include Nicole Byer, Justin Cunningham, Aaron Jennings, Echo Kellum and Carl Tart.

Mercedes most recently served as a staff writer on NBC’s Perfect Harmony. Her acting credits include roles in Fox’s 9-1-1, Freeform’s Good Trouble, TNT’s Southland, HBO’s The Affair and CBS’ Criminal Minds.

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