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

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.

Ryan GuzmanGuzman, 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 Minear9-1-1 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”

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.

Ryan GuzmanFrom 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 NotoriousHeroes 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”

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 Independencehas been upped to series regular ahead of the premiere, which is yet to be announced.

Gabriela QuezadaStarring Matt Barr and Katherine McNamaraWalker 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

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.

Grasie MercedesIn 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

Vico Ortiz has new representation.

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

Vico OrtizOrtiz 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: 1984Criminal Minds9-1-1Ray 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.

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: 1984Criminal Minds9-1-1Ray 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.

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

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.

José Moreno Brooks

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”

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.

Juan Carlos Coto

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 Ledgeran 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”

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.

Xolo Maridueña

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”

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.

Grasie Mercedes

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.

Fox Releases First Trailer for Gina Torres’ Drama “9-1-1: Lone Star”

Gina Torres is readying for an explosive return to television…

Fox has released the first trailer for Season 2 of its spinoff drama 9-1-1: Lone Star, starring the 51-year-old Cuban American actress and former Suits/Pearson star.

Gina Torres

In keeping with the franchise’s past season openers, a major disaster is hitting town — and it’s up to the first responders to keep their heads and save our souls.

The Los Angeles-set mothership 9-1-1 has launched previous seasons with an earthquake, a tsunami and a dam break, and now the Austin-set Lone Star team must deal with a volcanic eruption.

Season 2 sees the arrival of Torres in the series-regular role of Paramedic Capt. Tommy Vega, following Liv Tyler’s exit after the first season.

“Welcome to the 126,” Capt. Owen Strand (Rob Lowe) tells Vega in the teaser. “I think we’re gonna have some fun together.” She replies, “Oh, you bet we are.”

Ronen Rubinstein, Jim Parrack, Sierra McClain, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Julian Works and Rafael Silva also star in 9-1-1: Lone Star, which will follow its parent series on Mondays this season. Both will launch on January 18.

9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Century Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.