ABC to Premiere New Season of Dancing with the Stars, Featuring Xochitl Gomez, As Scheduled

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xochitl Gomez is headed to the ballroom as originally scheduled…

ABC will proceed as planned with the September 26 season premiere of Dancing with the Stars, featuring the 17-year-old Mexican American actress, in light of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the studios reaching a tentative agreement on Sunday night.

The reality competition will kick off its 32nd season with its full celebrity cast, including Gomez.

The network last Thursday put in place plans to postpone DWTS‘ return after actors in its celebrity cast, particularly Walsh, Alyson Hannigan and Mira Sorvino, came under pressure from striking WGA members.

Last week, WGA picketers targeted multiple rehearsals for DWTS, which is a WGA signatory that typically employs one writer to pen talking points for the host.

Picketing on the show continued through yesterday. Just hours before the WGA-AMPTP deal was announced, a group of around 35 writers went out to picket Dancing with the Stars at TV City where producers were doing prep ahead of the Tuesday live season opener.

Following the tentative deal with the studios, all WGA picketing was suspended Sunday night.

Variety shows like DWTS are covered under the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, better known as Network Code. It is separate to the film and TV collective bargaining agreement that SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP negotiated unsuccessfully in the spring and early summer, leading to the current actors strike.

Because of that, ABC is allowed to put on DWTS, and SAG-AFTRA members are allowed to participate. In fact, SAG-AFTRA last week backed actors who are appearing on the show, noting that they are not in violation of strike rules and are required to go to work. It is the show’s WGA affiliation via the employment of one writer out of 500 crew members that made it a struck production.

Season 32 marks the return of DWTS to ABC. The show aired last season on Disney+. The new season will simulcast live on Disney+ and be available next day on Hulu.

Eva Longoria to Deliver Keynote Address at Mipcom Cannes Next Month

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eva Longoria is preparing for a special keynote address…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, director, producer and Desperate Housewives star will deliver a joint keynote at Mipcom Cannes next month.

Alongside Banijay Americas chairman Cris Abrego, the Emmy-nominated Longoria will delve into the latest themes defining the entertainment industry, forecasting how they may shape the future both creatively and commercially.

The keynote will take place in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday, October 16 at 4:00 pm local time, as part of Mipcom’s Media Masterminds track.

Longoria and Abrego have been professional collaborators for more than two decades. Their talk will highlight their experiences and insights as industry leaders.

Besides her acting roles, Longoria has run her own production business UnbeliEVAble Entertainment since 2005. The company is behind ABC’s Grand Hotel, NBC’s Telenovela and Netflix’s Emmy Award-nominated documentary Reversing Row, as well as the culinary docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico for CNN.

She made her feature directorial debut through Flamin’ Hot, which was released earlier this year through Searchlight Pictures on Disney+ and Hulu, and engages in philanthropic work and activism on issues such as diversity in the media and Latina entrepreneurism.

Abrego, the founder of 51 Minds Entertainment and a key player in the establishment of reality television in the U.S., is one of the most prominent television executives in the Americas and currently leads acquisitions and new business ventures across North and South America for Banijay.

“Mipcom Cannes is one of the industry’s most significant global marketplaces, and it’s an honor to join the conversation as a keynote speaker alongside Cris,” said Longoria. “Our industry is facing tremendous disruption and transformation which can lead to opportunities that can transform and reshape the future of what content looks like. I’m looking forward to discussing how we can drive what’s to come.”

Mipcom will run from October 17-19 in Cannes, France. Several industry keynotes such as Warner Bros Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler have already been announced.

Angelique Cabral Added to Voice Cast of Disney Animation’s Feature Film “Wish”

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Angelique Cabral’s wish has come true…

The 44-year-old part-Mexican American actress will star in the Disney Animation feature Wish.

She’ll voice Queen Amaya opposite Chris Pine, who stars as King Magnifico, ruler of the magical kingdom of Rosas, where wishes really do come true.

Wish follows Asha (Oscar winner Ariana DeBose), a sharp-witted idealist who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force: a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star set out to prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Alan Tudyk also stars as a talking goat, Valentino Hall.

The film opens in theaters on November 22.

Oscar-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn are directors, with Peter Del Vecho producing and Juan Pablo Reyes co-producing. Allison Moore is also a co-writer.

Original songs are by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-musician Benjamin Rice, with a score by Dave Metzger.

Cabral most recently recurred on Season 3 of ABC’s Big Sky in the role of Carla. Her other notable television credits include Fox’s Enlisted, CBS’ Life in Pieces and Prime Video’s Undone.

Her film credits include 2011’s The Perfect Family alongside Kathleen Turner and Emily Deschanel; Friends with Benefits that same year opposite Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake; 2017’s Band Aid; and All About Nina in 2018. In 2021, she starred in How It Ends written, directed and produced by Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones.

Eslabon Armado Makes History with “Good Morning America” Performance

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eslabon Armado is celebrating a historic American television appearance…

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, the Regional Mexican band performed on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday, September 15 — making history as the first Regional Mexican band ever to sing on the show.

Eslabon Armado, from Patterson, Calif., performed their blockbuster hit “Ella Baila Sola.” The sierreño song with Peso Pluma peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

“I think it’s a blessing for us,” said Eslabon’s lead singer Pedro Tovar minutes before performing on GMA. “It’s totally another feeling for us … we’ve been on other shows but this is one of the most important one for us. I remember going to school and my teachers putting on the Good Morning America show.”

Xochitl Gomez to Compete on Season 32 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”

Posted on September 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Xochitl Gomez is heading to the ballroom…

The 17-year-old Mexican American actress and Marvel star will compete on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars.

But Gomez won’t be the only Latinx competitor.

Venezuelan YouTuber, actress and singer Lele Pons, 27, and Mexican real estate mogul and television star Mauricio Umansky, 53, will also compete this season.

Other competitors include Mira Sorvino, Ariana Madix, Charity Lawson, Jamie Lynn Spears, Alyson Hannigan and NFL star Adrian Peterson.

“There’s something for everyone in this cast,” says executive producer Conrad Green. “What’s interesting with a lot of our contestants this year is this real drive and excitement about doing it. There’s a real passion for it. It’s been a tough number of years, one way or another with the strikes going on and all these things. So what I’m hoping we can bring to people is bringing Dancing back and giving audiences a blast of sunshine early in the week.”

After Tyra Banks‘ exit, Alfonso Ribeiro will return as a host, stepping onto the main stage, while former Dancing pro Julianne Hough joins to take over Ribeiro’s former cohost slot in the Sky Box.

The show is also back in its original home, airing live on ABC, after being solely available on Disney+ last season (where it will now stream concurrently).

Here’s the full cast for season 32 of Dancing with the Stars:

Supermodel Tyson Beckford with partner Jenna Johnson
Marvel star Xochitl Gomez with partner Val Chmerkovskiy
How I Met Your Motherstar Alyson Hannigan with partner Sasha Farber
Social media and reality TV star Harry Jowsey with partner Rylee Arnold
Bachelorette Charity Lawson with partner Artem Chigvintsev
Vanderpump Rules‘ Ariana Madix with partner Pasha Pashkov
Grammy-winning singer Jason Mraz with partner Daniella Karagach
NFL All-Star Adrian Peterson with partner Britt Stewart
Singer and social media star Lele Pons with partner Brandon Armstrong
Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino with partner Gleb Savchenko
Actress Jamie Lynn Spears with partner Alan Bersten
Real estate mogul and TV star Mauricio Umansky with partner Emma Slater
Comedian and actor Matt Walsh with partner Koko Iwasaki
The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams with partner Peta Murgatroyd

Dancing With the Stars premieres on Tuesday, September 26, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Isabella Gomez to Star in Indie Horror Film “The Mannequin”

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Isabella Gomez is stylin’ and profilin’…

The 25-year-old Colombian actress, best known for starring in Netflix’s One Day at a Time reboot, will star in the indie horror film The Mannequin, from writer-director John Berardo.

The Mannequin follows Liana Rojas (Gomez), a creatively starved stylist assistant who discovers the historical downtown Los Angeles building where her sister mysteriously died is haunted by a serial killer who brutally murdered and dismembered his victims there half a century earlier. This forces Liana and her friends to find a way to free themselves and escape the sinister ghost before they lose their own body parts.

Rounding out the cast is Lindsay LaVanchy playing Hazel Miller, a nurturing leader and friend of Liana; Shireen Lai playing Nadine Yang, a newlywed and posh friend of Liana; Maxwell Hamilton playing Peter Adler, Liana’s ex-boyfriend and paranormal investigator; Gabriella Rivera playing Sophia Rojas, Liana’s sister and determined fashion designer; and Jack Sochet playing Jack Bernard, a sadistic photographer and serial killer.

The Mannequin is produced by Maxwell Hamilton and Ashley Rosenberg.

Gomez most recently starred as Gina Navarro in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe on the film side and concluded her time in the final season of ABC’s The Goldbergs, where she played Carmen in a recurring role. She is best known for her portrayal of Elena Alvarez in Gloria Calderón Kellet and Mike Royce’s series One Day at a Time, a revival of the 1975 series of the same name.

The Mannequin falls under the SAG-AFTRA Ultra Low Budget Agreement and was just added to the list of projects receiving an interim agreement from the guild. Production will begin in Los Angeles next week.

Ana Navarro Returning as Co-Host for Upcoming 27th Season of ABC’s “The View”

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Navarro isn’t changing her View…

The View will begin its 27th season next month with all of last season’s co-hosts returning, including the 51-year-old Nicaraguan-American political strategist, commentator and television personality.

Navarro became a contributor on the ABC daytime talk show from July 2013 to August 2018. She joined the series as a weekly guest co-host on November 2, 2018, and was named a permanent co-host of The View on August 4, 2022.

She received Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host in 2020 and 2022.

Navarro will be joined moderator Whoopi Goldberg and fellow co-hosts Joy Behar, Afro-Latina lawyer Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin.

The status quo contrasts to last season, when Navarro and Griffin joined the show as regular co-hosts, after the departure of Meghan McCain in 2021. Past seasons also have seen a number of changes to the regular lineup.

The show, which has ranked top among daytime talk shows, debuted in 1997, and has become a fixture on the circuit for entertainers, politicians and authors, and is expected to focus on the 2024 presidential race in the coming season and the next. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have made multiple appearances on the show, but each before they took office.

Navarro previously worked as a Republican political strategist before joining the regular cast of the show. She has been an outspoken critic of Trump.

Vanna White Agrees to New Deal to Return as Host of ABC’s “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune”

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Vanna White is turning things up…

The 66-year-old half-Puerto Rican television personality and game show letter-turner has signed a new deal to return as host of ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which reportedly involves a significant salary increase.

But White hasn’t reached a deal to remain on the syndicated mothership Wheel of Fortune, as her contract runs through 2024.

Host Pat Sajak announced in June that he planned to retire from the syndicated game show after its upcoming 41st season. Ryan Seacrest will be taking the reins as host of Wheel of Fortune in Season 42 and also will serve as consulting producer. The show has been renewed through its 45th season.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune offers a $1 million prize to the top-earning celebrity benefitting a charity. All they have to do is spin the wheel and solve puzzles while beating out their competitors. Prior stars visiting the show hosted by Sajak and White include Abbott Elementary stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Chris Perfetti; Jack Black; Julie Bowen; Kal Penn; Sasheer Zamata; and RuPaul Charles.

Both Wheel of Fortune and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune are produced by Sony Pictures Television and distributed by CBS Media Ventures. Bellamie Blackstone executive produces.

Nicholas Chavez to Star in Ryan Murphy’s Anthology Series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Nicholas Chavez has landed a monster role…

The 23-year-old Latino actor and Daytime Emmy Award winner will star in Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Chavez, who stars on General Hospital, and Cooper Koch will portray Lyle and Erik Menendez respectively.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story follows a successful Season 1 for the new franchise, which focused on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters.

Season 2 will tell the story of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez. Although the siblings eventually confessed to parricide, they have long sustained that the reason for their actions was due to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

The case continues to unfold in real-time following a new development revealed in May. Erik and Lyle Menendez filed documents asking for a new hearing in response to former Menudo bandmember Roy Rosselló’s claims he was molested by José Menendez at the age of 14.

It is as yet unknown how much of the Menendez brothers’ lives will be covered in Season 2, but Netflix also has a forthcoming documentary feature on the pair with access to the duo.

Both Koch and Chavez are relative newcomers to the industry who will no doubt receive a boost from leading a Ryan Murphy series. Koch previously appeared in Season 1 of the hit Starz drama Power Book II: Ghost as the character Chase. Most recently, he has appeared in the horror films Swallowed and They/Them.

Chavez currently portrays Spencer Cassadine on ABC’s General Hospital. He also appeared in the Tubi Original, Crushed.

Lionel Messi Earns Three 2023 ESPYs Nods, Including One for Best Athlete, Men’s Sports

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is one step closer to being heralded this year’s best athlete…

ESPN has revealed the nominees for its 2023 ESPYs, with the 36-year-old Argentine soccer star earning three nominations.

Messi, who helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring seven goals and providing three assists, is nominated for Best Athlete, Men’s Sports. It’s his first nod in the category.

He’s also up for Best Championship Performance for the 2022 World Cup final, as well as Best Soccer Player for performance with the Argentina national team and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

But Messi isn’t the only Latinx nominee…

Seattle Mariners’ star player Julio Rodriguez has earned a nod in the Best Breakthrough Athlete category; Amanda Nunes is up for Best UFC Fighter; Jon Rahm is nominated in the Best Golfer category; and Carlos Alcaraz is up for Best Tennis Player.

The hardware will be handed out July 12 in Los Angeles, with ABC airing the ceremony live at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET.

Here are all the nominees for the 2023 ESPYs:

BEST ATHLETE, MEN’S SPORTS
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Lionel Messi, Argentina

BEST ATHLETE, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Mikaela Shiffrin, Ski
Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns
Iga Świątek, Tennis
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE
Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Angel Reese, LSU Women’s Basketball
Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners

BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Novak Djokovic wins his 23rd Grand Slam title
LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record
Mikaela Shiffrin breaks the record for the most World Cup victories
Max Verstappen, Red Bull, set record for most wins in a season

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
Leon Edwards, UFC – defeats Kamaru Usman to win UFC welterweight title
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets – 2023 NBA Finals MVP
Lionel Messi, Argentina – 2022 World Cup Final
Rose Zhang, LPGA – first woman in 72 years to win her first professional start.

BEST COMEBACK ATHLETE
Jon Jones, UFC
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut
Justin Verlander

BEST PLAY
Michael Block’s hole in one – Golf
Justin Jefferson with the Catch of the Century, NFL
Ally Lemos with the perfect corner to tie the National Championship game, NCAA
Trinity Thomas’ Perfect 10 to tie NCAA Record, NCAA

BEST TEAM
Denver Nuggets, NBA
Georgia Bulldogs, NCAA Football
Kansas City Chiefs, NFL
Las Vegas Aces, WNBA
Louisiana State Tigers, NCAA Women’s Basketball
Oklahoma Sooners, NCAA Softball
Vegas Golden Knights, NHL

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE, MEN’S SPORTS
Zach Edey, Purdue Basketball
Duncan McGuire, Creighton Soccer
Brennan O’Neill, Duke Lacrosse
Caleb Williams, USC Football

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma Softball
Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Izzy Scane, Northwestern Lacrosse
Trinity Thomas, Florida Gators Gymnastics

BEST ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY
Erica McKee, Sled Hockey Team
Zach Miller, Snowboarding
Aaron Pike, Wheelchair Racing & Cross-Country Skiing
Susannah Scaroni, Wheelchair Racing

BEST NFL PLAYER
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

BEST MLB PLAYER
Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

BEST NHL PLAYER
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
David Pastrňák, Boston Bruins
Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins

BEST NBA PLAYER
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

BEST WNBA PLAYER
Skylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix Mercury
Candace Parker, Chicago Sky (Current Las Vegas Aces)
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Current New York Liberty)
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

BEST DRIVER
Brittany Force, NHRA
Kyle Larson, NASCAR
Josef Newgarden, IndyCar
Max Verstappen, F1

BEST UFC FIGHTER
Leon Edwards
Jon Jones
Islam Makhachev
Amanda Nunes

BEST BOXER
Gervonta Davis
Devin Haney
Claressa Shields
Shakur Stevenson

BEST SOCCER PLAYER
Aitana Bonmatí, Spain/Barcelona
Erling Haaland, Norway/Manchester City
Lionel Messi, Argentina/PSG
Sophia Smith, USWNT/Portland Thorns

BEST GOLFER
Wyndham Clark
Nelly Korda
Jon Rahm
Scottie Scheffler

BEST TENNIS PLAYER
Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic
Aryna Sabalenka
Iga Świątek

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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