Marcello Hernandez Joins Cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for Season 48

Marcello Hernandez will be working Saturday nights

The Cuban & Dominican American stand up comedian, writer and actor has joined the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player for Season 48.

Marcello HernandezHernandez joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker.

Hernandez has opened for the likes of Tim Dillon and Gilbert Gottfried and appeared on Telemundo’s Acceso Total. The Miami comedian was recently named a “New Face of Comedy” at the prestigious Montreal “Just for Laughs” festival.  And locals may know Hernandez from his work with Only in Dade. He was the creative director of their lifestyle page.

“This will be transition year,” Lorne Michaels said backstage at the Primetime Emmys, where SNL won the award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.

“Change years are always difficult but always exciting. There are new people. There are four new people, at least for now.”

The announcement comes after it was revealed in May that Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney were leaving the show at the end of Season 47 along with Pete Davidson. It later emerged that Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, the first-ever Latina cast member, and Aristotle Athari would not be returning either.

SNL returns on October 1 with three consecutive shows.

Michaels added that the pandemic kept the large cast together longer than perhaps expected.

“The pandemic sort of interfered with the national order of things. I think there was a bonding; people got very close,” he added. “When we did those at-home shows, you got to see everyone’s apartment where and how they lived. There was an intimacy and connection between audience and group. I couldn’t imagine we could work without that whole team so we kept going.”

Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video.

 

John Ortiz to Appear on Apple TV+’s Drama Series “Bad Monkey”

John Ortiz will be monkeying around soon…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican actor has landed a key recurring role opposite Vince Vaughn in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey.

John OrtizOrtiz replaces Arturo Luis Soria, who had been originally cast in the role.

Written and executive produced by Bill Lawrence, the series is based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel.

Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Ortiz will play Rogelio, a good Key West police detective who comes to his best friend and ex-partner, Andrew Yancy, with a life-changing assignment. It further complicates things that Rogelio’s husband is also Yancy’s attorney.

The cast also includes Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Meredith Hagner, Rob Delaney, Natalie Martinez, L. Scott Caldwell, Ronald Peet, Charlotte Lawrence and Alex Moffat.

Lawrence executive-produces through his Doozer Productions alongside Matt Tarses and Doozer’s Jeff Ingold. Marcos Siega directs the first episode and serves as executive producer. Doozer’s Liza Katzer serves as co-executive producer. Warner Bros Television is the studio.

Ortiz most recently starred as Joe Sandoval in drama series Promised Land, which aired for one season on ABC.

On the film side, he most recently wrapped filming The Mothership opposite Halle Berry. He also can be seen in the feature film The Fallout, which premiered at SXSW. He also starred on the series Messiah opposite Monaghan and in the feature Horse Girl with Allison Brie.

Natalie Martinez to Star Opposite Vince Vaughn in Apple TV+ Drama Series “Bad Monkey”

Natalie Martinez is monkeying around…

The 37-year-old Cuban-American actress has been cast as a series regular opposite Vince Vaughn in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey.

Natalie MartinezThe news comes only days after Martinez became available following the cancellation of NBC’s Ordinary Joe.

Martinez replaces Ana Villafañe, who had originally been cast in the role.

The series, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence, based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular 2013 novel of the same name.

Bad Monkey tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a onetime detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist out fishing pulls Yancy into the world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and the Bahamas. And yes, there’s a monkey.

Martinez plays Rosa, a Miami medical examiner who is starting to realize she may not be cut out for her job, so is happy to ditch work and help Yancy try to figure out the story of the severed arm he brings into her lab.

In addition to Vaughn, Martinez joins Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Meredith Hagner, Rob Delaney and Arturo Luis Soria in the cast. Alex Moffat guest stars.

Lawrence executive produces through his Doozer Productions alongside Matt Tarses and Doozer’s Jeff Ingold. Marcos Siega directs the first episode and serves as executive producer. Doozer’s Liza Katzer serves as co-executive producer. Warner Bros Television is the studio.

Martinez starred as Amy Kindelán opposite James Wolk in Ordinary Joe. She previously starred in the series KingdomThe Crossing, Under the Dome and Secrets and Lies.

Miranda to Make “Saturday Night Live” Hosting Debut in October

Lin-Manuel Miranda is bracing for a sketch-filled October…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Hamilton star/creator will make his debut as host of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live on October 8.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Miranda recently wrapped his award-winning Broadway run as composer, lyricist and performer in the musical sensation and multiple-Tony winner Hamilton.

Miranda, who recently graced the cover  of GQ, will be joined by musical guest Twenty One Pilots, also making their SNL hosting debut. The duo (Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun) recently made history becoming the first alternative group ever with two simultaneous singles in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 — “Ride,” from their multi-platinum studio album Blurryface, and “Heathens,” from Suicide Squad: The Album.

SNL has added three new featured players for the upcoming season: improv performer Alex Moffat and America’s Got Talent finalist Melissa Villaseñor, as well as Mikey Day, who has been a writer on the show since 2013.