Mariah Carey Writes & Performs Theme Song for ABC’s “black-ish” Spinoff “mixed-ish”

Mariah Carey is Mix’ingthings up…

The 49-year-old half-Venezuelan American five-time Grammy-winning singer has been tapped to write and perform the theme song for ABC’s new black-ish spinoff mixed-ish. 

Mariah Carey

Titled “In the Mix”, the track is written by Carey and produced by Carey and Daniel Moore. Sung by Carey, the new theme song will be heard when the series premieres on Tuesday, September 24 at 9:00 pm ET on ABC. 

“As a fan of Kenya Barris’ megahit shows, black-ish and grown-ish, I was inspired to connect with Kenya to find a way we could work together,” said Carey. “As a biracial woman in the entertainment industry, there was no way I did not want to be a part of mixed-ish, especially after seeing the pilot, which I loved. I could not be more honored and proud to be writing and performing ‘In the Mix’ for Kenya and the show.”

ABC’s mixed-ish will follow Rainbow Johnson as she recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s and the dilemmas they face to acclimate in the suburbs while staying true to themselves. Bow’s parents, Paul and Alicia, decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they’re perceived as neither black nor white. This family’s experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can’t decide where you belong.

The series stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Paul Johnson, Tika Sumpter as Alicia Johnson, Christina Anthony as Denise, Arica Himmel as Bow Johnson, Ethan William Childress as Johan Johnson, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson and Gary Cole as Harrison.

Karin GistPeter Saji and Barris are writers and executive producers, along with Tracee Ellis RossRandall WinstonArtists First (Brian Dobbins), Cinema Gypsy (Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland) and Anthony Anderson

Anton Cropperdirected the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Studios, a part of Disney Television Studios, a collection of studios comprised of 20th Century Fox Television, ABC Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios.

Francia Raisa to Star in Freeform’s “Black-ish” Spinoff, “Grown-ish”

Francia Raisa is Grown-ing up…

The 29-year-old Honduran and Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Freeform’s Grown-ish, the spinoff of ABC’s acclaimed sitcom Black-ish.

Francia Raisa

Grown-ish, from Black-ish executive producer Kenya Barris, is a contemporary take on the current issues facing both students and administrators in the world of higher education. Yara Shahidi portrays Zoey – Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter — as she heads off to college and quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest.

Raisa will portray Ana, an outspoken conservative freshman at Southern California University.

Raisa joins previously announced cast members Shahidi, Deon Cole, Chris Parnell, Emily Arlook and Trevor Jackson.

The 13-episode comedy series is set to start production next week for an early 2018 premiere on Freeform.

Raisa, who rose to acclaim on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, previously appeared on Dear White People, The Mindy Project and In Plain Sight.

First Trailer Released for Gina Rodriguez’s Animated Holiday Film “The Star”

Gina Rodriguez’s star is rising this holiday season…

The first trailer has been released for the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s The Star, an animated holiday film in which the animals run the village.

Gina Rodriguez

Steven Yuen stars as Bo, a donkey who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. When finally he summons the courage to break free, his adventure leads him to make friends with a flockless sheep (Aidy Bryant) and ambitious dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Little do they know, but they and a group of eccentric camels and stable animals are about to become unlikely heroes in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Directed by Timothy Reckart from Carlos Kotkin’s script, the toon features a diverse, big-name voice cast that also includes Zachary Levi as Joseph and, Rodriguez as Mary.

Gina Rodriguez's Mary in The Star

Christopher Plummer plays the villainous King Herod. The animal characters include Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias.

Meanwhile Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey voice the trio of wise-cracking camels.

The film from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films in association with Walden Media features a new title song by Mariah Carey, and the trailer sports a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder’s yuletide classic “That’s What Christmas Means to Me.”

Columbia Pictures will release The Star on November 10.

Brewster to Compete on the Next Installment of “Masterchef Celebrity Showdown”

Jordana Brewster is ready to put her best apron forward for charity…

The lineup for the next installment of Masterchef Celebrity Showdown has been announced, with the 36-year-old Brazilian-Panamanian actress among those joining the two-hour charity event set to air January 2 at 8:00 pm on Fox.

Jordana Brewster

Brewster, one of the stars of the The Fast and the Furious film franchise, joins a roster that includes Kal Penn, Anthony Anderson and former NFL stars Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber.

The special will also feature the first ever battle royale between Masterchef judges Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi, with Ramsay teaming up with Anderson to face off against Tosi and Brewster.

Here are the match-ups for the next Masterchef Celebrity Showdown:

Empire stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey Byers representing Saving Our Daughters, vs. Nene and Gregg Leakes representing Broadway Cares.

Cheryl Hines cooking for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, vs. Penn cooking for United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Ronde and Tiki representing Kulture City, vs. Joel Madden and Benji Madden representing MusiCares.

Anderson and Ramsay representing Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club, vs. Brewster and Tosi competing for No Kid Hungry.

Louis C.K. Earns Six Primetime Emmy Award Nominations

Louis C.K. continues to be an Emmy darling…

The nominations for the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced, with the 47-year-old Mexican American stand up comedian, actor, writer, producer, director and editor earning six nominations.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., who holds the record for most Emmy nominations in a single year (9), is nominated in the Lead Actor, Comedy category for the fifth straight year for his starring role on FX’s Louie. He’ll face off against Black-ish’s Anthony Anderson, EpisodesMatt LeBlanc, House of LiesDon Cheadle, The Last Man On Earth’s Will Forte, ShamelessWilliam H. Macy and Transparent’s Jeffrey Tambor.

Louis C.K., the creator, star, writer, director and executive producer of Louie, is also nominated in the Writing for a Comedy Series and Directing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Comedy Series categories for his behind-the-scenes work on the series.

Additionally, Louis C.K. earned his third consecutive nomination in the Guest Actor, Comedy series for his guest hosting work on Saturday Night Live.

His final nomination comes in the Writing for a Variety Special for his comedy special Louis C.K.: Live At The Comedy Store.

But Louis C.K. isn’t the only Latino nominee this year…

Former gang member turned rising actor Richard Cabral earned his first-ever Emmy nomination.

The Latino actor earned his nod in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category for his work on work on American Crime.

Jane the Virgin’s velvety-voiced narrator Anthony Mendez also earned his first nomination.

The bilingual actor, who studied cemetery architecture in college and worked in radio production before pursuing a voice-over acting career, earned his nom in the Outstanding Narrator category. He’ll face off against Neil deGrasse Tyson, Miranda Richardson, Peter Coyote and Henry Strozier.

Andy Samberg is set to host the Primetime Emmy Awards telecast, which will air live Sept. 20 on Fox. The three-hour ceremony will originate from the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

 

Maldonado Lands Recurring Role on ABC’s “Black-ish”

Allen Maldonado is ready to assist…

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in ABC’s breakout comedy series Black-ish.

Allen Maldonado

Maldonado will portray Curtis, the new assistant to Andre “Dre” Johnson’s (played by Anthony Anderson).

Created and executive produced by Kenya Barris, Black-ish centers on an African-American family man who struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Maldonado, best known for starring as Honey Nutz on the television series You’re the Worst, appears alongside Jennifer Aniston in the feature film Cake. His upcoming projects include Forest Whitaker’s Dope and Ice Cube’s N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

He also had a recent guest turn on Adult Swim’s Black Jesus.

Allen Maldonado is ready to assist…

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in ABC’s breakout comedy series Black-ish.

Maldonado will portray Curtis, the new assistant to Andre “Dre” Johnson’s (played by Anthony Anderson).

Created and executive produced by Kenya Barris, Black-ish centers on an African-American family man who struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Maldonado, best known for starring as Honey Nutz on the television series You’re the Worst, appears alongside Jennifer Aniston in the feature film Cake. His upcoming projects include Forest Whitaker’s Dope and Ice Cube’s N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

He also had a recent guest turn on Adult Swim’s Black Jesus.

Ortiz to Guest Star on ABC’s “Black-ish”

Ana Ortiz is bringing a little deviousness to ABC

The 43-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Devious Maids star has booked a a pivotal guest-starring role on ABC’s Black-ish, starring Anthony Anderson.

Ana Ortiz

Appearing in the 11th show’s episode airing this coming December, Ortiz will play Angelica Rodriguez, one of Dre’s (Anderson) co-workers who becomes an adversary at their company’s office Christmas party.

Jenifer Lewis is also set to appear in the episode as Dre’s mother, Ruby.

Ortiz, who co-starred in ABC dramedy Ugly Betty from 2006-10, has dropped by several of the network’s dramas since then — Revenge (2013) and more recently, How to Get Away With Murder.

Ortiz’s Devious Maids, which Lifetime renewed in September, returns for its third season in 2015.

Black-ish airs 9:30 pm ET on Wednesdays on ABC.

Ali Wins NAACP Image Awards for Her Performance on “The Young and the Restless”

It pays to be a member of the young and the restless… At least for Tatyana Ali.

The 35-year-old half- Afro-Panamanian actress and R&B singer took home the Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama trophy at the 45th NAACP Image Awards, which were held Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Ali’s win was announced at a pre-show ceremony on Friday.

Tatyana Ali

It’s the fourth consecutive win in the daytime television actress category for Ali, who has portrayed Roxanne on a recurring basis on The Young and the Restless since 2007.

Ali ranks second behind The Young and the Restless alum Victoria Rowell for the total number of wins in the category. Powell, who portrayed Drucilla Winters on the CBS daytime drama from 1990-2007, has won 11 trophies for her previous work on the soap opera.

The NAACP Image Awards were broadcast live on TV One and hosted by Anthony Anderson.

Click here for the complete list of winners.

Sheen to Star in “Scary Movie 5”

It’s about to get scary for Charlie Sheen

The 46-year-old part-Spanish actor has reportedly signed on to star in Dimension’s Scary Movie 5, the fifth installment of Dimension’s horror spoof franchise.

Charlie Sheen

Sheen—currently starring in FX’s new comedy series Anger Management—will reprise his role as Tom Logan in the previous two installments of the franchise, according to E! Online.

Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Tisdale, as well as franchise stalwarts Anthony Anderson and Regina Hall, are among the cast.

It’s the latest film project on the schedule for Sheen, who will be portraying the president of the United States in Machete Kills.

Production is expected to start September in Atlanta.