Lindsay Mendez to Guest Star on CBS’ “Elsbeth”

Posted on August 10, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Lindsay Mendez is bringing the comic timing to the small screen…

The 42-year-old half-Mexican American Tony Award-winning actress and singer will guest star in the premiere episode of the third season of CBS’ Elsbeth alongside Amy Sedaris and Andy Richter.

Based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) is the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s well-heeled murderers, utilizing her unique point of view.

Mendez will appear as Officer Grace Hackett, a hard-working officer and an aspiring stand-up comic when off the clock. When she teams up with Elsbeth for a case focused on the world of comedy, her knowledge of the business comes in handy.

Elsbeth is produced by CBS Studios and executive produced by Robert King, Michelle King, Jonathan Tolins, Liz Glotzer, Erica Shelton Kodish, Bryan Goluboff and Gail Barringer with Tolins serving as showrunner.

Robert and Michelle King co-created the series.

Mendez most recently starred in the hit Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along opposite Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff.

The production, which was filmed for theatrical release, will hit theaters on December 5.

On television, Mendez starred in the FX anthology series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez for Ryan Murphy.

She was previously a series regular on All Rise from CBS/OWN.

Justina Machado Lands Major Recurring Role on CBS’ “Matlock” for Season Two

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Justina Machado is courting a new role…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actress has been cast for a major recurring role on Season 2 of CBS’ breakout hit legal drama Matlock for its upcoming season.

Machado will play Eva, a formidable, smart and ambitious attorney and Jacobson Moore managing partner Howard “Senior” Markston’s (Beau Bridges) 4th ex-wife. The one who made him swear off marriage. Eva runs Jacobson Moore’s Miami office and she arrives in New York for an emergency meeting… which she uses to her advantage.

Machado is reuniting with Matlock creator Jennie Snyder Urman and studio CBS Studios who were also behind Jane the Virgin.

Machado, who recurred on the CW dramedy, is the second cast alum to join Matlock, along with Yael Grobglas who also is recurring on the CW drama headlined by Kathy Bates.

Machado is coming off a Broadway run in Real Women Have Curves, which earned her a Tony nomination.

She also recently starred in Netflix’s medical drama series Pulse as well as the Amazon/Blumhouse series The Horrors Of Dolores Roach.

In features, she was most recently seen in Mario Garcia’s indie The Throwback. Machado previously headlined Netflix’s praised One Day At a Time reboot..

Paramount+ Releases First Official Trailer for Cote de Pablo’s “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” Series

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Cote de Pablo is back in NCIS action…

Paramount+ has released the first official trailer for NCIS: Tony & Ziva, starring the 45-year-old Chilean-American actress and singer, ahead of the season 22 finale of NCIS on CBS.

The 10-episode series that stars Michael Weatherly and de Pablo will premiere this fall on Paramount+.

The series picks up after Ziva’s supposed death when Tony left the NCIS team to go raise their daughter. Years later, Ziva was discovered alive, leading her to complete one final mission with NCIS before she was reunited with Tony and their daughter in Paris. Since then – and where we find them in the new iteration – Tony and Ziva have been raising their daughter, Tali, together. When Tony’s security company is attacked, they must go on the run across Europe, try to figure out who is after them and maybe even learn to trust each other again so they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after.

The series also stars Amita Suman, Maximilian Osinski, Julian Ovenden, Nassima Benchicou, Lara Rossi, Isla Gie, Terence Maynard and James D’Arcy.

John McNamara serves as showrunner for the series, which is produced by CBS Studios and distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Al Madrigal to Co-Host National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Impact Awards Gala

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is ready to make an Impact…

The 53-year-old half-Mexican American actor and Lopez vs. Lopez scene-stealer will co-host the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s (NHMC) 2025 Impact AwardsGala alongside On My Block’s Jessica Marie Garcia.

The gala will take place on Friday, June 6, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

The Impact Awards event honors the contributions of Latinos, creating a more inclusive society.

NHMC is a woman-led, non-profit civil and human rights organization committed to eliminating hate, discrimination, and racism toward Latino and marginalized communities. Since its founding, the organization has worked to empower the Latino community through policy advocacy, media representation, and coalition building. NHMC advocates for increased Latino visibility through its policy work in Washington, D.C., and media advocacy and representation in Hollywood.

Madrigal is best known for serving as the Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Most recently, he recurs on NBC’s hit comedy Lopez vs. Lopez playing George Lopez’s best friend, Oscar. As an entrepreneur, Madrigal founded All Things Comedy alongside fellow comedian Bill Burr, which produces several movies and TV shows. Madrigal is developing an extensive slate of Latino-centric projects for TV within his current deal at CBS Studios.

Actress, writer, and producer Garcia recently guest-starred on Lopez vs. Lopez, from George Lopez, Mayan Lopez and Debby Wolfe, which recently concluded its third season and is currently awaiting renewal.

Garcia played Yesika, Mayan’s fabulous TikTok-dancing social media influencer cousin who does everything for “the Gram,” including giving Mayan a taste of the glamorous life.

She’s widely recognized for her breakout role as Jasmine Flores on Netflix’s hit series On My Block and for recurring on Shonda Rhimes’ How to Get Away with Murder, playing Rhonda opposite Viola Davis.

Most recently, she starred in the short film Illegally Brown, directed by Gabby Revilla Lugo, which made the rounds on the festival circuit, and What To Expect, from director Gabriela Garcia Medina.

“We are honored to have a dynamic duo with strong roots uplifting our Latino community, hosting our Impact Awards Gala this year,” said Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the NHMC. “Al and Jessica both exemplify Latino excellence and demonstrate the strength of community, both in front of and behind the camera. We are elated to welcome Al and have Jessica return to host our Gala.”

Past honorees include Fede Alvarez, Harvey Guillén, Issa López, Tatyana Ali, Umbrella Academy, George and Mayan Lopez, Colman Domingo, Francia Raisa, Salma Hayek Pinault, Rosie Perez, Tessa Thompson, America Ferrera, Jay Hernandez, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, James Cameron, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Saldana, Danny Trejo and Diego Luna.

Juani Feliz Tapped to Lead CBS’ Potential “The Equalizer” Spinoff

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Juani Feliz may be equalizing her career soon…

The 36-year-old Dominican actress and Titus Welliver have been tapped as the two leads of CBS‘ potential spinoff from The Equalizer.

The Queen Latifah procedural will introduce the two new characters, which could anchor their own series, in Episode 516 this season.

Welliver will play Hudson Reed, a former top CIA operative with a dark secret who is connected to Robin McCall (Queen Latifah) by an old mentor.

Feliz plays Samantha Reed who has been trained by her father to be a weapons expert, skilled martial artist and true chameleon all while hiding a mysterious past.

Both Welliver and Feliz have been cast as guest stars with series regular options for the potential spinoff.

Episode 516, written by Joseph C. Wilson who’ll serve as executive producer on the potential series, will air in the spring.

It’s not designated as a backdoor pilot. CBS has been taking a more informal approach with its lead offshoot characters in storylines integrated into regular episodes of the mothership series, something the network has done twice now on Fire Country, first with Morena Baccarin, whose offshoot was picked up to series, and more recently with Jared Padalecki.

A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to planted spinoff efforts, introducing potential turn.

If the offshoot goes forward, its two-hander format would be a departure from the original 1985 Equalizer series, the current CBS reboot as well as the film franchise, all of which had a single lead, male (first series and movies) and female (the Queen Latifah version).

The Season 5 cast also includes Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes with Lorraine Toussaint.

From Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios, The Equalizer is executive produced by Joseph C. Wilson, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere, John Davis, John Fox, Loretha Jones and Rob Hanning.

The series airs on Sundays at 9:00 pm, moving to 10:00 pm on February 18.

Feliz recurs on Tracy Oliver’s Amazon television series Harlem, currently airing its third season.

Her credits also include series Fleishman Is In Trouble and DMZ and the upcoming A24 feature Civil War and AMC’s The Terror: Devil In Silver.

Jordana Brewster to Guest Star on CBS’ Drama Series “Elsbeth”

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Jordana Brewster has landed a special guest-starring role…

The CBS drama series Elsbeth has added the 44-year-old half-Brazilian Panamanian actress to its growing list of guest stars for Season 2.

New episodes return on January 30 at 10 p.m.

Based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight, the series follows Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston), the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view.

Brewster will play Chloe, a beautiful, elegant “lifestyle consultant,” usually found on the arms of the high rollers on billionaire’s row. Of course, one man’s “lifestyle consultant” is another man’s high-price escort. Chloe will do anything for her clients, even murder.

Elsbeth is produced by CBS Studios.

Brewster is best known for her portrayal of Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Her recent film credits include Simulant with Robbie Amell and Sam Worthington, Who Invited Charlie? with Adam Pally and Cellar Door with Laurence Fishburne.

Her next project is Heart Eyes, which will be released next month.

Her television credits include Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story, Fox’s Lethal Weapon, TNT’s Dallas and ABC’s Secrets and Lies.

Aimee Garcia to Appear on Paramount+’s “Criminal Minds: Evolution” for Season Three

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Garcia’s career evolution continues…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican & Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Paramount+’s Criminal Minds: Evolution for the show’s third season.

In a multiple-episode arc, Garcia will portray Dr. Julia Ochoa, one of the country’s leading neuropsychiatrists who is assigned to help a high-profile patient recover from his injury-induced brain trauma. She clashes with Alvarez (Adam Rodriguez) who, by contrast, believes in a more aggressive approach than her gentle approach.

Criminal Minds: Evolution is an expansion of the original CBS series, which ran from 2005-2020. In the current season, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers comes up against an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. As the world opens back up and the network goes operational, the team must hunt them down, one murder at a time.

The series stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford, Ryan-James Hatanaka with Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

ABC Signature and CBS Studios produce the series. Erica Messer serves as showrunner and executive producer.

Currently, Garcia stars opposite Adam Scott in Netflix’s upcoming animated series Strip Law and headlines The Cases of Mystery Lane franchise for Hallmark/Peacock. Garcia starred on Netflix’s Lucifer for five seasons and headlined Netflix’s film Christmas With You opposite Freddie Prinze Jr.

Additional credits include Hulu’s Woke, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K, ABC’s The George Lopez Show, which earned her an Impact and ALMA Award, José Padilha’s RoboCop, The Addams Family with Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac and James L. Brooks’ Spanglish.

Daphne Zuniga Helps Launch “Still the Place,” a Rewatch Podcast of Fox’s “Melrose Place”

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Daphne Zuniga is ready to help you rewatch her classic television series…

As a Melrose Place reboot is in the works at CBS, the original series is getting a new audio boost featuring the 61-year-old half-Guatemalan American actress.

Zuniga and two of the show’s other original stars, Laura Leighton and Courtney Thorne-Smith, are launching a rewatch podcast of the Fox drama.

Still The Place launched today, on the 32nd anniversary of the show’s launch. It comes from iHeartPodcasts.

Leighton, who played Sydney Andrews, Thorne-Smith, who played Alison Parker and Zuniga, who played Jo Reynolds will dissect each episode from the very beginning, share behind-the-scenes stories and interview special guests from the original cast and crew.

It comes after news in April revealed that a reboot featuring Leighton and Zuniga, as well as Heather Locklear, was in the works at CBS Studios and was being shopped to networks and streamers.

The reboot is being written by Lauren Gussis and will pick up years after the original series, created by Darren Star.

Locklear, Leighton and Zuniga, reprised their roles in guest starring appearances on The CW revival in 2009, which revolved around a new group of 20-30-somethings living on Melrose Place. The new reboot is expected to draw from the original series and not the follow-up where Leighton’s character was murdered.

Trailer Released for Adam Rodriguez’s “Criminal Minds: Evolution”

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Adam Rodriguez is ready for an evolution…

The 10-episode new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, starring the 49-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actor, released its key art and trailer in advance of its debut next month.

Produced by ABC Signature and CBS Studios, Criminal Minds: Evolution premieres on Thursday, June 6, exclusively on Paramount+.

The first two episodes will be available to stream at launch, with subsequent new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.

In the wake of last season’s finale, the upcoming all-new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution picks up as the FBI’s elite team of profilers investigates the deadly mystery of Gold Star.

As the conspiracy unfolds, the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is met with an unexpected complication when serial killer Elias Voit negotiates a deal that transfers him to federal custody in the BAU’s own backyard. The team faces its biggest threat yet and cannot emerge unscathed from the mind-bending consequences.

Criminal Minds: Evolution stars Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Zach Gilford, Ryan-James Hatanaka with Rodriguez and Paget Brewster.

Guest stars this season include Clark Gregg, Felicity Huffman, Paul F. Tompkins, Tuc Watkins and Brian White.

Laura Di Lorenzo & Mimi Davila Are Developing “The Chonga Girls” at CBS Studios

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Laura Di Lorenzo is celebrating a little (chonga) girl power.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan comedian, actress and writer – who performs alongside Mimi Davila as the comedy duo The Chonga Girls – is set to write, star and co-executive produce an eponymous multi-camera comedy series in development at CBS Studios, per Deadline.com.

Di Lorenzo and Davila—who perform as The Chonga Girls— are part of the project that hails from Marlena Rodriguez, who will serve as writer.

Additionally Rodriguez will executive produce alongside Wilmer Valderrama and Kaitlin Saltzman under his WV Entertainment banner, and Al Madrigal.

The Chonga Girls follows two dangerously confident childhood friends, Mimi and Laura, who move from Miami to Hollywood to realize their dream of becoming famous. But, much to their surprise, they find themselves working at the makeup counter for a department store right off the Walk of Fame.

Davila is a Cuban/Bulgarian actress, comedian and writer who, alongside her best friend Di Lorenzo, released the viral video Chongalicious in 2007. Most recently, she wrapped shooting the lead role in the indie film The Scout. She can also be seen in Julio Torres’ feature film Problemista and Gala Film’s new dystopian series RZR.

Davila and Di Lorenzo perform regularly together at comedy festivals.

Di Lorenzo is a Venezuelan Miamian whose voice was behind the music of Selena Quintanilla in the Netflix series Selena: The Series. She is best known for co-creating the comedy web series The Chonga Diaries, which spawned her segment, “Laura’s Corner,” available from Mitú via Comcast.

WV Entertainment is known for highlighting and uplifting the stories of Latinx and underrepresented communities across traditional media and podcasts. Last year, the company signed a first-look deal with CBS Studios.

Additionally, Valderrama became a shareholder of the My Cultura Podcast Network from iHeartMedia. He hosts and produces podcasts as well as helps curate the network’s slate of Latinx-focused podcasts which includes scripted and unscripted projects from Eva Longoria, Freddie Prinze, Jr, Cobra Kai stars Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand, and Princess of South Beach starring Rachel Zegler and Sheryl Rubio, to name a few. Additionally, WV Entertainment is developing a reimagined Zorro series for ABC among other projects currently in various stages of production.

Madrigal and Valderrama, as multihyphenate powerhouses in Hollywood, find synergy in their dedication to bringing Latino stories to the forefront. Madrigal currently stars in NBC’s Lopez Vs. Lopez, the only network series featuring a Latino family, alongside George Lopez, Mayan Lopez and Selenis Leyva. As a producer, he also has various projects in development yet to be announced. Previously, he created the comic book series Primos and starred in multiple film and TV projects.

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