NBC Moves Up Dacosta’s “Chicago Med” Premiere to Fall

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Yaya Dacosta’s new series is headed to television sooner than expected…

NBC is tweaking its fall schedule, replacing the new medical drama Heartbreaker with the 32-year-old part-Brazilian American actress’ new series Chicago Med.

The network had announced a fall 2015 Tuesday lineup consisting of The Voice leading to Heartbreaker and new variety show Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, to be succeeded by NBC Tuesday 10 PM anchor Chicago Fire in November, when Best Time Ever’s run ends.

Chicago Med, which originated as a planted spinoff episode of Chicago Fire this past season, was previously slated for a midseason launch but will now debut in September behind The Voice. Starting in November, it will form a Chicago 9-11 PM block, paired with the franchise’s mothership series.

The scheduling change stems from the pregnancy of Heartbreaker star Melissa George, who is expecting her second child.

Both Heartbreaker and Chicago Med will start production in mid-summer, but Heartbreaker will then go on hiatus to accommodate George’s pregnancy.

Dick Wolf’s Chicago Med is described as an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital.

Chicago Med also stars Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurie Holden and Nick Gehlfuss.

DaCosta to Star in NBC’s “Chicago Fire” Spinoff “Chicago Med”

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Yaya DaCosta is ready to go on call…

The 32-year-old part-Brazilian American actress, who recently portrayed Whitney Houston in the Lifetime biopic about the late singer, is set to star in NBC’s Chicago Med, the proposed ensemble medical drama spinoff from Chicago Fire.

DaCosta and the other cast members of the potential spinoff will be introduced in Episode 19 of Chicago Fire this season.

DaCosta will play Maggie Seaver (formerly Emily Sexton), an attractive nurse who begins to date Chicago Fire‘s Kelly (Taylor Kinney), with whom she has a history dating back to high school.

Like with Chicago PD, which also started as a planted spinoff from Chicago Fire, the Chicago Med episode is conceived/written by Chicago Fire creators/executive producers Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, executive producer Matt Olmstead and executive producer Dick Wolf, whose company Wolf Films produces the Chicago Fire/Chicago PD franchise for Universal Television.

“There will be an event that brings Chicago Med within Chicago Fire,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt said at TCA last month.

DaCosta, who had been sought for pilots after following her breakout role as Whitney Houston, also appeared in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. She is with Gersh.

Seda’s “Chicago PD” Renewed for a Second Season

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Jon Seda will serve and protect another season…

NBC has given an early renewal to freshman drama series Chicago PD, which stars the 43-year-old Puerto Rican actor as Detective Antonio Dawson, an Intelligence Unit detective.

Chicago PD, which also stars Sophia Bush and Jason Beghe, is a spin-off of the network’s popular drama Chicago Fire.

The series, shot entirely in Chicago, focuses on uniformed police patrol officers and the Intelligence Unit that pursues the perpetrators of the city’s major street offenses.

Chicago PD premiered on January 8, 2014 to 11 million viewers. It’s currently averaging 12.04 viewers per episode.

Shahi to Host “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014” Special

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Sarah Shahi has landed a super (bowl) sized commercial gig…

The 34-year-old half-Spanish actress will co-host Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014 with CBS sports analyst Boomer Esiason.

The special is an interactive countdown special where viewers will be able to vote LIVE on CBS.com for their favorite Super Bowl Commercials.

Beginning today, viewers will get to vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercials from 10 categories (Office, User-Generated, Sexy, Beer, Crazy, Kids, Celebrity, Car, Animal and Soft Drink) and they will go head-to-head on www.cbs.com/superbowl/commercials/, where fans will be able to vote to determine the top three Super Bowl commercials. Those top three will advance to the live vote during the broadcast, when viewers will decide the outcome and the winner will be revealed at the end of the show.

Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2014 will air on Wednesday, January 29 at 8:00 pm ET on CBS.

The winner will be revealed at the end of the show.

Shahi currently stars on CBS’ Person of Interest. The former NFL cheerleader’s other roles include Fairly Legal, The L Word, Alias and Chicago Fire.

Evangelista Lands Recurring Role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire”

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Christine Evangelista’s career is catching fire…

The actress has landed a recurring role on NBC’s firefighter drama Chicago Fire.

Evangelista, who most recently starred on ABC’s short-lived series Lucky 7, will portray Allison Rafferty, a new paramedic at 51, a firecracker who gives as good as she gets and knows what she’s doing when the bells go off.

Evangelista’s other credits include appearances on 666 Park Avenue, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Royal Pains and White Collar.

Olivo Cast as Jon Seda’s Wife on NBC’s “Chicago PD”

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

America Olivo is headed to the small screen in one of this season’s most anticipated spinoffs…

The 35-year-old part Chilean and part Spanish/Basque actress, singer and model has joined the cast of NBC’s midseason drama Chicago PD, a spinoff of the hit series Chicago Fire.

Olivo will recur as Laura Dawson, a businesswoman and the wife of Antonio Dawson (portrayed by Jon Seda).

Olivo, best known as a member of the band Soluna, has previously starred on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Warehouse 13, Friday the 13th and the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.

Seda to Star on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” Spinoff “Chicago PD”

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jon Seda is switching sides…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actor will be starring in NBC’s Chicago Fire spinoff series Chicago PD.

Seda, who appeared in seven episodes as Chicago Police Department detective Antonio Dawson, will be joined by Sophia Bush, Patrick Flueger, Jesse Lee Soffer and Jason Beghe on the spinoff.

The NBC midseason drama will center on the workings of the Chicago police department’s investigative team.

Seda, best known for portraying Detective Paul Falsone on NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street, has appeared on Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Treme, The Closer and Hawaii Five-O.

Raymund Earns Best Actress/Television Prize at the Imagen Awards

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Raymund has a brand new imagen…

The 27-year-old half-Dominican American actress has earned her first-ever Imagen Award.

Raymund was named Best Actress/Television for her portrayal of paramedic Gabriela Dawson on the NBC drama Chicago Fire.

Her previous television credits include roles on Lie to Me and The Good Wife.

But Raymund wasn’t the only first-time winner…

Jon Huertas picked up the award for Best Actor/Television for his role on ABC’s Castle, which was named Best Primetime Television Program.

The awards, which honor and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in film, television and the internet, are doled out by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders.

Here’s a look at the complete list of winners:

Best Primetime Television Program: Castle (ABC Studios)

Best Primetime Program, Special or Movie-of-the-Week: We Love Jenni Special (Blank Paige Productions/mun2)

Best Actor/Television: Jon Huertas, Castle (ABC)

Best Actress/Television: Monica Raymund, Chicago Fire (NBC)

Best Supporting Actor/Television: Carlos Gómez, The Glades (A&E)

Best Supporting Actress/Television: Constance Marie, Switched at Birth (ABC Family)

Best Young Actress/Television: Raini Rodriguez, Austin & Ally (Disney Channel)

Best Children’s Programming: Handy Manny (Nelvana/Disney Channel)

Best Documentary/Film or Television: Harvest of Empire (Onyx Films/ EVS Communications/ Loquito Productions)

Best National Informational Program: Oprah’s Next Chapter (Harpo Studios)

Best Local Informational Program: Vista L.A. (ABC7/Los Angeles, California)

Best On-Air Advertising: Univision Educate! – De Pandilleros a Panaderos (Univision)

Best Variety or Reality Show: 24/7 Chavez Jr./Martinez (HBO Sports)

Best Feature Film: Bless Me, Ultima (Monkey Hill Films/Gran Via Productions/Monarch Pictures/Tenaja Productions)

Best Actor/Supporting Actor – Feature Film: Luke Ganalon, Bless Me, Ultima (Monkey Hill Films/Gran Via Productions/Monarch Pictures/Tenaja Productions)

Best Actress/Supporting Actress – Feature Film: Miriam Colon, Bless Me, Ultima (Monkey Hill Films/Gran Via Productions/Monarch Pictures/Tenaja Productions)

Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: POV: Sin Pais (American Documentary | POV)

Best Web Series, Drama: Caribe Road (Helu Films Entertainment)

Best Web Series, Comedy: Oh Noah! (Thirteen/WNET)

Best Web Series, Reality or Informational: Sin Vergüenza (Kavich Reynolds/Altamed)

Bocanegra Signs with MLS’ Chivas USA

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It didn’t take long for Carlos Bocanegra to land his next contract…

Following the news of his departure from the Scottish Premier League’s Rangers, the 34-year-old half-Mexican American soccer star has officially signed with Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA team.

Bocanegra – who spent last season with Spain’s Racing Santander, where he was on loan from the Rangers – will join the team in Philadelphia to prepare for its upcoming July 12 match against the Union.

The U.S. national team captain becomes eligible to play for Chivas USA on July 9, when the international transfer window opens.

”It feels really good to be coming back home,” said Bocanegra. ”I’ve been following MLS a lot more closely this year, and I got my start here in the league, so I’m excited to [be] seeing personally how much the league has grown.”

Chivas USA traded a first-round draft pick in 2014 and an international roster spot to Toronto FC, which owned the first shot at acquiring Bocanegra.

He’s played 116 games for the United States, including World Cups in 2006 and 2010. He began his professional career with the Chicago Fire and was 2000 MLS Rookie of the Year.

In January 2004, Bocanegra moved to Europe, joining English Premier League team Fulham, where he spent four years. He then went to France, playing for Rennes and Saint Etienne before joining Rangers.

Despite being sidelined for a month with a left hamstring injury suffered while on national team duty last November, Bocanegra became a solid defender for Racing, starting in all 23 games played for the Spanish team. The Rangers did not renew his contract when the loan ended, freeing Bocanegra to return to MLS.

Chivas USA currently has the league’s worst defense, allowing 31 goals while going 3-10-3, last in the Western Conference.

”I’m very excited to join the club,” said Bocanegra. ”I know it’s going to be a big challenge because the club hasn’t been getting the greatest results on the field, but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Bocanegra Leaving the Rangers, Eyeing Return to MLS

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Bocanegra is setting his sights on a return to the Major League Soccer…

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American soccer star, who was featured au naturel in ESPN’s The Body Issue last year, is a free agent after leaving the Scottish Premier League side Rangers.

Bocanegra, the former captain of the U.S. national team, spent the past season on loan to Racing Santander in Spain’s Segunda División after the Rangers were demoted to the fourth tier of the Scottish soccer league because of financial problems.

The Rangers announced on the team’s website Saturday that Bocanegra’s contract was mutually terminated a day earlier and said he is expected to return to the Major League Soccer. Toronto has the top slot in the allocation ranking and would have the first chance to add him to its roster if he agrees to an MLS contract, league spokesman Will Kuhns said.

Bocangra played for the Chicago Fire from 2000-04, then went on to Fulham (2004-08), Rennes (2008-10), Saint-Etienne (2010-11) and Rangers (2011-12).

Bocanegra has made 110 appearances for the U.S. and was the American captain at the 2010 World Cup. He has not played for the national team since November.

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