Leiomy Maldonado to Take Part in ATX Television Festival’s First-Ever Virtual Event, “ATX TV….From The Couch!”

Leiomy Maldonado is bringing something legendary to this year’s virtual edition of the ATX Television Festival.

The festival’s first ever virtual version, titled “ATX TV….From The Couch!,” will feature a special panel “Extravaganza” with the cast of HBO Max’s new reality voguing competition, Legemdary, including the 33-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model and ballroom dancer, aka “Wonder Woman of Vogue.”

Leiomy Maldonado

Maldonado serves as a judge on the new reality competition series, alongside Megan Thee StallionJameela Jamil and Law Roach.

Peacock will present a Psych panel with creators Steve Franks and Chris Henze, as well as cast members James RodayDulé HillKirsten Nelson, Maggie Lawson and Corbin Bernsen ahead of the premiere of Peacock’s second Psych movie, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home.

Other panels include a conversation with PopTV’s One Day at a Time including showrunner/executive producer/director/actor Gloria Calderón Kellett as well as cast members Justina MachadoRita Moreno, and Isabella Gomez

They’ll join viewers for an informal brunch conversation discussing the June 16 animated special, “The Politics Episode.”

There will also be a table read with the executive producers and cast of Search Party ahead of its debut on HBO Max.

The festival will feature the marquee panel conversation with the cast and creatives of HBO‘s reboot of Perry MasonAudiences will get a first look at the new gritty drama ahead of its June 21 premiere date. 

Hulu will also bring their original series Little Fires Everywhere to the fest with a special panel featuring the shows producers and writers.

FX Networks will present a Justified reunion with the show’sbehind the scenes team and stars Timothy Olyphant and Joelle Carter.

The fest will highlight the ways women support one another in television with a special “Torchlighters” panel, led by Pacesetter principal and executive producer Jessica Rhoades (Dirty John: The Betty Broderick StorySharp ObjectsUtopia) creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Marti Noxon (Sharp ObjectsDietlandTo the Bone), creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Tanya Saracho (Vida), Francesca Orsi (Executive Vice President and Head of Drama at HBO), writer Lindsey Villarreal (Vida) and writer Erika L Johnson (The VillageThe Good Lord Bird), with additional panelists to be announced soon.

ATX’s previously announced programming includes panels for ScrubsCougar TownThe Bold Type, Nancy Drew, New AmsterdamP-Valley and more. The ATX Television Festival will stream for free on ATX’s official YouTube channel, with an option for viewers to donate to fundraising efforts for​ Direct Relief and​ The Actors Fund ​in an effort to benefit those affected by COVID-19.

The event will take place June 5-7. Click here for the complete schedule.

Gloria Garayua to Star in the Psychological Thriller Drama Series “Reckoning”

It’s a day of Reckoning for Gloria Garayua

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actress has been in cast in the psychological thriller Reckoning, a 10-episode straight-to-series drama from David Hubbard, veteran showrunner David Eick and Sony Pictures Television Networks.

Gloria Garayua

Garayua joins a cast that includes Aden YoungSam Trammell, Simone Kessell, Laura Gordon, Mitzi Ruhlmann, Milly Alcock, Ed Oxenbould, Finn Little, Anthony Phelan and Diana Glenn.

Produced by PlaymakerReckoning began production this week in Sydney for premiere next year on SPTN’s international channels, including AXN, in select territories in Europe and Latin America.

Set in California, the 10-episode series is being filmed and wholly produced and post-produced in Australia. Sony Pictures Television Distribution will handle worldwide sales.

Written by Hubbard, who serves as showrunner with Eick, Reckoning explores the darkest corners of the human psyche through the eyes of two fathers, one of whom is a serial killer. Mike (Young) and Leo (Trammell) try to do what’s best for the people they love and the families they protect. But as both struggle to suppress their inner demons, the murder of a local teenager sets them on a course of mutual destruction that will emanate through every facet of their quiet, suburban community.

“Aden and Sam and the fantastic ensemble cast are crushing it in rehearsals,” said Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming and Production at Sony Pictures Television Networks. “We’re thrilled that production has started in beautiful Sydney.”

Reckoning is part of Sony Pictures Television Networks’ ramped up efforts in the original production arena. It follows the success of SPTN’s Absentia, a dramatic thriller starring Stana Katic and Patrick Heusinger, which originally was commissioned for AXN in 2017 and now is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and other territories.

Garayua’s previous credits include Six Feet UnderWeeds,The Shield,Grey’s Anatomy, Cougar Town and How to Get Away with Murder.

Gomez to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Living Biblically”

Ian Gomez is preaching new heights…

The 52-year-old Latino actor has been cast as a series regular role in CBS’ comedy pilot Living Biblically, from The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki, writer Patrick Walsh and Warner Bros. Television.

Ian Gomez

Based on A.J. Jacobs’ bestselling book The Year of Living Biblically, the project centers on a modern-day man at a crossroads in his life who decides to live according to the Bible.

Gomez will play Father Gene. A dryly funny priest at Chip’s (TBD) church, Father Gene is impressed by Chip’s determination, and they form an unlikely friendship when he helps him translate the rules of the Bible to a modern world.

Gomez is best known for his series-regular roles as Javier on Felicity and Andy on Cougar Town.

Gomez, who most recently recurred on the CW’s Supergirl, has guest-starred on The Real O’Neals, Angels from Hell and Drop Dead Diva.

Lima to Star in CW’s Superhero Series “Supergirl”

Floriana Lima has landed a Super-sized role…

The Latina actress has landed a series regular role on the CBS-turned-CW superhero series Supergirl.

Floriana Lima

Lima will portray Maggie Sawyer, a character inspired by the historic gay DC Comics character.

Created by John Byrne, Maggie was first introduced in 1987 as a captain of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit where she was a highly skilled member of the Science Police, the division of the police department that deals with metahumans.

Additionally, Maggie was revealed to be a lesbian in the Superman titles, making her one of the first openly characters in mainstream comics. She later went on to become romantically involved with another famous female superhero, Batwoman, in addition appearance in several Batman titles.

On the Warner Bros.-produced Supergirl, Maggie will be a detective for the National City Police Department who takes a special interest in the cases involving aliens.

Supergirl executive producer Greg Berlanti, who is also an EP on Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year about the importance of being all inclusive. His DC Comics shows have changed the ethnicity and sexuality of several iconic comic book characters to better reflect present day, like Supergirl‘s Jimmy Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Arrow‘s Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), respectively.

“I wanted to contemporize these comics that I loved growing up and have them reflect the society that we live in now,” Berlanti said. “It’s still about working in some of those very real qualities so that everyone feels represented.”

Maggie Sawyer is one of several famed DC Comics characters coming to Supergirl for season two. Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Hoechlin has been cast as Kara’s cousin Clark Kent aka Superman, and Cougar Town vet Ian Gomez will play journalist Snapper Carr. Additionally, former Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter is set to appear as the President of the United States.

The character of Maggie Sawyer previously appeared in several episodes of former CW series Smallville, as played by Jill Teed.

In addition to the ABC drama The Family, Lima’s credits include Allegiance and The Mob Doctor.

Supergirl‘s second season premieres on Monday, October 10 at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Longoria to Star in NBC Comedy “Telenovela”

Eva Longoria is heading back to the spotlight on the small screen…

NBC has given a 13-episode order to the 39-year-old Mexican American actress’ single-camera comedy Telenovela. 

Eva Longoria

It will mark Longoria’s first series starring role since Desperate Housewives.

Telenovela, set behind the scenes of a Spanish language telenovela, was guaranteed a 13-episode order if Longoria committed to star in the project and a pilot order if she didn’t.

Additionally, since Telenovela is set behind the scenes of a telenovela, NBC has had discussions with sister network Telemundo about doing 4-5-minute segments in Spanish that would be used to promote the NBC series to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Despite the straight-to-series 13-episode order, Telenovela will do a pilot.

NBC was one of two networks pursuing Longoria in a big way this development season. At ABC, there was a comedy from ABC Studios. It was fast-tracked as a script that will go to pilot with a 13-episode penalty for Longoria attached if she commits to star.

Longoria had been developing Telenovela through her Universal Television-based UnbeliEVAble at NBC for some time.

Written/executive produced by Cougar Town co-executive producers Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein, based on an idea by Longoria, it stars Longoria as the willful but popular diva Ana Maria, star of Latin America’s most beloved telenovela who strives to stay on top in a world where the drama on-camera is nothing compared to the drama off-camera.

Since the end of Desperate Housewives, Longoria had been focused on producing through her UnbeliEVAble banner.  She executive produces Lifetime’s Devious Maids and her company has sold nine projects this development season, including medical drama Critical at NBC and Texas political/family drama Pair of Aces at ABC.

Longoria Being Eyed for Starring Roles on Two Television Projects

Eva Longoria is ready to return to television…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actress, who became a household name as one of the stars of ABC’s hit dramedy Desperate Housewives, is looking to make her television comeback as the star of a half-hour, single-camera comedy series.

Eva Longoria

Two years after Desperate Housewives ended its eight-season run, Longoria has two projects in the works that could see her back on the small screen.

She’s been wooed by NBC for a project called Telenovela and for an untitled comedy at ABC. Originally, the script she was to choose would end up being the project going go to pilot.

But NBC stepped up in a big way, according to Deadline.com.

Telenovela, from Cougar Town co-executive producers Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein and Universal Television, will get a 13-episode order if Longoria commits to star and a pilot order if she doesn’t. The project is expected to hire a casting director shortly.

The project is set behind the scenes of a telenovela, and NBC is in discussions with sister network Telemundo to make episodes of the fictional telenovela that would air on the Spanish-language network.

NBC, which helped her launch her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which is based at Universal Television, already has several projects with her as a producer.

Meanwhile, Longoria is already an established player behind the scenes. In addition to serving as executive producer of Lifetime’s Devious Maids, she’s also set to executive produce the politically themed Latino family drama Pair of Aces.

TBS Renews Gomez’s “Cougar Town” for Sixth and Final Season

Ian Gomez is staying in Cougar Town one more season…

TBS has renewed Cougar Town, starring the 49-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor, for a sixth and final season, according to TVGuide.com.

Ian Gomez

The network has ordered a total of 13 episodes of the ensemble comedy, which will air in early 2015.

Set in the fictional town of Gulfhaven, Florida (nicknamed “Cougar Town” since its high school teams are the Cougars), the series focuses on a woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls, and rewards of life’s next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and wine-lovingfriends who together make up her dysfunctional, but supportive and caring extended family.

After starting on ABCCougar Town moved to TBS for its fourth season.

Along with Gomez, who portrays Andy on the show, the series also stars Courteney CoxChrista MillerBusy PhilippsDan ByrdJosh Hopkins and Brian Van Holt.

Gomez Cast in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Cuz-Bros”

Ian Gomez could soon be appearing on The Eye Network…

The 49-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has been cast in CBS’ multi-camera odd-couple-esque comedy pilot Cuz-Bros.

Ian Gomez

Toplined by Geoff Stults and Parker Young of Fox’s Enlisted, the projectcenters on Nick (Stults), a successful, suave ladies man working as a sportscaster for a local Los Angeles TV station. His perfect life gets turned on its head when his hot-mess-of-a-cousin Barry (Young) needs a place to stay.

Gomez will portray Phil, Nick’s boss at the TV station.

He is being cast as a guest star as he is in second position to Cougar Town, the way Stults and Young are to Enlisted, making Cuz-Bros a rare pilot where most of the primary cast are formally tied to other shows.

Cougar Town‘s fifth season ended its run several weeks ago, but TBS has yet to make a decision on a renewal.

Cuz-Bros was written by David Caspe and Erik Sommers.

Gomez’s “Cougar Town” to Return for a Fifth Season on TBS

Ian Gomez’s cougar days will continue for at least another season…

TBS has renewed Cougar Town, which stars the part-Puerto Rican actor, for a fifth season.

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The network saved the series from cancellation by taking it over from ABC for its current fourth season.

Cougar Town’s fifth season, which will air in 2014, will feature 13 episodes.

The ABC Studios-produced series, which airs Tuesdays at 10:00 pm, will have its season four finale on April 9.

Since its launch on the network January 8, the show has averaged 2.8 million viewers and 1.7 million adults 18-49  in the Live+7, ranking as TBS’ top original primetime series ever in total viewers and the demo. It also is drawing younger viewers than during its last season on ABC by a median age of 7 years.

Cougar Town has been everything we hoped it would be: a smart, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud comedy that shines a bright light on the TBS brand,” said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies.

Along with Gomez, who portrays the lovable Andy on Cougar Town, the series stars Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins and Brian Van Holt.

Cox and David Arquette also serve as executive producers on the show.