Disney Releases Teaser Trailer for Rosario Dawson’s “Haunted Mansion”

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson is ready to thrill…

Disney has released the teaser trailer for Haunted Mansion, its theme park attraction-turned-creepy comedy adventure film starring the 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist.

Justin Simien directs a cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Dawson, Chase W. Dillon and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto. Kate Dippold wrote the script.

The plot centers on a woman (Dawson) and her son (Dillon) who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

The opening shot of the trailer and some hat(box)-tips inside the house will be familiar to all who have been to Disneyland, and the comic-fright balance seems right especially thanks to the vibe put out by Stanfield and Wilson, with Roy Orbison’s “House Without Windows” playing in the background.

Simien introduced the film originally last summer at Comic-Con, where fans saw a fuller trailer for the film based on the ride that debuted at Disneyland in 1969 with characters including Madame Leota, the skeletal Bride and the cloaked Hatbox Ghost. Eddie Murphy starred in a 2003 movie version.

“For me, there was something about that ride I felt was there in the [new] script,” said Simien, who worked at Disneyland one summer and said Haunted Mansion was his favorite ride. “It was funny and full of interesting characters, but with a dark edge to it. I just related to it. It felt I knew how to make it. I love New Orleans and I felt I had a responsibility here to make sure all the little Easter eggs are there.”

Haunted Mansion will hit theaters on July 28.

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Star in Prime Video’s Holiday Comedy “Candy Cane Lane”

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is getting into the Christmas holiday season way early…

The 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress and comedian has joined the cast of Prime Video’s holiday comedy Candy Cane Lane.

Johnson-Reyes is among a list of new cast additions that includes Ken Marino and D.C. Young Fly.

They join previously announced cast members Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Robin Thede, Chris Redd and Danielle Pinnock.

Reginald Hudlin directs off a script by Kelly Younger, inspired by his own childhood holiday experiences.

Story details are being kept under wraps.

The movie is shooting in Los Angeles and a part of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The film will stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide and marks the first film falling under Murphy’s three-picture and first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.

Johnson-Reyes has six comedy specials streaming on various platforms. Additionally, she has guest starred on shows like Life & Beth, Superstore, The Shield, Ugly Betty and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Her film credits include Enough Said, Our Family Wedding, and Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

La La Anthony to Star Opposite Jonah Hill in New Untitled Netflix Comedy Film

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

La La Anthony is preparing to bring the funny…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican television personality, author, businesswoman, producer and actress has been cast in a new untitled Netflix comedy starring Jonah Hill, with Kenya Barris directing.

Anthony is among a list of new cast additions that includes Travis Bennett, Andrea Savage, Rhea Perlman and Deon Cole.

They join an ensemble that already includes Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sam Jay, Molly Gordon, David Duchovny and Nia Long.

The film follows a new couple (Hill and London) and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences.

Anthony’s previous credits include Two Can Play That Game, You Got Served, Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man 2.

George Lopez to Take Part in Comedy Fundraiser for Feeding America

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

George Lopez is helping to feed America…

The 59-year-old Mexican American comedian and actor will take part in the Byron Allen-driven comedy fundraiser for Feeding America.

The fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 10 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET, with NBCbroadcasting the show.

In addition to Lopez, the program will include participation from Sebastian Maniscalco, JB Smoove, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Cedric the Entertainer, Whitney Cummings, Jim Gaffigan, Brad Garrett, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin James, Sarah Silverman and Kenan Thompson.

Others taking part include Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Marlon Wayans, Howie Mandel, Tiffany Haddish, Brad Garrett, Taraji P. Henson, Louie Anderson, Margaret Cho, Kenan Thompson, Marc Maron, Jon Lovitz, Caroline Rhea, Byron Allen, Billy Gardell, Tim Meadows, Jamie Kennedy, Bill Engvalland Sheryl Underwood.

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group television production division Entertainment Studios and Funny or Die will be producing the live-streaming comedy event.

The fundraiser will support the hunger-relief organization Feeding America.

Additionally, the event will livestream on the Allen Media Group TV networks Comedy.TV and The Weather Channel, as well as on the free streaming service app Local Now.

Pre-recorded comedy segments will be featured during the three-hour event. Committed to appearing are Hart, Sandler, Murphy, Rock, etc.

Allen, founder/chair/CEO of Entertainment Studios/Allen Media Group, said the benefit will help hungry people who are straining the resources of the nation’s food banks during the pandemic shutdown.

“Laughter is often the best medicine, and we are extremely motivated to bring attention to issues of food insecurity, and to assist in providing meals to families across the country who are financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said Wednesday.

“The coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn it has created is shining a light on the fragile nature of people’s household budgets,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks. “Millions more of our neighbors are turning to food banks for help and we cannot thank Byron Allen and Allen Media Group enough for their support to raise funds and awareness of our work.”

Melissa Villaseñor to Appear in Saturday Night Live’s Second At-Home Episode

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Villaseñor will be bringing the laughs once again from the comfort of her home…

Saturday Night Live will air its second at-home episode on April 25, featuring the 32-year-old Mexican American comedian/actress.

The episode was announced Thursday on the show’s Twitter feed, accompanied by a video of the cast joining in a video conference call.

Saturday’s edition of the show will be the second one produced remotely, with cast members all filming sketches from their homes.

The first, which aired April 11, pulled in SNL‘s second-best same day ratings of the season, trailing only the Eddie Murphy-hosted installment in December.

Tom Hanksserved as the nominal host for the episode, introducing the show from his kitchen and returning to wrap up the episode. He didn’t take part in any sketches.

Chris Martinwas the musical guest, performing in front of a hand-drawn backdrop mimicking the SNL stage.

No host or musical guest information for Saturday’s edition was available at publication time.

Melissa Villaseñor to Guest Star on Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Melissa Villaseñor is ready to ride shotgun…

The 31-year-old actress, stand-up comedian, impressionist and Saturday Night Live cast member is set to guest star on the new season of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

The series, created and executive produced by Seinfeld, features vintage cars, funny conversations and a lot of caffeine as Jerry picks up each guest in a special car.

In addition to Villaseñor, SNL’s first Latina cast member, other guest stars for the new season include Martin Short, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Sebastian Maniscalco, Mario Joyner, Bridget Everettand Barry Marder.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Season 11 premieres July 19 on Netflix.

Louis C.K. Added to the Lineup for SiriusXM Comedy Greats

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. will be hitting the radiowaves…

The 47-year-old Mexican American comedian and actor has been added to the lineup for SiriusXM Comedy Greats, a new channel from the satellite radio company that will broadcast comedy 24/7 for the first time, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In addition to Louis C.K., who recently earned six Emmy nominations, Jerry Seinfeld, Lewis Black, Amy Schumer, George Carlin, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart, Bill Maher, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers are also noted as some of more than a hundred notable comics of past and present that will be showcased on air.

The new channel will also feature regular countdown takeovers, hosted by guests like Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan and Ed Helms, who will discuss their personal favorites and professional influences.

Additionally, Dan Akyroyd, Adam Carolla, Cedric the Entertainer, Bill Hader, George Lopez, Howie Mandel, Marc Maron and Russell Brand will share vignette-like stories about comedians who have changed their lives.

SiriusXM Comedy Greats will launch Aug. 13, with a special hosted by Jim Norton, in which he counts down the top 50 comedy greats of all time (selected by listeners and the SiriusXM comedy team). It’s available on channel 94, as well as online, on demand and through the SiriusXM app.

Lopez to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Academy Awards Ceremony

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez has a date with Oscar…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and American Idol judge has been added to the list of presenters for this year’s Academy Awards show.

Lopez, rose to acclaim after starring in Selena, has more than 25 films to her credit.

She joins a roster that includes the following new additons: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy and Margot Robbie.

Previously announced presenters include Zoë Saldaña and Jared Leto.

Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 87th ceremony, which will air live on ABC on Sunday, February 22, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Hayek Executive-Producing “The Cisco Kid” Reboot for CBS

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is looking to bring an iconic Latino character back to television…

CBS has put in development The Cisco Kid – a reimagining of the half-hour Western television series starring Duncan Renaldo in the title role – with the 46-year-old Mexican actress, director and producer and X-Men’s Lauren Shuler Donner executive producing the project.

The Cisco Kid, written by Diego Gutierrez, is being hailed as a modern day retelling of the classic story of a handsome outlaw and his faithful sidekick similar to Lethal Weapon. It follows Cisco as he returns to Los Angeles after serving several tours as a Marine in Afghanistan.

After witnessing the murder of his father, Cisco and his best friend/fellow Marine, Sam, team up to solve the case and subsequently find themselves doing what the authorities can’t — defending the city’s oppressed and disenfranchised.

First introduced in O. Henry’s 1907 short story The Caballero’s Way, the Cisco Kid became a fixture of 20th century pop culture — a rare achievement for a Latino character. The character went on to headline more than a dozen movies, beginning with the 1914 silent film The Caballero’s Way and most recently a 1994 TV movie starring Jimmy Smits as Cisco and Cheech Marin as his sidekick Pancho. The role won an Academy Award for Warner Baxter, who played Cisco in several movies. The Cisco character also spawned radio shows, comic books as well as an oft-covered song by War. On television, The Cisco Kid syndicated series starring Renaldo ran from 1950-56.

In its quest to create Latino-themed projects, CBS – the network behind the drama series Cane and comedy Rob, decided to place its bets on this fourth high-profile reboot at the network this season. CBS also has reboots of Beverly Hills Cop from Shawn Ryan and Eddie Murphy, the Vince Vaughn-produced The Brady Bunch, and Have Gun, Will Travel from David Mamet.

Hayek’s production company Ventanarosa co-produced the ABC dramedy Ugly Betty as part of its goal to develop, produce and acquire mainstream projects that either draw on Latin themes or feature Latin talent, both in front of and behind the camera. In features, the company has produced films like Frida. In addition, she’s developing The Prophet, an animated adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s book, which has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

Garcia to Star in VH!’s “Hollywood Exes” Reality Series

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Prince’s ex-wife Mayte Garcia is about to get real…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican-Egyptian dancer and singer, who was married to Prince from 1996-2000, will star on VH1’s tentatively titled Hollywood Exes, alongside Nicole Murphy (formerly Mrs. Eddie Murphy), Jessica Canseco (formerly Mrs. Jose Canseco), Sheree Fletcher (formerly Mrs. Will Smith) and Andrea Kelly (formerly Mrs. R Kelly).

“These extraordinarily strong women adjusted to and endured a lot while their ex-spouses won fame and fortune defining pop culture for that moment,” said Jeff Olde, VH1’s EVP original programming and production.

He continued, “Now these women must re-invent themselves again, stepping out of the long shadows cast by their famous husbands and supporting each other as they define the next stage of their lives – this time on their own terms.”

Hollywood Exes sets out to peel back the curtain on Cinderella tales gone wrong. These five women in particular have been friends for several years and are looking to make a name for themselves outside of their famous exes.

Garcia choreographed Britney Spears’ belly dancing routines for her “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video and performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. She’s also guest starred on several TV series, including Psych, The Closer, Las Vegas, Nip/Tuck and Army Wives.

The unscripted hour-long series, which been granted a 10 episode order by the pop culture-themed network, is set to bow on VH1 this summer.

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