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

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

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.”

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

Peacock will present a Psych panel with creators Steve Franks and Chris Henze, as well as cast members James Roday, Dulé Hill, Kirsten 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 Machado, Rita 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 Mason. Audiences 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 Story, Sharp Objects, Utopia) creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Marti Noxon (Sharp Objects, Dietland, To 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 Village, The Good Lord Bird), with additional panelists to be announced soon.

ATX’s previously announced programming includes panels for Scrubs, Cougar Town, The Bold Type, Nancy Drew, New Amsterdam, P-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.

J.D. Pardo’s “Mayans M.C.” Earns Highest Rated Cable Series Premiere Honors

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

J.D. Pardo’s ridin’high…

After a solid Live+same daydebut, the 38-year-old Argentine and Salvadoran American actor’s series Mayans M.C., FX’s Sons of Anarchy spinoff, drew 2.5 million Adults 18-49, up+84% from Live+same day, 2.8 million Adults 25-54 and and 1 million Adults 18-34 in Live+3, making it the highest rated cable series premiere of 2018 in the key demos.

It was the highest-rated cable drama series premiere in Adults 18-49 since January 2016.

Overall, the L+3 audience for Mayans‘ premiere telecast was 4.6 million, up 82% from LSD. It was FX’s most-watched series premiere since the February 2016 record-breaking opener of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers.

While the L+SD ratings for the Mayans M.C. debut was in line with the Sons of Anarchy premiere on September 3, 2008 (even in total viewers and down a notch in 18-49, Mayans pulled up in L3, which is to be expected given the difference in popularity of delayed viewing in 2006 and 2016. Mayans was up +46% in Adults 18-49 (2.5 million vs. 1.7 million) and +64% in Total Viewers (4.6 million vs. 2.8 million) from the comparable SOA numbers.

In addition, 19% of the premiere audience for Mayans M.C., which features a predominantly Hispanic cast, was Hispanic — the highest composition of any FX Networks series premiere.

Mayans M.C. was cable’s most-watched program last Tuesday in all key Adult and Men demos as well as Total Viewers, and the most-watched program on TV, inclusive of broadcast, in Adults 18-34, Men 18-34, and Men 18-49.

Reyes Wins First-Ever Emmy at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Víctor Reyes has an extra special piece of hardware for his mantel…

The 54-year-old Spanish composer won his first-ever Emmy during the first night of the Television Academy’s the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Reyes picked up the award in the Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) category for his work on AMC’s The Night Manager.

In recent years, Reyes has enjoyed international success with scores for Buried, Red Lights and Grand Piano. The latter, a taut thriller starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack includes an original piano concerto written by the composer, which is integral to the plot of the film and received high praise from music critics.

Reyes also earned the 2002 Cinema Writers Circle Award (CEC) for The City With No Limits.

But Reyes isn’t the only Latino winner…

Dana Gonzales won his first Emmy in the Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series or Movie category. The Latino cinematographer earned the award for his work on the “Waiting for Dutch” episode of FX Network’s series Fargo

Meanwhile, Eddie Perez picked up his first-ever Emmy award in the Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Comedy Series or Variety Program category. The Latino stunt performer and actor won the award for his work on Showtime’s Shameless.

The first night of the two-night Creative Emmy Awards show was held at the Microsoft Theatre L.A. Live.

Gomez Co-Stars in “Vamps Boom” Music Video to Promote Season 3 of “The Strain”

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Gomez is vamping it up to promote The Strain…

The 30-year-old Colombian actor, who stars as Augustin “Gus” Elizalde on the FX series, has penned a song to promote Season 3.

The network has just released the music video for the song, entitled “Vamps Boom,” which was co-written by Gomez’s co-star Kevin Durand, with David Bradley’s rap written by executive producer Regina Corrado, a two-time WGA Award nominee.

“Vamps Rule” is billed by the cable net as “summer’s most infectious new beat”

The music video opens with executive producer Carlton Cuse and EP/helmer J. Miles Dale — who also directed the video — stretching their acting legs. It’s a behind-the-scenes discussion about how The Strain needs to separate itself from the small-screen pack, with a sneaky reference to the “too much TV” debate launched by FX Networks boss John Landgraf last summer. But how to be “distinctive”? The answer presents itself: “Take it to these mothersuckers!” There are writhing dancers, some bling, a call-and-response chorus and, of course, some interspersed clips from the horror series including a few neat bad-guy beheadings.

Season 3 of The Strain premieres on August 28 on FX.

Louis C.K.’s “Louie” Returning to FX in April for Season 5

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. is heading back to FX this spring.

The 47-year-old Mexican American actor/stand up comedian’s FX comedy series Louie will return to the small screen on Thursday, April 9 at 10:30 pm ET.

John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks, also confirms that the critically acclaimed show’s Season 5 will only span eight episodes, instead of the 13 and 14 of past seasons.

During the show’s run, Louis C.K. has won two Emmys for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for penning the show.

Additionally, FX has ordered Better Things, a comedy pilot created by Pamela Adlon (Louie) and directed by Louis C.K.

Adlon will star as Sam, a single mom who is trying to raise three girls while pursuing an acting career.

FX Renews Louis C.K.’s “Louie” for a Fifth Season

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. is still an FX man…

FX has been picked up the 46-year-old Mexican American actor/comedian’s critically acclaimed comedy series Louie for another season.

FX Networks and FX Productions CEO John Landgraf announced a seven-episode fifth season of Louie Monday, noting that the run is slated for spring 2015.

“Louie’s fourth season was once again groundbreaking,” said Landgraf. “Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking – always thought-provoking. The show went to narrative and cinematic places no comedy has gone before, and we look forward to seeing what Louis comes up with next.”

The latest round of Louie episodes earned five Emmy nominations — including outstanding comedy series, lead actor, writing, directing and casting. In 2012, it was the first basic cable series in history to score a best comedy nom.

After a two-year lapse between seasons three and four, one C.K. took because he said he wanted the show to feel new again, Louie most recently aired 14 new episodes. Those aired mostly back-to-back on the FX parent network even though many comedy offerings from the cable network are now shifting to spinoff FXX.

Louis C.K., Blair Breard and Dave Becky serve as executive producers on Louie.

Louis CK Inks Development Deal with FX Networks

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Louis CK may not be leaving FX anytime soon…

FX Networks has inked an overall deal with the 46-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor and his company Pig Newton to create and produce new programming.

Louis CK’s agreement is separate from the one the has with the network to produce his critically acclaimed comedy series Louie, which earned the network its first Primetime Emmy Awards nod for Outstanding Comedy Series.

The comedy series, which Louis CK created, returns for Season 4 in May 2014.

Under the new pact, Louis CK’s first, the future series will be created or supervised by the comedian, who would have the option to write or direct any of them and will executive produce.

“Working with Louis CK has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of my career,” said John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions. “So many incredibly talented artists want to work with Louis and follow down the independent and idiosyncratic creative trail he has blazed. I can’t wait to see who he brings through our door, not to mention any new projects that he wants to create for us.”

FX Orders 90 Additional Episodes of Sheen’s “Anger Management”

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Charlie Sheen is back in winning form…

Following its 10-episode summer run, the 46-year-old part-Spanish American actor’s FX comedy, Anger Management, has been granted a 90-episode order.

As part of the network’s deal with Lionsgate, Sheen’s comedy had to hit a certain undisclosed ratings threshold over the course of its run to move forward with 90 more episodes. During its first nine weeks on the air, the series delivered 4.53 million total viewers and 2.5 million in the coveted 18-49 demo. The final weeks took a ratings dive, possibly due to the London Games.

“We set a very high ratings bar that included some additional hurdles for Anger Management to earn its back-90 order, and the series met and exceed those metrics,” said FX Networks executive vice president Chuck Saftler at the time of the renewal. “[Showrunner] Bruce Helford has created a sitcom that works extremely well in our pre-10 p.m. programming lineup. Charlie Sheen and the entire cast did an amazing job in the first 10 episodes, which were produced in a very tight window. I have no doubt that the producers and cast will be able to pull off the Herculean task of producing 90 episodes over the next two years.”

The half-hour series, which co-stars Selma Blair and Shawnee Smith, reportedly sold at the highest CPM rates FX has seen for a first-year series. The studio has sold the series in Canada, Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia and Australia, among other territories, for roughly $600,000 an episode, more than what established sitcoms like Seinfeld and Sheen’s own Two and a Half Men commanded out of the gate.

As the series begins its back 90, Martin Sheen will reprise his role as Charlie’s father on the show. The elder Sheen, who has turned up in one episode already, is expected to appear in some 20 of the 90 episodes, says sources. As Landgraf sees it, the addition will make the series more of a “multigenerational family comedy,” much as Two and a Half Men once was with Sheen at the helm.

Meanwhile, Martin Sheen will reprise his role as Charlie’s father on the show. The elder Sheen, who has turned up in one episode already, is expected to appear in some 20 of the 90 episodes, say sources, which could make it more of a “multigenerational family comedy.”

Production is expected to resume on September 24, with new episodes premiering in January.

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