Shakira Barrera Signs with Innovative Artists for Representation

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira Barrera is ready to innovate…

The 34-year-old Nicaraguan American actress has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.

The actress, dancer, producer and humanitarian is best known for her breakout role in Netflix’s G.L.O.W. as Yolanda Rivas, a lady wrestler.

Most recently, she starred as First Officer Jensen Corbyt in Star Wars: Ahsoka opposite Rosario Dawson and in the series regular role of Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age, in Greg Garcia’s Sprung from Prime Video alongside Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton.

Her upcoming projects include a guest-starring role on HBO’s Hacks and a series regular role on Marvel’s Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos.

Her additional TV credits include Showtime’s Shameless, TNT’s Animal Kingdom, Netflix’s It’s Bruno! and OWN’s All Rise for Season 3.

Most recently, Barrera has been producing and creating projects of her own.

In addition to acting and producing, she is a global ambassador for the Nicaraguan Human Rights Alliance, helping immigrants coming from Central America and is also an ambassador for the non-profit, “Project SchoolHouse,” building permanent water structures in Nicaragua.

Shakira Barrera to Star in Greg Garcia’s IMDb TV Comedy “Sprung”

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira Barrera has sprung…

The Nicaraguan-American actress/dancer and former GLOW star has joined the cast of Sprung, IMDb TV’s new single-camera comedy from My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and The Guest Book creator Greg Garcia, 3 Arts and Amazon Studios.

Barrera joins a list of new cast additions that includes James Earl and newcomer Clare Gillies.

Barrera, Earl and Gillies join previous cast Garret Dillahunt, Illeana Douglas and Philip Garcia in the project, which follows an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good,

Sprung follows Jack (Dillahunt), a convicted criminal who is determined to change course and reclaim his lost years after serving more than two decades in prison. With no place to live post-release, and a global pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, Jack moves in with his former cellmate Rooster (Garcia), Rooster’s mom Barb (Douglas) and Jack’s former prison girlfriend Gloria. Bound by their marred past and unusual living circumstances, they decide to start righting some of society’s wrongs, targeting those people selfishly taking advantage of others during the pandemic.

Barrera will play Gloria, a college-educated scam artist who discovered her love for conning people at a young age.

Outside of acting, Barrera serves as a goodwill ambassador for organizations that specialize in humanitarian aid in Nicaragua.

Phillip Garcia to Star in Greg Garcia’s IMDb TV Comedy Series “Sprung”

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Phillip Garcia is getting sprung…

IMDb TV, Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming service, has given a formal series green light to Sprung, starring the Latino actor.

The single-camera comedy hails from My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and The Guest Book creator Greg Garcia, 3 Arts and Amazon Studios.

Sprung, centered on an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people who band together to use their criminal expertise for good, will also star Garret Dillahunt and Illeana Douglas.

Sprung follows Jack (Dillahunt), a convicted criminal who is determined to change course and reclaim his lost years after serving more than two decades in prison. With no place to live post-release, and a global pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, Jack moves in with his former cellmate Rooster (Phillip Garcia), Rooster’s mom Barb (Douglas), and Jack’s former prison girlfriend Gloria. Bound by their marred past and unusual living circumstances, they decide to start righting some of society’s wrongs, targeting those people selfishly taking advantage of others during the pandemic.

“I couldn’t be more excited to start working with this talented cast and I’m very grateful to 3 Arts, Amazon Studios and IMDb TV for helping me bring this idea to life,” said Garcia. “The support and creative partnership with the folks at IMDb TV has been amazing and working with Garret Dillahunt again is an absolute treat. With any luck we’ll create something entertaining that gives the audience a few laughs and makes their day a little brighter.”

In conjunction with the pickup of Sprung, Garcia’s Emmy-winning NBC series My Name is Earl will join the IMDb TV library on May 1.

“I’m so proud of this show. Greg Garcia is one of the most talented people I know, and I feel so lucky to be working with him again,” said Dillahunt. “The world really needs a good laugh – and we’ve been working hard to that end.”

Phillip Garcia had notable guest starring roles in Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T. and Station 19.

Ortiz to Guest Star on TBS’ “The Guest Book”

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Ortiz has signed in…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor will guest star on TBS’ The Guest Book, the new 10-episode comedy series from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia.

The Guest Book emerged from Garcia’s habit of writing fictitious stories in the guest books of various rental cabins in an effort to freak out the next renters. Now he is bringing some of those stories to life on screen centering on the vacation home Froggy Cottage and its visitors. While the house and cast of characters living in this small mountain town remain the same, each episode will feature a different set of vacationing guests.

The anthology-style show, written by Garcia and executive produced by him and Alix Jaffe, will premiere in August.

It will star Kellie Martin (Army Wives), Charlie Robinson (Hart of Dixie), Aloma Wright (Suits), Carly Jibson (Broadway’s Hairspray), Lou Wilson (Tween Fest), Garret Dillahunt (The Mindy Project), Laura Bell Bundy (Scream Queens) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl).

Martin will play Officer Kimberly Leahy, who serves on the police force in the small mountain town of Mount Trace. Robinson is Wilfrid, an easygoing, friendly gentleman who manages a group of mountain rental cottages with his wife, Emma, played by recurring guest star Wright. Jibson is Vivian, a tough, strong-willed woman who runs a bikini bar called Chubbys with her stepson Frank, played by Wilson.

In addition to Ortiz, other guest stars include Danny Pudi (Community), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the new Black), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Michael Rapaport (Sully), Kate Micucci (Raising Hope), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Stockard Channing (The Good Wife), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), David Zayas (Gotham), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Margo Martindale (The Good Wife) and Stephnie Weir (The Comedians).

Garcia Teams Up for Television Projects for Fox and NBC

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia is doubling down…

The 42-year-old Latino television producer has teamed up with two more writers who worked on his most recent series, CBS’ The Millers — Austen Earl and Chadd Gindin — for new half-hour projects, Letters to Beyonce and The Pack, that have landed at NBC and Fox.

They join two comedy projects with The Millers writers Stephnie Weir and Bobby Bowman, which Garcia recently set up at CBS.

All four shows hail from CBS Television Studios, where Garcia’s company Amigos de Garcia Productions is based, with Garcia executive producing.

NBC’s Letters To Beyonce, written/executive produced by Earl, centers on an overweight, middle-aged schoolteacher who has lost pretty much everything and decides to reclaim her life by drawing inspiration from an unlikely hero.

Fox’s The Pack, written/executive produced by Gindin, centers on a millennial who escapes his sports-obsessed small town in Wisconsin to achieve his big-city dreams — only to end up becoming a regular at a Green Bay Packers bar in Manhattan where he’ll learn that who you’re rooting for is not nearly as important as who you’re rooting with.

Garcia Developing Two New Comedy Projects for CBS

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia has two chances to return to CBS…

The 45-year-old Mexican American television director, producer and writer has partnered with two writers who worked on his most recent series, CBS’ The Millers — Stephnie Weir and Bobby Bowman — for two new comedy projects at the network through CBS Television Studios, where Garcia’s company Amigos de Garcia Productions is based.

The untitled Weir multi-camera comedy, also known as Y’all in the Family, is set in Texas and centers on a conservative, small town family forced to reconcile their family values when they discover their children’s lives are less than perfect.

Weir will write the script and executive produce with Garcia. She served as a consulting producer on The Millers.

Meanwhile, How To Speak American, written by Bowman, is a hybrid comedy about a coddled millennial who teaches ESL to a variety of immigrants, who in turn, teach him about grit, courage and hustle.

Bowman and Garcia will executive produce. Bowman has a long history with Garcia. He has worked as co-executive producer/executive producer on all of Garcia’s series, Yes, Dear and The Millers on CBS, My Name Is Earl on NBC and Raising Hope on Fox.

Garcia won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2006 for penning the pilot episode of My Name is Earl.

Guerrero to Star in Greg Garcia’s CBS Comedy Pilot “Super Clyde”

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Diane Guerrero is preparing for super project…

The 28-year-old Colombian American actress has been cast opposite Charlie McDermott in Greg Garcia’s CBS comedy pilot Super Clyde.

From CBS Television Studios, the project follows a meek, unassuming fast-food worker (McDermott) who decides to become a super hero.

Guerrero, who stars in Orange Is The New Black and Jane The Virgin, will portray Maddy, Clyde’s (McDermott) very cute, smart and ambitious good friend.

Guerrero recently wrapped the female lead in feature Peter & John and also appeared in the Mike Young-directed pic My Man Is A Loser.

Garcia’s Comedy Project “Super Clyde” to Get Do-Over for CBS

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia’s super project is getting a new lease on life…

CBS has ordered a new version of the 44-year-old Latino television director, producer and writer’s 2013 comedy Super Clyde.

After abruptly cancelling Garcia’s most recent series The Millers midway through its second season, CBS has given the green light to Super Clyde.

Originally piloted in 2013, Super Clyde — about a meek, unassuming fast-food worker who finds his calling — had Harry Potter star Rupert Grint attached and was ultimately passed over for a series pickup in favor of The Millers.

CBS made the pilot available online in October 2013 after a request by Garcia.

Super Clyde will remain a multi-camera pilot and be written and exec produced by Garcia via his CBS Television Studios-based Amigos de Garcia banner. It’s unclear if any of the original cast, producers or director will return, though Garcia praised director Mike Fresco‘s work on the original.)

Garcia sold seven projects this season and focused his time developing other writers. After the cancellation of The Millers, he was suddenly available to take a new stab at Super Clyde.

Garcia’s credits include serving as the creator/executive producer of several long-running sitcoms, including Yes, Dear, My Name Is Earl and Raising Hope.

Garcia has also worked for the series Family Matters and as a consulting producer on Family Guy.

Garcia’s “The Barrio” Receives Script Commitment at ABC

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia is headed to the barrio…

The 44-year-old Latino television producer and Emmy-winning writer is expanding Amigos de Garcia’s portfolio with a Latino-themed comedy project at ABC.

Garcia’s single-camera comedy, written by Blue Mountain State co-creator Eric Falconer, has received a script commitment with penalty from the network.

Produced by CBS Television Studios and Garcia’s studio-based Amigos de Garcia, the untitled comedy, aka The Barrio, is loosely based on Falconer’s experience moving his family to East Los Angeles.

It centers on a television writer who, after losing his job, moves his family from Santa Monica to a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in East LA in order to save money. In doing so they experience culture shock but also discover a feeling of community in their new neighborhood that makes their family stronger.

Garcia and Falconer will executive produce The Barrio.

Garcia’s other television credits include Yes, Dear,My Name Is Earl, Raising Hope and The Millers.

Garcia Casts “Harry Potter” Star Rupert Grint in His CBS Pilot

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Greg Garcia’s latest project could draw a lot of attention from Harry Potter fans…

The 42-year-old Latino television series creator/producer has cast Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, as the title character in his CBS pilot Super Clyde.

The project, from CBS Television Studios, centers on Clyde (Grint), a meek, unassuming fast food worker who decides to become a super hero.

Mike Fresco will direct the pilot, as well as executive-produce with Garcia.

This marks the first series role for Grint, who will next be seen starring opposite Shia LaBeouf in The Necessary Death Of Charlie Countryman.

Garcia is the creator/executive producer of the Emmy-winning My Name Is Earl. He’s also the mastermind behind CBS’ Yes, Dear and Fox’s Raising Hope.

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