Héctor Elizondo to Appear on Second Season of CBS’ “B Positive”

Héctor Elizondo is staying positive…

The 84-year-old Puerto Rican and Spanish American actor will appear as a recurring character on the second season of Chuck Lorre’s B Positive.

Hector Elizondo

Created by former Mom co-executive producer Marco Pennette inspired by personal experience, B Positiveis about a therapist and newly divorced dad (Thomas Middleditch) who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past (Annaleigh Ashford) who volunteers her own. Together they form an unlikely bond and begin a journey that will change both of their lives. Izzy G, Sara Rue, Kether Donohue and Terrence Terrell co-star.

Lorre, who serves as executive producer, highlighted several big changes that will be happening in the new season. “Having donated a kidney and saved a man’s life, Gina (Ashford) has learned that happiness is in the giving, not the getting,” said Lorre. “She puts this principle to work by trying to improve the lives of the elderly residents of Valley Hills, the assisted living facility where she’s been working. In the meantime, Drew (Middleditch) is struggling with a strange new feeling. Post-surgery, he’s convinced he’s in love with Gina. It’s complicated.”

Elizondo recurs as Harry, a gruff, no-nonsense resident at Valley Hills, fighting to keep his terminally-ill wife, Meredith, comfortable.

Fox to Air Series Finale of Hector Elizondo’s Long-Running Series “Last Man Standing” in May

Hector Elizondo is ready for his last hurrah…

Fox has announced the series finale date for Last Man Standing, starring the 84-year-old Spanish-Puerto Rican actor.

Hector Elizondo

The hour-long series finale will air on Thursday, May 20 from 9:00 – 10:00 pm ET/PT on Fox.

In October, the network revealed that the Tim Allen-fronted sitcom will end with its ninth season.

Last Man Standing stars Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, a happily married father of three daughters, who usually finds himself the odd man out in a home dominated by women.

In addition to Allen and Elizondo, the series also stars Nancy Travis, Vanessa Baxter, Amanda Fuller, Kristin Baxter, Molly McCook, Mandy BaxterAnderson, Christoph Sanders, Kyle Anderson, Jordan Masterson, Ryan Vogelson, Jonathan Adams, Chuck Larabee, Krista Marie Yu.

Roadside Attractions Acquires North American Rights to Rita Moreno’s Documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It”

Rita Moreno is ready to bring her life story to America…

Roadside Attractions has acquired North American distribution rights to the 2021 Sundance Film Festival documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It, about the 89-year-old Latina living legend.

Rita MorenoA release is planned for June 18.

Roadside’s deal excludes the television license to PBSAmerican Masters, which will present the exclusive U.S. broadcast premiere of the doc after it hits theaters.

In addition to Moreno, others featured in the Mariem Pérez Riera-directed doc include George Chakiris, Héctor Elizondo, Gloria Estefan, Tom Fontana, Morgan Freeman, Mitzi Gaynor, Whoopi Goldberg, Norman Lear, Eva Longoria, Justina Machado, Terrence McNally, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo.

The film covers Moreno’s 70-year-plus career rise and struggles, from her beginnings in poverty on a Puerto Rican farm to becoming a rare EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscars, Tony Awards) winner.

She’s the first Latina actress to win an Oscar (for her role as Anita in 1961’s West Side Story). Despite the win, studios continued to offer Moreno lesser roles as stereotypical ethnic minorities, ignoring her proven talent.

“Roadside Attractions, I’m so pleased for your commitment to my story and especially for making it available to a broader audience. Curtain Up!,” Moreno commented.

“Stars like Rita are few and far between, her showbiz story and personal remembrances resonate for a large, diverse audience, and the heights she continues to achieve are a true crowd pleasing uplift after the year we’ve all had,” said Roadside co-presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff.

“Rita is an incredible inspiration to so many, hers is a success story for all women who feel alone as they struggle to assert themselves with courage and bravery against heavy odds,” offered director Pérez Riera. “We are so thrilled to bring Rita to theaters for audiences to spend time with a woman who, when speaking about herself, speaks to and for a lot of us.”

“There were only a small group of distributors we hoped would take notice at Sundance. Roadside was at the top of that list,” said film’s producer, ACT III’s Brent Miller and EP Norman Lear. “We think we’re in great hands with Howard and Eric at the helm and couldn’t be more excited for the world to know the Rita we now know and love.”

American Masters Pictures and Act III Productions in association with Artemis Rising and Maramar Films are producers.

Hector Elizondo to Star in NBC’s Comedy Pilot “Guess Who Died”

Hector Elizondo is preparing for Senior living…

The 81-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been cast as one of the leads in NBC’s single-camera comedy pilot Guess Who Died.

Hector Elizondo

Elizondo will star opposite Holland Taylor in the project, which hails from Norman Lear and Peter Tolan.

NBC has given the project has a pilot production commitment.

From Sony Pictures Television, Guess Who Died is based on Lear’s personal experiences. It’s described as a humorous and inspiring look at the shared joys and challenges we all experience at any stage of life.

The comedy is set in the Las Esperanzado Senior Community in Palm Springs. It centers on Murray (Elizondo), a retired music executive who is positive and upbeat with sparkling eyes and a keen, sharp and wonderful sense of humor. After the death of his beloved wife, he realizes he’s fallen in love with his sister-in-law, Patricia, a former American Airlines flight attendant, who can be a little too proper at times, but she’s sharp as a tack with a great sense of humor.

Elizondo, the voice of Fiero on Disney’s Elena of Avalor, most recently starred on ABC’s popular comedy series Last Man Standing, which had a successful six-season run on the network. His other credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Cane and Chicago Hope.

Trailer Released for Saldaña’s CGI Romantic Comedy “The Book of Life”

It’s the Day of (the Dead) reckoningfor Zoe Saldaña

The first trailer for 20th Century Fox and Reel FX’s The Book of Life, featuring the voice of the 35-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress, has been released.

The Book of Life

Saldaña voice the character of Maria in the Guillermo del Toro-produced film, which isdescribed as the journey of Manolo (voiced by Diego Luna), a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds, where he must face his greatest fears.

In addition to Saldaña and Luna, the voice cast also includesKate del Castillo as La Muerte, Cheech Marin, Héctor Elizondo, Plácido Domingo, Ana de la Reguera, Eugenio Derbez and Danny Trejo.

The CGI romantic comedy, which is set during the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead, is directed by El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera creator Jorge Gutierrez. It was co-written by Gutierrez and Disney veteran Doug Langdale.

The Book of Life is scheduled to hit theaters on October 17.

Saldaña Joins the Voice Cast of Guillermo del Toro’s Animated Film “Book of Life”

Zoë Saldaña will be sharing the Book of Life with moviegoers…

The 35-year-old Dominican and Cuban American actress has joined the voice cast of 20th Century Fox Animation‘s Book of Life, which is being produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Mexican animator and filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez.

Zoe Saldana

Originally titled Day of the Dead, after the famous Mexican celebration, the movie’s title is now Book of Life.

Guiterrez’s credits include Nickelodeon‘s award-winning animated television series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera.

Along with Saldaña, the voice cast includes Channing Tatum, Diego Luna, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo and Ron Perlman, along with Cheech Marin, Hector Elizondo, Placido Domingo, Ana de la Reguera (Nacho Libre, Eastbound and Down), Eugenio Derbez (Instructions Not Included), comedian Gabriel Iglesias (Stand-up Revolution) and Danny Trejo.

Fox will open the film in October 2014.

Elizondo’s “Last Man Standing” Extended…

Well, color me happy! It looks like you’ll be seeing more of Hector Elizondo on television this season…

ABC has ordered two more episodes the new comedy series Last Man Standing, which stars the 75-year-old actor as Ed Alzate, Mike’s boss (Tim Allen).

Hector Elizondo

That brings the total episode count for the multi-camera family comedy to 24, which airs on Tuesday nights.

The series has averaged 10.6 million viewers and a 3.1 rating/9 share in adults 18-49.