Riva Cast in NBC’s Comedy Pilot “The Gates”

Diana Maria Riva is crashing the gates

The 43-year-old Latina actress, who appeared in Mel Gibson’s What Women Want, has been cast in the NBC comedy pilot The Gates, a project from 20th Century Fox Television and Kapital Entertainment.

Diana Maria Riva II

The Gates, written by Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith, is based on the British series. It’s an adult ensemble comedy set at the front gates of an elementary school drop-off and revolves around the parents, school staff and 15-minute social minefield they have to navigate at the beginning and end of each school day.

The show centers on the type-A Helen, who just moved to town with her husband Mark and their eight year-old daughter for Helen’s big new job – the VP of Product Development at Williams-Sonoma.

Riva, who most recently starred in CBS’ short-lived series iRob!, will play Lindsay, the head of the PTA who is very easily pissed off.

Riva’s television credits include appearances on The Drew Carey Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, CSI, Less Than Perfect and Castle.

Derbez Ready to Make English-Language TV Debut in iRob!

Eugenio Derbez is ready for his close-up on English-language television in the States after hosting the Latin Grammys and starring in the critically acclaimed indie film La Misma Luna opposite Kate del Castillo.

The 49-year-old Mexican comedian/actor, who currently appears as a Mexican gardener in Adam Sandler’s latest film Jack & Jill, will be making his U.S. television debut in Rob Schneider’s new CBS sitcom, ¡Rob!

Eugenio Derbez

“[¡Rob! is going to be] a really, really funny series!” says Derbez, who made his television debut at the age of 12 as an extra in a telenovela. “Remember the movie Meet the Parents? Well this is like, Meet the Mexicans!”

iRob! stars Schneider as a bachelor who marries into an extremely tight-knit Mexican-American family.

In addition to Derbez, the show will star Cheech Marin, Diana Maria Riva and Lupe Ontiveros as the Deuce Bigalow star’s in-laws.

“There’s this culture clash when they arrive,” adds Derbez. “It’s a really funny situation.”

Several episodes of the half-hour comedy have already been filmed and the network plans to debut the show in mid-January.

But Derbez isn’t putting all his acting huevos in one basket. He’s set to costar with Eva Mendes, Espinoza Paz and Raini Rodriguez in the upcoming movie Girl in Progress.