FX/Hulu Renew “The Bear,” Starring Liza Colón-Zayas, for Third Season

Liza Colón-Zayas is grin and bear-ing it!

FX/Hulu have ordered a third season of their acclaimed restaurant drama series The Bear, starring the 51-year-old Puerto Rican actress and playwright.

Liza Colón-Zayas,The series, which was created by Christopher Storer, stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto.

The first season of The Bear follows Carmy, a young chef from the fine-dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after his brother’s suicide. Carmy must balance the realities of small-business ownership, his strong-willed and recalcitrant kitchen staff and his strained familial relationships, all while grappling with the impact of his brother’s death.

Season two follows the gang as they transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot. As they stripped the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertook transformational journeys of their own, each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future.

Unsurprisingly, it turned out the only thing harder than running a restaurant was opening a new one, and the team had to juggle the insane bureaucracy of permits and contractors with the beauty and creative agony of menu planning. The transition brought a newfound focus on hospitality as well. As the entire staff was forced to come together in new ways, pushing the boundaries of their abilities and relationships, they also learned what it means to be in service, both to diners and each other.

In addition to Storer and Colon-Zayas, who portrays Tina, the series also stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott and Lionel Boyce.

Matty Matheson was also upped for season 2, while Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, Jon Bernthal, José Cervantes, Richard Esteras, Carmen Christopher, Chris Witaske, Joel McHale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gillian Jacobs, Robert Townsend, Molly Gordon, Alex Moffat, Ricky Staffieri, Mitra Jouhari and Maura Kidwell recur.

Storer executive produces alongside Joanna Calo, Hiro Murai, Josh Senior and Matheson. It is produced by FX Productions.

Season one, which premiered in June 2022, is currently nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series at the awards planned for January. The second season, which aired from June 2023, consisted of ten episodes, up from eight in season one. The episode order for season three has not been revealed.

The Bear, which wowed audiences in its first season only to achieve even greater heights in season two, has become a cultural phenomenon,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “We’re so proud to partner with Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, and the rest of the creative team, as well as the brilliant cast led by Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. What they and the crew have done is truly remarkable, and we and our partners at Hulu join fans in looking forward to the next chapter in the story of The Bear.

Stephanie Beatriz to Guest Star on Fox’s “Krapopolis”

It’s a krap shoot for Stephanie Beatriz.

The 42-year-old Colombian-Bolivian Argentine actress will guest star on Fox’s Krapopolis, the network’s long-awaited animated series premiering on September 24.

Stephanie BeatrizBeatriz will be joined by fellow guest stars Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Joel McHale, Dave Franco, Yvette Nicole Brown, Will Forte, Jane Lynch, Daveed Diggs, Steve Buscemi, David Cross, Keith David, Chris Hardwick, Tim Meadows, Bobby Moynihan, Jim Rash, Rob Riffle, Tim Robinson, Michael Urie, Alanna Ubach and Amber Stevens West.

Stiller will bring to life Prometheus, find a preview of his character in the video below.

Set in mythical ancient Greece, Krapopolis tells the story of a dysfunctional family of humans, gods and monsters trying to run one of the world’s first cities, while also trying their best to not kill each other in the process.

Featuring the voices of Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy and Duncan TrussellKrapopolis centers on a flawed family of humans, gods, and monsters attempting to guide humanity out of the savage wilderness and into a new lifestyle experiment they’re calling “civilization.”

Ayoade voices “Tyrannis,” the mortal son of a goddess. He’s the self-involved, narcissistic King of Krapopolis trying to make do in a city that lives up to its name. Waddingham plays “Deliria,” Tyrannis’ mother, goddess of self-destruction and questionable choices. Deliria is as petty as she is powerful and only seems interested in defending civilization if it means she’ll get more worshipers out of it than her frenemies up on Mt. Olympus.

Berry is “Shlub,” Tyrannis’ father, a minotaur (half centaur [horse + human], half manticore [lion + human + scorpion]). He’s the self-described life of the orgy. A true pleasure seeker who thinks that everyone should just chill out and, if they need him for anything, he’ll be down at the bar. Murphy voices “Stupendous,” Tyrannis’ half-sister, daughter of Deliria and a cyclops. Trussell plays “Hippocampus,” Tyrannis’ half-brother, offspring of Shlub and a mermaid, and, obviously, a hot mess, biologically speaking.

Krapopolis is owned by FOX Entertainment and produced by FOX’s Bento Box Entertainment. Dan Harmon is the creator and executive producer. Steve Levy also executive produces alongside Season 1 showrunner, Jordan Young and Seasons 2 and 3 showrunner, Alex Rubens.

Michael Cimino to Star in Thriller Podcast Series “Jane Anonymous” for Apple Podcasts & the Fictionz App

Michael Cimino is ready to thrill

The 22-year-old half-Puerto Rican will star opposite Mina Sundwall in the thriller podcast series Jane Anonymous, which will premiere exclusively on Apple Podcasts and the Fictionz App.

Michael CiminoThe series based on the novel of the same name by Laurie Faria Stolarz was adapted by Stephanie Wu.

It will follow Jane (Sundwall), a 18-year-old girl who fights to escape a kidnapper—examining her relationship with a fellow captive (Cimino), and their struggle to understand that everything they thought they knew might all be a lie.

Andres Rosende, who produces and edits the popular Bad Friends podcast from comedians Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino, is directing the series, which will consist of five, 20-minute episodes.

The first is slated for release on June 2nd. Sundwall and Cimino are exec producing alongside Fictionz, which is serving as the project’s financier and distributor.

“Laurie’s confessional style of writing lends itself well to the podcast medium,” said Rosende. “This has been a passion project for me since Fictionz brought me the book.”

“It has been such a great experience working with everyone and playing off of Michael in adapting this book to audio!,” said Sundwall.

“Through Andres’ direction and Laurie and Stephanie’s writing, Mina and I have become completely absorbed in this narrative as actors and producers and hope that audiences will love it as much as we do,” added Cimino.

Cimino plays the titular character on Hulu’s Love, Victor series and can also currently be seen in Netflix’s Rebel Wilson comedy Senior Year. Additional credits include Annabelle Comes Home and the podcast series Black Box, with Joel McHale, Kelsey Grammer and more.

Rosende also recently served as the director of Fictionz’s Two Year Man. Wu penned Two Year Man, helmed the short Green Plastic Sandals with Rosende and co-wrote Sara Zandieh’s feature rom-com, A Simple Wedding.

Eva Longoria Among Celebrities & Entertainment Figures Encouraging World Leaders to “End the COVID-19 Pandemic Now”

Eva Longoria is urging on world leaders to take action to end the ongoing coronavirus pandemic…

Tuesday morning, just before President Joe Biden addressed the United Nations for the first time, more than 80 celebrities and entertainment figures, including the 46-year-old Mexican American actress, producer and activist, issued an open letter to world leaders calling for them to end “the COVID-19 pandemic now.”

Eva Longoria

The letter, which mentioned the United Nations General Assembly Session specifically, was posted on the website of CARE, an organization dedicated to ending poverty worldwide.

It was signed by a raft of boldfaced names including Longoria, Debra MessingAlyssa Milano, Anne Hathaway, Malin Akerman, Debbie Allen, Jordana Brewster, Connie Britton, Ciara, Peter Dinklage, Richard Gere, Dolores Huerta, Joel McHale, Iman, Edward James Olmos, Laura Linney, Julianna Margulies, Joel McHale, Idina Menzel, Ana Ortiz, Adam Shankman, Michael Sheen, Adam Shulman and Sarah Silverman.

Specifically, the letter calls COVID-19 “a manmade pandemic of apathy.” It states that “Only 2% of people in low-income countries have received a single dose.” The signatories call on “global leaders to make 7 billion vaccine doses available before the end of 2021, and an additional 7 billion doses by mid-2022 to fully vaccinate 70% of the world by next summer.”

Those are lofty goals given the world’s most highly vaccinated countries, like the U.S., remain well under 70%.

It also asks leaders to “invest in last-mile delivery systems, public education, and frontline healthcare workers to get vaccines from tarmacs into arms.”

Here’s the full letter:

An open letter to world leaders on ending the COVID-19 pandemic now.

None of us are safe until all of us are safe.

We call on leaders gathering at the United Nations General Assembly Session to boldly act
together to end COVID-19 everywhere.

COVID-19 is now a manmade pandemic of apathy. Only 2% of people in low-income countries have received a single dose, leaving the world’s most vulnerable to face COVID with no
protection. This situation also lets new variants, like Delta, emerge and ravage the lives of
millions.

We are joining with CARE to call on global leaders to make 7 billion vaccine doses available before the end of 2021, and an additional 7 billion doses by mid-2022 to fully vaccinate 70%
of the world by next summer.

To get this done the world community must also invest in last-mile delivery systems, public education, and frontline healthcare workers to get vaccines from tarmacs into arms. Millions
of doses could go to waste because low-income countries don’t have the support they
need to get vaccines to vulnerable people.

We can save millions of lives — and trillions in further economic damage — by meeting this moment with the resources and political will needed to end COVID-19 for everyone,
everywhere. Because none of us are safe until all of us are safe.

Malin Akerman
Debbie Allen
Dorothy Amuah
Morena Baccarin
Adriana Barraza
Troian Bellisario
Bobby Berk
Jordana Brewster
Connie Britton
Karamo Brown
Gloria Calderón Kellett
Ciara
Tena Clark
Kim Coates
Madison Cowan
Alexandra Daddario
Peter Dinklage
Melinda Doolittle
Tan France
Richard Gere
Duff Goldman
Tony Goldwyn
Fiona Gubelmann
Anne Hathaway
Ingrid Hoffmann
Anders Holm
Dolores Huerta
Osas Ighodaro
Joel McHale
Iman
Edward James Olmos
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja
Ellie Krieger
Iskra Lawrence
Annie Lennox
Lola Lennox
Esther Lewis
Laura Linney
Kimberly Locke
Eva Longoria
Anja Manuel
Julianna Margulies
Catherine McCord
Joel McHale
Spike Mendelsohn
Idina Menzel
Debra Messing
Alyssa Milano
Sepideh Moafi
Tamera Mowry-Housley
Yvette Nicole Brown
Christina Ochoa
Ana Ortiz
Helen Pankhurst
Jessica Pimentel
Julie Plec
Adina Porter
Zac Posen
Leven Rambin
April Reign
Holland Roden
Sheila Shah
Adam Shankman
Omar Sharif Jr.
Michael Sheen
Adam Shulman
Sarah Silverman
Hannah Skvarla
Todd Snyder
Kimberly Steward
Curtis Stone
Christy Turlington Burns
Laura Vandervoort
Gabby Williams
Michelle Williams
Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Russell Wilson
Scott Wolf
Kelley Wolf
Bellamy Young
Rachel Zoe

Melissa Villaseñor to Host This Year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards Ceremony

Melissa Villaseñor has the spirit

The 33-year-old Mexican actress, stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member is set to host this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony.

Melissa Villaseñor

The show will not be live from the Santa Monica Beach this year due to COVID-19.

Villaseñor, the first Latina cast member of NBC’s long-running SNL, cut her teeth on the stand-up circuit in Los Angeles, and was further propelled to stardom by being a semifinalist on the 2011 edition of America’s Got Talent before landing on the SNL cast.

She is famous for her impersonations of celebrities like Owen Wilson, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and more.

This year’s show will be airing on Thursday, April 22, on IFC and AMC+ at 10:00 pm ET, breaking tradition as the Spirits typically take place on the Saturday afternoon before Sunday’s Oscars.

Said Blake Callaway, Executive Director, IFC and SundanceTV, “Melissa and the unique circumstances of now will make this year’s ceremony like no other. It will certainly be a departure from the past, but with Melissa, the chances of Dolly, Ariana Grande, Bjork, Gwen Stefani, Julie Andrews and Lady Gaga showing up have skyrocketed.”

“As someone who considers herself a pretty dependent person, I’m truly honored to host the Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Villaseñor.

Outside of SNL, Villaseñor has provided voiceovers in films like Toy Story 4 and Ralph Breaks the InternetShe also was a guest on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee; and in projects like Hubie Halloween, Barry and Crashing, among others.

She’s currently working on her first book, a creative self-help journal forthcoming from Chronicle Books.

She joins a roster of past Spirit Awards hosts that includes Aubrey Plaza, Nick Kroll, Kristen Bell, Joel McHale, Patton Oswalt, Queen Latifah, John Waters, Samuel L. Jackson and Kumail Nanjiani.

Michael Cimino Joins Voice Cast of Science-Fiction Podcast “Black Box”

Michael Cimino is a pea in a pod(cast)

The 20-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor and Love Victor star has joined the voice cast for Black Box, the upcoming scripted science fiction podcast from Reverb Podcasts and Soundproof Media.

Michael Cimino

Cimino joins an ensemble cast that includes Joel McHale, Brec BassingerChosen Jacobs and Jacob Bertrand.

Described as an homage to Spielbergian ’80s adventure films, the podcast will follow four unwitting teenagers who stumble upon the wreckage of a crashed time machine and are thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to unhinge time itself.

Cimino, Bassenger, Jacobs and Bertrand play the lead teenagers, while McHale plays a brilliant scientist whose ego and ambition spiral down a villainous path. The audio drama is written and directed by Brian Siegele and produced by Siegele and Chase Kinser for emerging content studios Reverb Podcasts and Soundproof Media.

Recording for Black Box began in August, making the production among the first podcast projects approved by SAG-AFTRA for full cast studio recording in the COVID-19 era. The producers are said to have implemented rigorous testing and safety protocols in addition to building transparent barriers in the studio so the cast could record together in person.

Production is still in progress with additional casting being finalized now. The eight-episode first season is projected to premiere in early 2021.

“We wanted the performers to play off each other in a way that remote recording doesn’t allow, but also ensure a risk-free working space,” noted Siegele. “We are thankful to have been able to accomplish this with guidance from SAG-AFTRA and coordination from our incredible cast.”

Audio company Reverb was founded last year. Soundproof Media is a new content firm focused on audio, television and film projects

Morena Baccarin to Star in CBS All Access’ Second Season of “The Twilight Zone”

Morena Baccarinis in the Zone

The 40-year-old Brazilian actress has been cast in CBS All Access’ anthology series The Twilight Zone’s second season.

Morena Baccarin

Baccarin joins a cast that includes Billy PorterJenna ElfmanGillian Jacobsand Chris Meloni.

Style blogger Tavi Gevinson also appears with Colman DomingoEthan Embry, Tony HaleAbbie HernSophia Macy, Joel McHaleJimmi Simpson and Daniel Sunjata.

Separately, Jordan Peele, who executive produces and narrates the show, will write an episode for the second season. 

The Get Out writer and director will write the episode Downtime, which features Baccarin, Domingo and Hale.

The CBS All Access series is a modern reimagining of Rod Serling’s original, which aired from 1959-64 on CBS. The first season featured actors including Ike BarinholtzJohn ChoGinnifer GoodwinGreg KinnearKumail NanjianiChris O’DowdSeth RogenAdam Scott and Alison Tolman.

The drama is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Kinberg’s Genre Films

Red-Band Trailer Released for Bella Thorne’s “Assassination Nation”

Bella Thorne is ready for a spook-tacularSeptember…

The new red-band trailerhas been released for Neon’s Assassination Nation, starring the 20-year-old half-Cuban American actress.

Bella Thorne

The clip comes complete with trigger warnings like “blood,” “sexism,” “toxic masculinity,” “kidnapping,” “murder” and “male gaze,” as if any of those warnings will keep the curious away.

In addition to Thorne, the film, written and directed by Sam Levinson, acquired by NEON with AGBO in a big Sundance Film Festival deal, stars Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, Abra, Anika Noni Rose, Colman Domingo, Maude Apatow, with Bill Skarsgård and Joel McHale.

If the trailer’s creepy little kid in a flag mask isn’t enough to give you the willies, here’s the logline: High school senior Lily and her group of friends live in a haze of texts, posts, selfies and chats just like the rest of the world. So, when an anonymous hacker starts posting details from the private lives of everyone in their small town, the result is absolute madness leaving Lily and her friends questioning whether they’ll live through the night.

Take a look at the red-band trailer but be warned of a few more triggers: homophobia, giant frogs, torture, to name a few.

As the narrator says, the film chronicles how her town of Salem “lost its motherf*cking mind.” And she promises, “This is 100 percent a true story.”


Assassination Nationhits theaters September 21.

Ferrera to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Primetime Emmy Awards

America Ferrera has a date with Emmy

The Television Academy has announced the second group of presenters for the 68th Emmy Awards, with the 32-year-old Honduran American actress making the list.

America Ferrera

In addition to Ferrera, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007 for her starring role in Ugly Betty, the list includes Laverne Cox, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kit Harington, Matt LeBlanc, Joel McHale, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Tambor, Kerry Washington and Damon Wayans.

The 68th Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on Sunday, September 18 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Ferrera currently stars on NBC’s comedy series Superstore.

Zovatto Joins Cast of Hulu’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy Anthology Series “Dimension 404”

Daniel Zovatto is reaching a new Dimension

The 25-year-old Costa Rican actor has joined the cast of Dimension 404, Hulu’s six-episode sci-fi/fantasy anthology scripted series from RocketJump and Lionsgate.

Daniel Zovatto

Zovatto, who has appeared on Fear the Walking Dead, joins a cast that includes new additions Chilean actress and model Lorenza Izzo and Tom Noonan.

Inspired by the Internet’s “404” error code, Dimension 404 aims to evoke that 3 AM feeling of wandering onto the weird side of the web and stumbling upon stories that cannot be explained in the world that we know.

In one episode, Zovatto will play Zach alongside Sarah Hyland and Patton Oswalt, a smooth-talking heartthrob who can not only sell people on the merits of the brand new and terrifyingly real “Cinethrax” movie format, but gain the adoration of the episode’s young heroin.

In another episode, Izzo will play Val, a confident, brash upstart in the world of competitive video games. But while she ignores her burgeoning adult responsibilities, she discovers a mysterious Energy Drink that can slow down time and give her the competitive edge she thinks she needs.

The cast also includes Ashley Rickards, Joel McHale, Lea Michele, Ryan Lee and Sterling Beaumon.

Dez Dolly created the series with Will Campos, and Dolly is executive producer/showrunner. Co-creators are Dan Johnson and David Welch.