John Leguizamo to Serve as Presenter at 94th Annual Academy Awards Show

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo has a date with Oscar…

The 61-year-old Colombian actor will serve as a presenter for this year’s Academy Awards show.

Leguizamo joins a roster of presenters that includes Daniel Kaluuya, Mila Kunis, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Scott, Wesley Snipes, John Travolta, Ruth E. Carter, Kevin Costner, Anthony Hopkins, Zoë Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Lily James, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Uma Thurman and Yuh-Jung Youn.

The Oscars will air live on March 27 on ABC.

Oscarcast producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan had previously discussed the presenters who’ll form part of the show.

“Movies inspire us, entertain us and unite us across the globe,” Packer said at the time. “That’s the precise goal of the show this year, and we’re thrilled to welcome the first of a stellar lineup joining the Oscars stage to help us celebrate the power of film and honor the year’s best in filmmaking.”

The Power of the Dog leads the field with 12 nominations coming into this month’s Oscar show, and Dune is next with 10.

ABC will air the 94th annual Academy Awards live from Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and in 200-plus territories around the world.

Blake Jenner to Star in “Paradise City”

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner is heading to Paradise City…

The 28-year-old half-Cuban American actor has joined the cast of the Hawaiian production of Paradise City, which represents John Travolta and Bruce Willis’ first reteaming in a film since 1994’s Pulp Fiction.

Jenner is joined by Stephen Dorff as new additions to the cast.

Willis plays renegade bounty hunter, Ryan Swan, who must carve his way through the Hawaiian crime world to wreak vengeance on the kingpin, played by Travolta, who murdered his father. I’m told the project is billed as being similar to Miami Vice but with bounty hunters instead of cops. Thai actress and model Praya Lundberg also stars.

Paradise City is produced by Corey Large, who also stars in the movie and co-wrote with Ed John Drake. BondIt Media Capital is financing with Large’s 308 Enterprises producing. Saban is handling domestic distribution with The Exchange overseeing foreign sales.

Jenner’s previous credits include What/If, Glee and The Edge of Seventeen.

Pitbull Releases “3 To Tango” Video Featuring John Travolta

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbullis celebrating a little Saturday Night Feverin his latest music video…

The 38-year-old Cuban American rap superstar has released the official video for his new single “3 To Tango.”

And Pitbull has brought in an extra special guest for a cameo appearance… the one and only John Travolta, who is never one to shy away from the dance floor.

The video, for the most part, shows a bald man watching three beautiful women dance for him while he sips on an alcoholic drink. Some in-between scenes show a group of women, wearing black and red lingerie, doing a sultry dance routine.

Fans are in for a real treat at the end of the clip, however, when the man in the music video — although there were hints that it was Pitbull — turns out to be Travolta all along.

Adding some extra spice to the clip, the Hollywood actor, shows off his tango moves with each of the ladies before signing off with Pitbull’s signature saying, “dale!”

Mr. 305 dropped his latest rumba-meets-tango track last week highlighting how one plus one equals three and how it takes three people (not two) to tango, ultimately turning his summer jam into a “lovefest.”

Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Groupmates to Salute the Bee Gees at Grammy Tribute

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kirsitie Maldonado will be experiencing disco fever…

The 24-year-old half-Mexican and part-Spanish American singer and her fellow Pentatonix members will be helping commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack next month.

Maldonado’s a capella group will perform at Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees, which will premiere April 16 on CBS.

The event, led by the Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS, will focus on improving music life and culture through the Bee Gees‘ legacy, celebrating the members of the five-time Grammy-winning group and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

Barry Gibb, the Bee Gees’ co-founder and last surviving member, will make an appearance and perform classic hits from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

In addition to Pentatonix, special tributes from musicians will include performances by Stevie Wonder, Keith Urban, John Legend, Nick Jonas, Tori Kelly, Celine Dion, Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett, Jason Derulo, Kelsea Ballerini, Andra Day, Ed Sheeran, DNCE and many more.

Other guest appearances to add to the lineup are John Travolta, Cynthia Erivo and Wilmer Valderrama.

Pentatonix, who earned a Grammy for their collaboration with country legend Dolly Parton on “Jolene,” recently released their cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” part of the group’s upcoming album.

Maldonado and the gang previously covered Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” performed a Star Wars-themed medley at the American Music Awards, and performed the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira” at the CMA Awards.

Cannavale to Appear in “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors” Series

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bobby Cannavale is ready to talk shop…

Variety and PBS SoCal have announced the line-up for the fourth installment of their awards season series “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors,” with the 45-year-old half-Cuban American actor making the final cut.

Available to stream on Variety.com, the new “Actors on Actors” season will feature one-on-one discussions between this year’s Emmy contenders.

Along with Cannavale, who stars in HBO’s Vinyl, this year’s conversations, which will be printed in the June 7 issue of Variety, will also include Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”), Rachel Bloom (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”), Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”), Jamie Lee Curtis (“Scream Queens”), Kirsten Dunst (“Fargo”), Jay Duplass (“Transparent”), Billy Eichner (“Difficult People”), Sam Heughan (“Outlander”), Tom Hiddleston (“The Night Manager”), Felicity Huffman (“American Crime”), Lady Gaga (“American Horror Story”), Jennifer Lopez (“Shades of Blue”), Rob Lowe (“Grinder”), Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”), Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley”), Aaron Paul (“The Path”), Sarah Paulson (“American Crime Story”), Krysten Ritter (“Jessica Jones”), Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”), Patrick Stewart (“Blunt Talk”), John Travolta (“American Crime Story”), Courtney B. Vance (“American Crime Story”) and Kerry Washington (“Confirmation”).

“Variety is thrilled to cover the best actors on television in this season’s ‘Actors on Actors’ for PBS stations,” said Variety‘s executive TV editor Debra Birnbaum in a statement. “This season’s lineup includes actors from some of the top new television programs and showcases the wide diversity of roles for actors on broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.”

PBS SoCal will premiere the segment in two episodes, one on June 12 and the other on June 19.

“Through their craft, the actors interviewed on ‘Actors on Actors’ effortlessly spark our imaginations and take us to new places,” said PBS SoCal president and CEO Andy Russell in a statement. “Through this partnership with Variety we are pleased to enhance the experience of fans of great television – providing them greater insight into the people who bring them their favorite dramas, comedies and more.”

Olmos to Star Opposite Alfonso Herrera in Fox’s Drama Pilot “Urban Cowboy”

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Edward James Olmos is going urban…

The 68-year-old Mexican American actor has landed a series regular role in Fox’s drama pilot Urban Cowboy, a modern reimagining of the 1980 Paramount Pictures film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger.

Olmos will play Alfonso “Al” Robles, a former hitman for a Mexican cartel who came to Texas 20 years ago to reinvent himself. Now married with a daughter and an upper-level management job, Al seemingly is living the American dream. But he’s forced to confront old demons when he helps his niece and nephew flee a bad situation in Mexico.

The television adaptation, written and directed by Craig Brewer, follows star-crossed young lovers Kyle (Alfonso Herrera) and Gaby as they pursue their dreams and passions through the sweat of line dancing in honky tonks, the grime of the oil refineries and the glamour of modern Texas.

Olmos, a Battlestar Galactica alum, recently appeared in Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Dexter.

Urban Cowboy comes from Paramount Studios Television and 20th Century Fox Television.

Salaz to Star Opposite Alfonso Herrera on Fox’s Drama Pilot “Urban Cowboy”

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Bryana Salaz, is ready to honky tonk her way onto the small screen.

The 18-year-old Latina singer/actress, a contestant on Season 7 of NBC’s The Voice, has landed a series regular role opposite Alfonso Herrera and Jim Belushi in Fox’s drama pilot Urban Cowboy.

The project is beild hailed as a modern, Latin music-fueled reimagining of the 1980 Paramount Pictures film starring John Travolta and Debra Winger.

Urban Cowboy follows star-crossed young lovers Kyle aka Juan Miguel (Herrera) and Gaby as they pursue their dreams and passions through the sweat of line dancing in honky tonks, the grime of the oil refineries and the glamour of modern Texas.

Salaz will play Anita, Kyle’s (Herrera) sister who flees with her brother to the US after he upsets the local drug cartel.

Salaz, kike Herrera and Belushi, has a music background. She finished in the Top 5 of Team Gwen on The Voice, with her early-round performances going viral online.

Salaz’s “Problem” blind audition has garnered more than 2.1 million views, while her Knockouts rendition of “Heart Attack” has amassed more than 3.1 million streams.

AMC to Release Melendez’s “Journey of a Female Comic” Doc in Southern California

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Kiki Melendez’ Hollywood journey will take her to theaters in Southern California…

The award-winning actress, comedienne, writer and producer’s documentary comedy Journey of a Female Comic will be released through AMC Theatres’ AMC Independent Program in Los Angeles and San Diego just in time for CInco de Mayo.

“I am so grateful to AMC Independent for the opportunity to share my story. My hope in making this film, is to encourage and inspire women to take their dreams into their own hands,” says Melendez.

Journey of a Female Comic, which will hit theaters on Friday, May 2, 2014 with other major markets to follow, is an inspirational film for audiences of all races, genders, and backgrounds.

It centers on Melendez’ life growing up in a developing country, being raised by a single immigrant mother, and her career in Hollywood pursuing the American Dream. Never forgetting her humble beginnings, Melendez’ journey is thought-provoking, inspiring audiences to discover the difference between fame and fulfillment.

AMC’s independent program added the 88-minute film to its slate after it received an enthusiastic reception at test screenings.

The feature began as an experimental short film, premiering at the DR Global Film Festival. It also opened at Miami’s Hispanicize Film Showcase and The Broadway International Film Festival in 2012, where it represented the U.S. and won Best Documentary.

“Journey of A Female Comic fits perfectly within our AMC Independent programming initiative, which opens our screens to movies that resonate with our diverse audiences,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Vice President of Alternative Content at AMC. “Melendez’ story is honest and entertaining, and will connect with many of our guests.”

Journey of A Female Comic also features appearances by other Latino trailblazers in Hollywood, including Edward James Olmos, Jacob Vargas, Esai Morales, Nadine Velazquez, the late Lupe Ontiveros, Maria Conchita Alonso and Guy Ecker.

Melendez also has lively conversations with international stars including Aaron Spelling, Usher, Sofia Vergara, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, John Travolta, Shakira and Marc Anthony.

Melendez is best known for creating Galavision’s No. 1 entertainment show in 2000, Kiki Desde Hollywood, and Showtime’s hit show Hot Tamales Live! in 2008, the longest running all-female comedy show, available on HULU.

Hayek to Co-Star Opposite John Travolta in “A Three Dog Life”

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Only seven weeks in and 2014 is already turning out to be a busy year for Salma Hayek…

The 47-year-old Mexican actress, who recently signed on to star in the political thriller The Septembers of Shiraz and will appear in theaters later this year in the action thriller Everly, has lined up yet another project.

Hayek will star opposite John Travolta in A Three Dog Life.

The drama, based on the best-selling memoir by Abigail Thomas, centers on Thomas’ life in the aftermath of her husband’s devastating car accident.

Nick Guthe, who penned the adaptation of the book, will direct the film.

In addition to Everly, Hayek will star in How to Make Love Like an Englishman opposite Pierce Brosnan and Jessica Alba.

She was also recently cast in Matteo Garrone’s next film, The Tale Of Tales.

Hayek and Travolta previously co-starred in 2006′s Lonely Hearts and more recently in Oliver Stone’s 2012 film Savages.

Jenner Engaged to “Glee” Co-Star Melissa Benoist

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He hasn’t even graduated from William McKinley High yet, but Blake Jenner is already hearing wedding bells.

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American and his Glee co-star Melissa Benoist are engaged, according to Us Weekly.

Jenner and Benoist were romantically linked after sharing screen time on the Fox musical dramedy.

Jenner, who landed a role on Glee after winning the second season of Oxygen’s The Glee Project, confirmed the rumor during a live chat with fan. “Yup,” he said with a smile.

Reps for both Blake and Melissa decline to comment on the couple’s personal lives.

Jenner and Benoist’s characters have been caught up in an on-screen love triangle with Jacob Artist’s character the show.

Ryan Murphy, one of the masterminds behind Glee, seems to have a knack for matchmaking. Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, whom he paired up as on/off couple Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson on the show, have also ended up dating in real life.

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