Apple TV+ Renews Musical Comedy “Schmigadoon!,” Starring Ariana DeBose, for Second Season

There’s more Schmigadoon in Ariana DeBose’s future…

Apple TV+ has ordered a second season of its musical comedy Schmigadoon!, starring the 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress.

Ariana DeBose,Hailing from creators Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio and executive producer Lorne Michaels, the series stars Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, DeBose, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, Martin Short and Aaron Tveit — all of whom are set to return.

Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page will also join the fun in the new season, which will find Josh (Key) and Melissa (Strong) in Schmicago, the world of 60’s and 70’s musicals.

Following its global debut on Apple TV+ last year, Schmigadoon! was honored with an AFI Award, and has received wide acclaim and accolades, including a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Chenoweth.

The series hails from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Paul, who is the showrunner, wrote all of the original songs for the series. Robert Luketic directs and co-executive produces. Andrew Singer serves as an executive producer, while Micah Frank is a co-executive producer. Strong and Caroline Maroney are producers.

Louis C.K. to Voice the Lead Character in New Animated Film from Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures

Louis C.K. is about to get animated…

The 46-year-old Mexican American actor and stand-up comedian will voice one of the main characters in Illumination Entertainment and Universal PicturesUntitled Pets Movie, which will be released on February 12, 2016.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. will form part of the main voice cast, alongside Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet and Ride Along’s Kevin Hart.

The 3D animated will be directed by Chris Renaud, who helmed the first two Despicable Me films for Illumination Entertainment. The co-director on the project will be Yarrow Cheney, who helmed a short film that will be part of The Minions DVD release.

The action comedy takes place in a Manhattan apartment building. After the human residents head for work and school, their pets gather to begin their day, which consists of hanging out, trading humiliating stories about their owners, and helping each other work up adorable looks that will lead to more snacks.

The head hound is a quick-witted terrier rescue (Louis C.K.), whose position at the epicenter of his master’s universe is suddenly threatened when she comes home with Duke (Stonestreet), a sloppy mongrel with no polish. The two soon find themselves on the mean streets of New York, where they meet the adorable white bunny Snowball (Hart). It turns out that Snowball is the leader of an army of pets that were abandoned and are determined to get back at humanity and every owner-loving pet. The dogs must thwart this plot and make it back in time for dinner.

The script was written by Despicable Me scribes Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.

Bratt Lending His Voice to “Despicable Me 2”

It’s about to get downright despicable for Benjamin Bratt

The 49-year-old half-Peruvian American actor has signed on to replace Al Pacino as the voice of the villain Eduardo in the animated film Despicable Me 2.

Benjamin Bratt

Bratt, who wrapped up his stint on ABC’s Private Practice earlier this year, will get right to work on the film that Univeral Pictures has slated for a major summer release on July 3.

Despicable Me 2 is the fourth film from Illumination Entertainment and the sequel to its 2010 hit Despicable Me, one of Universal’s most profitable films ever, with north of $540 million worldwide on a $69 million budget.

The sequel is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, and scripted by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.

Bratt’s other movie credits include Snitch, La Mission, The Woodsman and Traffic.