Aubrey Plaza to Appear in NBC’s Special “Parks and Recreation” Reunion Episode

Aubrey Plazais going back to Pawnee, to Pawnee…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian and her fellow Parks and Recreation cast mates will return to Pawnee, Indiana, for a one-time special amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Aubrey Plaza

The half-hour scripted special to benefit Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fundis set to air on Thursday, April 30 at 8:30 pm ET/PT.

All of the original characters from the series will return in the Universal TV-produced special, played by original cast members Amy PoehlerRashida Jones, Aziz AnsariNick Offerman, Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris PrattAdam ScottRob LoweJim O’Heir, and Retta.

Parks and Recreation

 

Several guest stars from the Pawnee universe may pop in as well.

The story comes from the events of the day – Pawnee’s most dedicated civil servant, Leslie Knope (Poehler), is determined to stay connected to her friends in a time of social distancing.

 “Like a lot of other people, we were looking for ways to help and felt that bringing these characters back for a night could raise some money,” said executive producer Michael Schur. “I sent a hopeful email to the cast and they all got back to me within 45 minutes. Our old ‘Parks and Rec’ team has put together one more 30-minute slice of (quarantined) Pawnee life and we hope everyone enjoys it. And donates!”

The special comes five years after viewers said farewell to the iconic comedy series.

“In such uncertain times, we can’t think of anyone better than Leslie Knope to unite our country with her unbridled enthusiasm and compassion,” said Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta, Co-Presidents of Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment. “A huge thank you to Mike Schur and the cast of Parks and Recreationfor putting this wonderful special together and bringing a smile to all our faces while raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”

State Farmand Subaru of Americawill each make matching donations of $150,000 and, combined with NBCUniversaland the writers/producers/cast of Parks and Recreation, a total of $500,000 in matching donations will be made through May 21. 

Parks and Recreationreceived a Peabody Award for excellence in television programming, an AFIhonor as one of the Top 10 Television Shows of the Yearand several Emmynominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing and lead actress for Poehler, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in 2014.

James Roday’s “Psych: The Movie” Sequel Has a New Name & Estimated Premiere Date

James Roday is ready for aPsych-edelic 2020… 

The 43-year-old half-Mexican American actor and former Psych star will star in Psych: The Movie 2, which will premiere sometime in spring 2020 or later.

James Roday

It wasoriginally slated to premiere this year, but the film will debut next year because the movie is moving from the USA Network, home of the original Psych series and Psych: The Movie, to PeacockNBCUniversal’s upcoming streaming service, which launches in April.

The sequel to the first post-series film, formally known as Psych: The Movie 2, has been given a cheeky new title, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,named after one of the show’s main characters, Santa Barbara Police Chief Carlton Lassiter, played by Tim Omundson.

Written, directed and executive produced by Psych creator Steve FranksPsych 2: Lassie Come Home focuses on Lassiter, who is ambushed on the job and left for dead. In a vintage Psych-style Hitchcockian nod, he begins to see impossible happenings around his recovery clinic. Shawn (Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) return to Lassie’s side in Santa Barbara and are forced to navigate the personal, the professional and possibly the supernatural. Separated from their new lives in San Francisco, Shawn and Gus find themselves unwelcome in their old stomping grounds as they secretly untangle a twisted case without the benefit of the police, their loved ones or the quality sourdough bakeries of the Bay Area. What they uncover will change the course of their relationships forever.

Also returning for the second movie are original Psych cast members Maggie LawsonKirsten Nelson and Corbin Bernsen.

Roday also co-wrote the movie and executive produces, Hill executive produces, Andy Bermanco-wrote, Chris Henzieexecutive produces.

Becky G to Serve as Co-Host at This Year’s Global Citizen Festival

Becky G is thinking globally…

The 22-year-old Mexican American singer/rapper and actress will serve as a co-host at this year’s Global Citizen Festival, taking place on September 28 at Central Parkin New York City.

Becky G

The event has been held in New York every year since 2012, and calls on music fans to take action on a number of important issues to earn tickets to the show. 

Global Citizen, a social advocacy group, hosts the festival to drive action toward its goal to end extreme poverty by 2030.

This year, Global Citizens are urged to pressure decision-makers to help end child marriage, support family planning, promote women’s entrepreneurship and shine a light on workplace safety.

In addition to Becky G, this year’s co-host roster includes Connie BrittonNina DobrevDakota JohnsonBecky Lynch,Aasif MandviBridget MoynahanKal Penn,Erin RichardsSeth Rollinsand Savannah Seller.

The lineup of performers includes David Gray, NCT 127Queen + Adam LambertPharrell WilliamsAlicia KeysOneRepublicH.E.R., and Carole King, with special guests French MontanaBen Platt, and Jon Batiste & Stay Human.

For the sixth straight year, MSNBCand Comcast NBCUniversalwill air a live simulcast of the event on MSNBC, and Ken Ehrlichand Live Nation will produce.

The festival will also be livestreamed on YouTubeand Twitter

Stephanie Beatriz’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” to Make Its Syndication Debut on TBS in January

Stephanie Beatriz is expanding her (police) force field…

Fox’s police action-comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring the 36-year-old Argentine-born actress of Colombian and Bolivian descent, will make its syndication debut on TBS in January.

Stephanie Beatriz

Earlier this year, TBS finalized a deal with NBCUniversal for the cable syndication rights to the first five seasons the of Golden Globe-winning series starring Andy Samberg, Beatriz and Melissa Fumero. The deal includes exclusive linear and associated on-demand rights, including rolling episodes on TV Everywhere.

The pilot episode, which originally aired on Fox in September 2013, will air at 7:00 pm ET/PT starting January 4, 2018. The show will air consecutive episodes on TBS every Thursday from 7:00-11:00 pm ET/PT. Episodes will also be available on the TBS app.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a beloved comedy series driven by a talented ensemble cast, which will be an excellent complement to TBS’ slate of character-driven programs,” said Michael Quigley, executive vice president of commercial operations, content strategy and monetization for TBS and TNT. “We are delighted to welcome creators Dan Goor and Michael Schur’s television family to their second home on cable!”

“I couldn’t be more excited that the ultimate detectives slash geniuses of Brooklyn’s 99 are coming to TBS, home of the ultimate TV fans slash humans,” said show co-creator and executive producer Dan Goor.

Beatriz portrays Detective Rosa Diaz, Fumero plays Detective Amy Santiago and Samberg plays Detective Jacob “Jake” Peralta. The show’s other stars include Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio and Andre Braugher.

Ochmann Acquires Film Rights to Don Miguel Ruiz’s Book “The Toltec Art of Life and Death”

(Life and) Death becomes Mauricio Ochmann

The 39-year-old Mexican American actor and telenovela star and Aislinn Derbez — two of the biggest stars in Spanish-language television and film — have acquired the feature film rights to The New York Timesbest-selling author Don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Toltec Art of Life and Death.

Mauricio Ochmann

The story, which follows the author’s near-death experience, will be developed as in English-language feature through Ochmann and Derbez’s newly formed production company A Toda Madre Entertainment.

Ochmann’s hit TV show El Chemawhich he also executive produced, recently concluded it’s 70-episode run as one of the highest-rated TV shows in the history of NBCUniversal’s wholly owned Spanish-language network Telemundo. During its 10:00 pm slot, El Chema also often was the highest-rated show among ages 18-34.

Derbez, whose father is Eugenio Derbez, recently received strong reviews for her English-language performance as the female lead in Joe Swanberg’s Netflix original movie Win It All, which debuted over the weekend.

USA Network to Premiere Second Season of Braga’s “Queen of the South” in June

Alice Braga is heading back South this summer…

USA Network is set to premiere the second season of Queen of the South, starring the 33-year-old Brazilian actress, on June 8.

Alice Braga

Inspired by the global best-selling novel La Reina Del Sur by internationally acclaimed author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Season 2 follows the journey of Teresa Mendoza (Braga) and the sacrifices she must make not only to survive, but to make it to the top of the drug world. Where will she draw the line when her moral code and her destiny are at odds?

In addition to Braga, Queen of the South also stars Justina Machado, Hemky Madera, Veronica Falcon, James Martinez, Joaquim de Almeida, Peter Gadiot, Carlos Gomez and Mark Consuelos.

The NBCUniversal-owned cable net will premiere Queen of the South on Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 pm ET.

Syfy Renews Acevedo’s “12 Monkeys” for a Third Season

Expect more monkeying around from Kirk Acevedo

Syfy has ordered a 10-episode third season of its time-travel thriller series 12 Monkeys, starring the 44-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

Kirk Acevedo

Based on the 1995 feature film of the same name, 12 Monkeys follows the journey of Cole (Aaron Stanford), a time traveler sent back in time from a dark, hellish future to prevent it from ever happening. Joining forces in the present with Dr. Railly (Amanda Schull), Cole must defeat a centuries-old malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys. As Cole, Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to the truth, they’ll learn there are deadly consequences for all of history … and time itself.

In addition to Acevedo, who portrays Jose Ramse, Stanford and Schull, the cast also includes Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa and Todd Stashwick.

“In two short seasons, 12 Monkeys has become a cult favorite series,” said Chris McCumber, President of Entertainment Networks at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Terry and the cast and crew have brought to life a rich world not confined by boundaries of time, with multi-dimensional characters whose motivations for saving the world are deeply personal and intensely relatable. It’s exactly the type of smart, on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment we want to bring to Syfy viewers.”

12 Monkeys is produced by Universal Cable Productions in association with Atlas Entertainment.

Grillo-Marxuach Penning “Xena: Warrior Princess” Remake for NBC

Javier Grillo-Marxuach is in warrior mode…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican television screenwriter and producer has been tapped to pen NBC’s planned remake of the popular syndicated action-adventure series Xena: Warrior Princess.

Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Grillo-Marxuach will executive produce the project with the original series’ executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.

So far, there is no involvement by Lucy Lawless, who toplined the 1995-2001 series, though NBC brass had been open to having her on board in some capacity.

Xena: Warrior Princess

Underscoring NBCUniversal’s hopes to capitalize on the property’s global appeal, the new series is being produced by NBC’s international production unit NBC International Television Studios, headed by Michael Edelstein and JoAnn Alfano.

Grillo-Marxuach (The 100) recently sold the ABC drama project Black Stilleto with Mila Kunis executive producing.

His other credits include Lost, Charmed and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

J Balvin Cancels Miss USA Performance Following Donald Trump’s Comments About Mexicans & Latinos

This year’s Miss USA contestants won’t be serenaded by J Balvin, as originally planned…

The 30-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer was slated to perform on the upcoming Miss USA pageant, airing live July 12 on NBC.

J Balvin

But Balvin pulled out of the show, citing his discomfort following recent comments about Mexicans and Latinos from Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization in a joint venture with NBCUniversal.

“It was going to be my first performance on national [mainstream] television,” Balvin told Billboard exclusively from his home in Medellín, Colombia. In fact, he says, repertoire had already been discussed.

“But we’re talking about our roots, our culture, our values,” he added. “This isn’t about being punitive, but about showing leadership through social responsibility. His comments weren’t just about Mexicans, but about all Latins in general.”

The comments that ruffled Balvin’s feathers were made just a few minutes into Trump’s speech announcing his presidential bid on June 16.

“When do we beat Mexico at the border?” asked Trump. “They’re laughing at us, at our stupidity. And now they are beating us economically. They are not our friend, believe me. But they’re killing us economically.

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” he continued. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

“It’s coming from more than Mexico,” Trump added. “It’s coming from all over South and Latin America, and it’s coming probably — probably — from the Middle East.”

Balvin didn’t immediately hear the speech, since he was in Colombia at the time, where he lives. He also didn’t associate Trump with Miss USA until a friend pointed out the connection.

When he listened to the speech, he was shocked.

“Mexico is a Latin powerhouse,” he said. “And Mexicans, they’re known as hard workers. Here in the U.S., not everybody wants to do those kinds of jobs. I’ve lived. I know what it feels like and what they go through and how families suffer. A comment like that is powerful.”

At that point, he says, he made a decision to pull out of the show — this, despite the fact that political commentary is something he typically shies away from.

“I think music is to have fun. It’s for people to have a good time with. I’m no savior and I’m no Robin Hood,” Balvin said. “But in this case, I feel totally comfortable and responsible with my decision.”

Balvin will still get his mainstream TV opportunity: On July 25, he’ll join Stevie WonderAvril LavigneCody Simpson and Nicole Scherzinger, among others, in headlining the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. The event will air on ESPN.