Natalie Morales to Star in Paramount+’s “Rugrats” Series Revival

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Morales is getting animated…

The 26-year-old Cuban American actress has joined the voice cast of Paramount+’s Rugrats series revival.

Morales will portray Phil and Lil’s mother.

The reimagining is set to debut on Paramount+ this spring.

Reprising their original Rugrats roles are E.G. Daily (Tommy), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Cree Summer (Susie) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil).

In an interview with Deadline, Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins addressed the decision to keep the original core original cast voicing the kids but bring in new actors for the grown-up roles.

“First of all, we have all the original babies back, all the original cast back, which we are thrilled to have” Robbins said. “Some of the original actors — remember the show is 20-25+ years-old, and we thought there was an opportunity for new exciting comedic voices who grew up watching and being fans of the show and let them do cameos. So we are really excited about our adult cast on Rugrats.“

The original Rugrats series premiered 30 years ago, in August of 1991, and some of the actors who played adult characters are no longer alive. The original became a groundbreaking phenomenon, spawning consumer products and three hit theatrical releases, cementing its place in pop culture history through its iconic characters, storytelling and unique visual style. Rugrats was in production for nine seasons over the course of 13 years. The series earned four Daytime Emmy Awards, six Kids’ Choice Awards and its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The all-new Rugrats is based on the series created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain.

Morales’ previous credits include Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me and White Collar.

Hulu Releases Trailer for Aubrey Plaza’s Holiday-Themed Rom-Com “Happiest Season”

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza is ready to ring in the holiday season…

Hulu has released the first trailer for Happiest Season, a holiday-themed romantic comedy starring the 36-year-old actress/comedian and former Parks and Recreation star.

“This is why I avoid Christmas — it brings out the worst in everything,” says the trailer for the film, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.

Here’s the logline: Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family’s annual Christmas dinner — until you realize that they don’t even know she’s gay — is even harder. When Abby (Stewart) learns that Harper (Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.

Plaza, Stewart and Davis are joined by Alison Brie, Daniel Levy, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, Victor Garber and Mary Steenburgen in a film that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself and trying not to ruin Christmas.

Sample dialogue: “I’m scared that if I tell them who I really am that I will lose them,” Harper tells Abby. “Do you know how painful it is to watch the person I love hide me?” she replies. Harper: “I’m not hiding you — I’m hiding me.”

Clea DuVall directs from a script she wrote with Mary Holland.

Hulu will premiere the holiday rom-com on Wednesday, November 25 — the day before Thanksgiving.

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

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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 Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Plaza as April Ludgate, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta.

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.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Romantic Comedy “Happiest Season”

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Aubrey Plaza has found her Happiest place…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Parks and Recreation alum has joined the cast of the TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One romantic comedy Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.

Plaza joins a list of newcomers that includes Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Alison Brieand Dan Levy.

Directed and co-written by Clea DuVall, and co-written by Mary Holland, Happiest Season follows a young woman (Stewart) whose plan to propose to her girlfriend (Davis) while at her family’s annual holiday party is upended when she discovers her partner hasn’t yet come out to her conservative parents (played by Steenburgen and Garber).

The film is set to hit theaters on November 20. eOne will distribute the film in UK and Canada.

Filming is currently underway in Pittsburgh, PA.

Plaza’s film credits include Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Monsters University,Dirty Grandpa, Ingrid Goes West and Child’s Play.

Natalie Morales to Star in Warner Bros. “The Little Things”

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Morales is celebrating the little things…

The 34-year-old Cuban American actress has joined the cast of Warner Bros.‘ The Little Things opposite Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Rami Malek.

The film follows Deke (Washington), a burned-out Kern County, CA. deputy sheriff who teams with Baxter (Malek), a crack LASD detective, to nab a serial killer. Deke’s nose for the “little things” proves eerily accurate, but his willingness to circumvent the rules embroils Baxter in a soul-shattering dilemma. Meanwhile, Deke must wrestle with a dark secret from his past. Jared Letois in talks to join in the role as the serial killer in the project from writer-director John Lee Hancock.

Morales will play a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department detective working for Baxter.

She most recently starred on NBC’s Abby’s sitcom. The Parks and Recreation alum also starred in Fox’s Stuber alongside Kumail Nanjiani. She also appeared in Fox Searchlight’s Golden Globe-nominated Battle of the Sexes opposite Emma Stoneand Steve Carell. Morales was a regular on Fox’s The Grinder. She also recently directed her second episode of Room 104 for HBO.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Meta-Drama “Black Bear”

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a bizarre love triangle for Aubrey Plaza…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and former Parks and Recreation star will star opposite Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon in Black Bear, a suspenseful meta-drama written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine.

The thriller centers on an expecting couple (Gadon and Abbott) who are confronted with an out-of-town guest Abigail (Plaza), a filmmaker suffering from writer’s block who seeks solace in the woods but finds herself at the center of a twisted love triangle.

“Black Bear is a thriller that depicts broken characters wrestling with a seemingly shattered world that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats” said Levine. “I am thrilled to have such a talented trio of actors on board.”

Currently shooting in the Adirondack Mountains in Long Lake, NY, the film hails from Productivity Mediaand Oakhurst Entertainment.

Plaza, who stars in Noah Hawley’s FX series Legion, recently was seen in MGM’s Child’s Play reboot.

Diana Maria Riva to Star in NBC’s Comedy Pilot “Sunnyside”

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Diana Maria Riva is looking at the sunnyside of life…

The 49-year-old Dominican American actress has been cast opposite Kal Penn in NBC’s comedy pilot Sunnyside (formerly Untitled Kal Penn/Matt Murray).

Riva joins a cast that includes Kiran Deol, Moses Storm, Samba Schutte, Poppy Liu, Joel Kim Booster and Tudor Petrut.

Co-written by Penn and Matt Murray, Sunnyside is named after the neighborhood in the historically diverse Queens borough of New York where the show is set. It centers on former New York City Councilman Garrett Shah (Penn), who finds his calling when faced with seven recent immigrants — five of them played by immigrant actors — in need of his help and in search of the American Dream.

The single-camera comedy is being executive produced by Penn, writer-producer Murray, The Good Place creator/executive producer Michael Schur and Universal Television.

The seven recent immigrants are Jin Hao, played by South Korea-born Booster; Mallory, played by UK-born Deol; Mei Lin, played by China-born Liu; Drzen, played by Romania-born Petrut; Hakim, played by Africa-born Schutte; Griselda, played by Riva, a first generation Dominican; and Brady, played by Storm.

Directing the pilot is another immigrant, Oz Rodriguez. The ensemble was put together by casting director Allison Jones who also has worked with Schur on his other shows, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place.

Riva was last seen in the CBS sitcom Man with a Plan and NBC’s Telenovela. She’ll next appear in the Netflix series Dead to Me and the Appledrama series Morning Show.

NBC Picks Up Stephanie Beatriz’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” for a Sixth Season After Fox’s Cancellation

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Stephanie Beatriz isn’t retiring after all…

Shortly after Fox cancelled Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the cop comedy series, starring the 37-year-old Argentine-born American actress, has been picked up by NBC for a 13-episode sixth season.

NBC, whose sister studio Universal TV produces the Andy Samberg-starring series, was one of the potential suitors for the comedy after its cancellation.

NBC also was among the broadcast networks that bid for the Brooklyn Nine-Nine pitch from creators Mike Schur and Dan Goor when it hit the marketplace in 2012 before the project landed at Fox in a very competitive situation.

“Ever since we sold this show to Fox I’ve regretted letting it get away, and it’s high time it came back to its rightful home,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “Mike Schur, Dan Goor, and Andy Samberg grew up on NBC and we’re all thrilled that one of the smartest, funniest, and best cast comedies in a long time will take its place in our comedy line-up. I speak for everyone at NBC, here’s to the Nine-Nine!”

Created by the Parks and Recreation duo of Goor and Schur, former college roommates, Brooklyn Nine-Nine centers on Peralta, played by Saturday Night Live alum Samberg, a screwball who happens to be a real good cop. His captain in the NYPD’s 99th Precinct is Raymond Holt, a seen-it-all and emotion-challenged captain played by Andre Braugher, who scored three consecutive Emmy noms for Supporting Actor from 2014-2016. Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Beatriz, Chelsea Peretti, Joel McKinnon Miller and Dirk Blocker also star.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which was Fox’s highest-rated live-action comedy series this season among adults 18-49, is produced by Universal Television.

The show won two Golden Globes in its freshman season — for best comedy series and best actor in a comedy series (Samberg).

Gaby Moreno Signs Global Publishing Deal with peermusic

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gaby Moreno is going global…

The 35-year-old Guatemalan singer-songwriter has signed an exclusive global publishing deal with peermusic.

Yvonne Drazan, the West Coast Vice President of peermusic’s Latin Division, and Julio Bagué, Vice President of the Latin Division for the East Coast and Puerto Rico, announced the signing.

Moreno, a bilingual singer who lives in Los Angeles, has advantageously bridged the English- and Spanish-language markets, performing in pop, bolero and vintage jazz and blues styles with equal appeal.

Moreno first gained attention in 2006 when she won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s Song of the Year award, a first for a song in the Latin category.

Moreno was an Emmy nominee in 2010 as co-writer of the theme song for the series Parks and Recreation, and was named the Latin Grammy Best New Artist in 2013. Her latest solo album, Ilusiones, was released in 2016.

“One of the things that I’ve tried to do throughout my career is to let my music be guided by what inspires me and not be afraid to push creative boundaries,” Moreno said in an announcement from peermusic. “I want to work with people who value and share that vision, so bringing my catalog to peermusic and partnering with Yvonne, Julio and the rest of their team was a natural decision.”

The signing marks “the culmination of a year-long pursuit and negotiation,” according to Drazan.

“From the first moment I heard Gaby’s voice, I knew that I had to work with her,” she said. “Her ability to seamlessly blend Latin music with American folk is unmatched, and as a songwriter she has a point of view that is at once familiar yet unique.”

Gunpowder & Sky Releases Redband Trailer for Plaza’s Comedy “The Little Hours”

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s nun of your business what Aubrey Plaza does… Or is it?

Gunpowder & Sky has unveiled the first NSFW redband trailer for the comedy The Little Hours, starring the 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and former Parks and Recreation star, Alison Brie and Dave Franco.

The Little Hours follows medieval nuns gone wild Alessandra (Brie), Fernanda (Plaza) and Ginevra (Kate Micucci).

Per the film’s description, their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand, Massetto (Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse and wicked revelry.

Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke, Nick Offerman and Adam Pally co-star.

Produced by Liz Destro and Plaza, the Jeff Baena-written and -directed comedy will open in theaters on June 30.

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