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Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

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Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez has new representation…

The 30-year-old half-Afro-Puerto Rican actress has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

MJ Rodriguez

Rodriguez, who was with Gersh, recently made history as the first transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy in any lead acting category for her role as house mother Blanca in the FX drama from Steven Canals and Ryan Murphy.

UTA will represent Rodriguez in all areas as she continues to grow her career in film, television, theater and music, among other mediums.

With Pose having wrapped its run earlier this year after three seasons, Rodriguez will next star opposite Maya Rudolph in Apple‘s comedy series Loot.

Her previous television credits include roles in Showtime‘s Nurse Jackie and Marvel‘s Netflix drama Luke Cage.

On the big screen, Rodriguez will next star in Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s feature adaptation of Jonathan Larson‘s Tick, Tick … Boom! She previously earned praise for her role in Saturday Church, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

UTA will also help support Rodriguez as she expands her burgeoning music career. Rodriguez recently released a music video to accompany her debut single, “Something to Say,” the equality anthem she wrote with Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire, Neal Pogue and John Paris.

On stage, Rodriguez made her off-Broadway debut in the New World Stages production of Larson’s beloved Rent, playing the role of Angel. Her stage credits include the Encores! production of Runaways and portraying the lead role of Audrey in the Pasadena Playhouse’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Mj Rodriguez Earns First-Ever TCA Awards Nod

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Mj Rodriguez is celebrating some special recognition…

The TCA Award nominations have been revealed, with the 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and singer earning a nod.

MJ Rodriguez

Rodriguez is nominated for her acclaimed performance as Blanca Rodriguez in FX’s Pose, which recently ended its third and final season. It’s her first-ever TCA Awards nod.

There will be no formal in-person presentation for the second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A full list of winners will be announced later this summer.

“This was an incredible year for fresh, inclusive content and new creators, and our nominations are a reflection of that,” Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon said in a statement. “The TCA membership selected from a wealth of original offerings that broke fresh ground and presented exciting, thought-provoking experiences that redefined the television landscape. Although we will not be able to honor these landmark achievements in person, we look forward to celebrating 37 years of the TCA Awards and sharing our top picks when the winners are unveiled.”

Here’s the complete list of nominees:

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

  • Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You” – HBO
  • Ethan Hawke, “The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
  • Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
  • Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision” – Disney+
  • Mj Rodriguez, “Pose” – FX
  • Omar Sy, “Lupin” – Netflix
  • Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
  • Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” – HBO

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

  • Bo Burnham, “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
  • Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
  • Maya Erskine, “Pen15” – Hulu
  • Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Girls5Eva” – Peacock
  • Charlotte Nicdao, “Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
  • Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO Max
  • Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
  • Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION

  • “Allen v. Farrow” – HBO
  • “City So Real” – NatGeo
  • “Framing Britney Spears” – FX/FX On Hulu
  • “Frontline” – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
  • “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” – HBO
  • “Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” – CBS
  • “The Rachel Maddow Show” – MSNBC
  • “60 Minutes” – CBS (2012 Winner in Category)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY

  • “Couples Therapy” – Showtime
  • “Deaf U” – Netflix
  • “The Great Pottery Throw Down” – HBO Max
  • “Legendary” – HBO Max
  • “Nailed It! Double Trouble” – Netflix
  • “The Real World Homecoming: New York” – Paramount+
  • “Taste the Nation” – Hulu
  • “Top Chef: Portland” – Bravo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING

  • “The Baby-Sitters Club” – Netflix
  • “Bluey” – Disney Jr.
  • “Donkey Hodie” – PBS Kids
  • “Emily’s Wonder Lab” – Netflix
  • “Odd Squad” – PBS Kids
  • “Sesame Street” – HBO
  • “Waffles + Mochi” – Netflix
  • “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” – PBS Kids

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM

  • “Bridgerton” – Netflix
  • “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
  • “Hacks” – HBO Max
  • “I May Destroy You” – HBO
  • “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
  • “P-Valley” – Starz
  • “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
  • “WandaVision” – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIALS

  • “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
  • “The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
  • “I May Destroy You” – HBO
  • “It’s a Sin” – HBO Max
  • “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
  • “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
  • “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
  • “WandaVision” – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

  • “Bridgerton” – Netflix
  • “The Crown” – Netflix
  • “For All Mankind” – Apple TV+
  • “The Handmaid’s Tale” – Hulu
  • “Lovecraft Country” – HBO
  • “The Mandalorian” – Disney+
  • “Pose” – FX
  • “P-Valley” – Starz

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

  • “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
  • “Girls5Eva” – Peacock
  • “Hacks” – HBO Max
  • “Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
  • “Pen15” – Hulu
  • “Superstore” – NBC
  • “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
  • “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – NBC

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY, TALK OR SKETCH

  • “The Amber Ruffin Show” – Peacock
  • “A Black Lady Sketch Show” – HBO (2020 Winner in Category)
  • “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Comedy Central
  • “Desus & Mero” – Showtime
  • “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO (2019 & 2018 Winner in Category)
  • “Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
  • “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – CBS
  • “Saturday Night Live” – NBC
  • “Ziwe” – Showtime

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

  • “Bridgerton” – Netflix
  • “Hacks” – HBO Max
  • “I May Destroy You” – HBO
  • “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
  • “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
  • “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
  • “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
  • “WandaVision” – Disney+

Colman Domingo Among Nominees for Hollywood Critics Association’s Inaugural HCA TV Awards

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It’s a moment of euphoria for Colman Domingo…

The Hollywood Critics Association has announced the nominees for its inaugural HCA TV Awards, with the 51-year-old Belizean and Guatemalan American actor among those earning a nod.

Colman Domingo

Domingo is up for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie for his performance in HBO’s Euphoria Two-Part Special.

Rosie Perez picked up a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy category. The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actress earned the nod for her role on HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant.

MJ Rodriguez earned a nod for Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama. The 30-year-old half Afro-Puerto Rican actress received the nomination for her work on FX’s Pose. It’s a role that has already earned Rodriguez an Imagen Award and a Dorian Award.

Jason Rodriguez picked up a nomination for his work on scene-stealing work on Pose. The 48-year-old Dominican-​American actor/dancer will compete in the Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama category.

Pedro Pascal continues picking up recognition for his work on The Mandalorian. The 46-year-old Chilean-American actor was nominated in the Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama category. He’s previously earned MTV Movie + TV Award and Critics Choice Super Award nods for his performance on the sci-fi series.

Daniel Brühl has picked up a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama. The 43-year-old half-Spanish actor is nominated for his performance on Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

Alexis Bledel is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama. The 39-year-old half-Argentinian American actress picked up the nod for her work on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. She has previously won an Emmy for her work on the drama series.

The trophies will be handed out during a ceremony on August 22 at the Avalon Hollywood.

The HCA TV Awards separate their nominations by comedies and dramas and, notably, into separate categories for broadcast, cable and streaming shows.

Here are the nominees for the first HCA TV Awards, followed by a list on noms by network/platform:

Best Animated Series or Animated Television Movie
Animaniacs (Hulu)
Big Mouth (Netflix)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series
30 for 30 (ESPN)
Allen vs. Farrow (HBO)
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO)
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked (VH1)
The Vow (HBO)
Welcome to Chechnya (HBO)

Best Streaming Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series
1971: The Year Music Changed Everything (Apple TV+)
American Murder: The Family Next Door (Netflix)
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix)
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (HBO Max)
Kid 90s (Hulu)
Murder Among Mormons (Netflix)
P!nk: All I Know So Far (Amazon Prime Video)
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (Netflix)
Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix)

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Best Streaming Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special
8:46 – Dave Chappelle (Netflix)
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (HBO Max)
Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
Friends: The Reunion Special (HBO Max)
Jim Gaffigan: The Pale Tourist (Amazon Prime Video)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion (HBO Max)

Best Broadcast Network Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
Holey Moley (ABC)
Shark Tank (ABC)
The Masked Singer (Fox)
The Voice (NBC)

Best Cable or Streaming Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show
Indian Matchmaking (Netflix)
Nailed It (Netflix)
Queer Eye (Netflix)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
Top Chef (Bravo)

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie
Euphoria Two-Part Special (HBO)
Fargo (FX)
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mare of Easttown (HBO)
The Undoing (HBO)
Your Honor (Showtime)

Best Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie
Hamilton (Disney+)
Small Axe (Amazon Prime Video)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
WandaVision (Disney+)

Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie
Bryan Cranston – Your Honor (Showtime)
Chris Rock – Fargo (FX)
Colman Domingo – Euphoria Two-Part Special (HBO)
Hugh Grant – The Undoing (HBO)
Joel Edgerton – The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
Leslie Odom Jr. – Hamilton (Disney+)
Paul Bettany – WandaVision (Disney+)

Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie
Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo – Genius: Aretha (NatGeo)
Elizabeth Olsen – WandaVision (Disney+)
Kate Winslet – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You (HBO)
Thuso Mbedu – The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
Zendaya – Euphoria Two-Part Special (HBO)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie
Bill Camp – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Courtney B. Vance – Genius: Aretha (NatGeo)
Daveed Diggs – Hamilton (Disney+)
Evan Peters – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
John Boyega – Small Axe (Amazon Prime Video)
Randall Park – WandaVision (Disney+)
William Jackson Harper – The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie
Jean Smart – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Jessie Buckley – Fargo (FX)
Julianne Nicholson – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Kat Dennings – WandaVision (Disney+)
Kathryn Hahn – WandaVision (Disney+)
Marielle Heller – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Teyonah Parris – WandaVision (Disney+)

Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy
black-ish (ABC)
Mr. Mayor (NBC)
Superstore (NBC)
Young Rock (NBC)
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)

Best Cable Series, Comedy
Breeders (FX)
Chad (TBS)
Everything Is Gonna Be Okay (Freeform)
Resident Alien (Syfy)
Shameless (Showtime)

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy
Alan Tudyk – Resident Alien (Syfy)
Anthony Anderson – black-ish (ABC)
Joseph Lee Anderson – Young Rock (NBC)
Martin Freeman – Breeders (FX)
Ted Danson – Mr. Mayor (NBC)

Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy
Daisy Haggard for Breeders (FX)
Jane Levy – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Robin Thede – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Stacey Leilua – Young Rock (NBC)
Tracee Ellis Ross – black-ish (ABC)

Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy
Alex Newell – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Corey Reynolds – Resident Alien (Syfy)
Dwayne Johnson – Young Rock (NBC)
John Clarence Stewart – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Nico Santos – Superstore (NBC)
Skylar Astin – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)

Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy
Alice Wetterlund – Resident Alien (Syfy)
Ana Tuisila – Young Rock (NBC)
Holly Hunter – Mr. Mayor (NBC)
Lauren Ash – Superstore (NBC)
Mary Steenburgen – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Vella Lovell – Mr. Mayor (NBC)

Best Streaming Series, Comedy
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Girls5Eva (Peacock)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Ed Helms – Rutherford Falls (Peacock)
Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Michael Douglas – The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Rob McElhenney – Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)
Tom Ellis – Lucifer (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
Hailee Steinfield – Dickinson (Apple TV+)
Cristin Milioti – Made for Love (HBO Max)
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Girls5eva (Peacock)

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Brendan Hunt – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Danny Pudi – Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)
Jeremy Swift – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Nick Mohammed – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Patton Oswalt – A.P. Bio (Peacock)
Ray Romano – Made for Love (HBO Max)

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max)
Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Juno Temple – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Kaitlin Olson – Hacks (HBO Max)
Kathleen Turner – The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Paula Pell – Girls5Eva (Peacock)
Rosie Perez – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)

Best Broadcast Network Series, Drama
Big Sky (ABC)
Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC)
New Amsterdam (NBC)
Superman & Lois (The CW)
The Good Doctor (ABC)
This Is Us (NBC)

Best Cable Series, Drama
Cruel Summer (Freeform)
Gangs of London (AMC)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Perry Mason (HBO)
Pose (FX)
Yellowstone (Paramount Network)

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Billy Porter – Pose (FX)
Christopher Meloni – Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC)
Freddie Highmore – The Good Doctor (ABC)
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason (HBO)
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)

Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Chiara Aurelia – Cruel Summer (Freeform)
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Mandy Moore – This Is Us (NBC)
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
MJ Rodriguez – Pose (FX)
Olivia Holt – Cruel Summer (Freeform)

Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Courtney B. Vance – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Dylan McDermott – Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC)
Jason Rodriguez – Pose (FX)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan – The Walking Dead (AMC)
John Carroll Lynch – Big Sky (ABC)
John Lithgow – Perry Mason (HBO)
Michael K. Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Tzi Ma – Kung Fu (The CW)

Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Brooke Smith – Big Sky (ABC)
Catherine Zeta-Jones – Prodigal Son (Fox)
Dominique Jackson – Pose (FX)
Hannah Zeile – This is Us (NBC)
Indya Moore – Pose (FX)
Kelly Reilly – Yellowstone (Paramount Network)
Tatiana Maslany – Perry Mason (HBO)
Wunmi Mosaku – Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Best Streaming Series, Drama
Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Servant (Apple TV+)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama
Anthony Mackie – The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Disney+)
Josh O’ Connor – The Crown (Netflix)
Karl Urban – The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
Pedro Pascal – The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama
Emma Corrin – The Crown (Netflix)
Olivia Colman – The Crown (Netflix)
Aya Cash – The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Sarah Paulson – Ratched (Netflix)

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama
Bradley Whitford – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Daniel Brühl – The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Disney+)
Giancarlo Esposito – The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
Giancarlo Esposito – The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Rupert Grint – Servant (Apple TV+)
Tobias Menzies – The Crown (Netflix)
Wyatt Russell – The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Disney+)

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama
Alexis Bledel – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Ann Dowd – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Netflix)
Ming-Na Wen – The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Samira Wiley – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Yvette Nicole Brown – Big Shot (Disney+)
Yvonne Strahovski – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

Alexia Garcia to Star in USA Network’s Upcoming “Nash Bridges” Revival Movie

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Alexia Garcia is crossing the Bridges…

The 24-year-old Mexican actress will appear in USA Network’s upcoming Nash Bridges revival.

Alexia Garcia

Returning as a two-hour television movie with stars Don Johnson, Cheech Marin and Jeff Perry reprising their roles, the project will also star Diarra Kilpatrick, Bonnie Somerville, Joe Dinicol, Angela Ko and Paul James. A premiere date hasn’ been announced yet.

The movie brings Johnson and Marin back together as elite investigators for the San Francisco Police Department Special Investigations Unit.

The revival, which has been in development at USA since 2019 as a two-hour movie, comes from Johnson, Bill Chais and Marc Rosen. Village Roadshow Television, which also controls rights to the property, is producing.

Garcia portrays Chloe Zane, a fearless and tech savvy member of the SIU Unit.

The original Nash Bridges series ran on CBS from 1996 to 2001.

Garcia played Aphrodite on Ryan Murphy’s Pose and most recently guest-starred on Law & Order: SVU.

MJ Rodriguez to Star Opposite Maya Rudolph in Apple TV+ Untitled Comedy Series

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MJ Rodriguez is taking a bite of the Apple(TV+)…

The 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress, currently appearing in the third and final season of FX’s Pose, will star alongside Maya Rudolph in Apple TV+’s untitled half-hour comedy series created by Emmy winners Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard.

MJ Rodriguez

Created and written by Yang and Hubbard, the series follows Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but $87 billion.

Rodriguez will play Sofia, the hard-working executive director of the non-profit funded by her absentee billionaire boss, Molly.

Yang and Hubbard executive produce alongside Rudolph through her production company, Animal Pictures, with the company’s Natasha Lyonne and Danielle Renfrew Behrens also executive producing.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, will serve as the studio.

Rodriguez stars as housemother Blanca in Ryan Murphy’s Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe and Peabody Award-winning series Pose.

Rodriguez made history in becoming the first trans woman to win Best Actress in Television for her role in Pose at the 2019 Imagen Awards. She was most recently nominated for a Critics Choice Television Award and an MTV Movie + TV Award, and she won two Gold Derby Awards for her performance as well.

On the film side, Rodriguez starred in indie film Saturday Church, which earned her a Tribeca Film Festival nomination for best actress.

Her other television credits include Nurse Jackie and Marvel’s Luke Cage. 

FX Releases Trailer for Third & Final Season of Mj Rodriguez’s “Pose”

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It’s a last hurrah for Mj Rodriguez…

FX has released the first trailer for the third and final season of its groundbreaking series Pose, starring the 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress/singer.MJ Rodriguez

In less than two minutes, the clip serves up a lot of drama, tears, laughter, hope, love and sickening looks.

At the beginning of the trailer we see Emmy-winner Billy Porter reflect on ballroom culture and how it has changed and how it brought him so much life.

“Your life matters,” Rodriguez’s Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista tells him — a statement that has been a mantra of the entire series, which was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals.

Blanca now works at a hospital and the entire Pose crew talks about the legacy they want to leave behind and in turn.

“We are just gonna be ourselves and that’s it,” says Indya Moore’s Angel.

Set to the tune of Aretha Franklin’s “A Deeper Love,” the clip features glimpses of scenes from the final season, which includes Porter, Rodriguez, Moore, Dominique Jackson, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Hailie Sahar, Angel Bismark Curiel, Dyllón Burnside, and Sandra Bernhard.

From AIDS activism to moments of heartwarming familial love to ballroom fierceness, the final season is set to bring it and we are here for it.

The final season of Pose debuts May 2.

Lin Manuel Miranda Challenges TV Industry to Create All-Inclusive Environment in New #SeeAll PSA

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Lin Manuel Miranda is stressing the importance of diversity on the small screen…

During Sunday night’s Primetime Emmy Awards, a powerful PSA that challenges the television industry to do more to create an all-inclusive environment will air, featuring the 40-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, actor, singer, rapper, producer, and playwright.

See All,

Miranda, who created the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton, appears alongside Billy Porter, Isis King, Daniel Dae Kim, Jamie Chung and others, in the 60-second PSA, titled “See All.”

The PSA, created by the Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), a division of the New York-based Association of National Advertisers, features the actors alternating lines of the script, which opens with the appeal, “We appreciate the dialogue. We see the effort from Hollywood. But we need more.”

In the spot’s midsection, the voices raise important questions. “Do you see me in this industry? You act as if bias doesn’t exist. Would you rather breathe life into stereotypes or stand up against them? Because what I know of my culture isn’t who you portray me to be.”

The comments become more pointed as the spot progresses. “We are more than a splash of color on your white canvas. We’re not your quota. We are quotable. So show me — me. Not your me. Me.”

A social movement to #SEEALL will follow.

The actors epitomize the success in recent years of more diverse performers. Miranda, who has Puerto Rican roots, is just an Oscar away from becoming an EGOT. Porter, the star of Poseand Kinky Boots, is among today’s most high-profile LGBTQ performers. King, the first trans woman to compete on America’s Next Top Model, is one of the most visible transgender people on television. Kim, who was born in South Korea, has appeared in Lost, Hawaii Five-O and Angel. Chung, a second-generation Korean-American, has appeared in the films The Hangover Part II, Sucker Punch and Big Hero 6.

AIMM describes itself as “a coalition of entities from the entire marketing ecosystem, representing the Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and LGBTQ+ markets. AIMM members are focused on re-prioritizing multicultural and inclusive marketing to help companies maximize their growth potential. AIMM has been the catalyst for unprecedented industry research examining multicultural marketing opportunities and the obstacles that stand in the way of optimal growth.”

Steven Canals Developing Drama Series “In The End” for ABC

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It’s the beginning of The End for Steven Canals…

ABC has put in development In The End, a drama from the 39-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican screenwriter, producer and Pose co-creator and his Story Ave. Productions, and 20th Century Fox Television, where Canals is under a deal.

Written and executive produced by Canals, the project centers on Kiona Brown, who, incapable of living life to the fullest, makes the only logical choice – to embrace death as an end-of-life doula. With an eclectic list of patients – including cancer survivor Mariana Cortez – Kiona soon discovers the secret to a new beginning is to embrace what happens…in the end.

Steven-Canals


In The End is among the first projects for Canals under his overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television.

Canals co-created and executive produces the Emmy– and Golden Globe-nominated and Peabody Award-winning drama series Pose, named one of the Best TV Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute in 2018 and 2019. It will return for a third season in 2020.

A 2015 graduate of UCLA’s MFA Screenwriting program, Canals began his journey as a storyteller in high school, producing the documentary short Turf Violence: What’s It All About?co-funded by HBO Family. He went on to earn a BA in Cinema, and a Masters in Student Affairs & Diversity from Binghamton University. While attending UCLA, Canals served as a Research Assistant at Hungry Jackal Productions. In 2016 Canals was a staff writer on Freeform’s Dead of Summer, the same year his short film, Afuera, premiered at the LA Film Festival.

He made his TV directorial debut with the eighth episode of the second season ofPose titled “Revelations.”

Mj Rodriguez to Appear in HBO’s “Between the World and Me,” an Adaptation of the Apollo Theater Show Based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Novel

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It’s a whole new World for Mj Rodriguez.

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/singer has been cast in Between the World and Me, HBO’s adaptation of the stage show based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times bestseller.

MJ Rodriguez

Rodriguez joins a lineup of cast additions that includes Jharrel Jerome, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Janet Mock, Jason Moran, Wendell Pierce, Kendrick Sampson, Yara Shahidi and Michelle Wilson.

They join previously announced cast members Angela Bassett, Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, Susan Kelechi Watson and Oprah Winfrey.

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including readings from Coates’ book, and will again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater executive producer Kamilah Forbes.

It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage and animation.

The book, first published in 2015 by One World, is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The narrative explores Coates’ notion that American society structurally supports white supremacy.

The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Rodriguez rose to acclaim on FX’s series Pose. Her other credits include television appearances on Luke Cage, The Carrie Diaries and Nurse Jackie.

In November 2019, Rodriguez landed a contract with Olay Body, becoming the first Latina trans woman to enter a partnership with the company.

Joaquin Castro & Congressional Hispanic Caucus Urge Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to Update Diversity in the Media Report

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Joaquin Castro is calling for a more diverse media…

In a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – chaired by the 45-year-old Mexican American politician and U.S. Representative for Texas’ 20th congressional district – is urging the commission to update its “Diversity in the Media: A Chart Book for Selected Industries” report, which hasn’t been updated since 2004.

Joaquin Castro

The call to action furthers Castro and the CHC’s efforts to increase diversity in media and entertainment and to have a baseline of data for transparency and ultimately greater accountability in the industry.

The letter is addressed to EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon, as well as EEOC Commissioners Victoria A. Lipnic and Charlotte A. Burrows and discusses the importance of having a baseline of data for transparency and ultimately greater accountability.

The 2004 report lays out data on the diversity in media in three major categories: broadcasting, publishing and cable.

With the advent of streaming and the surge of digital content, the CHC points out that the media industry has “drastically changed” since the report was released over 16 years ago and it’s time that revisions be made.

Castro and the CHC requested the EEOC update the report no more than 60 days from the receipt of the letter. They also are looking for updates every 30 days until the final report is released.

The CHC broke it down and requested that the new report include:

  1.  Disaggregated data on race, ethnicity and gender by individual industry rather than the grouping format used in 2004.
  2.  New industries such as digital content and streaming provider
  3.  Updated data for all positions in each industry from entry level up to and including Executive level positi
  4.  When possible, data on salaries and wages disaggregated by race, ethnicity and gender for each of the employee categories, including Executive level positions for each industry.

“While discrimination and lack of equal opportunity for underrepresented groups is present in many fields, the media industry is unique in its ability to influence the broader culture and shape the perception of entire groups,” the letter stated. “When Latinos do not have the opportunity to shape the media’s depiction of our communities, it ultimately emboldens a misunderstanding of our communities that weakens the social fabric of American society. The CHC views greater transparency around employment data through publicly available information as critical to increasing representation for Latinos and other underrepresented communities.”

An updated report would hopefully help move the needle further as Hollywood tries to become more inclusive when it comes to talent in front of and behind the camera — specifically in a time when the country is seeing a social and civic reckoning.

It also comes after a blatant lack of Latinx representation when it came to Emmy award nominations, even though the television landscape was filled with Latinx-led shows like Vida, One Day At A Time and Gentefied.

Pose has been an Emmy favorite and although star Billy Porter was nominated, there was no love for show co-creator Steven Canals or series stars Mj Rodriguez and Indya Moore, who’ve delivered stellar work on the FX drama.

The new ABC comedy United We Fall features Latinx characters but with the cancellation of The Baker and the Beauty, there’s a glaring absence of shows with a majority Latinx cast on a major network.

Last fall, Castro led a congressional delegation to Los Angeles where the CHC met with several studios and streamers, talent agencies, as well as union and guilds. Congress has worked to include this language in almost all of the major funding bills during the Appropriations process and in the National Defense Authorization Act. The CHC has regular conversations with stakeholders regarding the state of the industry. Most recently the CHC had meetings with Amazon Studios and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as they develop their new 2025 diversity initiatives to ensure that Latinos are included in these goals on diversity.

The letter was signed by Castro, Robert Menendez (Co-Chair, Diversity Taskforce), Tony Cárdenas (Co-Chair, Diversity Taskforce) as well as members of Congress José E. Serrano, Ruben Gallego, Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Juan Vargas and Nydia M. Velázquez.