Rodriguez to Appear Opposite Gina Rodriguez on the CW’s “Jane the Virgin”

Adam Rodriguez is entering virgin territory…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican/Cuban-American actor has landed a guest-starring role on the CW’s Jane the Virgin.

Adam Rodriguez

Rodriguez, who will appear on several episodes of Empire this season,

will recur on network’s telenovela-based comedy as Jonathan, Jane’s (Gina Rodriguez) very critical writing professor who doesn’t believe in coddling students. Complications, naturally, ensue.

“In the writers room, we broke this arc with Adam in mind and we are all so thrilled to have him,” said Jane the Virgin showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman in a statement. “Wahooo!”

But Rodriguez, who recently starred on the big screen in Magic Mike XXL, has been tapped for another project this season…

He’s set to direct episode 12 of Scorpion’s sophomore season.

CBS Television Studios, which produces both series, has a longstanding relationship with the actor. He starred on CSI: Miami for 10 years, during which time he wrote and directed two episodes. He most recently starred in the studio’s summer legal drama Reckless.

Rodriguez’s other credits include Roswell, Ugly Betty and The Night Shift.

Jane the Virgin’s new season premieres Monday, October 12 at 9 pm ET on The CW.

Scorpion airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on CBS.

de la Garza to Star in CBS’ “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”

Alana de la Garza is going beyond borders…

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American actress has booked a series regular role opposite Gary Sinise on CBS’ Criminal Minds planted offshoot Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Alana de la Garza

Like Criminal Minds, which centers on the FBI’s Analysis Unit, Beyond Borders focuses on a division of the FBI. It follows agents helping American citizens who find themselves in trouble abroad.

de la Garza, who recently landed a recurring role on CBSScorpion, will play Clara, a smart, well-traveled cultural anthropologist on the International Response Team.

de la Garza played the female lead on ABC’s Forever. Her previous television credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Los Angeles, as well as the short-lived series Do No Harm.

Like the original series, Beyond Borders hails from ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios and the Mark Gordon Co.

de la Garza Lands Recurring Role on CBS’ Drama Series “Scorpion”

Alana de la Garza is about to feel the sting

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American actress has been cast in a recurring role on the second season of CBS’ drama series Scorpion.

Alana de la Garza

de la Garza, who recently played the female lead on the ABC drama Forever, will portray the smart, tough and driven new Head of Homeland Security who needs the Scorpion team to be successful. But is it because it’s best for the team or because it’s best for her?

de la Garza’s character will succeed Homeland Security Director Merrick (David Fabrizio) who in the Season 1 finale relegated Cabe (Robert Patrick) to a desk job at the Pomona airport, prompting Cabe to quit.

The Season 2 opener, slated for September 21, will find Cabe taking a job as a Hollywood tech advisor until he is summoned back by the new head of Homeland Security to reassume his old position as a liaison for the Scorpion team.

Scorpion is executive produced by Roberto Orci and more for CBS Television Studios.

de la Garza’s previous television credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Los Angeles, as well as the short-lived series Do No Harm.

Ariza Cast in HBO Films’ “Confirmation,” Starring Kerry Washington

Kristen Ariza is getting confirmed

The part-Hispanic actress has been added to the cast of HBO FilmsConfirmation, starring Kerry Washington.

Kristen Ariza

Ariza joins Kimberly Elise and Malcolm Gets in the film, which details the Supreme Court hearings for Clarence Thomas (Wendell Pierce) that were rocked by testimony by Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill (Washington).

The hearings brought the country to a standstill and forever changed the way we think about sexual harassment, victims’ rights and modern race relations.

Ariza will play Judy Smith, the White House press liaison.

Interestingly, it’s a reunion of sorts for Washington and the Smith character. Smith is the founder, CEO and president of the crisis-management firm Smith & Co., the inspiration behind Washington’s ABC drama series Scandal. Smith was Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush and reportedly was instrumental in guiding his administration through the controversies surrounding the Thomas nomination.

Ariza’s credits include appearances on Parks and Recreation, Scorpion and Castle.