Lima to Star in CW’s Superhero Series “Supergirl”

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Floriana Lima has landed a Super-sized role…

The Latina actress has landed a series regular role on the CBS-turned-CW superhero series Supergirl.

Lima will portray Maggie Sawyer, a character inspired by the historic gay DC Comics character.

Created by John Byrne, Maggie was first introduced in 1987 as a captain of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit where she was a highly skilled member of the Science Police, the division of the police department that deals with metahumans.

Additionally, Maggie was revealed to be a lesbian in the Superman titles, making her one of the first openly characters in mainstream comics. She later went on to become romantically involved with another famous female superhero, Batwoman, in addition appearance in several Batman titles.

On the Warner Bros.-produced Supergirl, Maggie will be a detective for the National City Police Department who takes a special interest in the cases involving aliens.

Supergirl executive producer Greg Berlanti, who is also an EP on Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year about the importance of being all inclusive. His DC Comics shows have changed the ethnicity and sexuality of several iconic comic book characters to better reflect present day, like Supergirl‘s Jimmy Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Arrow‘s Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), respectively.

“I wanted to contemporize these comics that I loved growing up and have them reflect the society that we live in now,” Berlanti said. “It’s still about working in some of those very real qualities so that everyone feels represented.”

Maggie Sawyer is one of several famed DC Comics characters coming to Supergirl for season two. Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Hoechlin has been cast as Kara’s cousin Clark Kent aka Superman, and Cougar Town vet Ian Gomez will play journalist Snapper Carr. Additionally, former Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter is set to appear as the President of the United States.

The character of Maggie Sawyer previously appeared in several episodes of former CW series Smallville, as played by Jill Teed.

In addition to the ABC drama The Family, Lima’s credits include Allegiance and The Mob Doctor.

Supergirl‘s second season premieres on Monday, October 10 at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Carter to Receive Lifetime Achievement Honors at This Year’s Gracie Awards

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lynda Carter has a special reason to be Gracie-ous…

The 64-year-old part-Mexican and part-Spanish American actress, best known for her portrayal of the original Wonder Woman, will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 41st annual Gracie Awards Gala.

The Gracie Awards recognize programming created by, for and about women in all media.

Carter starred as the titular female superhero in Wonder Woman, an adventure-drama series that aired on ABC and later CBS from 1975-1979.

In the 2000s she guest starred on television shows including Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Smallville and Two and a Half Men.

Carter also appeared in the 2005 movie reboot of Dukes of Hazzard alongside Johnny Knoxville and Jessica Simpson, and she later lent her voice to video games like The Elder Scrolls series and Fallout 4.

Aside from acting, Carter devoted herself to singing, beauty pageants and charity work.

“Lynda is the definition of a trailblazer as she has paved the way for women in media, carrying a national television show as Wonder Woman, and producing and starring in five highly rated network television specials,” Kristen Welch, the senior VP of global content operations at Discovery Communications, said in a statement. “Her success on screen, on the music charts and on stage showcase her talent and drive to break down barriers.”

Carter, along with this year’s other national honorees, will be recognized in a May 24 ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire. Local, public and student Gracie Award winners will be honored at the Gracies Luncheon on June 21 at Cipriani in New York City.

MTV Renews Baquero’s “The Shannara Chronicles” for a Second Season

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ivana Baquero will have more to chronicle in the near future…

MTV has ordered a second season of The Shannara Chronicles, starring the 21-year-old Spanish actress.

An adaptation of the international best-selling fantasy novels by Terry Brooks, the fantasy series hails from Smallville and Into the Badlands creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and Iron Man and Jungle Book director Jon Favreau.

It had a modestly-rated premiere run on linear television but did well in young demos, delayed and multi-platform viewing as well as on social media.

The series averaged a 0.98 L+3 rating in MTV’s core P12-34 demo, ranking as MTV’s top-rated new series this year.

Shannara also saw the highest average L+7 lift (+106%) for a freshman series in MTV history. A strong digital performer, the series pulled in 16.6 million streams across all MTV’s digital properties and ranks as the highest grossing digital download for a single season on MTV ever.

The Shannara Chronicles follows a trio of heroes who’ve embarked on a quest to stop a demon army bent on destroying humanity’s world. It stars Poppy Drayton as Amberle, an Elvin Princess; Baquero as Eretria, a Human Rover; Austin Butler as Wil, a Half-Elf, Half-Human, and Aaron Jakubenko as Ander.

In the season finale, Baquero’s character stays behind in Safehold to give the others time to escape from the Trolls following them. It is revealed that Eretria has been captured by Trolls; and she recognizes one of her captors .

The Shannara Chronicles is co-produced by MTV, Sonar Entertainment and Farah Films.

“This dream team delivered a beautiful, ground breaking show with compelling stories and character journeys which brought in new viewers,” said Mina Lefevre, EVP and Head of Scripted Development at MTV.

Milian to Star Opposite John Stamos in Fox’s Comedy Pilot “Grandpa”

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Milian is ready for an ancestral project…

The 33-year-old Afro-Cuban American singer and star of her own E! reality series has landed a lead role opposite John Stamos and Josh Peck in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Grandpa.

From ABC Studios and 20th Century Fox Television, the project centers on Jimmy (Stamos), a charismatic longtime bachelor whose life is upended when he discovers he’s a father — and a grandfather.

Peck plays Gerald, the son Jimmy didn’t know he had – a sweet unemployed techie who is himself the proud and surprisingly capable father of a two-year-old daughter, the product of a one-night stand with the sexy Vanessa (Milian), described as a hip, hot mess. Just when she seems to be warming up to Gerald at least, she meets Jimmy — and is instantly attracted to this older, cooler man, a complication that doesn’t bode well for Gerald.

Grandpa was written by Danny Chun.

Milian’s previous television acting credits include appearances on A Gifted Man, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Meet the Browns and Smallville.

Baquero Cast in MTV’s Fantasy Series “Shannara”

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ivana Baquero is ready for her MTV…

The 20-year-old Spanish actress, who gained acclaim as the star of Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-nominated Pan’s Labyrinth, has been cast opposite Poppy Drayton and Austin Butler in Shannara, the cable network’s 10-episode straight-to-series drama based on Terry Brooks’ massive fantasy book series.

Written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar, Shannara is set in our world, thousands of years after the destruction of our civilization. The story centers on the Shannara family, whose descendants are empowered with ancient magic and whose adventures continuously reshape the future of the world.

Baquero will play Eretria, a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who’s been forced to use her beauty and wits to survive. She’s a human who has been raised in a den of thieves known as the Rovers. When she rescues Wil from danger she becomes unwittingly tied to he and Amberle’s (Drayton) quest to save the Four Lands.

Baquero can currently be seen in Spanish film El Club de los Incomprendidos and recently wrapped Gelo, a Portuguese fantasy love story.

She will next be seen in Fox International’s My Other Me.

U.K. Broadcaster Channel 4 to Air Rodriguez’s New Series “Jane the Virgin”

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s virgin tale is going global…

CBS Corp.‘s CBS Studios International unit and U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 have sealed the deal on a licensing agreement for the exclusive first window, free-to-air broadcast rights to new critically acclaimed comedy Jane the Virgin, starring the 29-year-old Puerto Rican actress.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t released. But the show will premiere on Channel 4’s E4, an entertainment channel targeting 15- to 35-year-olds, in 2015.

Other U.S. hit shows that have aired on the network include Smallville, The O.C. and The Cleveland Show.

Jane the Virgin premiered in the U.S. on Monday on The CW network. It focuses on a young woman who has been saving herself until she and her fiance are married. Her life plans are turned upside-down when her doctor accidentally artificially inseminates her.

Jane the Virgin is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, in association with Electus.

“Jane the Virgin was one of the most talked-about comedies at LA Screenings this year, and we are delighted to be working with Channel 4 to bring this fresh, new series to E4’s young audience,” said Stephen Tague, senior VP Europe for CBS Studios International.

Said Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt: “Jane the Virgin feels genuinely innovative and fresh, and I’m thrilled it will be joining the stellar lineup of acquired shows on E4.”

de la Garza Gives Birth to Second Child

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Alana de la Garza is back to changing diapers…

The 37-year-old half-Mexican American actress gave birth to a baby girl last Sunday, July 7, as confirmed by Us Weekly.

de la Garza’s new bundle of joy arrived just five months after she announced her pregnancy back in January. “We are beyond excited to meet our baby girl!” she gushed back then.

No other details about the newborn have been announced, but the baby is a second child for the former Law & Order star and her husband Michael Roberts.

The newborn tot joins big sister Kieran who was born in September 2010.

de la Garza wed longtime boyfriend Michael, a writer, on May 31, 2008 in Orlando.

Her on-screen credits include Smallville, Charmed and CSI: Miami. She also starred as neurologist Lena Solis on NBC’s canceled series Do No Harm.

de la Garza Expecting Her Second Child

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Her latest television project may have been axed by NBC, but that isn’t affecting Alana de la Garza’s spirits…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican-American actress, whose new series Do No Harm was cancelled after airing two low-rated episodes, is expecting her second child.

The former Law and Order actress’ rep revealed the news exclusively to Us Weekly.

“We are beyond excited to meet our baby girl!” de la Garza and her husband, writer Michael Roberts, told Us in a statement. The couple are already parents to 2-year-old son Kieran.

De la Garza has also previously starred on CSI: Miami, and had guest-starring roles on Charmed, Smallville, and Two and a Half Men.

Despite her show’s recent cancellation, de la Garza is remaining positive.

“To all my peeps…Thank you for your warm wishes about #DoNoHarm,” she tweeted to fans on Saturday, Feb. 9. “Such a bummer. I will miss getting to hang with that gang! It was so fun.”

“Alas, this is the way things go sometimes,” she continued. “Onward to our new adventures!”

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