Raúl Esparza to Star in Hollywood Bowl Production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Raúl Esparza has landed a Superstar role…

The 54-year-old Cuban American actor, considered one of Broadway‘s most prominent leading men since the 2000s, has joined the cast of next month’s Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring the Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert.

Esparza will play Pontius Pilate. Erivo is playing Jesus and Lambert is Judas.

Additional casting will be announced.

Sergio Trujillo directs.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber–Tim Rice musical will be performed on Friday, August 1, at 8:00 pm; Saturday, August 2, at 8:00 pm; and Sunday, August 3, at 7:30 pm.

Esparza’s many stage credits include Tony-nominated performances in Broadway’s Taboo (2005), Company (2007) The Homecoming (2008), and Speed-the-Plow (2009).

Other theater credits include Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Assassins and Evita.

On television, Esparza can currently be seen in Hulu’s limited series Candy, and he is perhaps best known for his long-running role of Rafael Barba in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

His film credits include Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene, Jonathan Ullman’s Trouble in the Heights, Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take and Sidney Lumet’s Find Me Guilty.

Jenna Ortega Earns First-Ever Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Nomination

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jenna Ortega is making an impression with the kids…

Nickelodeon has revealed the nominees for its 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards, with the 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress earning her first nod.

Ortega is nominated in the Favorite Female Star TV (Family) category for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams on Netflix’s acclaimed series Wednesday.

Selena Gomez and Salma Hayek will face off in the Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Female).

The 30-year-old Mexican American actress is nominated for her role as Mavis in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, while the Mexican actress is nominated for her work as Kitty Softpaws in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Cardi B is nominated in the Favorite Female Artist category; Bad Bunny is nominated in the Favorite Male Artist category, and Taboo and his Black Eyed Peas group mates are up for Favorite Music Group.

Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas, nominated with Shakira and David Guetta for “Don’t You Worry,” will face off against Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran, nominated for “Bam Bam,” in the Favorite Collaboration category.

Bad Bunny (Latin America) and Rosalia (Europe) are up for Favorite Global Music Superstar.

Stephen Sanchez is nominated for Favorite Social Media Star.

The awards show will air live on Saturday, March 4 at 7:00 pm ET/PT from L.A.’s Microsoft Theater.

In the sports categories, Lionel Messi is up for Favorite Male Sports Star.

Musical performances will be announced at a later date.

This year’s show will also feature extreme logic-defying stunts; wild celebrity collaborations and games; magical illusions and tricks; interactive moments within the Nickverse; and epic slimings. Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 will simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons, the Nick Jr. channel, TVLand, CMT and MTV2.

Here are the nominees for Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2023:

TELEVISION

FAVORITE KIDS TV SHOW
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Ms. Marvel
Raven’s Home
That Girl Lay Lay
The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
The Really Loud House

FAVORITE FAMILY TV SHOW
Cobra Kai
iCarly
Obi-Wan Kenobi
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Stranger Things
Wednesday
Young Rock
Young Sheldon

FAVORITE REALITY SHOW
America’s Funniest Home Videos
America’s Got Talent
American Ninja Warrior
Floor Is Lava
MasterChef Junior
The Masked Singer

FAVORITE ANIMATED SHOW
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
Rugrats
SpongeBob SquarePants
Teen Titans Go!
The Loud House
The Smurfs

FAVORITE FEMALE TV STAR (KIDS)
Audrey Grace Marshall (Vivian Turner, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Imogen Cohen (Zina, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Olivia Rodrigo (Nini, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Raven-Symoné (Raven Baxter, Raven’s Home)
Sofia Wylie (Gina, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
That Girl Lay Lay (Lay Lay, That Girl Lay Lay)

FAVORITE MALE TV STAR (KIDS)
Brady Noon (Evan Morrow, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers)
Israel Johnson (Noah Lambert, Bunk’d)
Joshua Bassett (Ricky, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
Tyler Wladis (Roy, The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder)
Wolfgang Schaeffer (Lincoln Loud, The Really Loud House)
Young Dylan (Young Dylan, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan)

FAVORITE FEMALE TV STAR (FAMILY)
Hilary Duff (Sophie, How I Met Your Father)
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams, Wednesday)
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven, Stranger Things)
Miranda Cosgrove (Carly Shay, iCarly)
Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield, Stranger Things)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Bow Johnson, Black-ish)

FAVORITE MALE TV STAR (FAMILY)
Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair, Stranger Things)
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi-Wan-Kenobi)
Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things)
Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson, Stranger Things)
Jerry Trainor (Spencer Shay, iCarly)
Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai)

FILM

FAVORITE MOVIE
Avatar: The Way of Water
Black Adam
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hocus Pocus 2
Jurassic World Dominion
Monster High The Movie
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Top Gun: Maverick

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR
Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder)
Chris Pratt (Owen Grady, Jurassic World: Dominion)
Dwayne Johnson (Black Adam/Teth-Adam, Black Adam)
Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Ryan Reynolds (Big Adam, The Adam Project)
Tom Cruise (Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Top Gun: Maverick)

FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS
Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
Letitia Wright (Shuri, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)
Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 2)
Natalie Portman (Jane Foster/The Mighty Thor, Thor: Love and Thunder)
Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson, Hocus Pocus 2)

FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE
DC League of Super-Pets
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Lightyear
Minions: The Rise of Gru
The Bad Guys
Turning Red

FAVORITE VOICE FROM AN ANIMATED MOVIE (MALE)
Andy Samberg (Dale, Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers)
Andy Samberg (Jonathan, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania)
Chris Evans (Buzz Lightyear, Lightyear)
Dwayne Johnson (Krypto, DC League of Super-Pets)
Kevin Hart (Ace, DC League of Super-Pets)
Steve Carell (Gru, Minions: The Rise of Gru)

FAVORITE VOICE FROM AN ANIMATED MOVIE (FEMALE)
Awkwafina (Tarantula, The Bad Guys)
Keke Palmer (Izzy Hawthorne, Lightyear)
Salma Hayek (Kitty Softpaws, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)
Sandra Oh (Ming, Turning Red)
Selena Gomez (Mavis, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania)
Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom, Minions: The Rise of Gru)

MUSIC

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST
Adele
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Cardi B
Lady Gaga
Lizzo
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST
Bad Bunny
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
The Weeknd

FAVORITE MUSIC GROUP
5 Seconds of Summer
Black Eyed Peas
BLACKPINK
BTS
Imagine Dragons
OneRepublic
Panic! At The Disco
Paramore

FAVORITE SONG
“About Damn Time”- Lizzo
“Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift
“As It Was”- Harry Styles
“Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift
“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé
“First Class”- Jack Harlow
“I Ain’t Worried”- OneRepublic
“Lift Me Up”- Rihanna

FAVORITE MUSIC COLLABORATION
“Bam Bam”- Camila Cabello, featuring Ed Sheeran
“Don’t You Worry” – Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Shakira
“I Like You (A Happier Song)”- Post Malone, featuring Doja Cat
“Numb”- Marshmello, featuring Khalid
“Stay With Me”- Calvin Harris, featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey, Pharrell
“Sweetest Pie”- Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa

FAVORITE BREAKOUT ARTIST
Devon Cole
Dove Cameron
GAYLE
Joji
Lauren Spencer Smith
Nicky Youre

FAVORITE ALBUM
“Dawn FM”- The Weeknd
“GOD DID”- DJ Khaled
“Harry’s House”- Harry Styles
“Midnights (3am Edition)”- Taylor Swift
“Renaissance”- Beyoncé
“Special”- Lizzo

FAVORITE GLOBAL MUSIC STAR
Bad Bunny (Latin America)
BLACKPINK (Asia)
Harry Styles (UK)
Rosalía (Europe)
Taylor Swift (North America)
Tones and I (Australia)
Wizkid (Africa)

FAVORITE SOCIAL MUSIC STAR
Bella Poarch
Dixie D’Amelio
JoJo Siwa
Oliver Tree
Stephen Sanchez
That Girl Lay Lay

OTHER CATEGORIES

FAVORITE MALE CREATOR
Austin Creed
MrBeast
Ninja
Ryan’s World
SeanDoesMagic
Unspeakable

FAVORITE FEMALE CREATOR
Addison Rae
Charli D’Amelio
Dixie D’Amelio
Gracie’s Corner
Kids Diana Show
Miranda Sings

FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA FAMILY
FGTeeV
Ninja Kidz TV
Ohana Adventure Family
The Bucket List Family
The Royalty Family
The Williams Family

FAVORITE FEMALE SPORTS STAR
Candace Parker
Chloe Kim
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles
Venus Williams

FAVORITE MALE SPORTS STAR
LeBron James
Lionel Messi
Patrick Mahomes
Shaun White
Stephen Curry
Tom Brady

FAVORITE CELEBRITY PET
Dodger Evans
Gino Chopra Jonas
Noon Coleman
Olivia Benson Swift
Piggy Lou Bieber
Toulouse Grande

FAVORITE BOOK
Cat Kid Comic Club Book Series
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Series
Five Nights at Freddy’s Book Series
Harry Potter Book Series
The Adventures of Captain Underpants Books Series
The Bad Guys Book Series

FAVORITE VIDEO GAME
Adopt Me!
Brookhaven
Just Dance 2023
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Minecraft
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Shakira Teams Up with the Black Eyed Peas & David Guetta to Release New Single “Don’t You Worry”

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira doesn’t want you to worry…

The 45-year-old Colombian superstar has teamed up with the Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta to release the new single “Don’t You Worry,” a feel good, space-themed summer anthem.

The new music video for the single finds the three rap stars behind BEP — will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo — playing aliens who come in peace to Shakira’s home planet, where the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer leads the charge in greeting and communicating with the extraterrestrial newcomers.

“Don’t you worry, don’t you worry about a thing,” the quartet sings, with Shakira later transforming into a silver alien being and beaming herself and the Black Eyed Peas into a pyramid-shaped space ship. “Everything’s gonna be alright.”

The new song is the band’s second time collaborating with Shakira, following their 2020 single “Girl Like Me” which peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Guetta, who makes a small cameo in the music video, has been working with the Peas for more than a decade, known in particular for his production on the group’s smash hit “I Gotta Feeling” — something that explains why the razor-edged synth melody in “Don’t You Worry” sounds so familiar.

BEP, whose ninth studio album is expected to be announced soon, shared part of the video on their Instagram, writing, “LOVE to all the talented creatives involved and to our fans for your infinite support” as well as commenting: “Anyone agrees this has got ‘I Gotta Feeling’ vibe to it?? @davidguetta.”

Oona Chaplin to Host CBC/BBC Podcast Exploring J. Edgar Hoover’s Obsession with Her Grandfather Charlie Chaplin

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Oona Chaplin will be helping explore J. Edgar Hoover…

Canada’s CBC and the UK’s BBC are jointly working on a podcast in which the 35-year-old Spanish-British actress and former Game of Thrones star explores Hoover’s campaign to root out Communism in Hollywood and his obsession with her grandfather, silent movie star Charlie Chaplin.

The project, from CBC Podcasts and BBC World Service, is an extension to a collaboration commitment from 2019 in which the two national broadcasters pledged to enhance their services and programs by working together.

Chaplin’s BBC Audio Wales-produced Hollywood Outcasts will see Chaplin, known for roles in Game of Thrones and Taboo, looking at how Hoover’s determination to stop perceived Hollywood Communism centered around The Tramp star Charlie Chaplin and guide listeners through the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee hearings and the ‘Hollywood blacklist.’

The podcast will be made available on BBC Sounds, CBC Listen and most other podcast platforms. It’s scheduled for release this year and next.

Raul Esparza to Star in FX’s Limited Series “Retreat”

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Raul Esparza is going on retreat…

The 51-year-old Cuban American actor and Broadway star has been cast in FX’s Retreat, a limited series from Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij.

Led by Emma Corrin, the list of new additions to the cast includes Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson, Alice Braga, Jermaine Fowler, Joan Chen, Edoardo Ballerini Pegah Ferydoni, Ryan J. Haddad and Javed Khan.

Retreat is a radical conceptualization of the whodunit with a new kind of detective at the helm — a gen Z amateur sleuth named Darby Hart (Corrin). Darby and 11 other guests are invited by a reclusive billionaire to participate in a Retreat at a remote and dazzling location. When one of the other guests is found dead, Darby must fight to prove it was murder against a tide of competing interests and before the killer takes another life.

Esparza is David; Owen plays Andy; Marling portrays Lee; Dickinson is Bill; Braga plays Sian; Fowler is Martin; Chen portrays Lu Mei; Ballerini plays Ray; Ferydoni portrays Ziba; Haddad plays Oliver and Khan is Rohan.

Marling and Batmanglij will write and direct the series. FX Productions is the studio.

Esparza is best known for his role as New York Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Rafael Barba in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

He received Tony Award nominations for his roles as Philip Salon in the Boy George musical Taboo in 2004; Robert in the musical comedy Company in 2006; Lenny in Harold Pinter‘s play The Homecoming in 2008; and Charlie Fox in David Mamet‘s play Speed-the-Plow in 2009.

Jennifer Lopez to Perform as Part of “Global Citizen Live” Concert Event

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is going global to defend the planet…

Global Citizen Live has revealed additional names of performers for its worldwide show on September 25, with the 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar among those taking the stage.

J.Lo — who also performed as part of Vax Live in Los Angeles a few months ago — Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas and Meek Mill are among the acts just added to the 24-hour event, which will feature performances on six continents.

Global Citizen, the international advocacy group behind the Vax Live concert on May 8, said next month’s event is aimed at defeating poverty, Covid and climate change.

The acts revealed today join Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Lorde, Metallica, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, The Weeknd, Tiwa Savage and Usher.

Global Citizen’s stated goal for the event is call on world leaders, major corporations and foundations to donate at least 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to those most in need by September, help the 41 million people on the brink of famine by contributing enough meals to feed everyone for the next year and combat climate change by developing science-based targets to reach net-zero emissions.

Broadcast and streaming partners for Global Citizen Live include ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, Time and Twitter.

Here are the full concert lineups for September 25, with more locations and performances to be announced, per Global Citizen:

NEW YORK CITY
Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes (with guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste and Lang Lang)

PARIS
Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, H.E.R., Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens (with a guest performance by Angélique Kidjo)

LAGOS, NIGERIA
Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Made Kuti

Shakira & Black Eyed Peas to Release Official Music Video for “Girl Like Me”

Image

Shakira is bringing a recent collaboration to life…

The Black Eyed Peas have confirmed that a music video with the 43-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and philanthropist for their “Girl Like Me.”

Taboo, apl.de.ap and J. Rey Soul spoke during the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards, as they opened up about the music video and new album.

“To all the Shakira fans, the new video is coming,” Taboo told Billboard. “Because they’ve been telling us, ‘You’re taking too long with this video,’ so we apologize. Greatness takes a long time. I promise you it will be out.”

The trio also shared details about their “Mamacita” performance with Ozuna during the ceremony, where Will.i.am appeared virtually. “We did the honor to represent the Black Eyed Peas and the whole crew. And we did something very special with technology. We’re pushing the envelope as far as augmented reality goes and artificial intelligence as Will loves to do.”

The Black Eyed Peas also took the opportunity to urge fans to go out and vote on November 3. “Go vote now. You have to vote early, because they are trying to stop us from achieving social justice and equality. So, we have to make it a point to go out and vote,” said apl.de.ap.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards took place Wednesday night live from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The biggest winners of the night were Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny, who each took home seven awards.

See the winners list here.

Anthony Ramos to Serve as a Presenter at This Weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Anthony Ramos wants his MTV…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor, who currently appears in the film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton on Disney+, will participate in this weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards.

Ramos will serve a presenter during Sunday’s award show, which will be hosted by Keke Palmer. Other presenters include Nicole Richie, Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson.

There will be several “first” moments during this year’s MTV VMAs, besides the fact that it’s being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

BTS will make their first television performance of their English-language single “Dynamite,” while Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande will perform “Rain On Me” on stage for the first time on television since releasing their No. 1 hit. The two pop stars lead this year’s nominations with nine each. Maluma and CNCO are also confirmed to perform.

Taboo and his fellow Black Eyed Peas members, who performed “Where Is the Love?” on the VMAs pre-show 17 years ago, are making their way to the main stage for their first time ever to perform “Vida Loca,” from their eighth studio album Translation, for the first time.

But previously announced acts J Balvin and Roddy Ricch will no longer appear at the socially distanced ceremony.

Here’s a look at the presenters and performers for the 2020 MTV VMAs, which will broadcast live around various NYC locations at 8:00 pm ET:

Presenters:
Anthony Ramos
Bebe Rexha
Bella Hadid
Drew Barrymore
Jaden Smith
Joey King
Kelly Clarkson
Machine Gun Kelly
Madison Beer
Nicole Richie
Sofia Carson
Travis Barker

Pre-Show Performers:
Chloe x Halle
Jack Harlow
Lewis Capaldi
Machine Gun Kelly featuring Travis Barker and blackbear
Tate McRae

Performers:
Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga
Black Eyed Peas
BTS
CNCO
DaBaby
Doja Cat
Maluma
Miley Cyrus
The Weeknd

Rosalía to Take Part in This Year’s Virtual Latin Music Week, Moved to October Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Rosalía will help celebrate Latin music this fall…

The 26-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning singer-songwriterwill participate in this year’s Latin Music Week, a three-day immersive experience dedicated to Latin music, culture and entertainment.

Rosalia joins a roster of participating superstars that includes J Balvin, Taboo and the Black Eyed Peas, Maluma,Ozuna and Carlos Vives.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary as the longest-running and biggest Latin music industry, Latin Music Week2020 will take place on October 20-23.

This year’s festivities will be virtual, and will feature intimate artist conversations, industry panels, workshops and performances.

“Latin music has become a formidable and undeniable uniting force around the world, so it’s fitting that this year’s virtual Latin Music Week will be globally accessible at no cost to the industry and fans for the first time,” said Leila Cobo, vp, Latin industry lead, Billboard. “While we were disappointed to postpone our April conference, our virtual event will allow us to connect with fans and artists from all over the world no matter where they are. During these very difficult times, we are thrilled to extend an invitation to all who wish to celebrate Latin music and culture.”

This year’s Latin Music Week was originally scheduled to take place April 20-23 in Las Vegas, but was postponed due to COVID-19.

Additional participants and schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

To reserve a spot and receive updates, RSVP here.

Oona Chaplin to Star in the Horror Feature “Lullaby”

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

There’s nothing soothing about Oona Chaplin’s next project…

The 33-year-old part-Chilean actress has been tapped to star in Lullaby, a horror feature from Alcon Entertainment.

John R. Leonetti, who has directed films in the same genre like Annabelle, Wish Upon, and most recently the Netflix original The Silence, has signed on to direct Lullaby, which will begin production in Toronto next month.

Based on the mythological figure Lilith, the film is rooted in folklore and follows a new mother who discovers a lullaby in an ancient book and soon regards the song as a blessing. But her world transforms into a nightmare when the lullaby (“Lilith-Abi” Hebrew for “Lilith, begone”) brings forth the ancient demon Lilith.

Chaplin, the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, has previously appeared on HBO’s Game of Thrones, BBC’s The Crimson Fieldand Taboo.

She’s set to appear in the forthcoming Avatar sequels.

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