Frankie Loyal Upped to Series Regular on FX’s “Mayans M.C.”

There are more rides in Frankie Loyal’s future…

The 51-year-old Latino actor/producer has been upped to series regular on FX’s biker drama Mayans M.C. alongside Joseph Lucero and Vincent Vargas for season 4, which is scheduled to return in early 2022.

Frankie Loyal

Loyal, Lucero and Vargas took on larger roles in season 3, which saw their characters Hank Loza, Neron “Creeper” Vargas, and Gilly Lopez, respectively, flourish and develop into fully rounded characters with storylines fans embraced fully.

The trio have been a part of the series throughout its three-season run.

Mayans M.C., a spin-off series of the network’s hit Sons of Anarchy, follows a motley crew of Latino men who found a family in the motorcycle club charter Santo Padre on the California and Mexico border. While the story is about the M.C., it also features powerful female characters that are bold and powerful in their own right.

The character of E.Z. Reyes (JD Pardo) is at the center of the story as he finds his place in the gray area of a world that is mostly black and white.

It’s helmed by co-creator and executive producer Elgin James; and co-stars Clayton Cardenas, Danny Pino, Richard Cabral, Michael Irby, Carla Baratta, Sarah Bolger, Emilio Rivera, Edward James Olmos, Raoul Trujillo, Emily Tosta, and Sulem Calderon.

Loyal, whose character Hank serves as Sergeant-of-Arms to the M.C., guest-starred on FX’s Better Things opposite Pamela Adlon. On the big screen, he starred in The Deep End alongside Tilda Swinton and Goran Visnjic. He will next be seen in the drama feature Die Like A Man.

Lucero made his debut in the 2006 drama Gridiron Gang alongside Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, Moe McCrae, and Jurnee Smollett. He was also featured in Father G and the Homeboys, an award-winning documentary chronicling Father Greg Boyle’s work with Los Angeles’ toughest gang members. Lucero’s television credits include Dirt, ERThe ShieldCold Case, Criminal MindsThe CloserShameless, S.W.A.T., and FBI.

Vargas is a veteran of the U.S. Army that served three combat deployments who continues to serve his country today for the Army Reserve. In 2009, he became a Federal Agent with the Department of Homeland Security and was a Medic with the Special Operations Group.

He has starred and produced several films including Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace (co-executive producer), Not a War Story (executive producer), and Dads in Parks (writer). Vargas pulled double duty since season 2 on Mayans M.C. as recurring star and technical advisor.

Jon Seda to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “La Brea”

Jon Seda is making a return to NBC…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican actor, who starred on NBC’s Chicago Fire and recurred on Chicago P.D. for several seasons, has landed a lead role opposite Natalie Zea and Michael Raymond-James in the high-concept drama pilot La Brea.

Jon Seda

Hailing from writer David AppelbaumKeshet Studiosand Universal Television, the project begins with a massive sinkhole that mysteriously opens in Los Angeles. It tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son from father (Raymond-James) and daughter (Zyra Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Seda will play Dr. Benjamine Glass, a former Navy Sealwho knows how to take charge.

Thor Freudenthalwill direct the pilot.

Last spring, Seda departed the Chicago franchise after seven years on Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice. As his Chicago character had developed a devoted following, his exit was met with strong reaction by fans, and NBC has been looking for ways to bring him back into the fold.

Seda starred as Detective Antonio Dawson Chicago P.D. One of the original stars of the Chicago franchise, he started off as a recurring on the mothership Chicago Fire before he was spun off to Chicago P.D. He also appeared for a time on the short-lived legal drama spinoff Chicago Justice.

Prior to joining the Chicago franchise, Seda played Nelson Hidalgo on TremeHis other credits include appearances on Hawaii Five-0The Closerand Burn Notice.

Jessica Meraz Lands Major Recurring Role on The CW’s “Supergirl”

Jessica Meraz has landed a superrole…

The half-Mexican American actress has landed a major recurring role on The CW’s drama Supergirl. 

Jessica Meraz

Meraz will portray Menagerie/Pamela Ferrer, an iconic DC villain and a member of Manchester Black’s “Elite.” Menagerie is a jewel thief who doesn’t mind hurting people.

The DC/Berlanti Prods.drama Supergirl, from Warner Bros. Television, is now in its fourth season on the CW. The series is headed into the network’s annual DC crossover, which kicks off on Sunday.

The casting marks Meraz’s return to WBTV whose cable division produced Major Crimes for TNT. Meraz was a series regular on the final season of The Closer spinoff.

Meraz recently appeared on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse in the Jason Alexander-directed Native Gardens. She is currently recurring on Tacoma FD for TruTV and has also been working on Blue Ribbon Content’s Splash Damage, a VR experiment currently in development.

Raymond Cruz to Appear in Season 2 of Epix’s “Get Shorty”

It’s a great Get for Raymond Cruz

The 56-year-old Latino actor and former Major Crimes/The Closer star has landed a recurring role opposite Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano in the second season of Epix’s Get Shorty.

Raymond Cruz

The dark comedy from MGM Television is based in part on the 1990 Elmore Leonard bestseller and created for television by Davey Holmes.

In Season 2, Miles struggles to reconcile his ambitions as a filmmaker and a family man with his skill set as a career criminal. His progress in Hollywood is jeopardized when the washed-up producer (Romano) with whom he partnered in Season 1 agrees to wear a federal wire.

Cruz will play Swayze, the brutal and murderous leader of a Latino prison gang who styles himself after Patrick Swayze, with long, flowing locks of hair and 80s-inspired dance moves.

Cruz recently wrapped the sixth and final season of TNT’s Major Crimes. He also has recurred on Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, among other credits.

Season 2 premieres on Sunday, August 12 at 9:00 pm ET.

Starz Renews Loren’s Drama Series “Power” for Two More Seasons

Lela Loren is still wielding her power…

Starz has renewed its hit drama series Power, starring the 36-year-old Latina actress, for two more seasons, through Season 5.

Lela Loren

The announcement comes just two days after Power‘s record-setting Season 3 premiere, which pulled in 2.26 million viewers. It marks the premium cable channel’s best original series debut numbers yet and the most-watched episode of any Starz original ever.

The Season 3 premiere was up more than 58% from the Season 2 and 389% from Season 1 premieres, respectively.

This is the first multi-season pickup for the New York-based series starring Omari Hardwick. Creator, executive producer and showrunner Courtney A. Kemp will return alongside executive producers Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Randall Emmett and Gary Lennon.

“In today’s content landscape, it is challenging for a series to stand out, but Courtney is a singular voice working in television today, said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht. “In Curtis, we not only have an immense talent but an executive producer who brings a unique perspective, an authentic voice and passionate fan base that has helped in a large part propel the success of the series. … The fans have let it be known loud and clear that they cannot get enough of Ghost, Tommy, Tasha, Angela and Kanan.”

Loren portrays Angela Valdes on the series.

Her other credits include Gang Related, Covert Affairs and The Closer.

Cruz’s “Major Crimes” to Return to TNT in Mid-June

Raymond Cruz is returning to the force this summer…

TNT will premiere Season 5 of Major Crimes, starring the 54-year-old Mexican American actor, on June 13.

Raymond Cruz

Major Crimes, which was renewed in December, centers on a special unit of Los Angeles Police Department detectives responsible for investigating high-profile crimes. It’s the spin-off of TNT’s hit series The Closer.

Cruz stars as Detective Julio Sanchez on Major Crimes, a role he originated on The Closer.

The ensemble cast includes Mary McDonnell, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Phillip P. Keene, Kearran Giovanni, Jonathan Del Arco, Robert Gossett and Graham Patrick Martin.

Season 5 will consist of 13-episodes.

Beatriz to Perform at Young Storytellers Foundation Fundraiser

Stephanie Beatriz is ready for something big…

The 34-year-old half-Colombia/half-Bolivian actress is among the thespians who’ve signed up to perform at the Young Storytellers Foundation’s 12th annual The Biggest Show fundraiser.

Stephanie Beatriz

Taking place on October 24 at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California, The Biggest Show event takes selected screenplays from throughout the previous school year for a staging that also serves as the organization’s biggest annual fundraiser.

The non-profit Young Storytellers group sends volunteers into dozens of Los Angeles-area public elementary schools to work with fifth grade students on developing short screenplays.

Over the course of eight weeks, the students learn the basics of crafting a dramatic narrative by working one on one with mentors, many of them industry writers. At the end of the program, each student’s screenplay is brought to life at an evening event for family and friends with a group of volunteer actors.

In addition to Beatriz, one of the stars of Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the cast for this year’s The Biggest Show will also feature Keegan-Michael Key, Max Greenfield, Jack Black, Judy Greer, Tom Lennon and Jason Mantzoukas.

Brothers Randy and Jason Sklar will serve as hosts.

Young Storytellers Foundation was formed in 1997 by a group of film students that included future Glee and American Horror Story co-creator Brad Falchuk.

Beatriz’s credits include television appearances on The Closer, Modern Family, Southland, Jessie and Hello Ladies.

Cruz’s “The Closer” Reruns Heading to MyNetworkTV

It’s Flashback Wednesdays for Raymond Cruz fans…

MyNetworkTV has added The Closer, starring the 53-year-old Mexican American actor, to its Wednesday night primetime lineup.

Raymond Cruz

Beginning September 30, The Closer will air back-to-back episodes from 8-10 PM.

Cruz portrayed Detective Julio Sanchez on the Kyra Sedgwick-starrer, which aired on TNT from 2005 to 2012.

He now portrays the same character on The Closer spinoff Major Crimes.

Here is the complete MyNetworkTV 2015-16 schedule.

MONDAY
8-9 PM — Law & Order: SVU
9-10 PM — Law & Order: SVU 

TUESDAY (New night premieres September 29th)
8-9 PM — The Walking Dead
9-10 PM– The Walking Dead

WEDNESDAY (MyNetworkTV debut on September 30th)
8-9 PM — The Closer
9-10 PM — The Closer 

THURSDAY
8-9 PM — The Mentalist
9-10 PM — The Mentalist 

FRIDAY
8-9 PM — Bones
9-10 PM — Bones

Gonzalez Lands Series Regular Role on ABC Family’s Comedy Pilot “Tough Cookie”

Rick Gonzalez has a sweet new role…

The 35-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican actor has landed a series regular role on ABC Family’s comedy pilot Tough Cookie. 

Rick Gonzalez

From Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich and David Janollari, it centers on a young mother who isn’t ready to parent and her daughter who doesn’t want to be parented. It takes a village to raise a child — or, rather, a child to raise a village.

Gonzalez will portray Seth Whitfield, who works for the San Francisco Department of Children’s Services.

Gonzalez was a series regular on Rush, as well as Reaper. His other credits include appearances on Medium, Castle, Lie to Me, The Protector and The Closer.

His film credits include Coach Carter, The Guilt Trip and War of the Worlds.

Cruz to Star as Kidnapper Ariel Castro in Lifetime’s “The Michelle Knight Story”

Raymond Cruz is about to find himself on the other side of the law…

The 53-year-old Mexican American actor, best known for his role as Detective Julio Sanchez on TNT’s The Closer and Major Crimes, will star as kidnapper Ariel Castro in Lifetime’s The Michelle Knight Story (working title).

Raymond Cruz

The network’s original movie, which has received a formal greenlight, centers on the ordeal of the 21-year-old Ohio single mom who became Castro’s first victim.

From Sony Pictures Television and written by Stephen Tolkin, The Michelle Knight Story explores the true story of Knight, whose life was forever changed by a chance encounter with Castro who abducted her on August 22, 2002, in Cleveland and held her as his prisoner in his home for more than 11 years. Finding strength through her faith in God and determined to be reunited with her son, Knight refused to be broken by Castro. He went on to abduct two teenagers, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, and hold them in captivity alongside Knight, who became a friend and sister to her fellow prisoners.

When Amanda became pregnant with Castro’s child, it was Knight who delivered her baby, even performing CPR on the infant girl under the threat of Castro while he told her, “If the baby dies, you die.”

Knight and DeJesus ultimately were rescued because of a daring escape attempt on May 6, 2013. With the help of a neighbor, Berry broke out of the barricaded front door with her 6-year-old daughter, allowing all three women to finally reclaim their lives.

Cruz is also known for playing ruthless and psychotic meth dealer Tuco on Breaking Bad.