Francia Raisa to Star in Hulu’s Comedy Series “How I Met Your Father”

Francia Raisa has laded a Father of a role…

The 33-year-old Mexican/Honduran American actress has been cast as a lead opposite Hilary Duff in How I Met Your Father, Hulu’s straight-to-series spinoff to long-running CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother.

Francia Raisa

Raisa and Duff will be joined on set by Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran and Suraj Sharma.

Created and written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth BergerHow I Met Your Father is set in the near future, with Sophie (Duff) telling her son the story of how she met his father, much like Josh Radnor (and Bob Saget’s) Ted Mosby did in the original series.

The story starts in 2021 as where Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options.

Raisa will play Valentina, Sophie’s (Duff) roommate. She’s an aspiring stylist and Sophie’s great friend. She’s impulsive and adventurous and Sophie relies on Valentina’s ability to cheer her up when she gets down. Valentina has just come back from London Fashion Week with the gorgeous, British Charlie.

Duff also produces the series, which will use a multi- and single-camera approach similar to its predecessor. How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas executive produce How I Met Your Father, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television.

Raisa plays Ana Torres, a first-generation Cuban-American and roommate to Yara Shahidi’s Zoey Johnson, on Freeform’s Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish. Her previous credits include Netflix’s Dear White People, The Mindy Project and The Secret Life of the American Teenageramong others.

Francia Raisa to Star in Freeform’s “Black-ish” Spinoff, “Grown-ish”

Francia Raisa is Grown-ing up…

The 29-year-old Honduran and Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Freeform’s Grown-ish, the spinoff of ABC’s acclaimed sitcom Black-ish.

Francia Raisa

Grown-ish, from Black-ish executive producer Kenya Barris, is a contemporary take on the current issues facing both students and administrators in the world of higher education. Yara Shahidi portrays Zoey – Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter — as she heads off to college and quickly discovers that not everything goes her way once she leaves the nest.

Raisa will portray Ana, an outspoken conservative freshman at Southern California University.

Raisa joins previously announced cast members Shahidi, Deon Cole, Chris Parnell, Emily Arlook and Trevor Jackson.

The 13-episode comedy series is set to start production next week for an early 2018 premiere on Freeform.

Raisa, who rose to acclaim on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, previously appeared on Dear White People, The Mindy Project and In Plain Sight.

Fox Renews Jimenez’s Comedy Series “The Mick” for a Second Season

Carla Jimenez is still maid for television…

Fox has given an early season two renewal for its new comedy series The Mick, featuring the 42-year-old Latina actress as part of the cast.

Carla Jimenez

It’s the first freshman Fox series to get a pickup for next season.

The Mick, a midseason entry starring Kaitlin Olson, has been a high-profile project for the network. The series was launched behind an NFL double-header on a Sunday, and it received another special Sunday airing behind The Simpsons’ first-ever one-hour episode.

The football-boosted premiere of The Mick on January 1, drew a 3.7 Live+same day rating among Adults 18-49, the highest-rated comedy debut on Fox since New Girl, with the post-Simpsons airing logging a 1.7.

In its regular Tuesday slot, The Mick started with a 1.3 (L+SD) and has settled into the 1.0-1.1 adults 18-49 L+SD range in the past five airings.

Three episodes into The Mick‘s 13-episode freshman run, the network gave the series an order for four additional episodes.

The Mick, which Fox says reaches a multi-platform audience of 8 million viewers, was created by John and Dave Chernin. It’s the first Fox comedy to be renewed for next season, ahead of established series like New Girl, Last Man on Earth and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It joins recently renewed dramas Empire and Lucifer.

“From the earliest stages of development, all of us at Fox had enormous faith in The Mick, and it hasn’t disappointed,” said Fox Entertainment president David Madden. “Kaitlin is a fearless comedic force, and the rest of the cast has just proven to be phenomenal. John and Dave Chernin have a very clear vision of what this show is, and they execute on that vision each week to perfection.”

The Mick is a comedy about an unapologetic degenerate (Kaitlin Olson) who suddenly finds herself stuck raising her spoiled niece (Sofia Black-D’Elia) and nephews (Thomas Barbusca, newcomer Jack Stanton) in affluent Greenwich, CT. It’s pretty much everything she never wanted. Regardless, she’s determined to rise to the occasion and transform these little monsters into honest, hard-working, decent members of society – something she knows absolutely nothing about. The series also stars Jimenez, who portrays Alba, and newcomer Scott MacArthur.

Jimenez’s recent television credits include appearances on Santa Clarita Diet, Fuller House, The Mindy Project and Young & Hungry.

Cabrera to Star in CBS’ Summer Drama Series “Salvation”

Santiago Cabrera has found his salvation…

The 38-year-old Venezuelan-born Chilean actor will star opposite Charlie Rowe and Jennifer Finnigan in CBS summer drama series Salvation, which hails from Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout and CBS Television Studios.

Santiago Cabrera

The first episode will be directed and executive-produced by Oscar-nominated Spanish filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Salvation follows whip-smart MIT grad student Liam (Rowe) and tech billionaire Darius Tanz (Cabrera) who bring to a low-level Pentagon official (Finnigan) a staggering discovery: An asteroid is just six months away from colliding with Earth. Liam and Darius team to launch a secret project to save the planet — a secret Liam must keep from the ones he loves.

In addition to Rowe and Finnigan, Cabrera joins previously announced series regulars Jacqueline Byers and Ian Anthony Dale.

Cabrera is known for his role as Aramis on BBC’s The Musketeers. His television credits also include The Mindy Project, Merlin, Heroes and the HBO movie Hemingway and Gelhorn.

He’ll next be seen in HBO’s Big Little Lies, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, and the feature film Transformers: The Last Knight.

Ortiz to Guest Star on TBS’ “The Guest Book”

John Ortiz has signed in…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actor will guest star on TBSThe Guest Book, the new 10-episode comedy series from My Name Is Earl’s Greg Garcia.

John Ortiz

The Guest Book emerged from Garcia’s habit of writing fictitious stories in the guest books of various rental cabins in an effort to freak out the next renters. Now he is bringing some of those stories to life on screen centering on the vacation home Froggy Cottage and its visitors. While the house and cast of characters living in this small mountain town remain the same, each episode will feature a different set of vacationing guests.

The anthology-style show, written by Garcia and executive produced by him and Alix Jaffe, will premiere in August.

It will star Kellie Martin (Army Wives), Charlie Robinson (Hart of Dixie), Aloma Wright (Suits), Carly Jibson (Broadway’s Hairspray), Lou Wilson (Tween Fest), Garret Dillahunt (The Mindy Project), Laura Bell Bundy (Scream Queens) and Eddie Steeples (My Name Is Earl).

Martin will play Officer Kimberly Leahy, who serves on the police force in the small mountain town of Mount Trace. Robinson is Wilfrid, an easygoing, friendly gentleman who manages a group of mountain rental cottages with his wife, Emma, played by recurring guest star Wright. Jibson is Vivian, a tough, strong-willed woman who runs a bikini bar called Chubbys with her stepson Frank, played by Wilson.

In addition to Ortiz, other guest stars include Danny Pudi (Community), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Tommy Dewey (The Mindy Project), Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the new Black), Michaela Watkins (Casual), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Michael Rapaport (Sully), Kate Micucci (Raising Hope), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Stockard Channing (The Good Wife), Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), David Zayas (Gotham), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Margo Martindale (The Good Wife) and Stephnie Weir (The Comedians).

Cabrera to Star in Michael Bay’s “Transformers: The Last Knight”

Santiago Cabrera is ready to transform his career…

The 38-year-old Venezuelan-born Chilean actor is starring in Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight, the fifth installment in the Transformers franchise.

Santiago Cabrera

Mark WahlbergJosh DuhamelTyrese Gibson and Stanley Tucci are set to reprise their roles as Cade Yaeger, William Lennox, Robert Epps and Joshua Joyce respectively in the action flick.

Other cast members include Anthony HopkinsLaura HaddockIsabela MonerJerrod Carmichael, John Turturro and John Goodman.

Written by Art Marcum, Matt Halloway and Ken Nolan, the movie follows Optimus Prime who finds his home planet, Cybertron, now a dead planet. Thinking that he’s responsible for its demise, he finds a way to bring the planet back to life. However, in order to do so he needs to find an artifact on Earth.

Cabrera’s previous credits include appearances on The Mindy Project, Covert Affairs, Merlin, Dexter, The Musketeers and Heroes.

Transformers: The Last Knight is coming to U.S. theaters on June 23, 2017.

Fox Gives Early Renewal to Smollett’s Hip-Hop Musical Drama “Empire”

Jussie Smollett will be in an Empire state of mind for another year…

Fox has given an early sophomore season renewal for the 31-year-old Brazilian actor/singer’s new drama series Empire.

Jussie Smollett

The order for Empire was a no-brainer, as the show has performed extremely well for the network and made plenty of noise in social media.

The Imagine Television/20th Century Fox Television drama was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson lead the ensemble cast in the primetime sudser about a hip-hop music mogul.

Smollet portrays Jamal Lyon on Empire, which also features Rafael de la Fuente in a recurring role as Smollet’s love interest.

Smollet’s previous credits include appearances on Revenge, On Our Own and The Mindy Project.

Bonham Carter Earns Critics’ Choice Television Award Nod for “Burton and Taylor”

Helena Bonham Carter’s on-screen transformation as a Hollywood legend is still earning recognition…

The 47-year-old part-Spanish actress, who earned a British Academy of Film and Television ArtsTV Awards nomination last month, has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award from the Broadcast Television Journalists Association.

Helena Bonham Carter in Burton and Taylor

Bonham Carter received the nod in the Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series category for her portrayal of the late Elizabeth Taylor in the BBC biopic Burton and Taylor.

She’ll face off against Return to Zero’s Minnie Driver, A Day Late and a Dollar Short’s Whoopi Goldberg, Bonnie & Clyde’s Holliday Grainger, American Horror Story: Coven’s Jessica Lange and The Trip to Bountiful’s Cicely Tyson.

Meanwhile, Louis C.K. has been nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in his FX series Louie.

The 46-year-old Mexican American actor, who just earned a similar nod from the Television Critics Association, will compete against The Mindy Project’s Chris Messina, Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch, The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons, Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott and The Crazy OnesRobin Williams.

Programs and performances for this round of Critics Choice Television Awards are eligible if they were telecast between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. But submissions still are being accepted for The Most Exciting New Series category, and any series premiering after May 1, 2014 is eligible –  including any announced summer, fall or winter premieres.

That category will be announced on June 9 — 10 days before CW broadcasts the Critics Choice Television Awards on June 19,  at 8:00 pm ET, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer.

The awards show will be tape-delayed for an 8:00 pm PT start time.

Here’s a look at the nominees:

BEST COMEDY SERIES

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Broad City (Comedy Central)
Louie (FX)
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Veep (HBO)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Louis CK, Louie (FX)
Chris Messina, The Mindy Project (FOX)
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Robin Williams, The Crazy Ones (CBS)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ilana Glazer, Broad City (Comedy Central)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Goldbergs (ABC)
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Emmy Rossum, Shameless (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)
Keith David, Enlisted (FOX)
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
Albert Tsai, Trophy Wife (ABC)
Christopher Evan Welch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
Jeremy Allen White, Shameless (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Sarah Baker, Louie (FX)
James Earl Jones, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Mimi Kennedy, Mom (CBS)
Andrew Rannells, Girls (HBO)
Lauren Weedman, Looking (HBO)

BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Americans (FX)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Masters of Sex (Showtime)
True Detective (HBO)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Hugh Dancy, Hannibal (NBC)
Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel (A&E)
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO)
Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX)
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex (Showtime)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
      
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel (A&E)
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS)
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)
Keri Russell, The Americans (FX)
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Josh Charles, The Good Wife (CBS)
Walton Goggins, Justified (FX)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Peter Sarsgaard, The Killing (AMC)
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Jeffrey Wright, Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS)
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Annet Mahendru, The Americans (FX)
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Maggie Siff, Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Bellamy Young, Scandal (ABC)

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Walton Goggins, Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Joe Morton, Scandal (ABC)
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife (CBS)
Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones (HBO)

BEST MOVIE
An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Killing Kennedy (National Geographic Channel)
The Normal Heart (HBO)
Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST MINI-SERIES      
American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Bonnie & Clyde (A&E/History/Lifetime)
Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Fargo (FX)
The Hollow Crown (PBS)
Luther (BBC America)

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES

David Bradley, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Martin Freeman, Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo (FX)

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero (Lifetime)
Whoopi Goldberg, A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Holliday Grainger, Bonnie & Clyde (A&E/History/Lifetime)
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Warren Brown, Luther (BBC America)
Martin Freeman, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Colin Hanks, Fargo (FX)
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Blair Underwood, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES
Amanda Abbington, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Ellen Burstyn, Flowers in the Attic (Lifetime)
Jessica Raine, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC America)
Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Allison Tolman, Fargo (FX)

BEST REALITY SERIES       
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (FOX/National Geographic Channel)
Deadliest Catch (Discovery)
Duck Dynasty (A&E)
Mythbusters (Discovery)
Top Gear (BBC America)
Undercover Boss (CBS)

BEST REALITY SERIES – COMPETITION
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
Shark Tank (ABC)
Survivor (CBS)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

BEST REALITY HOST
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Carson Daly, The Voice (NBC)
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef (FOX)
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race (Logo)
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (FOX/National Geographic Channel)

BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Time Telepictures)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Conan (TBS)

BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Archer (FX)
Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Family Guy (FOX)
Phineas and Ferb (Disney XD)
Adventure Time (Cartoon Network)

Louis C.K. Nominated for Television Critics Association TCA Award

Louis C.K. may have matching Television Critics Association trophies soon.

The 46-year-old Mexican American comedian, actor, screenwriter and producer has been nominated for a TCA Award in the Individual Achievement in Comedy category, an award he picked up last year.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. is nominated once again for his performance in FX’s Emmy-winning comedy series Louie, which is written, directed, edited and produced by the comedian, who also happens to be the show’s creator.

He’ll face off against The Mindy Project’s Mindy Kaling, Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons and Parks and Recreation’s Amy Poehler.

Meanwhile, Louie is nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Comedy category.

The series, now in its fourth season,is up againstThe Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project and Veep.

Hosted by the Television Critics Association, the media organization comprised of television critics, reporters, columnists, and bloggers working in the U.S. and Canada, this year’s TCA Awards recognize outstanding television programming in the 2013-2014 season, honoring actors, producers and programs in a variety of categories, including news and information, youth, reality, drama and comedy achievements.

The winners of the 30th Annual TCA Awards will be announced at the invitation-only presentation on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Here’s the complete list of the 2014 Television Critics Association nominees:

Individual Achievement in Comedy
Louis C.K., “Louie” (FX) [2013 winner in category]
Mindy Kaling, “The Mindy Project” (Fox)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” (HBO)
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)

Individual Achievement in Drama
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife” (CBS)
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black” (BBC America) [2013 winner in category]
Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective” (HBO)
Matthew Rhys, “The Americans” (FX)

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
“CBS Sunday Morning” (CBS)
“Cosmos” (Fox)
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Frontline” (PBS)
“60 Minutes” (CBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming
“The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (Logo)
“Shark Tank” (ABC) [2013 winner in category]
“Survivor” (CBS)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
“Adventure Time” (Cartoon Network)
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” (PBS)
“The Fosters” (ABC Family)
“Sesame Street” (PBS)
“Switched at Birth” (ABC Family)

Outstanding New Program
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox)
“Fargo” (FX)
“Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)
“Sleepy Hollow” (Fox)
“True Detective” (HBO)

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials
“American Horror Story: Coven” (FX)
“Broadchurch” (BBC America)
“Fargo” (FX)
“The Returned” (SundanceTV)
“True Detective” (HBO)

Outstanding Achievement in Drama
“The Americans” (FX)
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO) [2013 winner in category]
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
“The Good Wife” (CBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) [2013 winner in category – tied with “Parks and Recreation”]
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox)
“Louie” (FX)
“The Mindy Project” (Fox)
“Veep” (HBO)

Career Achievement Award
Mark Burnett
James Burrows
Valerie Harper
Jay Leno
William Shatner

Heritage Award
“Lost” (ABC)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“South Park” (Comedy Central)
“Star Trek” (NBC)
“Twin Peaks” (ABC)

Program of the Year
“Breaking Bad” (AMC) [2013 winner in category]
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“The Good Wife” (CBS)
“Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)
“True Detective” (HBO)

Garcia to Guest Star on Fox’s “The Mindy Project”

JoAnna Garcia Swisher is heading to the Mindy city…

The 34-year-old half-Cuban actress has been cast in the Fox comedy The Mindy Project in a potentially recurring role, according to TVLine.

Joanna Garcia

Swisher will portray the sister of Dr. Peter (Adam Pally).

She’s slated to appear for one episode at the moment, but she could be back for a second.

Fans of the show are also set to meet Dr. Danny’s brother, Richie, played by The Social Network‘s Max Minghella, this season.

Swisher, who is best known for her roles on Reba, Privileged, Gossip Girl and Royal Pains, most recently guest-starred on ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

The Mindy Project airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on Fox.