Oliver De Los Santos to Star in Peacock’s “Punky Brewster” Pilot

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Oliver De Los Santos is punking out…

The Latino actor has been cast as a series regular opposite Quinn Copeland, Lauren Donzis, Noah Cottrell and Soleil Moon Frye, in Peacock‘s Punky Brewster reboot pilot from UCP and Universal Television.

In the multicamera/hybrid continuation of the iconic 80s sitcom about a bright young girl raised by a foster dad, Punky (Frye) is now a single mother of three trying to get her life back on track when she meets Izzy (Copeland), a young girl who reminds her a lot of her younger self.

Copeland’s Izzy is a street-smart, headstrong and adorable Punky-like girl for a new generation. Recently abandoned by her mother, Izzy tries to hide her vulnerability, but finds a kindred spirit in Punky (Frye). Donzis will play Hannah, Punky’s fashion-forward teenage daughter, who often feels like she’s the parent and Punky’s the kid. De Los Santos as Daniel and Cottrell as Diego will play Punky’s adopted sons, who are 10 and 12 years old, respectively. Even though they are brothers, they are complete opposites except when it comes to annoying their older sister, Hannah (Donzis).

In addition to Frye, they join previously announced cast Freddie Prinze Jr. and Cherie Johnson, reprising her role from the original series.

Produced by UCP and Universal Television, Punky Brewster is written and executive produced by Steveand Jim Armogida. Frye will also serve as executive producer. Jonathan Judge is directing and executive producing the pilot.

The original series, created by David W. Duclon, ran for four seasons from 1984-1988, two on NBC and two in syndication.De Los Santos is set to star in the feature film Occupation: Rainfall and will play the lead role in the upcoming feature film Home Plate. He also stars in the web series Junior Executive.

Eduardo Franco to Star in the USA Network’s “Masters of Doom” Drama Pilot

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Eduardo Franco has found a new Master-y…

The Mexican-American actor has been cast as one of the leads in USA Network’s Masters of Doom pilot, a drama based on David Kushner’s non-fiction book, from James and Dave Franco’s Ramona Films, The Gotham Group and UCP.

Franco will star opposite Patrick Gibson, John Karna, Jane Ackermannand Siobhan Williams in the project. Peter Friedman is set to recur, and Rhys Thomas has been tapped to direct.

Written and executive produced by Tom Bissell, Masters of Doom is the true story of two computer geniuses in an obscure corner of America who, along with a group of rebellious misfits, created one of the biggest franchise hits of the ’90s, the video game Doom. Franco and Gibson play best friends who became bitter rivals, as they created a video game empire and transformed pop culture forever.

Franco’s John Romero is a brilliant young programmer and designer determined to become the video game industry’s first rock star.

Franco is best known for his role as Theo in the Olivia Wilde-directed feature Booksmart, as well as his role as Jeremy in the feature The Package, directed by Jake Szymanski.

Franco recurred on the first season of the series American Vandal, and his other television credits include Adam Ruins Everything, You’re the Worstand The Skinny.

He’ll next be seen in feature The Binge directed by Jeremy Garelick.

USA Network Renews Alice Braga’s “Queen of the South” for Fifth Season

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Alice Braga’s reign continues…

USA Network has picked up a fifth season of its hit drama series Queen of the South, starring the 36-year-old Brazilian actress. The announcement comes on the heels of the show’s Season 4 finale.

Now that Suits is coming to an end, Queen of the South will take the mantle of USA’s longest-running scripted series on the air.

Despite running largely under the radar with no major awards recognition or big name film stars, Queen of the South has been one of USA’s most reliable ratings performers. A co-production between Fox 21 Television Studiosand UCP, Queen of the South is Thursday’s #1 cable drama in P18-49, P18-34, P25-54, and P2+ year to date.

Starring Braga, Queen of the South is based on the bestselling book La Reina del Surby Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Braga), a woman who’s forced to run from the Mexican cartel and seek refuge in America. In Season 3, Teresa struck out on her own, determined to build a new empire for herself. But as enemies old and new closed in, she realized that being queen would require more work — and more sacrifice — than she ever imagined.

Queen of the Southmarked Braga’s first big U.S. television role.

Trailer Released for Season 2 of Paola Nuñez’s Series “The Purge”

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Paola Nuñezis feeling the urge to Purge…

USA Network has released the trailer for The Purge Season 2, starring the 41-year-old Mexican actress.

“Commencing at the siren, all crime will be legal for 12 continuous hours.” So begins the first trailer for the second season of The Purge, which is based on the hit movie franchise.

The Purge revolves around a 12-hour period when all crime, including murder, is legal.

Season 2 explores how a single Purge night affects the lives of four interconnected characters over the course of the ensuing year, all inevitably leading up to the next Purge.

The second season of the anthology series opens on Purge night but dives deeper than ever before in to what the Purge world looks like the other 364 days of the year.

In addition to Nuñez, previously announced cast include Derek Luke, Max Martiniand Joel Allen.

The Purge has generated solid ratings for USA. Its first season was the #1 scripted series in P18-49, P25-54 and P18-34 in 2018.

From Blumhouse Televisionand UCP, season 2 premieres this fall on USA.

Nuñez’s previous credits include appearances on television in La reina del sur and The Son, and on film in Bad Boys for Life,

Sofia Lama to Recur on Season 4 of USA Network’s “Queen of the South”

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Lama is South-bound…

The 31-year-old Mexican actress has landed a recurring role on the upcoming fourth season of USA Network’s Queen of the South, from Fox 21 Television Studios and UCP.

Starring Alice Braga, Queen of the South is based on the bestselling book La Reina del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Braga), a woman who is forced to run from the Mexican cartel and seek refuge in America.

In Season 3, Teresa struck out on her own, determined to build a new empire for herself. But as enemies old and new closed in, she realized that being queen would require more work — and more sacrifice — than she ever imagined.

Lama will portray Emilia, Boaz Jimenez’s (Joseph T. Campos) nervous & frightened former fiancee with a secret that could cause things to turn ugly fast.

Dailyn Rodriguez and Ben Lobato will serve as co-showrunners for Season 4 and will executive produce alongside David T. Friendly.

Lama’s recent credits include guest-starring roles on NCIS: Los Angeles, Chicago P.D.and Designated Survivor.

Isabel Arraiza to Star in USA Network’s “Suits” Spinoff Series with Gina Torres

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Isabel Arraiza is Suits-ing up…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of USANetwork and Universal Cable Prods.’s upcoming Suits spinoff series starring Gina Torres.

Arraiza joins a cast that includes Bethany Joy Lenz, Chantel Riley, Eli Goree, Simon Kassianides and Morgan Spector.

Centered on powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson (Torres) as she adjusts to the dirty world of Chicago politics, the spinoff hails from UCPand is executive produced by Suitscreator and executive producer Aaron Korsh alongside executive producer and showrunner Daniel Arkin.

The project was introduced in the Season 7 finale of Suits, which served as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff. It featured four main characters at the center of the offshoot, played by Torres, Kassianides, Spector and Rebecca Rittenhouse.

The role played by Rittenhouse in the backdoor pilot is being recast with Lenz. Riley will reprise a character that she played as a guest star in the backdoor pilot, while Arraiza and Goree play new characters.

Arraiza will portray Yoli Castillo, Jessica’s passionate assistant who will learn from the best how to most effectively channel her intensity.

The series is starting production in Los Angeles.

Arraiza’s previous credits include television appearances on The Oath, Elementary and American Dreamer.

Roday to Direct Two Episodes of Syfy’s Grindhouse-Inspired Drama “Blood Drive”

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

James Roday has extra Drive…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actor and former Psych star has been hired to direct two episodes of Blood Drive, Syfy’s 13-episode straight-to-series, grindhouse cinema-inspired drama.

Set in a near-apocalyptic future, the series revolves around Arthur Bailey (Alan Ritchson), the last good cop in Los Angeles, and Grace (Christina Ochoa), his dangerous femme fatale partner with an agenda of her own. When Grace is forced to partner with Arthur, she’s not thrilled, to say the least. But soon she might learn that this genuinely moral, nice guy is also a determined survivor, with whom she might have more in common than she had ever imagined.

The gruesome thriller is from UCP, and James Roland, who created the series and penned the pilot, will serve as co-executive producer.

The series is in production in South Africa.

Roday is best known for his eight-year run as the hyper-observant consultant detective Shawn Spencer on UCP’s and USA Network’s hit comedy Psych, for which he also wrote and directed several episodes.

He made his theatrical directorial debut with the horror-comedy Gravy and has directed TV series including Fox’s Rosewood and CBS’ Rush Hour.

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