Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Star in Mindy Kaling’s Untitled Comedy Series for Netflix

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Keyla Monterroso Mejia is answering the Kal(ing)…

The 25-year-old Guatemalan & Mexican American actress and Curb Your Enthusiasm scene-stealer will star in Mindy Kaling‘s Netflix comedy series, set in the world of pro basketball, lead by Kate Hudson.

Monterroso Mejia is among a roster of cast newcomers that includes Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks and Roberto Sanchez, who previously starred in Queen of the South.

In addition to Hudson, they join previously announced cast members Brenda Song, Drew Tarver and.

In the as-yet untitled comedy series, when a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed President of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business. Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job, especially in the unpredictable, male-dominated world of sports.

Guido plays Jackie Moreno, a popcorn vendor at the stadium where the Waves play, Jackie can’t believe it when he is suddenly thrust into the inner circle of his favorite team. Now he has the opportunity to work his way up the organization from the ground floor.

Monterroso Mejia plays Ana Moreno, Jackie’s cousin who is also a personal injury attorney. Ana is smart, ambitious and always looking for an angle.

Sanchez is Stephen Ramirez, the intimidating head of the board who’s been with the Waves through generations of Gordons. He’s old-fashioned, no-nonsense, and a constant reminder of the old guard, making Isla desperate to prove she’s more than just Jack Gordon’s little daughter.

The 10-part series is written and executive-produced by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen, who serves as showrunner.

Guido’s television credits include the role of Mikey Gutierrez on Mr. Iglesias, a major recurring role on Perry Mason, as well as Welcome To The Family, The Night Shift and Wisdom of the Crowd.

Monterroso Mejia is perhaps best known for her absurdly hilarious role as Maria Sofia on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her other credits include the major recurring role of Ashley on Abbott Elementary, as well as On My Block spinoff Freeridge and is in post on Amazon Studios’ Will Ferrell & Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy You’re Cordially Invited.

Sanchez will next be seen in a major recurring role on Starz’s BMF and in Apple TV+’s upcoming Palm Royale. His previous credits include Queen of the South and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Chavira to Guest Star on ABC’s Drama Series “Castle”

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Chavira is getting political… At least on the small screen.

The 43-year-old Mexican American actor has landed a key role on ABC’s drama series Castle.

Chavira, best known for portraying Eva Longoria’s husband on Desperate Housewives, will play Alex Lopez, a popular congressman whose life may in danger.

Chavira will appear in Episode 18, when Detective Ryan — who it was established has been working side jobs — pulls some hours at his brother-in-law Frank’s private security company, which has been charged with protecting Congressman Lopez.

Teasing the Ryan-centric episode, showrunner David Amann told TVLine, “He gets involved in a situation where [he and Frank] are guarding somebody important and an incident occurs, and he is caught in the middle of it.”

Chavira’s post-Desperate Housewives credits include Burn Notice, Welcome to the Family and Bad Teacher.

Castle resumes its season, with Episode 17, on March 16.

Machado Starring in Lifetime Film’s “The Last of Robin Hood”

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Justina Machado hasn’t heard the last of Robin Hood…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actress has a role in Lifetime Film’s The Last of Robin Hood, which was recently acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films for U.S. distribution.

The Kevin Kline-starrer was co-written and co-directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.

The biopic focuses on the final years of Errol Flynn’s life (Kline), as well as his May-December romance with starlet Beverly Aadland (Dakota Fanning), and the role of Aadland’s mother (Susan Sarandon) had in encouraging the relationship.

“The Last Of Robin Hood captures a very unique aspect of Hollywood and celebrity,” Samuel Goldwyn Films SVP Peter Goldwyn said in announcing the pickup.

“The film takes place in 1959, but it might as well be 2014. You have an aging superstar struggling to maintain his fame, a starlet chasing her big break, a manipulative ‘stage’ mother, and the public’s timeless curiosity, almost obsession with, ‘celebrity.’ The non-stop, sensational tabloid coverage of Errol Flynn’s life and relationship mirrors exactly the kind of coverage this story would receive in Hollywood 55 years later.”

The Last of Robin Hood also stars Bryan Batt, Max Casella, Jason Davis, Matt Kane, Patrick St. Esprit and Ric Reitz.

Samuel Goldwyn Films is planning a fall theatrical release for the biopic.

Lifetime network-affiliated Lifetime Films was launched as a division of A+E Studios in June 2013 and develops, produces and acquires female-focused indie movies. Robin Hood was its first project. It since has partnered with Viola Davis, Julius Tennon’s JuVee Prods. and Sara Risher’s ChickFlicks to produce Lila And Eve, starring Davis and Jennifer Lopez.

Machado’s previous credts include Welcome to the Family, The Fosters, Private Practice, Switched at Birth and Desperate Housewives.

Moreno Cast as “Abuelita” in NBC’s “Welcome to the Family”

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno will have Family duty in the near future…

The 81-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer/dancer has joined the cast of NBC‘s new sitcom Welcome to the Family.

Moreno, who’ll receive the SAG Award‘s Life Achievement statue in January, will play Abuelita, the sassy grandmother of Lisette (portrayed by Justina Machado), who looms large over the Hernandez family.

Moreno’s character, expected to first appear in November, is described as extremely religious, judgmental, tough, perpetually scowling and rude. The thought of disappointing Abuelita is so unappealing that Lisette and her family tell her elaborate lies about their lives whenever she comes to visit.

Moreno is best known for her roles in West Side Story, The Electric Company and Oz. She’s also among an elite group of performers to have won an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy.

In addition to Moreno and Machado, the new comedy series also stars Ricardo Chavira, Joey Haro and Fabrizio Guido.

Welcome to the Family premieres Thursday, October 3 at 8:30 pm ET on NBC.

Longoria to Guest Star on NBC’s New Comedy “Welcome to the Family”

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She may be the executive producer of Lifetime’s hit series Devious Maids… But that doesn’t mean Eva Longoria won’t be back in front of the cameras again soon.

In fact, the 38-year-old Mexican American actress, who will be receiving a special award from the NCLR this evening, will guest star on an episode of NBC’s upcoming comedy series Welcome to the Family, which stars her onscreen husband from the long-running ABC dramedy Desperate Housewives, Ricardo A Chavira.

According to Longoria, Chavira called and asked her to come on the show and she agreed, adding that she’s very excited to be working with him again.

The Sony Pictures Television-produced series centers on a Caucasian and Latino family forced together by the unplanned pregnancy of their teen kids. Sparks between Longoria and Chavira will fly again as Longoria will play Ms. Nunez, the English teacher of Demetrio (Fabrizio Guido) who has a romantic history with the boy’s father Miguel (Chavira) from before he was married.

The series also stars Joey Haro and Justina Machado.

Guido Cast in NBC’s Comedy Series “Welcome to the Family”

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fabrizio Guido is being welcomed into the family…

The 13-year-old Mexican and Italian American actor, who recently made his film debut in the Brad Pitt-starring blockbuster film World War Z, has been cast in NBC’s Welcome to the Family.

Guido will portray the younger brother of the series’ male lead, Awkward’s Joey Haro, on the single-camera comedy from Mike Sikowitz and Sony Television.

He replaces Aramis Knight, who was originally cast in the role.

Guido’s other credits include the Italian film Miele, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Welcome to the Family will premiere on NBC on October 3.

Haro Lands Role in NBC’s “Welcome to the Family” Pilot

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Joey Haro is about to make things a little awkward for his familia in his next television project…

The Cuban-American actor, who has appeared on MTV’s Awkward and Fox’s Glee, has landed the role of Junior in NBC’s comedy pilot Welcome to the Family.

He’ll portray the son of Latino parents, portrayed by Despertate Housewive’s Ricardo Chavira and Six Feet Under’s Justina Machado in the project, which chronicles just how two cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are united by their children, who fare falling in love must deal with an unplanned pregnancy.

Mike O’Malley and Mary McCormack will also star in the comedy pilot as the white parents.

Haro, best known for portraying Clark Stevenson on Awkward and one of the dapper Warblers on Glee, appeared on Broadway as Chino in the West Side Story revival in 2009.

Machado to Star in NBC’s “Welcome to the Family” Pilot

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She shared scenes with Eva Longoria on Desperate Housewives… And now Justina Machado will be acting alongside Longoria’s TV husband.

The Puerto Rican actress has been cast as one of the leads in NBC’s comedy pilot Welcome to the Family. She’ll portray Ricardo Chavira’s ex-wife in the project, which also stars Mike O’Malley and Mary McCormack.

Machado’s character Lisette works at the Department of Motor Vehicles and is committed to co-parenting her son with her ex-husband Miguel (Chavira).

The project chronicles just how two cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are united by their children, who fare falling in love must deal with an unplanned pregnancy.

It’s Machado’s latest pilot project this season, following her casting in USA’s Paging Dr. Freed project.

Machado’s television credits include HBO’s Six Feet Under, ER and Three Rivers.

Chavira to Star in NBC’s “Welcome to the Family” Pilot

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Chavira could be returning to television in the near future…

The 41-year-old Mexican American actor, best known for his role as Eva Longoria’s TV husband Carlos Solis on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, has landed one of the lead roles in NBC’s comedy pilot Welcome to the Family.

Chavira will star opposite Mike O’Malley in the project, which chronicles just how two cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are united by their children, who fare falling in love must deal with an unplanned pregnancy.

Mary McCormack is also slated to star in the project, which is being produced by Sony Television.

Chavira will portray the divorced Latino father of the boy who got O’Malley and McCormack’s daughter pregnant – an ex-convict who has turned his life around.

Chavira’s other credits include recurring roles on Six Feet Under and The Division, as well as guest-starring roles on Joan of Arcadia, Kingpin and Monk.

NBC Orders Latino-Themed Comedy Pilot

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like NBC could give its viewers a look at the comedy that ensues when two cultures clash…

The network has given the green light to the single-camera comedy pilot Welcome to the Family, which was formerly called Chuey & Me.

Written and executive produced by Rules Of Engagement executive producer Mike Sikowitz, the comedy project chronicles how two cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are bonded together by their children who fall in love followed quickly by an unplanned pregnancy.

No word yet on who will star in the comedy pilot.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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