Mo Rocca, a correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning," a panelist on NPR's hit weekly quiz show, "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" as well as the host and creator of the Cooking Channel's "My Grandmother's Ravioli," reconnects to his Latin roots.
Ethno-politics, immigration, technology and language happen against the canvas, in an opus, or in any medium, when you are an artist. And, if you are Guillermo Gomez-Pena, you could address societal concerns regarding Latinos through performance art, audio, video, installations, poetry, journalism and cultural theory. A writer, a MacAuthor fellow, and an editor, Gomez-Pena brings style, energy and heritage to everything that he completes.
New York City is alive with conversation, bright lights and people bumbling about with curiosity. Within the doors of one of its many restaurants, two individuals are undoubtedly sitting together for the first time, on a blind date, attempting to connect and find out if the person positioned across from him/her can better his/her life, or better yet, his/her evening. "First Date," the new Broadway play starring Zachary Levi ("Chuck") and Euro-Latina actress Krysta Rodriguez ("Smash"), captures that experience in a 90-minute performance that is over-run with wit and charisma.
"Glee" star Lea Michele has had a trying year, thanks in no small part to the unexpected suicide of her boyfriend Corey Monteith earlier this year. However, it looks like things are turning around for the lovely Latina, who took to her Twitter yesterday to post sneak peeks of her new music video.
Mexican Telenovela actress Karla Alvarez was found dead this past Friday in her home in Mexico City. The Attorney General investigating her death confirmed that Alvarez died from a Cardiac Arrest steaming from Bulimia and Anorexia. Karla was just 41 years old and had a successful career in the Latino show business scene.
Celia Cruz, known as the "Queen of Salsa," was a force to be reckoned with and a vocal powerhouse who had an incredible charisma and stage presence like no other. The late salsa icon's music will once again bring audiences to their feet at the American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 24 on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.
Music-centric television shows, where impromptu serenades are fluent and power love ballads are frequent, have won the hearts of teens, tweens and Netflix-binging adults everywhere. Star Crazy, produced by George Lopez and penned by the writers from "The Wonder Years" Bob Brush and Mel Harris, is the name of the upcoming hour-long musical drama about a Latina singer who escalates from rags and riches, taking the nation by storm.
Writer Mark Hentemann and voice actor/animator/screenwriter Seth MacFarlane are developing a series, which will be entitled "Bordertown," that will “satirize America’s changing cultural landscape.” MacFarlane, the creator of controversial television series such as "American Dad!" and "Family Guy," received raised brows from Latinos who anticipated that the humor of the new show would match the crude manner of his others…but fears have been laid to rest. Lalo Alcaraz, the high-profile Mexican cartoonist and satirist, has been slated to write for the series.
Born in the year 2349 on the Federation colony Kessik, half-human and half-Klingon, B’Elanna Torres acted as the Provisional Lieutenant/Chief Engineer on the USS Voyager, acting under Capt. Kathryn Janeway. Roxann Dawson, biracial (African American/Anglo)* actress and director, portrayed the brave and brilliant Latina Torres, perfecting the role of the quietly self-loathing, perpetually rebellious and passionately loyal character. Torres is the only major character in Star Trek to have Hispanic Heritage, which speaks to the present state of Latinos in Science Fiction.
Latinos are likely to find a familiar faces on nearly every network. Yet, Latinos continue to be bound by stereotypical roles. Latinos remain playing the role of ditsy but forgivable housewife, confident but compassionate prison inmate, cold-blooded and calculating drug dealers, and devious and seductive housemaids.
The American Music Awards, which was created by the late Dick Clark in 1973, will be hosted by the first Latino in the history of the show, Cuban rapper Pitbull. Mr. Worldwide's hosting debut was announced this past Tuesday. Born Armando Christian Perez, Pitbull will be the first host of the show since 2008.
Michelle Rodriguez, the 35-year-old spitfire who has earned a great deal of fame and acclaim for her fierce roles in high-wheeling action films, has been active in Hollywood since she was 21-years-old. The fourteen years of experience has given Rodriguez perspective on what it means to live and thrive in Hollywood as an actress, particularly when you're looking for life beyond the fame.
The Puerto Rican alternative hip hop duo, Calle 13, comprised of the stepbrothers and bandmates, Eduardo “Visitante” Jose Cabra Martinez and Rene “Residente” Perez Joglar, has an independent album in the works, the release of their upcoming single drops in little over a week.
Kate del Castillo, the phenomenal Mexican actress, who convincingly played the role of Teresa Mendoza on La Reina del Sur, (The Queen of the South) has decided to use her star power for good and assist Latin American organizations in the fight against human trafficking through an informative documentary produced by the Esclavos Invisibles (Invisible Slaves) campaign.
Brooklyn-born American musician, singer and songwriter Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed died just a few days ago on October 27 at the age of 71. In a strange turn of events, a famous Latin pop and Mambo singer was said to have died instead. Lou Bega, his friends and his family received condolences, having been mistaken for the deceased rock legend.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is embracing the impressive work of world renowned Mexican cinematographer, Gabriel Figueroa (1907-1997), with "Under the Mexican Sky" that incorporates film, photography, paintings, drawings, prints, capturing the essence of the great "Gaby."
CBS' "Damascus" will host America Ferrera's (Ugly Betty) return to television; and, believe it or not, she will be portraying a "justice-seeking" nun who "practices law on the behalf of the less fortunate," and probably on the behalf of God.
Breaking Bad, one of television’s most critically-acclaimed crime dramas, gained quite the reputation for violence during its five season stint. And, a great deal of that violence was inflicted upon its Latino characters. *SPOILER ALERT*
