Thursday, January 20, 2011

New ABC series Off the Map Stars Jonathan Castellanos and Valerie Cruz


Premieres Wednesday, January 12th at 10/9 c on ABC

From executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Greys Anatomy, Private Practice) and creator Jenna Bans (Greys Anatomy) comes a new uplifting medical drama that explores how far one has to go in order to truly heal. And it all takes place in a tiny town in the South American jungle and as such, the way we see it, there must be plenty roles for Latino talent. We are not disappointed. In addition to series regulars Jonathan Castellanos and Valerie Cruz, there are over five other recurring roles and an opportunity for many guest starring roles, should the show become a hit.

The tiny South American town in the jungle is known as "la ciudad de las estrellas" (the city of stars). There is only one understaffed, under-stocked medical clinic around. In addition to the “imported” young idealistic doctors played by Caroline Dhavernas, Jason George, Zach Tilford, Mami Gummer, Martin Henderson and Rachelle Lefevre there is also the local doctor Zita Alvarez, played by Valerie Cruz, known simply as Zee. She is a critical part of La Clinica Cruz del Sur, having worked there for many years. Her blunt attitude and short temper sometimes makes her curt with the new, American doctors. Zee’s also the resident expert on herbal medicine and responsible for cultivating the clinic’s garden of life-saving plants.

Cruz first captured audience’s attention when she appeared in the 2003 season of Nip Tuck as Grace Santiago and she has not looked back since. She has amassed a long list of television credits including Showtime’s Dexter.

Charlie is played by Jonathan Castellanos. Charlie is thirteen going on 30, and he is the clinic’s translator who loves giving the new doctors a hard time. However, after leaving home when he was only nine, he’s as interested in learning from the doctors as he is in teaching them a lesson.

Castellanos has an impressive list of television credits but it was his three episode arc in NBC’s Southland that has gotten him noticed and TV Q’ed.

In this ensemble drama, six doctors who have lost their way will go to the ends of the earth to try to remember the reasons why they wanted to become doctors in the first place.

In additon to Castellanos and Cruz the other recurring Latino actors are Aimee Garcia, Nicholas Gonzalez, Mark Adair Rios, and Alex Fernandez. Without a Trace’s Enrique Murciano as well as Elizabeth :Pena are also slated to make appearances in the series.

Off the Map is executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, Gretchen Berg, Aaron Harberts, and created/executive-produced by Jenna Bans. The series, which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, is from ABC Studios and premieres Wednesday, January 12th at 10/9 c.

No comments:

Post a Comment