Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Carlos PenaVega Discusses Potential ‘Big Time Rush’ Reunion On Finale’s 5th Anniversary

Nickelodeon hit it big with its music-centric comedy series Big Time Rush, which premiered in 2009 and wrapped up with an hour-long finale five years ago, on July 25, 2013. To celebrate, BTR alum Carlos PenaVega and his wife Alexa PenaVega, who guest-starred in the series finale, shared with International Business Times their favorite memories from that time in their lives.


“Big Time Rush” aired its series finale on July 25, 2013. Pictured: Carlos Pena Jr., James Maslow, Kendall Schmidt and Logan Henderson of Big Time Rush at the Orange Carpet Premiere For Original TV Movie “Big Time Movie” on March 8, 2012 in New York City. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Nickelodeon

Big Time Rush followed four friends and hockey players from Minnesota — Kendall Knight (Kendall Schmidt), Carlos Garcia (Carlos PenaVega), James Diamond (James Maslow) and Logan Mitchell (Logan Henderson) — who moved to Los Angeles after being offered the opportunity to form a boy band. Thus, Big Time Rush was born. The show’s cast also included Ciara Bravo (Katie Knight), Stephen Kramer Glickman (Gustavo Rocque), Tanya Chisholm (Kelly Wainwright), Challen Cates (Jennifer Knight), Erin Sanders (Camille Roberts) and Katelyn Tarver (Jo Taylor). Melise (Lucy Stone) was also a recurring star.

Over the course of its four-season run, the actors’ lives mimicked that of their onscreen characters. Both on- and off-screen, multiple Big Time Rush albums were released, sold-out tours were embarked on, and millions of fans, also known as Rushers, were made.

During an interview with the PenaVegas on Tuesday about their​ upcoming Hallmark movie, IBT mentioned that Wednesday was the 5th anniversary of the show’s end, and the two were very surprised. “No way, are you kidding me,” Alexa asked. “That means we’ve been together longer than five years. Oh my gosh. It flies by so quickly.”

On This Day | Big Time Finale



On this day 5 YEARS AGO, we said goodbye to Big Time Rush 😒

When IBT mentioned that Wednesday was the 5th anniversary of the show’s end, the two were very surprised. “No way, are you kidding me,” Alexa asked. “That means we’ve been together longer than five years. Oh my gosh. It flies by so quickly.”

Carlos was just stunned, asking, “Wait, how many? Five years? Five years since the end of Big Time Rush?”

His time in Big Time Rush was a huge part of his life and something that he loved, which is why Carlos was quick to share his favorite part about being a part of the project and how he’d feel about reuniting with his former bandmates.



“You know, for me, I really love performing and doing the TV show on set was fun, but going out and seeing the fans in person and getting that kind of immediate, instant gratification, there’s nothing like that,” he said. “And that, I think, is the one thing that I miss. And I look back and look at videos. That would be fun to do again someday.”

Hear that, Rushers? Seeing fans was his favorite part. Hopefully, you also didn’t miss that last part where he said he’d want to do it again one day. How exactly would he like to reunite with Big Time Rush — a show/movie or a tour? “Either or, yeah, I’ll take it,” he said.

While Carlos would “absolutely” love to reunite, he’s not sure if the other alums would want to, “but if there was a time or place and they were ready to go, I would be,” he said.

Schmidt is currently working on music as part of his longtime music duo, Heffron Drive, with Dustin Belt. Maslow has been filming various TV shows and movies over the last few years while recording solo music. As for Henderson, he’s also very focused on his own music.

Still, when IBT spoke with Henderson last year at Nickelodeon HALO Awards, he said that while he’s focused on his solo music right now, “if we come back at some point, I’m sure it will be pretty cool.” Henderson doesn’t know about doing a reunion movie or show, but thinks “it would be cooler to do, like, one concert,” sort of “like one last hoorah-type thing.”



When Henderson’s thoughts were relayed to Carlos, he immediately loved the idea of reuniting for a crazy, big-time performance.

“Oh, oh my gosh, absolutely,” he said. “Absolutely.”

All the Rushers out there are probably elated to hear that two out of four of the boys are now on board for some reunion fun, and Alexa is right there with you. She’s a diehard fan of Big Time Rush, both the band and the show.

“I’ll play [the show] and I’m just like, ‘Babe, you gotta figure out how to get those boys back together,’ because it just feels good to watch them,” she said. “The music is so good, the show was fun. Even if they didn’t do the show, the music they put out was just — I genuinely loved it. And they’re all super talented.”

Her love of Big Time Rush, and Carlos, is why even though it’s been five years, it was still easy for Alexa to recall her time working on the series finale, which was the first time she and Carlos had acted onscreen together. She even shared the organic way her participation in the episode came about.

“We had been falling in love all summer, spending time together, and I was there for his whole shoot that season,” she said. “So, we had no idea I was going to be in the finale and Scott [Fellows], the creator, after seeing me on set all the time and around, he asked Carlos, like, ‘Would you be okay with this? Would she be okay with coming in?’ And we were beyond excited. To be a part of a close of something that was so big, or a finish of something that was so big, in Carlos’ life, it feels really special to have been a part of that.”

Join Carlos and Alexa in celebrating Big Time Rush and its finale by sharing your favorite memories of watching the Nickelodeon series, listening to the albums or going to the concerts, in the comments section below!

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's August 2018 Premiere Highlights!
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Lizzy Greene’s Epic Cooking Fail 🍳Omelet Catastrophe | Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | Nickelodeon

Dawn (Lizzy Greene) is totally out of place as her brother’s sous chef in a cook off! The competition kicks off with an egg-cellent disaster, but can Dawn somehow help her brother achieve his dream of becoming a chef? Be sure to catch more NRDD on Nickelodeon! 🍳



What is YOUR favorite thing to cook?! πŸ₯–πŸ”πŸ•πŸŒ­πŸ₯ž

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's August 2018 Premiere Highlights!
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Can You Ace the Henry Danger Superfan Megaquiz? πŸ’₯ | #KnowYourNick | Nickelodeon

Are you the ultimate Henry Danger superfan?! Find out with the Henry Danger Superfan Megaquiz! Check how well you know your HD trivia and facts, and then be sure to comment below with your score! Catch more Henry Danger on Nickelodeon! πŸ’₯



How many did you get right? Let me know in the comments below! πŸ’―

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's August 2018 Premiere Highlights!
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Danny Phantom SPIN OFF? | Butch Hartman

Here’s Butch Hartman's idea for a Danny Phantom spin off show starring Valerie, Dani, Vlad, and more!



Yes, he's the real guy. Butch Hartman created your childhood AKA Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, TUFF Puppy, and now...the NOOG NETWORK and Bunsen Is a Beast!

Butch Hartman Sketchbook #1: https://www.amazon.com/Butch-Hartman-Sketchbook-Stuff-drawn/dp/1975613392

Check out Butch's brand-new comic The 3 O'Clock Club from Lion Forge Comics, and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow everything of Butch's below:

Butch Hartman - Facebook | Instagram | Butch's Sketchpad On Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @realhartman | YouTube | Speech Bubble | Tumblr | Pinterest

The Noog Network - www.noognetwork.com | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @noognetwork | Tumblr | Pinterest

More Nick: Butch Hartman Kickstarting Oaxis Online Platform!
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The Sea Patrol Saves Rocky πŸ›₯️🐾 PAW Patrol Crafts | Nick Jr.

It’s time for a big scuba save with the PAW Patrol! πŸ›₯️The PAW Patrol pups are looking cuter than ever while working together to save their best pal, Rocky. When Rocky gets swooped up by a kite, Ryder calls on Marshall and Zuma to perform another ruff-ruff rescue. Not only will kids enjoy seeing the Sea Patrol in action, but they’ll also get to watch their favorite friends reimagined as crafty cartoon characters made of felt and other DIY materials. It’s bound to be pup-tastic! To find full episodes of the animated TV series PAW Patrol, visit the free Nick Jr. App.



Kids can watch their favorite Nick Jr. shows weekdays on Nickelodeon and all week long on the Nick Jr. channel: http://nickjr.com/tvschedule/

More Nick: Nickelodeon to Release ‘PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups' Special on DVD Exclusively at Walmart Ahead of TV Debut!

Preschoolers can watch full episodes online, play games, and discover silly surprises in the free Nick Jr. App and at NickJr.com: iTunes | Google Play | Amazon.

Stream Nick Jr. for free in the Nick Jr. App on Roku and Apple TV or download full episodes for offline viewing on iTunes or Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Nickelodeon&hl=en

You can also download premium apps featuring your child's favorite Nick Jr. shows on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

Draw and Play: iPhone | iPad | Google Play (Phone) | Google Play (Tablet) | Amazon

Nick Jr. Let’s Learn: iPhone | iPad

More Nick: Outright Games to Release 'PAW Patrol: On a Roll' Video Game for Consoles and PC in October 2018!
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Canada: YTV to Premiere 'The Thundermans' Series Finale 'The Thunder Games' on Friday 27th July 2018

This Friday, the Thundermans get breaking news: Max and Phoebe are through to the Z-Force Championship! Will Max and Phoebe make their superhero dreams come true? Or will a new super villain put the Thundermans in danger? Don't miss the epic one-hour series finale of The Thundermans, "The Thunder Games", premiering Friday 27th July 2018 at 7:00pm ET/PT, only on YTV in Canada!



In The Thundermans series special "The Thunder Games", Max (Jack Griffo) and Phoebe (Kira Kosarin) advance to the final tryout for a spot on an elite superhero squad, but a new supervillain with a surprise connection to the Thunderman family may force them to sacrifice their crime fighting dream!

THE ZONE | THE THUNDERMANS FINALE! | YTV



Hey there Z-Heads! Join Suki & relive some great moments from The Thundermans!

Make sure to catch the series finale of The Thundermans this Friday at 7pm E/T!

More YTV: YTV Canada to Air 'Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Sneak Peek on Friday 27th July 2018!

Originally published: Tuesday, July 24, 2018.
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Nickelodeon Italy and Acquario di Genova Now Accepting Applicants for August 2018 Phase of 'Una notte all’acquario con Spongebob'

Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) and Acquario di Genova have teamed up for the next stage of "Una notte all’acquario con Spongebob", and are inviting viewers to apply for their chance to spend a night in a specially designed SpongeBob SquarePants-themed room at Acquario di Genova in August 2018!


As part of "Una notte all’acquario con Spongebob", successful applicants will get to spend a night in a SpongeBob bedroom, falling asleep and waking up next to adorable dolphin! They will also be given the opportunity to discover, with the help of experts of the Acquario di Genova, the secrets and the most important information about the fish and aquatic animals who live at the aquarium, how the aquarium takes good care of them, and it's conservation projects it undertakes to save some of the most endangered aquatic species, and help feed the animals!

Below is more information about the latest stage of "Una notte all’acquario con Spongebob"!

Viacom Reportedly in Advanced Talks to Acquire AwesomenessTV

Viacom is in advanced talks to acquire AwesomenessTV for a fraction of the $650 million valuation it commanded in 2016, a source familiar with the discussions have told Deadline.


Comcast currently owns 51% of the young-skewing digital content player (a result of its acquisition of DreamWorks Animation), with Hearst and Verizon owning the rest.

If the deal closes as expected in the coming weeks, it would be a homecoming for the brand. Awesomeness founder Brian Robbins is now an executive at Viacom’s Paramount Pictures and Kelly Day, a former senior executive at Awesomeness, runs digital for Viacom.

Like many digital platforms being squeezed by online advertising behemoths Google and Facebook, Awesomeness has seen its valuation dwindle. Its three corporate owners all have other priorities, opening the door for Viacom to roll up the entire business, satisfying the wish of Awesomeness to have a single owner.

A source familiar with Viacom’s thinking said management views the company as a strong fit with its existing brands like Nickelodeon and MTV and a way to demonstrate bona fides in digital as linear viewing continues to decline.

Nickelodeon previously partnered with AwesomenessTV for a comedy sketch show in 2013, as well as a movie, Terry the Tomboy, in 2014.

Verizon was in a more content-centric strategic mode in 2016, but has since shifted toward wireless and new technology such as 5G. Lowell McAdam, who was CEO of Verizon when it bought into Awesomeness in 2016, is set to retire at the end of the month.

Jordan Levin, a media veteran known for stints at the NFL and WB network, took the helm at Awesomeness last year after Robbins moved into his current role as head of Paramount Players. Robbins is not expected to have any day-to-day involvement in Awesomeness if it joins the Viacom fold, sources indicated.

Viacom declined to comment on the story. Reps for AwesomenessTV didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Live-Action 'Dora the Explorer' Movie Casts Adriana Barraza as Dora's Grandmother, Abuela Valerie

Hot on the heels of Paramount Players announcing that Micke Moreno has been cast as Diego in the studio's upcoming live-action Dora the Explorer movie, Paramount Players has announced that Oscar-nominated actor Adriana Barraza has been cast as Dora’s grandmother, Abuela Valerie in the film!


Isabela Moner (100 Things to Do Before High School, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Transformers: The Last Knight) will star as the titular teen, who heads out on an adventure with her best friend, Boots the monkey, and her cousin Diego when she moves to the city. Mexican superstar Eugenio Derbez (Instructions Not Included, Overboard) will play a roguish explorer named Alejandro Gutierrez.

Barraza earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her supporting role in 2006’s Babel, and she was most recently seen in Guillermo del Toro‘s FX series The Strain. Her feature credits include Thor, Cake, The 33 and Amores Perros. She’s repped by Innovative Artists and DePaz Management.


James Bobin (The Muppets, Alice Through The Looking Glass) is directing Dora the Explorer from a script by Nick Stoller (Neighbors) and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes production company, and his partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller, will be producing, and Walden Media is co-financing and co-producing the project with Paramount.

Dora the Explorer is slated to release the film on Friday, August 2, 2019. The film will face stiff box office competition on that date, as Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham‘s Fast and Furious spin-off will hit theaters that day along with Fox’s New Mutants and an untitled event film from Warner Bros., though Dora obviously appeals to a much younger audience.

Dora the Explorer will be filmed on location in Queensland, Australia, including at Sound Stage 9 at Village Roadshow Studios. Cameras due to begin rolling on Monday, August 6.

“We could not be more thrilled to be bringing Dora to Queensland and to be able to deliver Queensland for our film,” Lee Rosenthal, President of Physical Production for Paramount Pictures, said earlier this year. “In Queensland, we are able to get outstanding crew, stages and a variety of jungle topography and city backdrops in essentially one place.”

Dora the Explorer is based on Nickelodeon's beloved animated preschool series, and Paramount Players has a mandate to leverage Viacom-owned properties for the big screen treatment. The studio is also developing a feature adaptation of the beloved Nick series Are You Afraid of the Dark? and a CG-animated/live-action hybrid Rugrats movie.

Are you excited to see the cast of Dora the Explorer take shape? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

More Nick: Live-Action 'Dora The Explorer' Movie Will Be Everything Fans Want Says Star Isabela Moner!

Source: Collider; H/T: ComicBook.


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Gunnar Sizemore, Mark Hamill, Eric Bauza, Kari Wahlgren, Mick Wingert, Chris Swindle, Matthew Moy and More to Star in New Animated Nickelodeon Original Movie

Actor Gunnar Sizemore has revealed the very exciting news in a interview with BSCKids that he recently recorded dialogue for a brand-new animated Nickelodeon Original Movie, which will also star the one and only Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise), as well as voice acting legends Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Kari Wahlgren (The Adventures of Kid Danger, Fairly OddParents, Bunsen Is a Beast, Breadwinners), Mick Wingert (Breadwinners, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Kid Danger, Kung Fu Panda), Chris Swindle, Matthew Moy (Scrubs, The Middle) and so many more!


Not much is currently known about the made-for-television film, including its title, however, Gunnar has also revealed that he's the only child actor in the cast, and that it is currently slated to premiere on Nickelodeon in March 2019!

Gunnar is no stranger to Nickelodeon viewers, having voiced characters in The Adventures of Kid Danger and Shimmer and Shine. Viewers will also have heard him on Stranger Things, and he has also starred in 12 episodes of CMT's Nashville.

Read the excerpt from Gunnar's interview with BSCKids in which the actor announces the news below, and then head to bsckids.com to read his awesome interview in full!

BSCKids: Can you tell us a little bit about what you have coming up in the future?

Gunnar Sizemore: Sure….kind of! We’ve completed our first season of a Dreamworks Animated series that will be released this November and I’m really excited to be able to share it when it comes out. Also in March, I was fortunate to play opposite Luke Skywalker, I mean Mark Hamill, in a Nickelodeon original animated movie. It won’t be avail till March 2019, but being the only kid in a cast that includes amazing voice actors like Eric Bauza, Kari Wahlgren, Mick Wingert, Chris Swindle, Matthew Moy and so many more was awesome!

More Nick: Live-Action 'Dora The Explorer' Movie Will Be Everything Fans Want Says Star Isabela Moner!

Additional sources: IMDb (I, II, III, IV, V, VI), Zimbio, Google Images.
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GameMill Entertainment Announces 'Nickelodeon Kart Racers' | First Look

NICKELODEON KART RACERS Announced Featuring SpongeBob, TMNT, Rugrats, and More Heading to Consoles


New Multi-Player Game Features Characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, Hey Arnold! and More, Coming to all Major Consoles this Holiday



Minneapolis – GameMill Entertainment today announced Nickelodeon Kart Racers, a new multi-player console racing game that features iconic Nickelodeon animated characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, Hey Arnold! and more, as they race on 24 different Slime-themed tracks. Nickelodeon Kart Racers allows players to compete as their favorite Nick character in four-player local multiplayer or battle mode to win cups and Kart upgrades.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Nickelodeon to bring all of these amazing characters into one fun, competitive video game for fans of all ages to enjoy,” shares Mark Meadows, Partner of GameMill Entertainment. “Nickelodeon has created characters and stories that are loved around the world and we specialize in transforming treasured characters and stories into playable entertainment for the die-hard fans and casual gamers alike.”


Nickelodeon Kart Racers is rated E for Everyone in North America and PEGI 3 in the UK and Europe, and will be available on all major consoles worldwide for holiday 2018.

Here is an overview of the game, via GameMill Entertainment:

About

A new multi-player console racing game, Nickelodeon Kart Racers! Select a racer from one of your favorite Nickelodeon series, including SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy from SpongeBob SquarePants, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arnold and Helga from Hey Arnold!, and Angelica, Tommy, and Reptar from Rugrats. Race your friends in up to four-player local multiplayer or check out the Battle Arena for a variety of challenges.

Key Features

- Choose a racer from 12 of the most iconic Nickelodeon series: SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hey Arnold!, Rugrats, and more!

- Race on 24 different Slimed-filled tracks including Bikini Bottom, NYC sewers, Tommy Pickle’s house, Arnold’s school, and more!

- Awesome co-op and local multiplayer for non-stop action the entire family will love!

- Customizable karts with multiple power-ups and special attacks!

- Team-based co-op multiplayer, players can perform devastating fused attack for tons of fun!

- Slime overload will have you turning you karts into jet-ski racers!

Game Info

Title: Nickelodeon Kart Racers
Publisher: GameMill Entertainment
Developer: Bamtang
Genre: Racing
Players: 4

Release Date:
23rd Oct 2018, $39.99 (US/Canada)
23rd Oct 2018 (UK/EU/AU)

In North America, Nickelodeon Kart Racers is due for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch on October 23 for $39.99.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers is distributed in the UK and Europe by Maximum Games and will retail for £29.99 / €39.99.

Image Gallery:

NickTube: Planet Nickelodeon Video Round-Up | Wednesday 25th July 2018

Check out a selection of video clips featuring your favourite Nickelodeon shows and stars from Nickelodeon channels around the world!