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By Michael Lopez

2012 is shaping up to be a powerful year for Hispanics. La cultura is being felt in the print media, on the web, and especially in the upcoming presidential election. The Latino celebrity presence is at an all-time high too, as illustrated by the star-studded honoree list at this year's NHMC Impact Awards. We had the opportunity to attend event and get some input from a host of Latino stars.

"I feel very proud to be a Latina in this day and age," Michelle Rodriguez told us. "I think around the world, people are more open to being human and including more cultures into their own."

Michelle happened to be one of the Impact Awards' honorees that night, recognized for her positive roles in TV and film. While we had her on the red carpet, we had to ask if her famous Letty character from the Fast & Furious franchise would be returning for the upcoming sequel.

"It depends on what they pay me," she jokingly said. "If they pay what I'm worth, then I'll be back!"

Other up-and-coming Hispanic celebs made their way to the event too. Though you may not know it, Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza is a proud Latina and she also received an NHMC honor for her work.

"I'm actually half Puerto Rican," she told us when describing her ethnic roots. "And I'll let you know that Puerto Rican is my dominant half."

Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas certainly made his Hispanic presence known. He told us how he is often mistaken for Asian, a far cry from his Mexican roots. Taboo (whose birth name is Jaime Luis Gomez) explained how he's made it his mission to spread tolerance through his music.

"I want to let people know that racism is not a good thing," he told us. "My grandmother experienced so much racism in her life. That's why I felt like I needed to stand up. I recorded a song called 'One Heart One Beat' that opposes things like SB 1070 and stereotypes against Latinos."

A Better Life director Chris Weitz shared those sentiments. Part Mexican himself, he told us that he made Life to address issues like intolerance and immigration. Chris seemed very proud about the recent Oscar recognition his film received and hopes it will help bring the message to an expanded audience.

"I feel like A Better Life has gotten a lot more attention since Demián's Oscar nomination," he said. "And I'm really grateful to the Academy for that. I don't think they've realized how much they’ve done for Hispanics this year. It shows that we can be recognized on a grander scale."

The Impact Awards were living proof of that. Stars like Claudia Bassols, Benjamin Bratt, and Cesar Millan also lent their support to the evening and the positive work that the NHMC is doing to expose Latino issues in 2012.

Which Latino stars do you admire most? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A better life, Aubrey Plaza, benjamin bratt, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Cesar Millan, Chris Weitz, Claudia Bassols, Cultura, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Impact Awards, Michelle Rodriguez, Movies & CineMás, National Hispanic Media Coalition, NHMC, Taboo, Television, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Now here's a show we're genuinely excited about. Not only is Devious Maids being written by Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, it's got Roselyn Sanchez, Judy Reyes, Dania Ramirez, and Ana Ortiz in the cast!

Keep in mind, at this stage in the game Maids is only a pilot. But with that much talent behind it, we're pretty certain it will get picked up for the ABC schedule in the fall.

The Maids plot centers around four Beverly Hills housekeepers and their ambitions for a better life. Of course with Cherry at the helm, you can bet there will be backstabbing, infidelities, and scandals running rampant in the neighborhood.

But hey, that's what good TV is all about right? Housewives built eight solid seasons on that kind of drama and hopefully (with a killer cast like this) Devious Maids will do the same.

Are you excited about Devious Maids? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Ana Ortiz, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dania Ramirez, Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids, Judy Reyes, Marc Cherry, Roselyn Sanchez, Television

By Michael Lopez

There is no doubt that Jessica Sanchez has got some impressive pipes. The 16-year-old part Latina wowed the judges this week on American Idol, securing her slot in this season's Top 13.

On Wednesday night, Jessica channeled a bit of Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, belting out "Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls. Both Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were floored by the performance and offered up a ton of praise.

"You're beyond your years," Lopez stated.

Steven followed it up with,

"They are going to have to pay you next time!"

By Thursday, it was clear Sanchez was secured to move on. And another Tr3s fave, Jeremy Rosado, happened to make the cut too. Over 33 million viewers voted this week, pushing Jeremy, Jessica, and 11 other contestants to the next round. Let's hope they can keep up the good work!

Who's your favorite competitor this year on Idol? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Hot Stuff, Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Rosado, Jessica Sanchez, Steven Tyler, Television

By Michael Lopez

Had a chance to check out The Chew yet? Over two million TV viewers most certainly have, giving the daytime cooking series some very impressive ratings. And one culinary artiste benefiting quite a bit from that is Evette Rios, who is ushering in a new trend of Latina "foodies" on the small screen.

Though Evette is described as a "lifestyle expert" on the show, she regularly participates in the food and nutrition segments. Rios actually got her start in another famous daytime kitchen, appearing alongside cooking queen Rachael Ray.

But Evette is actually just the tip of the iceberg lettuce. Several other culinary Latinas have begun making a name for themselves with talk show appearances and cable cooking shows. One of our personal faves is Chef Marcela Valladolid, who we previously profiled for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Marcela currently hosts Mexican Made Easy on the Food Network and has authored several top-selling cookbooks. Her gorgeous looks and bubbly personality have helped keep her in the public eye, but it's her cuisine that's made her famous. Valladolid has whipped up Mexican delicacies on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, The View, and Iron Chef (just to name a few).

Another Latina "foodie" making the rounds is Ingrid Hoffman. Don't let her Anglo name fool you, this sassy colombiana has shown TV audiences some of South America's tastiest dishes. On her Cooking Channel series Simply Delicioso, Ingrid showcases "secret recipes" from countries like Argentina and Peru.

Hoffman happens to be a strong believer in the power of Latin food.

"I think that in 10 years I'm not sure we are even going to be using the word 'ethnic' to describe where a Latin ingredient is going to fit on a shelf in a supermarket," she jokingly told Fox News Latino.

Add to that prominent Zagat faves like Michelle Bernstein (who runs Miami's bumping Sra. Martínez restaurant) and Lourdes Castro and you've got quite a few sexy cocineras on your hands. But don't take our word for it. Just pop into the cookbook section of your favorite Barnes & Noble and see how many Latina faces are smiling on front covers.

Who’s your favorite Latina chef? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Evette Rios, Food, Food Network, Hot Stuff, Ingrid Hoffman, Lourdes Castro, Marcela Valladolid, Michelle Bernstein, Simply Delicioso, Television, The Chew

By Ikam Acosta

William Levy may not be a professional dancer, but he vows to give it his best shot on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars.

Ever since we learned of this hottie's future appearance on the show, we can't wait to hear who he will be paired up with. We might also be wondering what kind of dancer he might be. Does he perform as good as he looks?

William is extremely popular with the Spanish-speaking community, and about to really break into the English market with this show. He has full on hunk status in both markets, but what fans are really wondering is whether the boy can dance. Well, wonder no more. Levy recently shared some info with the public about his dancing background.

While William confessed he's not an expert dancer, he promised to certainly give it his all. The actor said,

"No soy un bailarin profesional. Pero lo que puedo decir es que cuando pongo mi mente en algo doy el 100 por ciento, especialmente en una competencia en la que voy a bailar para recoger dinero que ayudara a niños en América Latina."

Levy says once he commits to a cause, he tends to give it 100 percent. This particular cause he will be dancing for on the show will benefit children in Latin America.

The actor says his appearance on this next season was all a question of proper timing.

"Me habían preguntado en más de una ocasión si quería ser parte del show, pero entendía que no era el momento."

Levy is grateful for the opportunity to be on Dancing With The Stars and is looking forward to the other cinematic projects he will be involved with this year as well.

Do you think this hunk has what it takes to go far on the show?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Dancing With The Stars, Television, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

It was a star-studded morning on Despierta America yesterday. Not only did comedy star Will Ferrell drop in with Genesis Rodriguez, he brought Venezuelan singing star "El Puma" along with him!

"El Puma" is actually Genesis' dad, Jose Luis Rodriguez. A music icon for nearly 40 years, he certainly lightened the mood during Will's cooking segment.

All three of them were there to promote the new comedy movie Casa de mi Padre. Filmed entirely in Spanish, it's definitely a bold move for Ferrell, who did not know español before the cameras rolled.

But clearly he and Genesis have some great chemistry (as evidenced by the Despierta segment). They seem to know their way around a kitchen too, cooking up a yummy arepas dish for the audience.

Are you planning on watching Casa de mi Padre? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Casa De Mi Padre, Despierta America, El Pum, Genesis Rodriguez, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Movies & CineMás, Television, Will Ferrell

By Ikam Acosta

Davy Jones, lead singer of the popular 1960's band, The Monkees, died from a heart attack earlier today. He was only 66 years old.

Jones' death was confirmed by the Martin County, FL medical examiner's office earlier today. Davy leaves behind a wife, Jessica, and four daughters, all from previous marriages.

Davy also leaves behind a legacy of memorable hits, including "Daydream Believer," "I'm a Believer," and "Last Train To Clarksville." These are just a few songs made popular by that adorable British shorty on the popular television show. Davy joined Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork to form The Monkees back in 1965.

Rest in peace, Davy. You were my favorite Monkee. I remember watching episodes of The Monkees when I was a kid, laughing at your crazy antics and singing along to your songs.

Which was your favorite Monkees episode?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Celebrity Deaths, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, Television, The Monkees

By Michael Lopez

Good news Perez Hilton fans, you won't have to subscribe to British TV to see his new celebrity reality series. Perez Hilton Superfan is now making its way to the states, courtesy of The CW network.

The CW has commissioned two out of the four Superfan installments to air in America. Not coincidentally, those two episodes happen to feature the country's biggest music stars.

Lady Gaga and Katy Perry's specials have made the cut, though sadly Enrique Iglesias'Superfan episode did not. But if Katy and Gaga perform well, we're sure Hilton will get the green light to bring his remaining segments over.

We're actually hopeful that positive ratings will lead to even newer Superfan episodes (perhaps with more Tr3s faves). It's all very positive news for Perez, who told us back in October that one of his dreams was to break into the world of primetime.

Would you watch Perez Hilton's Superfan show? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, CW Network, Perez Hilton, Perez Hilton Super Fan, Perez Hilton Superfan, Television

By Michael Lopez

Could this be the big crossover break William Levy was hoping for? It seems the international novela hunk is coming to American primetime for season 14 of Dancing With The Stars.

Levy will be joining an interesting group of competitors this year, which includes music legend Gladys Knight, reporter Maria Menounos, and Jaleel "Urkel" White from the 90's sitcom Family Matters. ABC proudly strutted out the entire cast on Good Morning America Tuesday morning.

As we all remember, Salvadorian-American J.R. Martinez took down the mirror ball trophy last season. Could we be seeing another Latino rise up through the ranks this year? It's very possible, especially for those of us who've seen William bust out his moves in those JLo videos.

We'll be very eager to see how Levy fares with American audiences. You can watch him break out his samba shoes when Dancing With The Stars premieres on March 19!

Are you planning on watching William's Dancing debut? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dancing With The Stars, Gladys Knight, Hot Stuff, Jaleel White, Maria Menounos, Television, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

Lately it's become a tradition for the folks behind Jimmy Kimmel Live! to create funny post-Oscar moments. And this year was no exception, with their hilarious spoof, Movie: The Movie. Pieced together into a 10-minute trailer, the comedy clip featured a ton of stars (and several Tr3s faves).

Capitalizing on the cheesiest moments from recent blockbusters, Movie parodied giant Transformers, Clash of the Titans centaurs, talking babies, and more. Jessica Alba poked fun at recent rom coms with a scene featuring Ryan Phillippe and Taylor Lautner.

Antonio Banderas also scored big laughs, channeling a bit of The Da Vinci Code with his red papal outfit. In his scene, he "married" Edward Norton and Josh Brolin! Cameron Diaz had a very funny bit too, which happened to involve an inflatable leading man.

But perhaps the most talked-about moment featured George Clooney as a scientist trying to save the world. Skewering scenes from films like Armageddon and Deep Impact, his segment even had its own Steven Tyler song!

Very funny stuff indeed, perhaps even more so than the big show.

What did you think of Movie: The Movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Academy Awards, Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Celebrities, Edward Norton, George Clooney, Jessica Alba, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Josh Brolin, Movie: The Movie, Movies & CineMás, Oscars, Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Lautner, Television