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By Michael Lopez

Truth be told, it is pretty hard to classify exactly what a “Latino” is. Even if you unite certain parts of the culture by country, there are still plenty of mixed ethnicities that define each individual person. Some of us have strictly Spanish heritage, others Mayan or Aztec, and many more can trace their roots back to Africa. Now, PBS is offering a fascinating look at the latter category with their new documentary Black in Latin America.

Hosted by famed Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Black in Latin America focuses specifically on  Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Brazil, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Throughout the four-part series, Dr. Gates will be traveling to each country to trace historical Afro-Latino events, some of which are not very pleasant.

"In each of these countries [we visited], the poorest people were the people with the kinkiest hair, the thickest lips and the darkest skin," Dr. Gates said. "That is sad."

Even sadder is the dark history that each of the countries hold. As with the United States, slavery was a major motive behind the migration of Africans to Latin America prior to the 20th century. Over 10.5 million Africans were sent to Mexico, Peru, Brazil and Cuba for free labor.

And though slavery in Latin America was abolished long ago, Dr. Gates is still able to illustrate the strong prejudices that exist within each nation’s culture. Interestingly, the special documents how some countries are much more accepting toward Afro-Latinos than others.

“Like everywhere else, the poorest people in each country are the darkest, African-looking people,” Dr Gates explained. “The elite in Cuba were white Cubans. The elite in Brazil are white Brazilians.”

But, as they say, knowledge is power and it’s clear that the PBS producers have done their historical homework. Their intricate timelines go all the way back to the 1700’s, profiling Latin America’s earliest African settlers. And that’s only the beginning. Dr. Gates goes on to trace the positive impact Afro-Latinos have had on the cultura, from sports, to politics, to art, and beyond.

Black In Latin America will be airing through May 10 on local PBS stations.

Who are your favorite Afro-Latinos? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Afro-Latinos, Black In Latin America, Cultura, Documentaries, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, PBS, Television

By Michael Lopez

Lately it seems like everybody has something to say about the beauty pageant show Nuestra Belleza Latina. From the outspoken judges, to the scandalous contestants, the Univision reality series has become a daily fixture on the gossip blogs. And now, Juanes is chiming in too, expressing his support for contestant Nicole Suárez.

It is certainly not a coincidence that Nicole and Juanes both hail from Colombia. Suarez is the pageant’s only competitor from that country and El Rockero is making sure all of his hometown fans pledge their support.

In a recorded message posted at People En Español’s website, Juanes said.

"Nicole hola cómo estás, soy Juanes y te deseo mucha suerte en el concurso y nada. Todo mi cariño. Estás divina y sé que vas a ganar. Mucha suerte".

By all accounts, Nicole has a pretty good shot at taking the title. Though she’s still up against eight other gorgeous Latinas, each of which possess their own huge base of fans.

But, if she can survive, Suárez will be taking home $200,000 and a lucrative new contract to appear on Univision television shows. Of course, if she doesn’t win, we’re thinking she’ll still have a pretty bright future ahead. Perhaps as a costar in one of Juanes’ sexy new music videos?

Which Nuestra Belleza Latina are you rooting for? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Beauty Pageants, Celebrities, Hot Stuff, Juanes, Nicole Suárez, Nuestra Belleza Latina, Television

By Michael Lopez

By the sound of things, it’s not all singing and dancing behind-the-scenes of Glee these days. Producers of the hit show recently lashed out and fired a female extra after she tweeted spoilers about which characters would become McKinley High’s Prom King and Queen.

Hardcore Gleeks may recognize Nicole Crowther as a background student in many of the show’s classroom scenes. Well, it looks like you won’t be seeing her anymore. Producer Brad Falchuk angrily sent his own vengeful post to the twitterverse, criticizing those who spill secrets from the set.

"Who are you to spoil something talented people have spent months to create? Hope you're qualified to do something besides work in entertainment."

But was Nicole’s Twitter revelation truly that earth-shattering? To be honest, Yes! Many fans thought for sure that Dianna Agron’s Quinn character would be wearing the prom crown this season, but according to Crowther that may not be the case.

---SPOILER ALERT!---

"K is PQ and Ka is PK,” Nicole tweeted.

Fans reading into that have deduced that fan fave Kurt (played by Chris Colfer) will be McKinley’s Queen and his closeted rival Dave Karofsky (played by Max Adler) will be King. Quite an interesting twist and definitely a MAJOR spoiler.

Though Gleeks were intrigued by the news, many have verbally expressed frustration about the early reveal. Since the drama, Crowther has closed her Twitter account, but not before sending out one final update.

"They are not doing reshoots because of my careless mistake so shut up haters and leave me alone. Grow up and get a life."

Will you still watch the Glee episode after this leak? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Brad Falchuk, Chisme, glee, Hot Stuff, Nicole Crowther, Spoilers, Television, twitter

By Michael Lopez

It’s always fun to discover that celebs you love are actually Latino. And looking at American Idol contender Scotty McCreery, you would never guess that he’s got strong Hispanic roots. But despite the North Carolina twang and Anglo last name, this southern crooner is actually a proud Puerto Rican!

“My grandmother is from Old San Juan,” Scotty explained to Latina. “And my grandfather was in Puerto Rico for the Air Force. And so they met and they had my dad in Aguadilla and then they moved up north and my Dad came down south and they had me.”

Scotty went on to say that he would definitely be bringing that fact up to judge Jennifer Lopez (who herself is a proud Puerto Rican). Of course, knowing Scotty’s roots is just icing on the musical cake. He has already won over millions of Idol fans with his unique bass singing and down home southern charm.

Now fighting to stay in the Top 7, McCreery has had several memorable moments in season 10. His cover versions of classic Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Travis Tritt tunes have exposed several rocking country songs to an entirely new audience.

But, now that we know his family history, we’re thinking it would be great to hear him interpret some Puerto Rican hometown heroes like Jose Feliciano. And it sounds like Scotty knows his cultural background well. He even visited the island not too long ago.

“I went to Puerto Rico in 2005,” McCreery said. “We traveled all through old San Juan. It was great!”

Are you rooting for Scotty McCreery on Idol? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Cultura, Hot Stuff, Música, Puerto Rico, Scotty McCreery, Television

By Michael Lopez

Sure novelas like La Reina del Sur are all the rage right now, but believe it or not, American soap operas are struggling. ABC announced that it was pulling the plug on the legendary daytime drama All My Children (AMC) after a record 41 years. And though you can still enjoy the colorful residents of Pine Valley until September, we thought it would be interesting to look back and see which Latinos have had the most impact on the series -and became well-know thanks to AMC.

Susan Lucci does deserve the credit for carrying AMC (she’s been on the series since 1970), but there are plenty of other memorable players who have created just as much buzz in the soap opera digests. One, in particular, is Mayor Iris Blanco. A recurring regular on the show, she’s one of Pine Valley’s most powerful residents and will undoubtedly stay on board to help finish up the series. Portrayed by Jimmy Smits’ longtime lover Wanda De Jesus, she’s actually quite a role model when compared to the town’s other chisme-heavy characters.

If you’re looking for Pine Valley’s Latino hunk, look no further than Dr. Griffin Castillo. Since his debut last year, Griffin has been caught cheating with married women and coming to blows with local tough-guy Jake Martin. He’s also used his cardiology skills to help save the life of AMC fave Opal Cortlandt. Cuban-American actor Jordi Valasuso had already won a Daytime Emmy before portraying Castillo and it’s clear he’s become a major fan fave.

But enough with the current cast members. Part of the fun of looking back at a long-running soap is seeing which famous faces got their start on the series. And All My Children has no shortage of A-list Latino alumni.

Before she was ever racing cars in those Fast & Furious movies, Panamanian-born Jordana Brewster was turning heads as AMC’s Anita Warner. During Jordana’s brief 1995 run, Anita got caught up in a vicious love triangle and became a homeless runaway.

Law & Order’s Alana de la Garza got her dramatic start playing AMC’s Rosa Santos. Though Rosa began as a sweet and innocent private schoolgirl, she soon developed a major drug habit and wound up being shunned from her Pine Valley family.

Speaking of the Santos family, Eva LaRue’s Maria Santos became quite a prominent character throughout the mid-1990’s. A brilliant neurosurgeon, Maria got entangled in plenty of drama during her nearly 10-year run. Illegitimate babies, a secret twin, and a hardcore alcohol problem were just some of the chisme plotlines she was involved in.

And, of course, how can you mention All My Children Latinos without bringing up Mark Consuelos? During his seven-year stint on the series, Consuelos not only won a coveted Soap Opera Award, he met his future wife Kelly Ripa. And Mark’s Mateo character definitely left a mark, particularly with the subplot that involved him chasing his lover halfway across the world.

So though we’re sad to see all of these great characters go, we’re certain each of AMC’s talented Latino cast members will get the opportunity to act onscreen again. Perhaps in a Spanish-language novela?

Are you a fan of All My Children? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Alana de la Garza, All My Children, Chisme, Eva La Rue, Jordana Brewster, Jordi Valasuso, Mark Consuelos, Novelas, Television

By Michael Lopez

What do you do when the cute kids from High School Musical grow up and move on to other projects? Kick off another song-and-dance franchise to rake in more viewers! That seems to be The Disney Channel’s strategy at the moment, as they debut their latest high-profile movie, Lemonade Mouth.

Featuring a wide array of actors and singers, Lemonade Mouth focuses on the exploits of five freshman at fictional Mesa High School. Coming together in detention class, the misfits soon form their own musical group and rock the house at the city’s local “battle of the bands.”

And if you’re wondering where the name “Lemonade Mouth" comes from, it relates to an unfortunate spitting incident involving the cranky high school principle.

Lemonade’s cast (just like HSM) is full of talented performers. Bridget Mendler from Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 is Olivia, the lead vocalist, Wizards of Waverly Place guest star Hayley Kiyoko plays Stella the guitarist, and newcomer Blake Oliver is giving the band some Latino flair as drummer Charlie Delgado.

Several of the actors made rounds on the media circuit recently to help promote the movie. And since Lemonade's big debut last Friday, there have been talks about a sequel and a possible live tour.

"I think we all love performing and we're all very musically inclined and if we get a tour, that'd be awesome," Hayley said. "We're just enjoying what's going on right now and performing and we're gonna keep doing it whether or not there's a tour or not."

Have you seen The Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blake Oliver, Bridget Mendler, Disney Channel, Hayley Kiyoko, Hot Stuff, Lemonade Mouth, Música, Television

By Michael Lopez

Good news lady Idol fans, it appears as though the female curse of season 10 has finally been broken. For the first time in six weeks, a male contestant has been eliminated from the show. And while that may be good news for all of the superstitious Haley Reinhart fans out there, it’s still a heartache for Paul McDonald, who said his goodbyes last night. This morning, Tr3s had the chance to chat with Paul via conference call and listen to his feelings about the overall experience.

“I had a good time,” McDonald explained cheerfully. “It was an amazing experience.”

Of course, music wasn’t the only topic that came up during the conversation. For the first time, Paul admitted that he and Twilight star Nikki Reed are "officially" an item.

“Me and Nikki Reed are dating. It’s true.”

So even though Paul may have lost the competition, it’s clear he’s become a big winner in the leading lady department.

It’s clear from Paul’s laid-back attitude, that being #1 wasn’t his primary concern. He explained how being “along for the ride” was just as exciting and he seemed very grateful to have been given the opportunity to showcase his talents in front of millions of new fans.

“When I came into the whole Idol thing, I had no expectations whatsoever. I never thought about winning. I just went in and started doing my thing.”

Paul’s “thing” definitely had a strong connection with the viewers. Scoring eighth place on Idol can almost guarantee you a record contract (just ask Pia Toscano) and gives you the opportunity to tour with the other finalists in the months ahead. For McDonald, that means strapping on the guitar and playing his unique brand of alternative rock.

“My music is roots rock n’ roll,” Paul explained. “It's definitely indie. My main goal has always been to showcase my originality and my original music because that’s what I do.”

Were you sad to see Paul McDonald leave American Idol? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Chisme, Exclusive Entrevistas, Música, Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald, Television, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Since she started on Desperate Housewives back in 2004, Eva Longoria has scored a Golden Globe nomination, a People’s Choice Award, and a SAG Award. Obviously that, and the millions of viewers she pulls in every week, will give her some major leverage when negotiating a deal for Housewives season 8. And, if what Deadline is reporting is correct, she and her castmates will now be asking for at least $325,000 per episode!

Of course if you ask us, she’s worth every penny. Eva’s star status has been a major contributor to the show’s success. She is constantly featured in movies, on magazine covers, and in the chisme section of quite a few blogs.

And that’s not to say that Eva’s costars Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, and Felicity Huffman aren’t pulling their weight to attract viewers. Each Housewife has their own fan base and they are all now uniting behind-the-scenes to negotiate the best deal.

The ladies currently earn about $275,000 per episode, which could be bumped to as high as $375,000, depending on the deal struck. Their reps are reportedly also asking for bonuses and back-end compensation for Housewives reruns. Seeing how there are roughly 23 episodes a season, that could mean a multi-million dollar payday for Eva and her galpals.

Keep in mind that Housewives is the second-most popular scripted drama on ABC (after Grey’s Anatomy), which means the ladies are more than likely to get every penny they want.

Do you think Eva Longoria’s worth $375,000 an episode? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Chisme, Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria, Hot Stuff, Television

By Michael Lopez

It looks like the drama on season three of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant is off to an early start. Even though the new episodes don’t debut until next week, star Jennifer Del Rio has already become a TMZ regular with her feisty personality and jailbird boyfriend!

The 17-year-old Latina is making some heavy accusations against her future baby daddy. According to reports, she’s accusing boyfriend Josh Smith of attacking her and threatening to have her raped. Del Rio has also requested a restraining order.

Fans of 16 and Pregnant are already well aware of the drama. MTV’s cameras happened to be filming when police busted Josh and footage of him in handcuffs can be seen in the show’s promos.

And keep in mind that on the show, Jennifer was pregnant with twins, which has given her twice as much reason to worry about an abusive ex. According to the papers Del Rio filed with the court,

"[Smith] has attempted to kidnap children. Due to [Smith's] violence [Del Rio] is frightened for her life and children's life."

Though it’s probably not the best way to start a family, all of this drama will certainly make for a must-see kickoff of 16 and Pregnant season three on April 19th.

Are you a fan of 16 and Pregnant? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 16 and Pregnant, Chisme, Jennifer Del Rio, Josh Smith, MTV, Television

By Michael Lopez

There was a notable gasp among the judges last night as American Idol favorite Pia Toscano got the news that she was going home. Long considered to be a favorite of season 10, Pia had a hard time keeping it together when host Ryan Seacrest delivered the devastating news. Speaking to Tr3s via conference call on Friday, she recalled that moment.

“I was really emotional,” Toscano said. “I really don’t know how to explain it. But the night before I did have a weird feeling about it.”

Conspiracy theorists may agree with Pia’s strange premonition. This week marks the fifth female elimination in a row, leading many to think that there may be some inequality afoot. Pia claims that there was absolutely no gender bias and feels that all of the remaining contestants have an equal chance of going all the way.

“It’s anybody’s game right now,” she explained. “I feel like all of the contestants are extremely strong. They all have their own unique quality that makes them special.”

As far as Pia’s unique quality goes, it’s clear that she’s got a knack for soaring ballads. She acknowledged her strengths behind the mic and seemed very positive about what lies ahead.

“Moving forward I would definitely like to go in a pop genre, with an R & B influence. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Toscano was able to show off those talents even more with her sendoff song, a repeat performance of The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You.” Just hearing her belt it out with such a flawless touch probably left some voters wondering if they had made a mistake.

Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson definitely seemed upset to see her go and unfortunately had no more “saves” left to keep Pia in the competition. When asked about her favorite A.I. judge, it was clear who Toscano felt the strongest connection with.

“Jennifer has helped me so much and she’s someone that I admire,” Pia said. “She’s absolutely stunning inside and out and I’m absolutely blessed to have worked with her.”

Were you sad to see Pia Toscano go? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Pia Toscano, Television, Tr3s Exclusives