Celebrity Extra: Patricia Velasquez
By Dana Jackson
Q: I recently started watching "Arrested Development," starring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. Why did they recast the actress of Marta? I like both actresses, but I was curious about the change. -- D.D.
A: Marta Estrella was a telenovela star who was G.O.B.'s (Arnett) girlfriend but was also loved from afar by his brother, Michael (Bateman). LEOnor Varela originated the role but exited after two episodes to star in a heavy dramatic role for the 2004 movie "Innocent Voices." She was recast with supermodel-turned-actress Patricia Velasquez for an additional five episodes.
Patricia Velasquez ("Arrested Development"). Photo Credit: Depositphotos
Since soap operas are famous for recasting roles, a satiric comedy like "Arrested Development" perfectly turned the role switch into a clever meta joke without giving an explanation.
Q: Are there currently any shows that are filming in Hawaii? The ones I used to watch like "Lost" ended years ago. I just wonder how they're doing with the current bad flooding there. -- K.E.
A: The ABC series "Lost" filmed on the island of O'ahu, which is currently experiencing historic flooding. It's currently the location for the upcoming action film "Protecting Jared," which stars Jason Momoa ("Aquaman") and Andy Samberg ("The Roses"). Momoa has been posting pictures of the devastation on his social media and is also actively helping charity organizations to feed hungry residents through this hardship.
Other productions calling Hawaii home include the third installment of the "Jumanji" movies, but it appears that the actors wrapped up filming this month. "Jumanji 3" will once again star Dwayne Johnson ("The Smashing Machine") and Jack Black ("Anaconda"), and it will premiere in theaters on Christmas Day of this year. The live-action "Lilo & Stitch" sequel is expected to begin filming later this year, likely in O'ahu once again.
The Netflix series "Untamed," starring Eric Bana, began filming season two in in O'ahu and the Volcanoes National Park this past February. All of these productions will be a boon to the economy of our nation's 50th state, which is badly needed not only because of the record rainfall but also due to the 2023 fires in Maui.
Q: Is the new British spin-off of "Saturday Night Live" available to watch for American audiences? I know I can probably find it online, but what about on NBC? -- B.M.
A: Tina Fey kicked off "SNL UK" as its first host, but it won't be broadcasted here in the United States on NBC. You can find it the day after it airs live on NBC's streaming service, Peacock. The Brits have always been known for comedy, so I would expect their version to be a huge hit. Like most series from across the pond, the season will be short with just eight episodes.
The next two hosts will be Jamie Dornan, the Irish actor best known for starring in the "50 Shades of Grey" trilogy, and Riz Ahmed, who was born in Wembley, England, and was nominated for an Oscar in 2021 for his role as a deaf drummer in "Sound of Metal."
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com.
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