WINNERS: 27th Annual Imagen Awards

The Imagen Foundation announced on Friday the winners of the 27th Annual Imagen (Spanish for “image”) Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino cultures in entertainment.  The awards were presented at a gala black-tie dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom.  

Winners were selected by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders and announced at the awards gala.  Below is the winner's list:

Lupe Ontiveros Dead at 69

Lupe Ontiveros, who was nominated for an Indie Soap Award earlier this year, has died. She was 69.

Ontiveros was reportedly suffering from liver cancer.

She may be best known for playing the convicted murderer of the Tejano singer in the Selena movie.  Selena co-star Jacob Vargas was at her bedside last night and tweeted, "My friend Lupe Ontiveros just passed away. May you rest in peace. Thank you for your great contribution to film and TV. You will be missed."

SAVE THE DATE: 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards to be Held on February 21, 2012 in Manhattan

The Third Annual Indie Soap Awards are coming, and they are going to be more exciting than ever!!  This year's event is scheduled on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012, in The Theater District of Manhattan.  Indie Soap stars from all over the globe will be coming to this unique and prestigious annual event.

Nominees will be announced here on the We Love Soaps homepage on Monday, December 19th.  On that day information will additionally be posted about the location, purchasing tickets, and more.

To see last year's ceremony hosted by Martha Byrne, with dozens of Indie Soap presenters including Kim Zimmer and Tina Sloan, as well as award winners Hillary B. Smith and Jordan Clarke, press here.

Transit TV Airing Web Series LOS AMERICANS On L.A. Metro Bus Routes

Passengers of the Los Angeles County Metro bus system now can watch full episodes of One Economy's groundbreaking web-series, LOS AMERICANS, delivered in shortened segments through the Transit TV broadcast network Monday through Friday. Hollywood icon Robert Townsend, cast members of Los Americans and representatives from One Economy and Transit TV hosted a screening of the series and answered questions today for a preview event onboard a Los Angeles County bus.

REVIEW: LOS AMERICANS Showcases Dream Ensemble: Lupe Ontiveros, Esai Morales, Raymond Cruz & Yvonne Delarosa

Web Series: LOS AMERICANS

For fans of...: Telenovelas; PARENTHOOD; Lupe Ontiveros, Esai Morales, Raymond Cruz or Yvonne Delarosa

What it is: An affluent Mexican American family overcomes obstacles.

What's good: Looks TV ready. Cast so strong (and famous) it had us doing doubletakes—more acting experience then most new television dramas. Fresh take on the American family.

WATCH: The Premiere of LOS AMERICANS

LOS AMERICANS is an eight-part series that focuses on a multi-generational, middle-income Latino family living in Los Angeles. The Valenzuela family deals with many issues facing American families today, including: unemployment, cultural identity and alcoholism. The series features Latino-Americans in a realistic and complex manner seldom seen on television or the Internet.

While the series portrays some of the experiences unique to the Latino community, such as the challenges of straddling two cultures, the series also shows that much of the family’s struggles can be identified with families from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Following each episode of Los Americans, viewers will be directed to online resources and information offering solutions and help for the issues portrayed in the program.

The series is written and directed by Dennis Leoni, who is best known for having created and produced the award-winning, television series RESURRECTION BLVD. for Showtime. Los Americans feature Esai Morales (CAPRICA), Lupe Ontiveros (SOUTHLAND) Raymond Cruz (BREAKING BAD) and Tony Plana (UGLY BETTY).

Los Americans is an original production of One Economy Corporation and its video production company, V-Studios. V-Studios is managed by award-winning director, Robert Townsend (DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM).

The web series is funded through a grant of the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to promote broadband and technology use to help people improve their lives.

On the premiere episode, Leandro (or “Lee” as he prefers to be called) Valenzuela’s idyllic suburban world is shaken as he deals with losing his job, his mother’s alcoholism and three new houseguests – his homeboy cousin Memo, who he hasn’t seen in thirty years, Memo’s undocumented wife and their overweight son.

Watch it below.