Release

VIACOMCBS ANNOUNCES THE CREATIVE TEAM FOR THE 2022 VIRTUAL “SHOWCASE”

The Creative Team Includes:

Tess Paras, Returning as Executive Producer and Director,
Tyler Davis, Returning as Executive Producer and Associate Director,
Calvin Seabrooks, Joining as Executive Producer and Head Writer,
Eddie Mujica, Joining as Producer and
Lauren Walker and Laurie Magers, Joining as Consulting Producers

The 2022 “SHOWCASE” Will Stream Feb. 8 and Feb. 9

Top Row (L-R): Tess Paras, Tyler Davis and Calvin Seabrooks.

Bottom Row (L-R): Eddie Mujica, Lauren Walker and Laurie Magers

Photos: ©CBS/John Keatley

LOS ANGELES – Jan. 13, 2022 – ViacomCBS today announced the producing team for the 2022 SHOWCASE, which will once again take place virtually via a live streaming event on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 1:00 PM, PT, 4:00 PM, PT and 7:00 PM, PT. Tess Paras returns as executive producer and director, and Tyler Davis returns as executive producer and associate director. Also, Calvin Seabrooks joins as executive producer and head writer, Eddie Mujica joins as producer and Lauren Walker and Laurie Magers join as consulting producers. This year’s group of performers and information on how to RSVP will be announced at a later date.

All members of the Creative Team are previous participants of the ViacomCBS SHOWCASE who have not only proven themselves to be formidable performers on-screen and stage, but have also continued to hone their skills behind the camera, in fields such as directing, producing, writing, editing and more. As alumni of the program and true multi-hyphenates, they are in a unique position to not only oversee the development of the show, but also mentor and guide the newest ensemble through these pivotal early moments of their careers.

Tess, Tyler, Calvin, Eddie, Lauren and Laurie are all fearless and imaginative leaders who have established a new standard for showcases,” said Claudia Lyon, Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS Entertainment. “They set out to create a show that can stand against anything on television and meet that challenge head on.”

We are so fortunate to have these exceptional alumni back with us to actualize what has been the most ambitious SHOWCASE production yet,” said Dorey Poder, Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS Entertainment. “This show is a testament to everything they are capable of as creators, and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for each of them.”

Recognized by many as the industry leader in actor showcases designed to highlight diverse talent, SHOWCASE has developed into a variety comedy show with bold, nuanced performances and original, creative writing. The show is viewed by senior-level executives, showrunners and casting directors from ViacomCBS properties, as well as other networks and streamers, in addition to talent agents and managers from across the entertainment industry. 

Formerly a theatrical production with Broadway-worthy live performances, SHOWCASE 2022 has evolved into a highly produced, pre-filmed hour of sketch comedy and comedic music videos. Talent from around the country are selected to participate in a month-long virtual writer’s room before traveling to Los Angeles to take part in a three week shoot on location. Following the wrap of production, performers attend various workshops and panels, ranging from audition technique to Q&A with esteemed SHOWCASE alumni.

Tess Paras is an actress, writer and director based in Los Angeles. She directed and executive produced the 2021 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE and is an alumni performer and writer of the program. As an actress, Paras was a series regular on the Daytime Emmy-nominated Family Series “Just Add Magic: Mystery City” (Amazon). She recurred on “Just Add Magic” (Amazon), “Take My Wife” (Starz) and “Girl Meets World” (Disney), and is most recognized for her recurring role on the award-winning musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW) as Jayma Chan, part of television’s first Filipino-American family. Other recent film and television credits include “Good on Paper” (Netflix), “The Blackout” (Amazon), “Puppy Place” (AppleTV) and “Lucifer” (Netflix). Paras wrote and directed “The Patients,” a short film recognized by the Asian American Psychological Association for its advocacy of mental health awareness. She also wrote and produced multiple viral political comedy sketches for F-Comedy, the digital studio of the Fusion Cable Network. Paras is repped by Gersh (Talent & Literary) and Haven Entertainment.

Tyler Davis is an actor, musician and director in Los Angeles by way of Chicago. He co-wrote and performed in the 2020 SHOWCASE, and was an editor, writer and producer in 2021. In Chicago, Davis starred in two mainstage sketch revues with The Second City Chicago and was a co-star and production consultant on the Showtime series “Work in Progress.” Currently, he directs commercials with TESSA films and is a member of the ViacomCBS ViewFinder Emerging Directors Program with Comedy Central. Davis is repped by DPN Talent in Los Angeles, Grossman & Jack Talent in Chicago, and managed by El Centro Management.

Calvin Seabrooks is a Los Angeles-based actor and writer, originally from San Diego. Currently, Seabrooks can be seen recurring on “4400” (The CW). His other credits include “Games People Play” (BET), “Westworld” (HBO), “Dollface” (Hulu), “SwipeNight: Killer Weekend” (Tinder) and last year’s ViacomCBS SHOWCASE 2021. Previously, he was the creative lead at Comedy Central Digital. Seabrooks is repped by APA and SK Management.

Eddie Mujica is a Cuban-American writer, actor and Emmy-winning producer from Hialeah, Fla. An alumnus of The Second City in Chicago, Mujica wrote and performed in two critically acclaimed revues after traveling with The Second City Touring Company. His credits include the 2016 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE, Broadway Video’s “Más Mejor” and the 2019 HBO ACCESS Fellowship. His short film, “Dreamer,” was an Imagen Award finalist and named one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Videos of 2018 and “Uno Por Uno: The Cuban Missile Crisis” won Best Web Series at HBO’s NYLFF as well as Cine Sony’s “New Voices.” One of his pilots was selected to the 2020 NALIP Latino Media Market and is currently in development. Recently, he staffed on the NBC comedy “Connecting” and wrote/co-starred on the upcoming Peacock series “True Story” with Ed Helms and Randall Park. Mujica is repped by APA and Artists First.

Lauren Walker is a Los Angeles-based comedian and writer from Chicago. She has studied at the University of Illinois, The Second City, iO Chicago and the Annoyance Theater. As a Second City National Touring Company member, Walker traveled the country performing improv, sketch and standup comedy. Recently, she wrote for season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the upcoming Discovery+ show “Book of Queer.” Walker also performed in the 2020 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE. Walker is repped by Haven Entertainment and Paonessa Talent Agency.

Laurie Magers is a writer and actor from the Bay Area of California. She began her writing career as a competitive poet, winning national and international poetry slams. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she trained at the American Academy of Performing Arts and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater where she was a writer, performer and director on “Maude Night, Characters Welcome,” and more. Magers was an actor and writer for the 2020 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE. Currently, she is a participant in the 2021 Sony Pictures Television Diverse Writers Program and has written for projects at VH1, Disney+, Comedy Central Digital, and more. Her favorite color is red, and her favorite food is crab legs. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Haven Entertainment.

Alumni of SHOWCASE include Emmy Award winners Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) and Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), Emmy Award nominee Punam Patel (“Special” and “I Love This For You”), Sheila Carrasco (GHOSTS), Diona Reasonover (NCIS), Tien Tran (“How I Met Your Father”), Ego Nwodim (“Saturday Night Live”), Leah Lewis (“Nancy Drew” and “The Half Of It”), Nico Santos (“Superstore” and “Crazy Rich Asians”), Drew Tarver (“The Other Two”) and Nicole Byer (“Nailed It!” and “Grand Crew”), among numerous others.

For more information about ViacomCBS’ SHOWCASE, visit https://www.viacomcbs.com/showcase. Additional details about ViacomCBS’ diversity and inclusion commitments and talent programs can be found at https://www.viacomcbs.com/inclusion.

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Christine Park

christine.park@cbs.com

Photo Contact:

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