Stage Vet Andrew Leeds to Star in CRISTELA; Premieres 10/10 on ABC

Stage and screen actor Andrew Leeds will appear as a series regular in ABC's new family comedy CRISTELA, set to premiere on Friday, October 10, 2014. The show will air 8:30-9:00 p.m ET.

Leeds began his career at the age of 8, appearing on Broadway in the musical TEDDY & ALICE and in the national tour of LES MISERABLES. He then went on to star as Jason in the Broadway premiere of William Finn and James Lapine's FALSETTOS, and as the title character in Carly Simon's opera ROMULUS HUNT with the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

His stage success soon carried him to the screen where he guest starred on numerous dramas and comedies including VEEP, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, GREY'S ANATOMY, and HOT IN CLEVELAND. Andrew has also played pivotal recurring roles on NIP/TUCK, THE PRACTICE and NCIS: LOS ANGELES. He is perhaps best known for his three-season run on Bones as the brilliant and demented serial killer 'Christopher Pelant'.

He will next be seen in the ENTOURAGE feature film (set for 2015). Leeds graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science. He has written pilots for ABC, FOX, USA, and Showtime. Three of his pilots have been made by NBC.

About CRISTELA: Breakout comedienne Cristela Alonzo (Variety's "10 Comics to Watch in 2014," Cosmo's "13 Female Comedians to Watch For in 2014") stars as a woman laughing her way to the new American dream in CRISTELA, a family comedy loosely based on her life and stand-up routine.

Cristela's dream of becoming a lawyer is something her traditional Mexican-American family doesn't quite understand. She's entering her sixth year of law school after juggling home obligations and working multiple jobs to pay her way.

Cristela lives in cramped quarters with her sister Daniela, her long-suffering brother-in-law Felix and their two young kids. The senior member of this extended family, all living under one roof in Dallas, is Cristela's old school mom, Natalia, who tells her "somebody could have been a doctor two times in the time it's taken you not to become a lawyer." Daniela loves her sister but balks when she tries to bring her modern views into family life. Felix resents how Cristela pays no rent and worst of all, always drinks his last beer. After six years of setbacks, her mom Natalia worries that becoming a lawyer might not be in the cards for her and doesn't want Cristela to be hurt by a dream that might not come true.

Felix's cousin and co-worker Alberto flirts shamelessly with Cristela, but the only feeling she has for him is a shared passion for the Cowboys.

Then, Cristela's life begins to look up. Lawyer Trent Culpepper, who is unapologetically politically incorrect about Latinos and just about everyone else, offers her an internship at his prestigious firm. She'll be working - unpaid - with Culpepper's pampered daughter Maddie and good-natured fellow intern Josh.

Her family can't believe she's going to work for free. But when a turn of events shows just how effective Cristela can be when she works her lawyer knowledge for the greater good of the family, they decide it's worth (begrudgingly) supporting her as she follows her dreams - which might not be so impossible after all.

Cristela stars Cristela Alonzo as Cristela, Carlos Ponce as Felix, Maria Canals-Barrera as Daniela, Terri Hoyos as Natalia, Andrew Leeds as Josh, Sam McMurray as Trent, Jacob Guenther as Henry, and Isabella Day as Isabella. Stand-up sensation Gabriel Iglesias ("The Fluffy Movie") as Alberto and Justine Lupe as Maddie appear in recurring roles.

Cristela was co-created by Cristela Alonzo and Kevin Hench. Executive producers are Kevin Hench, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements and Shawn Levy. Alonzo is co-executive producer. Cristela is produced by Twentieth Century FOX Television.

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