Mario Lopez to Co-Host This Year’s Rose Parade

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Everything’s comin’ up roses for Mario Lopez.

The 49-year-old Mexican American actor/television personality will co-host NBC’s live broadcast of the 134th Rose Parade with Ana Gasteyer.

Lopez, who returns as co-host for the second consecutive year, and American Auto star Gasteyer will lead the network’s coverage of the annual event from 11:30-1:00 pm ET (8:30-10:00 am PT) on Monday, January 2 in Pasadena, CA.

The parade will also be livestreamed on Peacock.

This will be NBC’s 96th year broadcasting the Rose Parade, beginning on radio in 1927 and then televising the annual event beginning in 1954.

Former Arizona congresswoman and gun violence survivor and prevention advocate Gabby Giffords will serve as the 2023 Grand Marshal of the parade, which is themed “Turning the Corner.”

The parade begins with a B-2 Spirit flyover and features floral covered floats, performers, marching bands, equestrian teams and more.

The Rose Parade is produced by LX.TV, a production unit of the NBC Owned Television Stations.

Lopez, a two-time Emmy winner, is host of Access Hollywood and Access Daily with Mario & Kit. He’s known for his starring role on the hit teen series Saved By the Bell and appeared and produced two seasons of the Saved By The Bell reboot for NBC’s Peacock. Lopez, who is under an overall development deal with NBCUniversal, recently appeared on NBC’s This is Us and CW’s Jane the Virgin.

Mario Lopez to Appear During This Year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez has firmed up his Thanksgiving plans…

The 49-year-old Mexican American actor and television personality will appear during this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Lopez, who currently serves as the host of Access Hollywood, will appear alongside his family during the parade.

The parade will also include the traditional line-up of Broadway performances, with Lea Michele and the cast of Funny Girl scheduled to participate, Macy’s has announced.

The Broadway productions listed in the performance line-up this year, in addition to Funny Girl, are Disney’s long-running The Lion King, as well as new Broadway arrivals A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond musical, and Some Like It Hot, the musical adaptation of the 1959 classic film comedy.

Other entertainers included in this year’s parade are Paula Abdul; Carlos PenaVega and his Big Time Rush mates; Cam; Jordan Davis; Blue’s Clues & You! host Josh Dela Cruz; Gloria, Sasha and Emily Estefan; Jimmy Fallon & The Roots; Fitz and the Tantrums; Kirk Franklin; Ziggy Marley; Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles; the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street; Sean Paul; the cast of Peacock’s Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg); the Radio City Rockettes; Joss Stone; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Jordin Sparks; Dionne Warwick; and Betty Who.

The annual New York event airs live on NBC and Peacock Thanksgiving Thursday, November 24 at 9:00 am in all time zones.

Mario Lopez to Star Opposite Jana Kramer in Lifetime Holiday Movie

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is hoping to get you into the holiday spirit this Christmas…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actor/television personality will star in a Lifetime film as part of the network’s annual It’s a Wonderful Lifetime holiday slate.

Lopez will star opposite Jana Kramer in the dance-centric TV movie, Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt), which also stars comedian Cheri Oteri and Lopez’s wife, Courtney Lopez.

Here’s the film: Former Broadway star, Billy Holiday (Lopez), returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. This Christmas, Rae is planning a dance recital fundraiser with the goal of taking her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help Rae with the recital by reviving the town’s traditional Christmas Eve show, which was once a showcase for local talent. With Billy’s knack for producing and Rae’s knowledge of all things local, their collaboration clicks, and romantic sparks start flying!

Cheri Oteri stars as Dallas, Billy’s high-powered, fast talking Hollywood agent and Mario’s real-life wife, Courtney stars as Joanna, the charismatic host of “Celebrity Dance Off” who has just replaced Billy as executive producer and head judge.

Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie (wt) is produced by Via Mar and Roberts Media, LLC. with Jeff Stearns, Mark Roberts, Lopez and Kramer serving as executive producers.

David Kendall directs from a script by Aliza Murrieta and Peter Murrieta.

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates to Perform at iHeartRadio Holiday Special

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is helping people get into the holiday spirit…

The 29-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish American singer and her Pentatonix group mates will perform Christmas classics at the second annual iHeartRadio Holiday Special later this month.

Pentatonix is part of a lineup that includes Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé and Train.

Hosted by Mario Lopez, the virtual concert will take place on November 24 at 7:00 pm ET.

It will be broadcast across iHeart AC, Hot AC and Classic Hits stations and on the iHeartRadio app, with a video stream on the company’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Fans can also watch the concert in VR through the Horizon Venues app on Meta Quest.

The concert will mark the annual switch to exclusively holiday music through Christmas Day on more than 80 stations in key markets nationwide.

According to iHeartMedia, that switch sometimes doubles the audience size for a station from typical non-holiday programming.

“Our listeners always anxiously await the day our stations flip to Christmas music,” said Tom Poleman, chief programming officer for iHeartMedia. “Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, Train and Pentatonix have some of the best songs of the holiday season, and we’re excited to have them perform on our show.”

Pentatonix dropped their sixth holiday-themed project Evergreen, which features collabs with Alessia Cara and Lindsey Stirling, on October 29; the a cappella group also kicks off a Christmas tour on November 27 in Baltimore.

In addition to local stations, listeners can head to the iHeartRadio Holiday page to see all the dedicated Christmas stations across the iHeartRadio app and beyond.

Trailer Released for Season 2 of Peacock’s “Saved by the Bell,” Starring Mario Lopez

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is being saved again…

Peacock’s Saved by the Bell revival, starring the 48-year-old Mexican American actor, television and radio host, returns for Season 2 on November 24.

The premiere will reunite original castmates Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley-Lauren and Lark Voorhies.

All five appeared in the show’s debut season, though Voorhies’ Lisa Turtle was living in Paris at the time and connected with her old Bayside High chums via video chat.

Next season — made up of 10 episodes that run 30 minutes each — will also see the students as they prepare to compete in the Southern California School Spirit Competition. Daisy (Haskiri Velazquez) is determined not to get sidetracked by “Bayside nonsense,” but when a cute new student is elected student council VP, she finds herself in way over her head.

Mac (Mitchell Hoog) sees the competition as a way to finally step out from his father’s shadow. Jamie (Belmont Cameli) leans on Lexi (Josie Totah) in the wake of his parents’ divorce while Lexi struggles to be a more understanding girlfriend; Aisha (AlyciaPascual-Peña) seeks a new outlet after football is canceled; DeVante (Dexter Darden) finds love with a rich Bayside girl, and Slater (Lopez) and a newly single Jessie (Berkley-Lauren) grow closer despite their tumultuous romantic past.

Dustin Diamond and Dennis Haskins are the only original cast members that didn’t appear in Season 1. Diamond, who was in talks to appear in Season 2, died of cancer in February.

Aimee Garcia to Star on Season 2 of Hulu’s “Woke”

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Garcia is officially woke…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Woke.

The Hulu series, co-created by Keith Knight and Marshall Todd, centers on Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris), an African-American cartoonist who finds himself on the verge of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes his life. With a newfound consciousness, Keef must navigate the new voices and ideas challenging him, all without setting fire to everything he’s already built.

In the comedy’s second season, Garcia will play Laura Salgado, a likable but formidable self-made Silicon Valley venture capitalist who is interested in working with Knight.

Garcia is currently appearing as Ella Lopez on Netflix’s Lucifer and recently voiced the character of Jodie Tartleton for Hulu series Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. After wrapping Lucifer’s sixth and final season, she co-wrote a sequel to 47 Ronin for Universal, in concert with New York Times bestselling author AJ Mendez. Garcia has also penned a Wonder Woman Black & Gold comic for DC, which will be released in August.

She also recently wrapped Holiday in Santa Fe, a TV movie in which she appears opposite Mario Lopez, and Richard Grey’s feature Murder at Emigrant Gulch, which also stars Richard Dreyfuss and Gabriel Byrne. This fall, the actress will star in Match Me If You Can, a romantic comedy that she also exec produced.

On the television side, Garcia’s other credits include Rush Hour, Dexter, Vegas, George Lopez and more.

She has been part of the voice cast of the 2019 animated adaptation of The Addams Family, as well as Elizabeth Chomko’s What They Had and José Padilha’s Robocop.

Mexico’s Andrea Meza Crowned Miss Universe

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Andrea Meza will be ruling the world…

The 26-year-old Mexican beauty queen, Miss Mexico, was crowned Miss Universe at the 69th annual pageant, which was delayed last year due to Covid-19.

“MÉXICO ESTO ES PARA TI,” Meza wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, alongside a video of her after the win was announced.

The competition was held in Hollywood, Florida, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Access Hollywood‘s Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo, the 2012 Miss Universe, co-hosted the event, which also featured a performance by Luis Fonsi.

Meza beat 73 other women, including Miss Brazil Julia Gama, who was runner-up, and Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo, who was second runner-up.

“I am so honored to have been selected among the 73 other amazing women I stood with tonight,” Meza said in a news release from Miss Universe Organization. “It is a dream come true to wear the Miss Universe crown, and I hope to serve the world through my advocacy for equality in the year to come and beyond.”

In her final statement during the pageant, Meza spoke about beauty standards.

“We live in a society that more and more is more than advanced, and as we advance as a society, we’ve also advanced with stereotypes,” she said. “Nowadays beauty isn’t only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you’re not valuable.”

Meza, who is from Chihuahua City, is a model and make-up artist and has a degree in software engineering, according to Miss Universe Organization’s news release.

She is also an activist, and “works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender-based violence,” the release said.

Meza also serves as the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for her hometown of Chihuahua, according to Miss Universe Organization.

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, the first Black woman from South Africa to win the crown, had held the title since December 2019.

“What a moment!” Meza wrote in another Instagram post, sharing a photo of when she was crowned. “Ready for this journey!”

Meza will move to New York City “to represent the brand and various philanthropic organizations during her reign,” Miss Universe Organization said.

Mario Lopez Appears in NBCUniversal’s “Plan Your Vaccine” PSAs

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is urging you to plan your vaccine…

The 47-year-old Mexican American actor and television host, who is currently starring on Peacock’s Saved by the Bell reboot, appears in NBCUniversal’s “Plan Your Vaccine” PSA.

The video features Lopez, Mike Tirico, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Amber Ruffin, Padma Lakshmi, Drew McIntyre, José Díaz-Balart, Dr. Jackie Walters, and BD Wong.

NBCU launched its “Plan Your Vaccine” initiative last month, building on 2020’s “Plan Your Vote” campaign. The aim: to promote the company’s all-in-one online tool for users to help make a vaccine appointment, learn about eligibility and more. It also can send eligibility/vaccine location alerts and updates to viewers’ phone or email based on their state.

The company plans to release more “Plan Your Vaccine” PSAs during the week, including a Spanish one Lopez, Díaz-Balart, Jessica Carrillo, Ángel Garza, Jorge Bernal, Adamari López, Carlos Adyan, Stephanie Himonidis, Antonio Texeira, Ana Jurka, Vanessa Claudio and Aylín Mújica.

Peacock Renews Mario Lopez’s “Saved By the Bell” Series Reimagining for Second Season

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is still being saved…

Peacock has ordered a 10-episode second season of the critically praised comedy Saved By the Bell, a reimagining of the classic NBC series starring the 47-year-old Mexican American actor and television personality.

“I’m thrilled that Saved By the Bell has been renewed. I’ve been blown away by all the love for the show and can’t wait to go back and make more episodes,” said writer and executive producer Tracey Wigfield. “Hopefully we stay on Peacock for many more seasons, and then in 30 years, somebody does a reboot of our reboot and invents the threeboot.”

The No. 1 show on the NBCUniversal streaming service is the second Peacock Original series to get a renewal. A.P. Bio, which originated on NBC, was renewed for its fourth season on the streaming service in December. Peacock picked up the comedy for a third season after it was canceled by NBC after two seasons.

In the reimagined series, when California governor Zack Morris gets into hot water for closing too many underfunded high schools, he proposes they send the affected students to the most well-funded schools in the state – including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the privileged Bayside kids (who never have a problem that can’t be solved in 22 minutes) a much-needed dose of reality.

Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Lopez star in the new series, reprising their roles as Jessie Spano and A.C. Slater, respectively. John Michael Higgins also stars as Principal Toddman alongside the new class featuring Belmont Cameli, Dexter Darden, Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Josie Totah and Haskiri Velazquez.

“Saved By the Bell brought a fresh and modern take to the beloved original series that resonated with viewers of all ages,” said Lisa Katz, President, Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Season 1 tackled topical, relevant issues with wit, heart, humor and just the right amount of nostalgia. And we look forward to bringing fans back to Bayside next season.”

Season 1 addressed many important topics such as race, inclusion, class and education. In the season finale, Daisy (Velazquez) stages a walkout in order to keep the Douglas High students at Bayside.

“We are immensely proud of Tracey’s innovative reimagining of Saved By the Bell for a new generation. The stories told in Season 1 are both authentic and meaningful, and are elevated by outstanding performances from our cast,” said Erin Underhill, President, Universal Television. “We are grateful to our partners at Peacock and the fans for their continued support of the series. We can’t wait to be back next semester at Bayside High – a place where all are welcome!”

Wigfield serves as writer and executive producer for the series alongside executive producer Franco Bario. Peter Engel also serves as executive producer. Saved By the Bell is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Mario Lopez to Star as a Sexy Colonel Sanders in Lifetime Mini-Movie “A Recipe for Seduction”

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is getting a little chicken fried…

The 47-year-old Mexican American actor and television personality will star as Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Colonel Sanders on a special Lifetime mini-movie.

The network has shared a poster on Twitter promoting Lopez’s new “original mini-movie,” A Recipe For Seduction, with the Saved by The Bell star appearing as a ripped version of the iconic fast food personality.

“Mark your calendars because Lifetime and @KFC have partnered for a Lifetime Original Mini-Movie you don’t want to miss,” the tweet read.

Set to premiere on Lifetime on Sunday at 12:00 pm ET, A Recipe For Seduction takes the television commercial to a new level. The Lifetime original mini-movie follows a young heiress as she struggles to pick between a rich suitor selected by her mother and the new house chef, Harland Sanders who brings more than his 11 herbs and spices secret recipe to the table. In Lifetime fashion, things take a turn for the dramatic, with the heiress’ mother and the disappointed suitor seeking to take out the KFC mascot himself.

To accompany the head-turning poster, Lifetime also shared a trailer for the mini-movie, presented by KFC.

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