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.

Mario Lopez to Host iHeartMedia’s Virtual Holiday Concert “iHeartRadio Holiday Special”

Posted on November 7, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is helping you get into the holiday spirit…

The 47-year-old Mexican American actor and television personality is set to host iHeartMedia’s virtual holiday concert iHeartRadio Holiday Special.

The 30-minute event will feature festive performances by Carrie Underwood, who recently released her first Christmas album, My Gift, and Josh Groban.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will also perform three holiday classics from the Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

“The anticipation and excitement surrounding our stations’ flip to Christmas music is a staple of the holiday season for our listeners across the country, and we are thrilled to celebrate this festive occasion with our first ‘iHeartRadio Holiday Special,’” said Tom Poleman, chief programming officer for iHeartMedia. “Given all the country is going through, we know everyone needs the uplifting spirit of holiday music. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the sounds of the holiday season for our music fans than with an intimate performance from Carrie Underwood and Josh Groban across our stations and on Oculus and iHeartRadio’s Facebook and YouTube pages.”

The show will broadcast on November 25 at 7:00 pm local time across iHeartMedia’s AC, HOT AC and Classic Hits stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app. A video stream will be available iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages, plus in VR on the Venues app for Oculus Quest.

Peacock Releases Official Trailer for Mario Lopez’s “Saved by the Bell” Reboot

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bells are ringing for Mario Lopez…

Peacock has released the official trailer for the Saved by the Bell reboot, starring the 47-year-old Mexican American actor and television personality.

The trailer for the NBC streaming platform’s original title gives Saved by the Bell fans, both new and original, a first look into the updated, quirky world of Bayside High.

The trailer kicks off with Alycia Pascual-Peña’s Aisha and Haskiri Velazquez’s Daisy in a school bus en route to the iconic television high school. But upon their first minutes at Bayside, they realize things are far from what they’re used to. “Why is everybody so rich?” asks Aisha as Mitchell Hoog’s Mac parks his red Corvette.

After getting a glimpse at the new members of the Bayside family, the trailer gives viewers a look at Lopez’s A.C. Slater and Elizabeth Berkley Lauren’s Jessie Spano.

“We all want these new kids to feel welcome. It’s not going to work unless we get to know them,” says Jessie.

Upon feeling alienated from her affluent peers, Daisy confronts the Bayside legacies, calling them out for their limited perspectives.

The trailer sees a return of the go-to grub spot The Max, as well as its quirky staff and regulars. The teaser also shows a collection of parties, performances and cast reunions only a true Bayside Tiger could love.

Saved by the Bell premieres on Peacock on November 25. Tracey Wigfield writes and executive produces alongside executive producers Franco Bario and Peter Engel. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, produces the series.

Peacock to Debut Mario Lopez’s “Saved By The Bell” Reboot in November

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is being Saved this November…

Peacock has announced plans to launch the reboot of Saved By The Bell, starring the 46-year-old Mexican American actor, on November 25.

The Saved By the Bell reboot follows California Governor Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) who gets into trouble for the state’s many underfunded high schools and proposes they send affected students to California’s highest-performing schools. Thus enter the iconic Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the overprivileged Bayside kids a much-needed dose of reality.

Lopez will reprise his role as A.C. Slater, while Elizabeth Berkley will also reprise her role from the original series.

Also rounding out the reboot cast are Josie Totah, Dexter Darden, Haskiri Velazquez, Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Belmont Cameli.

Tracey 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.

Paulina Chávez’s Netflix Series “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia” to End with Special Christmas Episode

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Paulina Chávez is preparing for one last hurrah…

Netflix has opted not to order a second season of the Mexican American actress’ series The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia (aka Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love), but fans will get one last chance to watch Chavez get into the holiday spirit.

Paulina Chávez, Ashley Garcia, Netflix, Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia,

The streamer has commissioned a special Christmas episode of the comedy series to be released this December.

It won’t be a series finale, but instead a special stand-alone holidayepisode that was filmed before the pandemic and doesn’t continue the storylines from the previous season.

The produced episodes of Ashley Garcia will continue to be available on Netflix.

Created by Seth Kurland and Mario Lopez, Ashley Garcia followed a prodigy named Ashley Garcia, the “only 15-and-a-half-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist” in the world who moves in with her Uncle Victor from the other side of the country for a chance to work for NASA. The comedy aired one 14-episode season, which was released in two batches, the first in February and the second in July.

In addition to Chavez, the series also starred Conor Husting, Bella Podaras, Reed Horstmann and Jencarlos Canela.

Haskiri Velazquez to Star in Peacock’s “Saved by the Bell” Reboot

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Haskiri Velazquez has been saved…

The Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress has been cast as one of the leads in Peacock’s upcoming Saved by the Bell reboot, alongside Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Belmont Cameli.

They join previously announced original-series cast members Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopezand Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who are returning for the reboot, along with new leads Josie Totahand Dexter Darden.

In the new Saved by the Bell, California Governor Zack Morris (Gosselaar) gets into hot water for closing too many low-income high schools and proposes they send the affected students to the highest-performing schools in the state, including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the over-privileged Bayside kids a much-needed dose of reality.

Velazquez will play Daisy, a smart, ambitious sophomore who’s excited at the prospect of attending Bayside High after her local school gets shut down.

Hoog will portray Mac Morris, the handsome, charming, privileged son of Governor Zack Morris.

Pascual-Pena plays Aisha, Daisy’s fun-loving but ultracompetitive best friend. She grew up playing on boys’ sports teams and causes a stir when she tries to play football at Bayside.

Cameli plays Jamie Spano, captain of the Bayside football team and Jessie’s sensitive man-child son.

The original Saved by the Bell ran on NBC for four seasons from 1989-92. It starred Gosselaar as Zack Morris, the fulcrum of a group that included A.C. Slater (Lopez), Jessie Spano (Berkley), Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen), “Screech” Powers (Dustin Diamond), Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) and Dennis Haskins as Principal Belding. A spinoff, Saved By the Bell: The College Years, ran one season in 1993-94.

The series is produced by Universal Televisionfor Peacock.

Velazquez’s most recent credits include the series regular role of Charlotte in Facebook Watch’s The Birch, the role of Rosa in the feature film The 40-Year-Old Version, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the guest starring role of Melissa in Blue Bloods

Pascual-Pena recently wrapped filming as one of the leads in Amy Poehler’s Moxie for Netflix, which is set for release this summer.

Mario Lopez & His Former “Saved By The Bell” Cast Mates Celebrate 30 Years of Friendship

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special class reunion for Mario Lopez…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor/television personality and his former Saved By the Bell cast mates gathered together over the weekend to celebrate their three-decades-old friendship.

In August, it will be 30 years since the popular teen sitcom premiered on NBC.

Lopez, who played A.C. Slater, and Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed Kelly Kapowski, posted photos of a group dinner Saturday night in Sherman Oaks, California on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Friends forever…

A post shared by Tiffani Thiessen (@tiffanithiessen) on Apr 20, 2019 at 9:38pm PDT

The photos show Lopez, Thiessen, Mark-Paul Gosselaar(Zack Morris) and Elizabeth Berkley(Jessie Spano) along with their spouses.

“This is what 30+ years of friendship looks like,” Gosselaar wrote alongside the photo on his Instagram.

“Friends forever…” Lopez, Theissen and Berkley wrote on their accounts, referencing the hit song from the show’s fictional band, Zack Attack.

Lopez also posted a video of the group. “Fun dinner tonight with some old friends … Great group right here,” Lopez added. “Now it’s time to play credit card roulette for the bill.”

Saved By The Bell aired for four seasons on NBC from 1989-1992.

View this post on Instagram

Credit card roulette comin up! #OldSchool

A post shared by Mario Lopez (@mariolopez) on Apr 20, 2019 at 9:42pm PDT

Kirstin Maldonado & Her Pentatonix Group Mates to Perform at NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” Tree Lighting Ceremony

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Kirstin Maldonado is ready to light up the Christmas holidays…

The 26-year-old half-Mexican and part-Spanish American singer/songwriter and her Pentatonix group mates have been added to the star-studded lineup for NBC’s 86th annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree lighting, which will take place on November 28.

In addition to Pentatonix, the a cappella group that has found great success with their holiday music, this year’s performers include Diana Ross, Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Brett Eldredge, Darci Lynne Farmer, John Legend, Martina McBride and Kellie Pickler, with more to be announced.

Howie Mandel will also make a special guest appearance, and NBC’s Today anchors Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Craig Melvin are hosting the anticipated holiday event.

NBC first televised the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in 1951 on The Kate Smith Show, 20 years after it initially found itself a home on the plaza.

This year’s holiday tree is a 72-foot tall, 45-foot wide Norway Spruce that weighs over 12 tons and is around 75 years old. It will be wrapped in approximately five miles of wire containing over 50,000 multi-colored LEDs and topped with a 900-pound star covered in 3 million Swarovski crystals.

The tree lighting will be broadcast live on NBC November 28 at 8:00 pm ET. Select NBC stations will feature an additional special live hour of the broadcast hosted by Mario Lopez and WNBC’s Stefan Holt and Natalie Pasquarella at 7:00 pm ET.

Lopez to Co-Host This Year’s Daytime Emmy Awards

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is the host with the most…

The 43-year-old Mexican American television host and actor has been tapped as hosts of the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards set for Sunday, April 30 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA.

Lopez’s co-host will be The Talk’s Sheryl Underwood.

Lopez is in his ninth consecutive year as host of Emmy-winning entertainment news program Extra. As an actor, he recently guest-starred on NBC’s breakout hit This Is Us, as well as NCIS: New Orleans, Still the King and Nashville.

The Daytime Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television production and are presented to individuals and programs broadcast from 2:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. during the 2016 calendar year.

The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is a presentation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Lopez to Produce YouTube Channel About His Life for Awesomeness TV’s Awestruck Digital Network

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Mario Lopez is ready to leave you Awestruck…

The 42-year-old television host and actor is headed to YouTube after agreeing to a deal with Awesomeness TV’s Awestruck digital network.

Lopez, the co-host of Extra, will be tasked with creating programming about his family, his faith, his fitness and diet.

The channel will feature his wife Courtney Lopez and their children, Gia and Dominic, according to Variety.

“I’m so excited to launch my personal YouTube channel with Awestruck,” Lopez said in a statement. “Their focus on family and fun made them the perfect partner. And the fact that I get to include my family makes it that much better.”

Awestruck is a digital entertainment and lifestyle network aimed at millennial moms. It’s original short-form programming is distributed via YouTube, Facebook and Verizon’s go90 app.

Lopez will be joining the likes of Zoe Saldaña, Molly Sims, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jennifer “Jwoww” Farley, who are other celebrities who have deals with the network.

“Mario is a perfect addition to the Awestruck community,” said Awestruck chief Sarah Penna in a statement. “Not only did moms like myself grow up watching him on TV, but he’s a great example of the multi-tasking parent of today.”

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