AOL Interviews Mario Lopez On Reunion, Book, and "Nip/Tuck"

[JamesG]

Mario Lopez is a busy man.

Between his ongoing hosting duties for Extra and America's Best Dance Crew, as well as his recurring guest role as a plastic surgeon on Nip/Tuck, you wouldn't think he'd have enough time to catch his breath, much less use it to give us the inside scoop on all his upcoming projects.

Yet that's just what he did when AOL TV caught up to him recently, telling us all about the Saved By the Bell reunion, the new children's book (Mud Tacos!) he co-wrote with his sister and his ongoing search for a new canine friend.

So check out what he had to say, but watch out: you may get exhausted just reading about his amazing schedule.



On Extra, you host a new segment called "Mario's Great Puppy Hunt," which chronicles your search for a new dog. How's that going?

We've been having a lot of great reaction, a lot of celebs have been giving me their opinion and it's been neat. Because people are dog lovers and it seems like people in the entertainment industry are even 10 times that.




Were you inspired by the Obamas, when they were looking for their own dog in the White House?

Well, nobody's busier than the President, so if he can pull it off ... But it's been a while since I was a kid and had one, and I wanted some semblance of responsibility for something other than myself. And it sounds like a cool, fun thing.

I figured I'd try to educate myself with getting the best breed, and everything that is involved in the dog world so I can be very ready. Kind of like adopting a child.




What can you tell us about the children's book you co-wrote?

I'm really excited about that. It's a project my sister and I have done together called Mud Tacos! It's a passion project, it's family-oriented and Mom's excited.

We play ourselves in the book and we get to tell stories from when we were growing up. We try to encourage kids to use their imagination and sprinkle our culture throughout so maybe they'll learn a Spanish word here or there.

It's being released in English and Spanish and it's gotten some great reviews so far, so I'm hoping to take it to an animated level as well.




Have you worked with your sister before? What was it like working with a sibling?

No, this is our first working relationship together. The irony is that we, like any brother and sister, would argue and fuss at each other but we love each other very much and we get closer as we get older. And [working together] is a fun process. But you're still brother and sister.




Have you already talked to your sister or the publisher about possible sequels?

Oh yeah, we've got a bunch of storylines already.




In addition to the book and the hosting, you're also going to be on Nip/Tuck this season, right?

Yeah. I'm gonna to be in a bunch of episodes this season. It's a big week because Mud Tacos! is coming out and Nip/Tuck is coming out and it's been getting great reviews and the press has been very nice.

I'm excited to be working with those guys this season.




Can you tell us anything about what your character will be doing this year on Nip/Tuck?

Well, I've been on it before. I play a plastic surgeon named Mike and he's sort of joined forces with the guys in their practice.

They come together; in times of the recession, the beauty fixing business has taken a hit so they've joined forces to try and make ends meet and my character gives Julian McMahon's character a hard time. They're sort of like nemeses. But it's very funny and it gets very racy.




Do you enjoy doing a drama like Nip/Tuck more than your other gigs?

No, not really. I like that I kind of get to do all these different things. I feel blessed to be able to do them, you know?

And probably the one I'm most excited about right now is the book with my sister because it's family, and to see it come to fruition and give it to my niece and nephew is great.




You recently participated in a Saved By the Bell reunion photo shoot for PEOPLE Magazine in honor of the show's 20th anniversary. What was that like for you?

It was great. It was nice to see everybody all together and to see that everybody looks good and is doing well.




Have you kept in touch with your castmates over the years?

Yeah, as much as I can. It's tough because I'm busy. I'm in New York right now, L. A. yesterday, Vegas the day before that -- so it's tough.




So, will there be a Saved By the Bell reunion show?

I don't think so. I don't know how I'd be able to pull that off. But it's a fun idea.

http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/10/20/m...-childrens-bo/