It’s a reunion 20 years in the making … and a story that took over a year in planning.

When the cast of Saved by the Bell assembled for this week’s People photo shoot and cover story, everyone breathed a sigh of relief-including Mario Lopez, who nearly missed the whole thing.

“Everybody knew the 20-year anniversary was coming up,” says Lopez. “This People story has been in the works for over a year, long before [late night host] Jimmy Fallon started talking about it. We were all excited about it.”

But Lopez’s work ethic almost prevented the reunion from coming to fruition. “I’m so busy. I was concerned about my schedule,” says Lopez, who in the past year alone has danced on Broadway in A Chorus Line, become the new host of TV’s Extra and written a fitness book, Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness. The night before the People shoot in Los Angeles he was making a public appearance in Canada, across the country, and arrived on set straight from the airport after a seven-hour flight.

And now? Fans are clamoring for the next step: a reunion show. “Everybody is fired up,” he says. “People keep coming up to me saying ‘When are you guys going to do a show?’”

An actual reunion episode will have to wait, as Lopez is hardly taking time off. First up, he’s returning as host for the fourth season of America’s Best Dance Crew, which debuts this Sunday on MTV. “Expect another hot season,” Lopez promises – just don’t expect the Dancing with the Stars runner-up to hit the dance floor as well. “I wouldn’t make it past the first round!” he swears. “These kids are extremely talented and athletic.”

Lopez’s next project will be promoting his new children’s book, Mud Tacos. “It’s stories about my sister Marisa and me growing up. My grandmother was always cooking, and she never let us in the house. So in the backyard, we made taco shells out of leaves and meat out of mud,” he says. “The book encourages kids to use their imagination … plus you learn a little Spanish. I think kids are going to dig it.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt. 

Sienna Miller. 

Johnathan Schaech.  Funny story about this one. His rep comes up to me, and says “Are you from Yahoo?” I said “What do I get, if I am?” She says, “Johnathan Schaech”.  So I say, “Yep, I’m from Yahoo!” She marches over to Johnathan, and brings him straight to me.  At this point, I’m not sure what the crap I’m going to say to him, so I just say something about him being nominated for an award for Best Villian.  We chit chat for a minute, I get my picture taken with him, and he moves on.

Zachary Quinto.  Zach didn’t stop  - or even look in our direction.  Some of the press was hurling names at him, but whatever.

Rumer Willis, in a really unfortunate dress.  When I asked if I could take her picture - she just sort of stared at me…it was a bit creepy, not gonna lie.

Mario Lopez hitting on hugging Rumer Willis.

Mario Lopez seen walking on the beach in South Beach, Florida.

It takes a very secure man to wear a headband.

I say NOT HOT.

Splash

We know Mario Lopez isn’t fond of wearing clothes, but now he’s taking it to the next level.

“I like to take a bath and watch TV there,” the Extra host, 35, tells OK!, “My body is kind of achy sometimes from training.”

“I watch the news or ESPN for 20 or 30 minutes.”

If you say so, Mario — but you just be careful with all that water and electricity!

The Saved By The Bell star revealed that he loves to go au naturale earlier this year.

He confessed to E! Online that he turned down an offer from Playgirl, but not because he feels uncomfortable naked.

“It’s not something for me at the moment,” said Mario, “But it’s ironic, because I’m, like, ‘nature boy.’ I’m always running around the house in underwear or nothing.”

Source, WENN

Mario Lopez celebrates his birthday at The Bank Nightclub in the Bellagio Resort Hotel Casino.

WENN

Mario Lopez, who wrote Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness, is putting out a children’s book with his sister, Marissa. “It’s called Mud Taco, and it’s based on Mario’s experiences growing up,” an insider close to the 34-year-old Extra host tells Life & Style.

His family couldn’t afford fancy toys, so Mario played Mud Taco. “For fun, he and Marissa would make tacos out of mud in the backyard, substituting worms for cheese, grass for lettuce and mud for meat,” explains the insider. “Everyone but Mario would dare Marissa to eat one, but she’d refuse. Now they’re writing a book about it to teach children to be strong and creative.”

The book, to be published by Penguin, is due out in 2009.

I’m writing a book too, it’s called Mud Pie.  When I was a child, I made pies out of mud.

Source

“My shirtless photo-shoot days are behind me,” Mario Lopez tells People in a bitter blow to beefcake.

Not that the buff new Extra host has anything to hide. “Obviously, being healthy and staying fit are important to me,” says the 34-year-old, who in the past seemed like the only serious rival to Matthew McConaughey in the bare-chest sweepstakes.

As of Monday, former The Bold and the Beautiful and Dancing with the Stars favorite Lopez – who was also memorably bare-bottomed in the shower for a 2006 episode of Nip/Tuck – will be happily hosting Extra on his own, full-time.

“My TV projects are my main priority,” he says. “And no, you will never see me host Extra without a shirt.”

No Back to the Shower
Still, to every rule there’s an exception – in this case, Nip/Tuck.

Lopez says he is “thrilled” to be reprising the role of Dr. Mike Hamoui on the cable series, with Dr. Mike moving to Los Angeles – where he can once again gain the attention of the ab-admiring Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) in the locker room.

“A small spoiler,” says Lopez. “Dr. Mike might not be taking anymore showers at the gym with Christian, but he will lose his shirt.”

Source

WENN