My early morning chat w/Mario Lopez...

I wasn't crazy about getting up at 4 a.m. to cover the Emmy nominations this morning but I made it to the Television Academy headquarters on time, settled into my seat, looked around some and there was Mario Lopez. Damn him. He was the best looking guy in the room. Mario was there in his capacity as a co-host of the weekend edition of "Extra" but he had more photographers after him than Kyra Sedgwick or John Cryer who were there to announce the nominations and were nominees themselves!
Mario was just hounded and after smiling for a period of time, he sought refuge, fortunately, by standing behind me. So, we started talking and here is our conversation:
"I'm barely awake," Mario said. "I was at the Del Mar races yesterday, opening day, so it's a rough day."
Yeah, yeah. Most of us would look like a wreck at 5 a.m. after a day at the race track. Mario, however, looked like a Ken doll.
Greg: Are you going to be on 'Nip/tuck" again?
Mario: I'm supposed to do another one.
Greg: You were already a sex symbol but that shower scene really caused a lot of excitement.
Mario: [Laughs] I didn't think it was going to be as risque as it was, I thought it was just going to be a quick little flash but it turned into a whole thing. I didn't know what to expect but the reaction to it has been pretty positive. But it still makes me a little shy I guess.
Greg: Any regrets?
Mario: Nah. Everybody was real cool.
Greg: Did you actually work out extra for that?
Mario: No, I just always try and exercise as often as I can.
Greg: How do you feel about all those pictures of you running around without your shirt on?
Mario: I don't know how they get 'em! I never see those guys so they got some stealth-like cameras. I never see them."
Mario then gets pulled away, just as we were getting real chatty. He did tell me he was set to do a new series on the CW called "Eight Days a Week" which will give him a chance to get back into series television as an actor. Between his "Dancing With the Stars" gig and all the hosting jobs he nabs, it's good to see him still doing some parts here and there.
"Well see how it goes," he said of the new show.

Thank you Mario for making waking up at the crack of dawn worthwhile...

Here is the Nip/Tuck shower scene...enjoy!!!

Earlier posts:
- Mario Lopez on the run...
- Nip/Tuck: Julian McMahon meets Mario Lopez