Today on the show, we have Mario Lopez. He is an American actor and TV host. He has appeared on several TV series, in films, and on Broadway. Mario is the host of Access Hollywood and the nationally syndicated radio show On with Mario on I Heart Radio, as well as a husband and a father. I have known him for years, more than thirty years to be exact. He started his career in commercials, but got his big break playing a c slater on the hit show Saved by the Bell. That's actually where we met today. Mario and I talked about our days on set together, including the things we didn't know we didn't know. We talked about the changes in his career and mine over the years and how we learned to adapt to them. He shares his recipe to maintaining a balance between work and a successful relationship at home and what he believes is the secret to that successful relationship. Hi Mario, Hi, how are you, Bethany? I am good. So I just want to tell this audience that I met Mario Lopez, who, to me, in my mind, wasn't Mario Lopez. He was this just like cute, uh Latin guy on the set of the Saved by the Bell Beach episodes. I was there that summer. I had met a guy named Todd Levitt, a senior vice president of NBC Productions, on a plane because I almost missed the plane. I was the last one on and they had no more coach seats, so they gave me the upgraded me and gave me a first class seat. So I was sitting next to a guy called Todd Lovitt. I don't even know if you did, you know him? Okay, So this like sort of you know, made a mustache, like a corporal type of half cool guy. And we spoke and I never speak to anyone on planes, and he said he never did either. And we spoke the entire fight, and I kept up with him. I custled him. I was going out there with no plan, and he the next tuesday, I went in to meet him at NBC in Burbank, and I think I had a Ford probe, and he gave me a job for the summer to be a p A on Saved by the Bell. I didn't know what Saved by the Bell was, so I didn't know what Saved by the Bell was, and it was he said, be at the Surf and Sand Club, which was this beach club near my dad's house. Uh and actually no, I was driving my dad's car, my father's car, and it was six weeks. I think of beach and craft services and these young, popular, cool kids that were actors on this show. So that's my perspective as a person as a p A a production assistant. And how old were you and how far into Saved by the Bell was that? Um? I was well, I started when I was fifteen and not find second or because we were actual teenagers playing teenagers. That's what it may be resonated with kids at the time, because prior to that there was a lot of like thirty five year olds play teenagers, like in Greece and when any So, um, that was the most fun I had too, by the way, at the beach because we were outside of the classroom was fun. And I specifically remember you because you were rocking this like really cool dark tan, like straight from the Jersey shore dark tan, and I was like, oh, who, she's cute and um, but you were all about your business and you were working hard, and I remember, but you're real cool with You're real nice, and I remember and I just remember that the tan and the short shorts, and we were in Malibu and it was a really good time. Denise Richards, I remember was in the episode where I rescued her from the beach and when I interviewed and stuff. Once in a while we look back and laugh and they'll play that clip. But it's funny when you when you think of a certain time. I remember the songs that were around during that time. Bb D was really big, Belt the Duvaut and and it was it was a lot of fun because the majority of it was in the summer and because we were miners, they wanted to shoot um without having to worry about school and social workers and what have you. But yeah, that was fun. I was like, when we got to get out of the classroom, Well, it's funny because, yeah, your mom was with you every day, and I remember, um, yeah, so it must have been like sixteen fifteen, sixteen, Yeah, your mom was with you and I was only how old is I? I think, well, no, it's different, Yeah, well how old you know? So I'm wow, okay, so I'm three years older. But then it seems really older. Like I was thought to flirt like you and I flirted a little, but when you're eighteen and it's fifteen that you're not flirting with like the guys on the trip, and might as well have been thirty exactly. It felt different and back then wasn't the same like what older women and younger man wasn't as common as now. And I just felt so you just all were like you were. You were on a television show, like you were so lucky, and I was just in such a different world and I was just trying to get I was getting this view into your experience and your fame. And I remember Elizabeth Berkeley's mom. She was out there from Chicago for the summer, and she was always upset because because Tiffany Thesson was getting like the cuter outfits and that was a drama, and some of you had worked up with each other, and like I was just getting bits and pieces. But from my perspective, I've seen Leah Remedy came through there and she was so anyway. Yeah, so um, that's how I met you, I know, and I and then I vividly remember and I remember meeting you when you were sitting down. It was so funny so to see you when you um, were on Housewives and all that, and so I was like, Hey, I know her, and it was cool to see you do your thing and progress and uh have all your success. I was like, Oh, that's cool, that's cool that he's always been super cool. Well, it's interesting the abb and flow, right, So you guys were already famous, and many people in that situation don't ride it the whole way like you have. Like then, to me, you guys were all superstars, but obviously most people who are teaing stars aren't going to go the whole distance. And I was and nobody making no money and I ended up having this career, So you really do How much does it matter who you meet the whole way up, like you meet them on the way up, on the way down, like you have you maintained relationships the whole way really good? Yeah, I mean, I'm I've always been trying to be cool with everyone. I'm just this kid from Tchula Vista, first generation here, and my parents and my dad worked for the city, my mom worked for the phone company, real blue color folks that had nothing to do with the entertainment industry, and I just sort of fell into it, to be quite honest, but once I've fell into it, I fell in love with it and and like my dad said, be getting a regular job. So I've always had like a strong work ethic and and sort of a hustler mentality. So whether it's acting or seeing or dancing or hosting something, I've always kind of wanted to have a an iron and the fire to to try to have something to um fall back on, also do extra opportunity to sort of create, and and once I became a father and a husband, right then the hustle even went next level. So, uh, it's a very tough transition to go from a child actor to being taken serious as an adult. And the thing that I don't think people really really realize that the show is a Saturday morning show. So we were we were making cartoon money. I got like, it wasn't like we were making like friends type scientials, you know, I mean, we're doing better than your average a little fifteen year old. But at the same time, it was not like retirement money. I don't have to worry about anything. So it was a lot of fun and different five years and never did I thirty five years later, it's still be on TV. We'd be doing reboots. They're talking about it, they're like movies. It's like, Wow, never did I think that, But I look back on it fondly. I got along with everybody really well. I was very grateful for for the opportunity and being able to do the show. But I'm not gonna lie. It was tough sort of transitioning and kind of being taken serious and uh and in a more mature light, just because people pigeon what you in a certain way and start the typecast you because you're constantly in their presence as a as a teenager in in that character. So that's why when I got into hosting UM and working with Dick Clark and sort of change and rewired my whole mind and outlook on entertainment in general. And I said to myself, you know what, that's what I'm gonna be. I want to be the Latino Dick Clark, and I want to be on your TV for the next fifty years. So, you know, thank God, now that I'm about to be fifty, you can't really like about your age and work as a Google stuff. Now that I'm about to be fifty, you know, I'm busier than than ever. Beth me. You know, I got a nationally syndicated radio show on with Mario and iHeart and over a toy markets and then um, I do Access Daily, which is sort of my version of like Regis and Kelly UM, which comes out of twelve newon on NBC. And then at night, of course, I got Access Hollywood. So I'm on TV an hour and a half every day and on the radio for another three hours every day Monday through Friday, and then I'm on the weekend show. Um. And then I'll still act and do stuff like I do have a deal with Lifetime that I do a couple of holiday films, one that I uh starring, another one that I produced every year, and then I'll squeeze ins like this week, I'm working on the show Hacks. Yeah and uh. And it's cool because I'm a big fan of that show and they're so talented, and I love Jean Smart. My scenes are with her later today. So I get I'm pretty much sequestered here at Universal. UM, so I get to to to kind of do all that fun stuff and all the while, you know, I'm a dad to three kids, and I coached my son's wrestling team, helping jiu jitsu him. There are my daughter in gymnastics and dance, and you know with a little my little guy just turned three, so dealing with all that. So it's it's a hundred miles and running and chaotic, but you know, I wouldn't want it any other way. My fiance is into jiu jitsu, people get really into and he's watching all the videos and he likes it a lot. Yeah he I don't, I don't. I gotta ask him. I don't know. And a guy I just hired, a security guy here who is like, has the full califlower here here, and he was like a marine sniper, like full anyone would call the flower ears. I know, that's what I heard exactly. He's one of those crazy guys done Carrie, you know, he's a cop um. But you know, I'm I noticed that, like, well, a couple of things. One, you seem to really adhere to structure and reliability, and like you've got the trains running on time. You know, you're doing multiple shows, but you're doing the jiu jitsu and you're doing the coaching and you're keeping it all together. And it sounds like that sort of structure and reliability is something that really holds it all together. Like it's like it's like the glue that is binding all of it because it's a grid. Yeah, it really is. And then uh, you know, I squeeze in a lot, but I got like a great assistant that helps me. But honestly, like the quarterback of the team is my wife. She's she's awesome and very understanding and she knows that it's a fluid schedule, um and she's she's so supportive and great and obviously with the kids, um and and and handling their activities because they're getting really busy and doing their own thing. Like my daughter just did like a movie and she and she didn't want to be in there. She just kind of like fell into it. But my wife I met on Broadway and she's like wildly talented, sings, dances, act all that. So the kids are bound to come out with interesting Oh yeah between two of you. Yes, yes, my daughter has done that. My son's done some stuff and he's and it's and again they're not age. It's a certain situations sort of presented themselves. But aside from that that they all saying dance, play the piano, gymnastics, wrestled in jiu jitsu. Except for my three year old. He needs to start stepping it up. He's just kind of hanging out being three year old outside. Have you been approached about a family show? Um? Yeah, I have actually, and you know, I don't know, I don't really have time number one but number but other than that, I kind of I don't want anytime. I see kind of people go there, either as a as a couple or as a family doesn't seem to boat well. So I'm like, I don't want to throw a monkey wrenching and everything. Yeah, you don't needs to open Pandora's box. I agree. I was just curious, and you know, from my perspective watching you, you're so I love the point that you made about what you were making per episode because people just think when someone has fame that they automatically have money. And I've seen those numbers and they're not you know, that dramatic. You certainly weren't going to live off of Saved by the Bell money, but it certainly was iconic. I also relate to you being pigeonholed into that because obviously I was on a show that has a specific reputation, so to bust out of. That says a lot about you, and it doesn't really matter at ord, Like you had a trajector you saw something. You may not have been right, but you you had a plan. Like it sounds like you're like, oh, that hosting trajectory and not that many people have that exact plan the way you were doing it, Like you saw the board and they're like, I'm gonna bob and weave and left and right and I'm gonna figure it out and go on that road. And you stood, you stuck pretty close to it like you've probably you've shifted and more has been added, But it sounds like you secreted it. You were like you envisioned it and kind of have made it happen. And I don't know because I wasn't watching your career, I don't know what happened between say, by the Ball and Dancing with the Stars. But from my perspective, and that was early on and Dancing with the Stars when it was like very new, that blew you, Like that really gave you something that you hadn't had or is that not true? Like you could have gone either way and that really like took you to another level. It didn't. It's funny because, uh, well prior to that, I uh the game sort of game changer for me in my mind is when I got to work with Dick Clark. It kind of the the male version of the View was only on for a couple of seasons, but it was called The Other Half, and it was Dick Clark, Danny Bonaducci, Dr Janets. He was the plastic surgeon, the one that had Kanye West mom and when all that trauma happened, and then myself, I was the single guy in my twenties, right, But I realized I love hosting because I'm like a natural host. I think I think the thing about hosting because it's a whole other skill set, if you will. As for us to acting, it's either in you or you're not. Like I like people. I like people. I like to talk. I like to entertain. I like hosting parties at my house, whether it's like game night or barbecues or just fight nights at my house. I just want to make sure everyone has a good time. And essentially, I think that's what you try to do. Whether you're on the radio or whether you're on TV. You're and I love the world of entertainment. I get excited to talk to people on TV or in the latest films or music because I love that world, and so I think they. But you have to be able to play by the rules to which you're good at. You're good at structure and that dynamic, which I'm not. I mean I scare people, You don't really scare people. You ride, You get right up to the line, and you'll like tiptoe over, but you don't really cross that. You are. You could easily be in a corporate job and play by the rules. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you are effectively by the way, with the people you work for. Your effectively have to work in a structure like that. Yeah yeah, No, I mean I am a corporate gum An, NBC Universal, you know over here, and and uh, I mean that's not really my personality. I'm not like a guy that's trying to be salacious or get the sound bite. I end up just trying to ask questions that I want to know that I think people maybe want to know, just have a conversation, not necessarily an interview, and then they end up feeling very comfortable and let their guard down, and ironically they end up divulge you probably more they wanted to anyway. Yes, yes, And I think you know, they can tell that I've done my homework and I'm prepared, or that I'm really a fan, and then they end up sort of responding that way because it's it's kind of you know, it's hard to think it and these guys can tell they've done a lot of them and they don't necessarily but um, but I think, yeah, just being a person that just kind of likes to host things, whether it's events or parties or what to have your shows, I think became very natural. Um. And the fact that you could pursue it as a career, and having that conversation with Dick Clark when he so I'm proud to see I became very friendly with him, and he just said, hey, Mary, you gotta start looking at yourself as like almost like a brand and and someone that can be in people's family rooms for the next forty years, um and as their friend. And I think where your strengths are and you shouldn't maybe lean into that. And so I kind of I listened to him and and I kind of did, and so it kind of changed the whole world for me. Because when you're just an actor, um, you're at the beck and call of like a lot of things that are out of your control, opportunity, there's timing, there's certain things that need to line up, and it doesn't always work out right, and a lot of times can go by and things don't happen. You have lulls. I mean, you look at Brandon Fraser who's just recently dominated for Oscar Academy Award, and it's so cool to see because him and the young key Cui Quantity that was nominated too for everything every all at once, they both have big lulls like you're not doing anything, and then you can see how grateful they are and so you know, which is a beautiful thing. But I like to stay busy, and I didn't want to wait around for the phone to ring, and I wanted to again kind of just kind of hustle and do what I had to do and not be known just as that kid from say by the Belt and wanted to to be known as Mario Lopez and and and to do other things. But what if that's a great message though about the luves when people just there hasn't been a wave there hasn't been a set flat, and you know, what are you doing during that time? How do you keep motivated? And how do you know you're even swimming in the right direction, like Brandan Frasier for example, like these people that they're still hustling. We just don't know it because it's not clicking, it's not hitting, the match is not igniting. So what is that about that time in between? You have experienced that, absolutely, and that's when before I had this the different outlook on on realizing there are no rules. So if I'm not acting, that doesn't mean I can't be doing a play, or I can't be hosting something else, or I can't be whatever the case may be doing something else. If if you're full unfocused on being a THESPI and then it's then it's tough because so many things are out of your control, the factor in the world, but just maybe the opportunity is not there, the timing for whatever reason, um many factors, um which which is just unfortunate. But that's just the way it is. But I didn't want to I didn't want to just sit around and wait for the phone to ring or just just kind of keep preparing. I wanted to. I wanted to work, and I wanted to be in this business and there's many different facets and capacity that can be and I didn't think that, um, just focusing on acting was gonna do it. So that's why I started getting into the hosting and the writing and all the other different things, much like yourself. And so now you know I got my hands and not only the jobs that I told you, but um god, I got my face on step from shoes, the dog food to egg beaters, selling kinds of stuff. So it's kind of going into tell that other space, uh in the commercial worlds has worked out well too. What's your favorite thing? Like? What is the thing that you just sit down and note like it's like no time has gone by and you just are like, and what are you the best at? What do you actually the best? That much? Your favorite of all these things? I think I am the best at hosting just because it comes most natural. I've been doing it a long time and I think I've kind of found my groove and niche and net space. Um, and that's in any whether it's live and I'm hosting this Universe or my show here or doing the X Factor or By the way, I also host fights for HBO Boxing and now I'm just doing a thing for UFC, and so that the whole other side of me. And so I'm a huge you know, So that's a whole other audience just with the guys. A lot of females watch the entertainment world. Who with the guys. I got a lot of respect because I boxed at jiu jitsu and in that UFC world, that's sort of Joe Rogan world. I've been doing a lot of different stuff too, which is kind of cool, but that's like a passion of mine and so I like that. But I think being a to um um do the radio show has allowed me because of its intimate sort of like this, it's very intimate format. You can really relax and and be your your most self and talk about the most intimate random stuff and do you who are your boy? Do you grow out? Like? Are you like guys night and vague or no? What's the what is what's the dynamic there? Because you've got three kids, your wife who's running the program, So what's your social life like? She's I mean, she's super cool and not to big corner. We've been together like fourteen years and it's is better than every We have fun. And you know, I I just because we're married. I always make it a point to date my wife and we have we have quick little uh getaways, whether it's to Vegas which is only a forty time to flight from here, or too. We like to drink a lot of wines and we'll go up to like Santa Barbara Passo and they'll aren't have drive and just even for a night or maybe to just take away from the kids and to be alone and fun. So I have fun there and then yeah, she doesn't give me a hard time. I want hang out with my buddies. But to be honest, because I get so tired. Now, um that's like I need. Like, if I'm gonna hang out with those guys, I say, hey, pit one night, either a Friday or Saturday. I can't do both. I'm more like, I'm not the club guy anymore. I'm like the marathon dinner guy. So you have a marathon dinner. We have some drigs, but we're smoking, We're doing you know what I mean. I'm like that guy. I like to go see shows. We go for fights and a lot of couples of nights this now, but I mean I hang with my gut, my my boys, and we'll do like fishing trips every once in a while and then, but most of the times, a lot of couples of nights are I'm with my wife and for every year we do a vacation with the family. Then we'll do one to serve and now we'll get away. Well, this is totally true. Of all the things you've said that you do, I think the most impressive, most challenging thing is maintaining a relationship. Not only and I no bullshit, like full on, that's what I really really think because I I don't come from successful relationships. It's a discipline like you with jiu jitsu that I have to work on and really think about because I haven't seen it. It's like seeing a unicorn a positive relationship. I've seen every kind of dysfunction in the world. So I ask you, honestly, like, how hard is it to have a successful relationship. There's no question that there probably have been stresses and highs and lows. It's already sounds pretty amazing that you check in with each other to do these trips, etcetera. But like, what is it. It's got to be hard. Fourteen years that's impressive to me. Yeah, thank you. I mean, you know, just like dynamics of any relationship, you you have your ups and downs, and we have our our little TIFFs and stuff, but honestly, there are a few and far between. And I really think it's more about the timing of like when I met her in my life at the time I met her my life, when when I came into hers, because that I had I met her five ten years prior out of messed it up or it wasn't it wouldn't have been, it wouldn't have worked out. I honestly think it's not about the right person. Everybody says on to you, the right person you'll know. I think, no, it's the right timing. In really, timing is everything, and I was at the right time in my life when I met her. She han't bet the right time and hers, Um, I'm a little older. So I think it takes guys a little because my fiance is uh and I'm fifty two, and we don't He lives in Boston and I live in Connecticut, and that sounds crazy. And when we first got together, we wanted to like glue all the pieces together with the calendar in theory, like oh my god, we're gonna do this and it's to be perfect. And then reality happened with his life and my life and my career and my and families, and we had to construct it based on what our reality is. You know what I mean, Like yours is based on what your career is. It's not fiction. It's not when you're the twenties and every night it's what are we ordering? Where do we go? It's just like light and bright. Now it's like real life and what does the long road look like? And how do we make it like a Chinese menu where it's got to have all these different items or won't be a good order. That why I asked you, because I've had people on here with all these different pieces of advice, like real stuff, not the BS like oh happy wife, happy, like the real stuff. Like one person said, I don't fix her and she doesn't fix me. I fix myself, meaning I'm not solving her. You know. Another person said, every day we check in with each other like and not a b S. How are you just being like really like what's going on? So I just That's why I asked you because I do find it impressive, and that's longevity. And I wonder what like a tool is of yours. Yeah, I really go to I think we do complement each other. I think um um, constant communication. I think is uh is key to and and uh, you know we I have my own thing, she has her own thing. We have her own thing together. But in the kids, obviously, once the kids came into the mix, um um, as you know, they kind of like consume you and become priority number one, um, and that brought us even closer. But she she's just she's she's kind of she's very uh secure, and she's funny. She's like you always say, she makes me laugh. I usually feel like Dave Chapelle in the relationship. I always say, you guys have a similar personality, quick witted, because a funny girl is I think very sexy. Because they're funny and they're quick, that means they're smart. So it keeps me on my toes. So she, you know, to breaking my balls a lot when we met, and I liked it, and so my toes and I like it. So I think that's she's not definitely not like a submissive woman. That does you know, she's like a fiery Italian girl from Pittsburgh. So, oh, hey, guess what they're calling. They're calling me I gotta I'm talking to be free. Remember, hey, Bethany, she was a stage manager on Stave by the Bell. Oh my god, do you remember me? I know you're an intern of something? Wow? Very good? Does he have to go? Don't know, but I'm gonna come back. I'm gonna watch the episode. Please watch it, well, please watch it? All right? Bye, Mario? Okay, I love you. Okay, honey. We got one message from his wife. Okay, she loves your dressings and they're always oh sanator, nice to see you too. A great day. So that was really fun. Um. I've known Mario Lopez and Saved by the Bell when I was a p A and he was an actor and we were doing rewives today and he came on and I think he just did not realize he was supposed to have watched the episode, and instead of just scrapping it place of yes and time management, I was like, screw it, let's sit on another sign and let me just interview him for just b So that was an accidental interview which I loved. I loved, and you know, I love the show because I get to really reconnect with people and it's crazy. It's like I'm like the Kevin Bacon and that no one knew about. I know every single person, and I have a crazy, easiest stories and everyone's always so shocked and who I know, like that I know Mario and that I know Leah Remedy from that show and Kyle Richards from Lascala, and it goes on and on and on, Lauren Michaels from working at that job. I'm just one of those people that is always just been hustling since I was born. So Mario Lopez was somebody on the you know, a stop on my train of craziness. And the message really is how you treat people the whole time. Like I've always been the same. I've always been real, straightforward, abrupt, a little abrasive, but straight up one like Mario will tell you I was exactly the same on same by the bell as I am now. And it's important because if you were fronting and stunting then or fronting and stunting now, they'd be like, who the hell is she? She thought she was? She thinks she's hot shipped. Now, I remember her when she was a little loser reading red vines on the Save by the Bell set. You know, same with him. If he were an asshole back then, I would remember it. He was charming, he was love lee, he had a good work ethic. His mom was nice, like, it's crazy, you gotta watch your ass because everyone else is watching your ass. From the time that he was fifteen, he's fifty, gonna be fifty years old. I know Mario Lopez for thirty five years and he's the same as he was then. And now how great to watch his trajectory. So anyway, great guy. I love running into him through this trajectory through the entertainment industry. And it's always been him interviewing me. I rolls, I'm on the Housewives, half a loser. Oh the show becomes more successful. Wait, she sold her skinny girl brand. Oh, now she has her own pockast. Now she's interviewing me. He's the interviewer. It's hysterical. So I love it. I'm so happy and he's a great guy. So I hope you love it, hope you listen. I guess that's a rant within a just be episode, have a good day,

Today on the show, we have Mario Lopez. He is an American actor and TV host. He has appeared on several TV series, in films, and on Broadway. Mario is the host of Access Hollywood and the nationally syndicated radio show On with Mario on I Heart Radio, as well as a husband and a father. I have known him for years, more than thirty years to be exact. He started his career in commercials, but got his big break playing a c slater on the hit show Saved by the Bell. That's actually where we met today. Mario and I talked about our days on set together, including the things we didn't know we didn't know. We talked about the changes in his career and mine over the years and how we learned to adapt to them. He shares his recipe to maintaining a balance between work and a successful relationship at home and what he believes is the secret to that successful relationship. Hi Mario, Hi, how are you, Bethany? I am good. So I just want to tell this audience that I met Mario Lopez, who, to me, in my mind, wasn't Mario Lopez. He was this just like cute, uh Latin guy on the set of the Saved by the Bell Beach episodes. I was there that summer. I had met a guy named Todd Levitt, a senior vice president of NBC Productions, on a plane because I almost missed the plane. I was the last one on and they had no more coach seats, so they gave me the upgraded me and gave me a first class seat. So I was sitting next to a guy called Todd Lovitt. I don't even know if you did, you know him? Okay, So this like sort of you know, made a mustache, like a corporal type of half cool guy. And we spoke and I never speak to anyone on planes, and he said he never did either. And we spoke the entire fight, and I kept up with him. I custled him. I was going out there with no plan, and he the next tuesday, I went in to meet him at NBC in Burbank, and I think I had a Ford probe, and he gave me a job for the summer to be a p A on Saved by the Bell. I didn't know what Saved by the Bell was, so I didn't know what Saved by the Bell was, and it was he said, be at the Surf and Sand Club, which was this beach club near my dad's house. Uh and actually no, I was driving my dad's car, my father's car, and it was six weeks. I think of beach and craft services and these young, popular, cool kids that were actors on this show. So that's my perspective as a person as a p A a production assistant. And how old were you and how far into Saved by the Bell was that? Um? I was well, I started when I was fifteen and not find second or because we were actual teenagers playing teenagers. That's what it may be resonated with kids at the time, because prior to that there was a lot of like thirty five year olds play teenagers, like in Greece and when any So, um, that was the most fun I had too, by the way, at the beach because we were outside of the classroom was fun. And I specifically remember you because you were rocking this like really cool dark tan, like straight from the Jersey shore dark tan, and I was like, oh, who, she's cute and um, but you were all about your business and you were working hard, and I remember, but you're real cool with You're real nice, and I remember and I just remember that the tan and the short shorts, and we were in Malibu and it was a really good time. Denise Richards, I remember was in the episode where I rescued her from the beach and when I interviewed and stuff. Once in a while we look back and laugh and they'll play that clip. But it's funny when you when you think of a certain time. I remember the songs that were around during that time. Bb D was really big, Belt the Duvaut and and it was it was a lot of fun because the majority of it was in the summer and because we were miners, they wanted to shoot um without having to worry about school and social workers and what have you. But yeah, that was fun. I was like, when we got to get out of the classroom, Well, it's funny because, yeah, your mom was with you every day, and I remember, um, yeah, so it must have been like sixteen fifteen, sixteen, Yeah, your mom was with you and I was only how old is I? I think, well, no, it's different, Yeah, well how old you know? So I'm wow, okay, so I'm three years older. But then it seems really older. Like I was thought to flirt like you and I flirted a little, but when you're eighteen and it's fifteen that you're not flirting with like the guys on the trip, and might as well have been thirty exactly. It felt different and back then wasn't the same like what older women and younger man wasn't as common as now. And I just felt so you just all were like you were. You were on a television show, like you were so lucky, and I was just in such a different world and I was just trying to get I was getting this view into your experience and your fame. And I remember Elizabeth Berkeley's mom. She was out there from Chicago for the summer, and she was always upset because because Tiffany Thesson was getting like the cuter outfits and that was a drama, and some of you had worked up with each other, and like I was just getting bits and pieces. But from my perspective, I've seen Leah Remedy came through there and she was so anyway. Yeah, so um, that's how I met you, I know, and I and then I vividly remember and I remember meeting you when you were sitting down. It was so funny so to see you when you um, were on Housewives and all that, and so I was like, Hey, I know her, and it was cool to see you do your thing and progress and uh have all your success. I was like, Oh, that's cool, that's cool that he's always been super cool. Well, it's interesting the abb and flow, right, So you guys were already famous, and many people in that situation don't ride it the whole way like you have. Like then, to me, you guys were all superstars, but obviously most people who are teaing stars aren't going to go the whole distance. And I was and nobody making no money and I ended up having this career, So you really do How much does it matter who you meet the whole way up, like you meet them on the way up, on the way down, like you have you maintained relationships the whole way really good? Yeah, I mean, I'm I've always been trying to be cool with everyone. I'm just this kid from Tchula Vista, first generation here, and my parents and my dad worked for the city, my mom worked for the phone company, real blue color folks that had nothing to do with the entertainment industry, and I just sort of fell into it, to be quite honest, but once I've fell into it, I fell in love with it and and like my dad said, be getting a regular job. So I've always had like a strong work ethic and and sort of a hustler mentality. So whether it's acting or seeing or dancing or hosting something, I've always kind of wanted to have a an iron and the fire to to try to have something to um fall back on, also do extra opportunity to sort of create, and and once I became a father and a husband, right then the hustle even went next level. So, uh, it's a very tough transition to go from a child actor to being taken serious as an adult. And the thing that I don't think people really really realize that the show is a Saturday morning show. So we were we were making cartoon money. I got like, it wasn't like we were making like friends type scientials, you know, I mean, we're doing better than your average a little fifteen year old. But at the same time, it was not like retirement money. I don't have to worry about anything. So it was a lot of fun and different five years and never did I thirty five years later, it's still be on TV. We'd be doing reboots. They're talking about it, they're like movies. It's like, Wow, never did I think that, But I look back on it fondly. I got along with everybody really well. I was very grateful for for the opportunity and being able to do the show. But I'm not gonna lie. It was tough sort of transitioning and kind of being taken serious and uh and in a more mature light, just because people pigeon what you in a certain way and start the typecast you because you're constantly in their presence as a as a teenager in in that character. So that's why when I got into hosting UM and working with Dick Clark and sort of change and rewired my whole mind and outlook on entertainment in general. And I said to myself, you know what, that's what I'm gonna be. I want to be the Latino Dick Clark, and I want to be on your TV for the next fifty years. So, you know, thank God, now that I'm about to be fifty, you can't really like about your age and work as a Google stuff. Now that I'm about to be fifty, you know, I'm busier than than ever. Beth me. You know, I got a nationally syndicated radio show on with Mario and iHeart and over a toy markets and then um, I do Access Daily, which is sort of my version of like Regis and Kelly UM, which comes out of twelve newon on NBC. And then at night, of course, I got Access Hollywood. So I'm on TV an hour and a half every day and on the radio for another three hours every day Monday through Friday, and then I'm on the weekend show. Um. And then I'll still act and do stuff like I do have a deal with Lifetime that I do a couple of holiday films, one that I uh starring, another one that I produced every year, and then I'll squeeze ins like this week, I'm working on the show Hacks. Yeah and uh. And it's cool because I'm a big fan of that show and they're so talented, and I love Jean Smart. My scenes are with her later today. So I get I'm pretty much sequestered here at Universal. UM, so I get to to to kind of do all that fun stuff and all the while, you know, I'm a dad to three kids, and I coached my son's wrestling team, helping jiu jitsu him. There are my daughter in gymnastics and dance, and you know with a little my little guy just turned three, so dealing with all that. So it's it's a hundred miles and running and chaotic, but you know, I wouldn't want it any other way. My fiance is into jiu jitsu, people get really into and he's watching all the videos and he likes it a lot. Yeah he I don't, I don't. I gotta ask him. I don't know. And a guy I just hired, a security guy here who is like, has the full califlower here here, and he was like a marine sniper, like full anyone would call the flower ears. I know, that's what I heard exactly. He's one of those crazy guys done Carrie, you know, he's a cop um. But you know, I'm I noticed that, like, well, a couple of things. One, you seem to really adhere to structure and reliability, and like you've got the trains running on time. You know, you're doing multiple shows, but you're doing the jiu jitsu and you're doing the coaching and you're keeping it all together. And it sounds like that sort of structure and reliability is something that really holds it all together. Like it's like it's like the glue that is binding all of it because it's a grid. Yeah, it really is. And then uh, you know, I squeeze in a lot, but I got like a great assistant that helps me. But honestly, like the quarterback of the team is my wife. She's she's awesome and very understanding and she knows that it's a fluid schedule, um and she's she's so supportive and great and obviously with the kids, um and and and handling their activities because they're getting really busy and doing their own thing. Like my daughter just did like a movie and she and she didn't want to be in there. She just kind of like fell into it. But my wife I met on Broadway and she's like wildly talented, sings, dances, act all that. So the kids are bound to come out with interesting Oh yeah between two of you. Yes, yes, my daughter has done that. My son's done some stuff and he's and it's and again they're not age. It's a certain situations sort of presented themselves. But aside from that that they all saying dance, play the piano, gymnastics, wrestled in jiu jitsu. Except for my three year old. He needs to start stepping it up. He's just kind of hanging out being three year old outside. Have you been approached about a family show? Um? Yeah, I have actually, and you know, I don't know, I don't really have time number one but number but other than that, I kind of I don't want anytime. I see kind of people go there, either as a as a couple or as a family doesn't seem to boat well. So I'm like, I don't want to throw a monkey wrenching and everything. Yeah, you don't needs to open Pandora's box. I agree. I was just curious, and you know, from my perspective watching you, you're so I love the point that you made about what you were making per episode because people just think when someone has fame that they automatically have money. And I've seen those numbers and they're not you know, that dramatic. You certainly weren't going to live off of Saved by the Bell money, but it certainly was iconic. I also relate to you being pigeonholed into that because obviously I was on a show that has a specific reputation, so to bust out of. That says a lot about you, and it doesn't really matter at ord, Like you had a trajector you saw something. You may not have been right, but you you had a plan. Like it sounds like you're like, oh, that hosting trajectory and not that many people have that exact plan the way you were doing it, Like you saw the board and they're like, I'm gonna bob and weave and left and right and I'm gonna figure it out and go on that road. And you stood, you stuck pretty close to it like you've probably you've shifted and more has been added, But it sounds like you secreted it. You were like you envisioned it and kind of have made it happen. And I don't know because I wasn't watching your career, I don't know what happened between say, by the Ball and Dancing with the Stars. But from my perspective, and that was early on and Dancing with the Stars when it was like very new, that blew you, Like that really gave you something that you hadn't had or is that not true? Like you could have gone either way and that really like took you to another level. It didn't. It's funny because, uh, well prior to that, I uh the game sort of game changer for me in my mind is when I got to work with Dick Clark. It kind of the the male version of the View was only on for a couple of seasons, but it was called The Other Half, and it was Dick Clark, Danny Bonaducci, Dr Janets. He was the plastic surgeon, the one that had Kanye West mom and when all that trauma happened, and then myself, I was the single guy in my twenties, right, But I realized I love hosting because I'm like a natural host. I think I think the thing about hosting because it's a whole other skill set, if you will. As for us to acting, it's either in you or you're not. Like I like people. I like people. I like to talk. I like to entertain. I like hosting parties at my house, whether it's like game night or barbecues or just fight nights at my house. I just want to make sure everyone has a good time. And essentially, I think that's what you try to do. Whether you're on the radio or whether you're on TV. You're and I love the world of entertainment. I get excited to talk to people on TV or in the latest films or music because I love that world, and so I think they. But you have to be able to play by the rules to which you're good at. You're good at structure and that dynamic, which I'm not. I mean I scare people, You don't really scare people. You ride, You get right up to the line, and you'll like tiptoe over, but you don't really cross that. You are. You could easily be in a corporate job and play by the rules. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you are effectively by the way, with the people you work for. Your effectively have to work in a structure like that. Yeah yeah, No, I mean I am a corporate gum An, NBC Universal, you know over here, and and uh, I mean that's not really my personality. I'm not like a guy that's trying to be salacious or get the sound bite. I end up just trying to ask questions that I want to know that I think people maybe want to know, just have a conversation, not necessarily an interview, and then they end up feeling very comfortable and let their guard down, and ironically they end up divulge you probably more they wanted to anyway. Yes, yes, And I think you know, they can tell that I've done my homework and I'm prepared, or that I'm really a fan, and then they end up sort of responding that way because it's it's kind of you know, it's hard to think it and these guys can tell they've done a lot of them and they don't necessarily but um, but I think, yeah, just being a person that just kind of likes to host things, whether it's events or parties or what to have your shows, I think became very natural. Um. And the fact that you could pursue it as a career, and having that conversation with Dick Clark when he so I'm proud to see I became very friendly with him, and he just said, hey, Mary, you gotta start looking at yourself as like almost like a brand and and someone that can be in people's family rooms for the next forty years, um and as their friend. And I think where your strengths are and you shouldn't maybe lean into that. And so I kind of I listened to him and and I kind of did, and so it kind of changed the whole world for me. Because when you're just an actor, um, you're at the beck and call of like a lot of things that are out of your control, opportunity, there's timing, there's certain things that need to line up, and it doesn't always work out right, and a lot of times can go by and things don't happen. You have lulls. I mean, you look at Brandon Fraser who's just recently dominated for Oscar Academy Award, and it's so cool to see because him and the young key Cui Quantity that was nominated too for everything every all at once, they both have big lulls like you're not doing anything, and then you can see how grateful they are and so you know, which is a beautiful thing. But I like to stay busy, and I didn't want to wait around for the phone to ring, and I wanted to again kind of just kind of hustle and do what I had to do and not be known just as that kid from say by the Belt and wanted to to be known as Mario Lopez and and and to do other things. But what if that's a great message though about the luves when people just there hasn't been a wave there hasn't been a set flat, and you know, what are you doing during that time? How do you keep motivated? And how do you know you're even swimming in the right direction, like Brandan Frasier for example, like these people that they're still hustling. We just don't know it because it's not clicking, it's not hitting, the match is not igniting. So what is that about that time in between? You have experienced that, absolutely, and that's when before I had this the different outlook on on realizing there are no rules. So if I'm not acting, that doesn't mean I can't be doing a play, or I can't be hosting something else, or I can't be whatever the case may be doing something else. If if you're full unfocused on being a THESPI and then it's then it's tough because so many things are out of your control, the factor in the world, but just maybe the opportunity is not there, the timing for whatever reason, um many factors, um which which is just unfortunate. But that's just the way it is. But I didn't want to I didn't want to just sit around and wait for the phone to ring or just just kind of keep preparing. I wanted to. I wanted to work, and I wanted to be in this business and there's many different facets and capacity that can be and I didn't think that, um, just focusing on acting was gonna do it. So that's why I started getting into the hosting and the writing and all the other different things, much like yourself. And so now you know I got my hands and not only the jobs that I told you, but um god, I got my face on step from shoes, the dog food to egg beaters, selling kinds of stuff. So it's kind of going into tell that other space, uh in the commercial worlds has worked out well too. What's your favorite thing? Like? What is the thing that you just sit down and note like it's like no time has gone by and you just are like, and what are you the best at? What do you actually the best? That much? Your favorite of all these things? I think I am the best at hosting just because it comes most natural. I've been doing it a long time and I think I've kind of found my groove and niche and net space. Um, and that's in any whether it's live and I'm hosting this Universe or my show here or doing the X Factor or By the way, I also host fights for HBO Boxing and now I'm just doing a thing for UFC, and so that the whole other side of me. And so I'm a huge you know, So that's a whole other audience just with the guys. A lot of females watch the entertainment world. Who with the guys. I got a lot of respect because I boxed at jiu jitsu and in that UFC world, that's sort of Joe Rogan world. I've been doing a lot of different stuff too, which is kind of cool, but that's like a passion of mine and so I like that. But I think being a to um um do the radio show has allowed me because of its intimate sort of like this, it's very intimate format. You can really relax and and be your your most self and talk about the most intimate random stuff and do you who are your boy? Do you grow out? Like? Are you like guys night and vague or no? What's the what is what's the dynamic there? Because you've got three kids, your wife who's running the program, So what's your social life like? She's I mean, she's super cool and not to big corner. We've been together like fourteen years and it's is better than every We have fun. And you know, I I just because we're married. I always make it a point to date my wife and we have we have quick little uh getaways, whether it's to Vegas which is only a forty time to flight from here, or too. We like to drink a lot of wines and we'll go up to like Santa Barbara Passo and they'll aren't have drive and just even for a night or maybe to just take away from the kids and to be alone and fun. So I have fun there and then yeah, she doesn't give me a hard time. I want hang out with my buddies. But to be honest, because I get so tired. Now, um that's like I need. Like, if I'm gonna hang out with those guys, I say, hey, pit one night, either a Friday or Saturday. I can't do both. I'm more like, I'm not the club guy anymore. I'm like the marathon dinner guy. So you have a marathon dinner. We have some drigs, but we're smoking, We're doing you know what I mean. I'm like that guy. I like to go see shows. We go for fights and a lot of couples of nights this now, but I mean I hang with my gut, my my boys, and we'll do like fishing trips every once in a while and then, but most of the times, a lot of couples of nights are I'm with my wife and for every year we do a vacation with the family. Then we'll do one to serve and now we'll get away. Well, this is totally true. Of all the things you've said that you do, I think the most impressive, most challenging thing is maintaining a relationship. Not only and I no bullshit, like full on, that's what I really really think because I I don't come from successful relationships. It's a discipline like you with jiu jitsu that I have to work on and really think about because I haven't seen it. It's like seeing a unicorn a positive relationship. I've seen every kind of dysfunction in the world. So I ask you, honestly, like, how hard is it to have a successful relationship. There's no question that there probably have been stresses and highs and lows. It's already sounds pretty amazing that you check in with each other to do these trips, etcetera. But like, what is it. It's got to be hard. Fourteen years that's impressive to me. Yeah, thank you. I mean, you know, just like dynamics of any relationship, you you have your ups and downs, and we have our our little TIFFs and stuff, but honestly, there are a few and far between. And I really think it's more about the timing of like when I met her in my life at the time I met her my life, when when I came into hers, because that I had I met her five ten years prior out of messed it up or it wasn't it wouldn't have been, it wouldn't have worked out. I honestly think it's not about the right person. Everybody says on to you, the right person you'll know. I think, no, it's the right timing. In really, timing is everything, and I was at the right time in my life when I met her. She han't bet the right time and hers, Um, I'm a little older. So I think it takes guys a little because my fiance is uh and I'm fifty two, and we don't He lives in Boston and I live in Connecticut, and that sounds crazy. And when we first got together, we wanted to like glue all the pieces together with the calendar in theory, like oh my god, we're gonna do this and it's to be perfect. And then reality happened with his life and my life and my career and my and families, and we had to construct it based on what our reality is. You know what I mean, Like yours is based on what your career is. It's not fiction. It's not when you're the twenties and every night it's what are we ordering? Where do we go? It's just like light and bright. Now it's like real life and what does the long road look like? And how do we make it like a Chinese menu where it's got to have all these different items or won't be a good order. That why I asked you, because I've had people on here with all these different pieces of advice, like real stuff, not the BS like oh happy wife, happy, like the real stuff. Like one person said, I don't fix her and she doesn't fix me. I fix myself, meaning I'm not solving her. You know. Another person said, every day we check in with each other like and not a b S. How are you just being like really like what's going on? So I just That's why I asked you because I do find it impressive, and that's longevity. And I wonder what like a tool is of yours. Yeah, I really go to I think we do complement each other. I think um um, constant communication. I think is uh is key to and and uh, you know we I have my own thing, she has her own thing. We have her own thing together. But in the kids, obviously, once the kids came into the mix, um um, as you know, they kind of like consume you and become priority number one, um, and that brought us even closer. But she she's just she's she's kind of she's very uh secure, and she's funny. She's like you always say, she makes me laugh. I usually feel like Dave Chapelle in the relationship. I always say, you guys have a similar personality, quick witted, because a funny girl is I think very sexy. Because they're funny and they're quick, that means they're smart. So it keeps me on my toes. So she, you know, to breaking my balls a lot when we met, and I liked it, and so my toes and I like it. So I think that's she's not definitely not like a submissive woman. That does you know, she's like a fiery Italian girl from Pittsburgh. So, oh, hey, guess what they're calling. They're calling me I gotta I'm talking to be free. Remember, hey, Bethany, she was a stage manager on Stave by the Bell. Oh my god, do you remember me? I know you're an intern of something? Wow? Very good? Does he have to go? Don't know, but I'm gonna come back. I'm gonna watch the episode. Please watch it, well, please watch it? All right? Bye, Mario? Okay, I love you. Okay, honey. We got one message from his wife. Okay, she loves your dressings and they're always oh sanator, nice to see you too. A great day. So that was really fun. Um. I've known Mario Lopez and Saved by the Bell when I was a p A and he was an actor and we were doing rewives today and he came on and I think he just did not realize he was supposed to have watched the episode, and instead of just scrapping it place of yes and time management, I was like, screw it, let's sit on another sign and let me just interview him for just b So that was an accidental interview which I loved. I loved, and you know, I love the show because I get to really reconnect with people and it's crazy. It's like I'm like the Kevin Bacon and that no one knew about. I know every single person, and I have a crazy, easiest stories and everyone's always so shocked and who I know, like that I know Mario and that I know Leah Remedy from that show and Kyle Richards from Lascala, and it goes on and on and on, Lauren Michaels from working at that job. I'm just one of those people that is always just been hustling since I was born. So Mario Lopez was somebody on the you know, a stop on my train of craziness. And the message really is how you treat people the whole time. Like I've always been the same. I've always been real, straightforward, abrupt, a little abrasive, but straight up one like Mario will tell you I was exactly the same on same by the bell as I am now. And it's important because if you were fronting and stunting then or fronting and stunting now, they'd be like, who the hell is she? She thought she was? She thinks she's hot shipped. Now, I remember her when she was a little loser reading red vines on the Save by the Bell set. You know, same with him. If he were an asshole back then, I would remember it. He was charming, he was love lee, he had a good work ethic. His mom was nice, like, it's crazy, you gotta watch your ass because everyone else is watching your ass. From the time that he was fifteen, he's fifty, gonna be fifty years old. I know Mario Lopez for thirty five years and he's the same as he was then. And now how great to watch his trajectory. So anyway, great guy. I love running into him through this trajectory through the entertainment industry. And it's always been him interviewing me. I rolls, I'm on the Housewives, half a loser. Oh the show becomes more successful. Wait, she sold her skinny girl brand. Oh, now she has her own pockast. Now she's interviewing me. He's the interviewer. It's hysterical. So I love it. I'm so happy and he's a great guy. So I hope you love it, hope you listen. I guess that's a rant within a just be episode, have a good day,