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Breaking News from Great American Family: Actor, Broadway Star, Emmy Award Winner, and Television Host, Mario Lopez to join the Network!
According to the press release below, Mario's first film project with the Great American Family will be a 2024 Great American Christmas movie, in which he'll star alongside his wife, Courtney.
See all of the details in Great American Media's press release below...
PRESS RELEASE:
GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS 2024
WILL BE FRAMED
BY ONE OF TELEVISION’S
MOST ICONIC LATINO FACES
GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA
SIGNS EMMY® AWARD WINNING HOST
AND ACTOR, MARIO LOPEZ
TO MULTI-PICTURE, MULTI-YEAR DEAL
TO SHOWCASE DIVERSE TALENT
NEW YORK, NY – February 6, 2024 – Great American Media announced it has signed Emmy® Award winning host and actor, Mario Lopez to a multi-picture, multi-year deal to star in content across the company’s vast media portfolio which includes linear networks Great American Family, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Pure Flix, Great American Adventures, and digital channel, Great American Faith & Home, with a focus to showcase diverse talent in front of the camera. Broader terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Lopez will be a major part of Great American Christmas 2024, starring in content for Great American Family where he joins a family of iconic TV stars who have made Great American Christmas a leader in original Christmas content. Great American Christmas 2024 returns in October. His very first film in this partnership will include a holiday film starring alongside wife and Broadway star Courtney Lopez.
“Mario Lopez has entertained millions of people for almost four decades,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “From his breakout role of A.C. Slater on ‘Saved by the Bell’ to his nightly presentations of Hollywood news on ‘Access Hollywood,’ the world loves Mario Lopez. We welcome Mario to Great American Media and look forward to his many creative contributions to our ever-growing, emerging brand of beloved faith and family entertainment,” Abbott concluded.
“Throughout my career, I’ve aimed to create a body of work that appeals to diverse audiences and, above all, brings joy to people,” Lopez stated. “Joining Great American Media is immensely fulfilling. I look forward to creating uplifting, inclusive, and diverse content, viewed through a positive lens for all ages. At this stage in my life, family is the most important thing to me. Being able to share family-friendly stories representing diverse voices is a true blessing,” Lopez concluded.
Mario Lopez is a constant presence on the pop culture scene. Actor, NYT Best Selling author, producer, and Emmy winning host, Lopez’s prolific career has made him one of the most sought-after personalities in entertainment today. Lopez became a household name as ‘A.C. Slater’ on the hit 90’s teen series, “Saved By The Bell,” and he starred in, as well as served as a producer on the wildly popular “Saved By The Bell” reboot on Peacock. Lopez is the host of NBC’s “Access Hollywood,” & “Access Daily.” Additionally, Mario hosts the national iHeart radio programs “On with Mario Lopez.” In 2008, Mario Lopez made his Broadway debut in the revival of A Chorus Line where he met his wife, Courtney. Mario and Courtney have three adorable kids, Gia, Dominic and Santino. Lopez is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment, WME and Ken Lindner and attorney John Tishbi.
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY
Great American Family is America’s premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, including original holiday movies, rom-coms and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family, and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network’s signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands. Follow Great American Family on Twitter: @GAfamilyTV Facebook: @GAfamilytv Instagram: @greatamericanfamily
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My Quick Take:
This is certainly great news today! I'm looking forward to seeing all the ways Mario Lopez will contribute to Great American Media!
Based on the press release above, it sounds like he will be seen in various ways, not only on Great American Family, but also on Great American Faith & Living, Great American Pure Flix, Great American Adventures, and the digital channel, Great American Faith & Home! Wow, it sounds like he'll be really busy!
Like many of you, my first remembrance of Mario Lopez was on the Saturday morning show, “Saved By The Bell.” That show holds a special, nostalgic place in my heart. It was such a wholesome show for kids and families at that time, even spinning off with the original cast to one season of “Saved By The Bell: The College Years” and TV movies.
Of all of Mario's acting jobs through the years, next to “Saved By The Bell,” my favorite is his Lifetime Christmas movie, “Steppin' Into the Holiday.” I loved seeing more of Mario Lopez's dancing side in that movie with Jana Kramer, and I hope that's something we'll see more of as he's on Great American Family!
For now, that's a wrap!
Net 🎬
Mario Lopez image via: Great American Media
Well this is definitely a surprise! Only Lifetime movie I saw him was also my favorite of 2022, Steppin into the Holiday, so this will be interesting! -Maria
ReplyDeleteWhat’s a wonderful news
ReplyDeleteMario & his Wife; Courtney will do their Christmas movie together
What wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteAwesome news! It's great to see new talent sign on.
ReplyDeleteMisty
This is very interesting since Mr Lopez had become a regular on Lifetime at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIt does make you wonder just what the position is there since he was absent last year.
I first saw him in Feliz Navidad and it was excruciatingly awful but in case that was a one-off I watched Holiday In Santa Fe the next year - if anything it was worse.
I vowed then I would never watch another movie with him in it - he and Benjamin Ayres are in my opinion the two worst actors out there.
Moreover I generally find that when partners in real life star opposite each other in a movie it tends to inhibit them and the charisma isn't there e.g. Alexa and Carlos Penavega.
At least that's one movie already I won't have to watch this Christmas - Florence
What is Great American Faith and Home? Is that a new name for the app Great American Community?
ReplyDeletePeter, I'm not exactly sure, but that sounds likely to me.
DeleteSince the Great American Community App/Website is not even mentioned in the press release, perhaps this could be a new title for it.
I just wanted to let you know, I haven't received any answers, yet, but this is something I am looking into.
If anyone else reading this has any information on Great American Faith and Home, I would appreciate any details you can share.
Thank you, Peter, for sharing your interest in Great American Family with us.
Blessings, Net
I was not expecting Mario Lopez to move to GAF! I have always loved him, and his wife is so talented, I think they will make a great team in a Christmas movie. I wonder if they have ever acted together before?
ReplyDelete~Paula
Paula, They weren't the leads together, but Mario's wife Courtney was also in Feliz NaviDad and Steppin' Into the Holiday. :)
DeleteFeliz Navidad is available on Disney+
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would add this information here...
ReplyDeleteBill Abbott (Great American Media CEO) shared in his latest email update (in case anyone here did not receive it) that not only will Mario Lopez star in a new Christmas movie for the network, he will also be producing a new Christmas movie!
Bill shared: "We are hoping the second project well star Carlos and Alexa Pena Vega, and we are working through logistics with them while we put the finishing touches on the storyline. We are extremely excited and proud to be working with Mario, and it would be terrific to also see Carlos and Alexa in a Christmas movie on GFAM this year!"
Yay!!!! What great news!!!! I am personally thrilled to hear Bill share that they are hoping to work with Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, as well. Those two are favorites of mine (I loved "Picture Perfect Mysteries"!), and I would love to see them on GFAM now or in the future!!! I love that they met at a Bible study and are vocal about sharing their faith. Alexa is currently expecting, so I imagine they wouldn't be able to film until maybe this Summer. I sure hope it all works out with them.
Blessings! Net
Aww! So happy for them! This is baby 3 right??
DeleteAbigail, Actually, Alexa and Carlos are having their 4th child! They currently have two boys, Ocean and Kingston, and a little girl, Rio Rey. I don't think they know the gender of the baby coming. Last I heard, Carlos wanted to know, but Alexa wanted to wait. They are such a cute couple and adorable family! :)
DeleteI heard that too!! That would be soooo amazing! -Maria
DeleteAww Net, that's even better!!
Delete