After many years as Bayside High's resident teen heartthrob A.C. Slater on the hit show "Saved By the Bell," actor Mario Lopez has had varied successes in other shows. Most recently, Lopez has been a welcome addition to daytime soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful," where he gives his latest interview.

Well, I was called into a meeting with [Executive Producer and Head Writer] Mr. [Brad] Bell, and he couldn't have been a nicer guy. [He was] super cool, real down-to-earth, which was surprising because of all the stuff he's accomplished and the family [he is from]. He just talked to me for a while and got to know me a little bit. He told me that he used to watch me on The Other Half, the daytime talk show I did with Dick Clark and Danny Bonaduce. So he said that he liked that and said, "I thought you were good on daytime. I know you're involved in a lot of different things. Have you ever considered doing a soap?" I said, "I never turn down opportunities. I'm willing to listen and be open to it." I liked when I did that [daytime talk] show for a few seasons and the daytime audience. He said he had this character who was a doctor, a very positive character, which is very important to me and the Latino community. He also said he would be supportive of all the other stuff I like to do because I still work for ESPN and do some boxing stuff for HBO. I love hosting. Then I told him, "This would be great in my goal to become like the male Kelly Ripa."

He also lets his fans know how he will respond to the female issues and fan base that comes with starring on a daytime soap.

I get asked that a lot. I don't have one specific thing. Not really. [Women] are like medicine. They're a constant study. But I just learned to appreciate that we're just different. And you don't need to figure them out, just appreciate the fact that we're just different species. If you keep that in mind and you're patient then you'll be a lot better off then to kill yourself as a man to try to figure out why they do this and why do they behave like that. You got to keep reminding yourself, "They're women."

Unfortunately, Lopez did not address his roots as A.C. Slater, the role for which he is most recognized.

Keith

Hooker, OK

August 2002

MAR 27, 2006 11:02 AM

Glad to see he's moved up from stupid pet tricks on Animal Planet.

DeceptiviewFilm

Parlin, NJ

February 2004

MAR 27, 2006 11:03 AM

and he couldnt hold on to ali landry either *shakes his head*

toothpickmoe

Los Angeles, CA

May 2004

MAR 27, 2006 11:05 AM

Seriously, what is up the SBTB kids everywhere all of a sudden?

Hooraydiation

Boston, MA

October 2005

MAR 27, 2006 11:06 AM

I saw a clip of him in the role on The Soup. It made me forget my pain.

filmME

Vancouver, BC

May 2003

MAR 27, 2006 11:13 AM

Yeah but... did he actually say that he wanted to be the male Kelly Ripa?

I would laugh but I was pretty sure that I was never going to hear that sentence put together.

So confused.

[Edited on Mar 27, 2006 11:13AM]

_DictionaryGirl_

NEWSWIRE

San Diego, CA

MAR 27, 2006 11:13 AM

SLATER, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

TheFly

Eagle Springs, NC

November 2003

MAR 27, 2006 11:14 AM

Keith said:
Glad to see he's moved up from stupid pet tricks on Animal Planet.

I'm not sure if that's better or worse than hanging out with Bonaduce

NinjaTech

Minneapolis, MN

November 2003

MAR 27, 2006 11:17 AM

So does this mean Pacific Blue was cancelled?!?