PageantCast News Desk: MARIO LOPEZ DANCES HIS WAY INTO THE MISS AMERICA SPOTLIGHT AS HOST OF THE 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

MARIO LOPEZ DANCES HIS WAY INTO THE MISS AMERICA SPOTLIGHT AS HOST OF THE 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT

MARIO LOPEZ DANCES HIS WAY INTO THE MISS AMERICA SPOTLIGHT AS HOST OF THE 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT

LIVE ON CMT FROM THE PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT
& CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

NASHVILLE – January 3, 2007 – Television star Mario Lopez (“Dancing With The Stars,” “Nip/Tuck”) has been tapped to host the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT, airing live from The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Monday, January 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* on CMT. Don Mischer Productions will produce the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT.

Sarah Brock, CMT executive producer and vice president, production, music and events, notes: “Mario Lopez is a fantastic choice to host the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT. With his soaring popularity, his former hosting experience and his undeniable charm, he will certainly excel as this year’s host."

Sam Haskell III, chairman of the board for the Miss America Organization, adds: "We are pleased that immediately following his successful star turn on “Dancing With the Stars,” Mario Lopez has agreed to host the Pageant. Our executive producers Sarah Brock and Don Mischer did an outstanding job securing Mario, and we are honored to welcome him into the Miss America family."

The 2006 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT premiered on CMT last January and ranks as the most-watched telecast in CMT’s history with total viewers*. Since its premiere, re-airings of the Pageant have been seen by more than 27 million different viewers.

Lopez recently danced his way into America’s heart on the hit ABC program “Dancing With the Stars” and has since signed a talent deal with the CW network and, under this deal, Lopez will continue to be a recurring host of “Weekend Extra.” And to keep up with his acting, Lopez has a recurring role in the popular series “Nip/Tuck.” Born in San Diego, Lopez began his career as the younger brother on the 1984 television series “A.K.A. Pablo.” Throughout the years, he has become well known to television audiences through his roles on NBC's “Saved by the Bell” as AC Slater and USA Network's “Pacific Blue.” Lopez brought the bachelor’s view to NBC’s ”The Other Half” and helped bridge the gap between sports and entertainment on “ESPN Hollywood.”

Judges for the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT include: Debbie Allen (actress, director, producer, choreographer, singer, dancer and multiple Emmy Award-winner), Nigel Barker (“America's Next Top Model”), Delta Burke (“Designing Women” and recently “Boston Legal”), Michael Feinstein (singer, composer, producer), Chris Matthews (MSNBC's “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and “The Chris Matthews Show”) and Susan Powell (Miss America 1981, Discovery Channel's “Home Matters”).