Here is our final insert on Mario Lopez. The piece is guest-blogged by Connie Wilson...

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The Final Installment of our multi-part in-depth look at Mario Lopez, the man, the dancer, the gladiator, I allude, again, to Matt’s report of Mario in his huckster days, shilling for Skeletor and He-Man in Times Square. Originally posted on 8/26/2000, Matt described the momentous event this way:

“The past Friday at Toys R Us in Times Square, one of the strangest, most sense-shattering events of all time took place.  This was the stuff legends and dreams are made of---the type of engagement that’d have you thanking earthworms and bluebirds because they’re the first things you see and you needed to thank something. ..I know that last one didn’t make sense, but neither did the event. What happens when He-Man meets A.C. Slater from ‘Saved by the Bell?’ This crossing of alternate universes has left me without prayer or guidance, but I’d happily trade all those things in to watch Skeletor point a plastic sword at Mario Lopez again.”

You get the general idea. If you want to read something laugh-out-loud funny, do visit Matt’s blog, in which, among other things, he says, “There will never be another chance to get a group picture of He-Man, Skeletor, and Mario F****** Lopez.” (I’m betting Matt’s right on that prediction.)

And, of course, the role we all came to know and love him in, Mario’s appearance on season three of “Dancing with the Stars,” where, somehow, he placed second (rather than first), losing to football player Emmett Smith (who must have had some really good phone bank callers working overtime for him, is all I can say about that.)

After their heated sambas, rumbas and two-steps, Mario was romantically linked with his dancing partner, Karina Smirnoff for two years, and the twosome  moved in together. AOL news quoted Karina (4/30/08) as saying about break-up rumors, “We’re going on strong.  As much as I love and appreciate the attention, this isn’t true. For the record, I am not moving out. Everything is great.”

Shortly thereafter (April, 2008), Mario was cast as Zach, the demanding director in “A Chorus Line”. According to CBS News (6/29/08) Lopez was hired March 5, 2008, and began April 15th at the Gerard Schoenfeld Theatre, 15 days before Karina issued her passionate denial of their break-up.

But wait for the other shoe to drop! The “Hollywood Headache” (6/5/08) reported that the 2-year Lopez/Smirnoff relationship officially had ended with his and hers news releases.

His: “Karina and I have the utmost respect for each other.  She is a phenomenal and talented woman.  I support her always and feel blessed to have her in my life.”

Hers:  “Karina has parted ways after a 2-year relationship with Mario Lopez. The relationship wasn’t heading in the right direction.”  [Supposedly, Mario had been cheating on Karina with Meaghan Cooper, a Hooters girl, for over a year.]

So, in with the new (“A Chorus Line”); out with the old (Karina and “Dancing with the Stars”).

What might be next for Mario Lopez? Well, he’s posed nearly nude (pp. 54-63) in the June 30th, 2008 People magazine, and boy if that doesn’t look “cheesy,” I don’t know what does! (Maybe that video I mentioned earlier?) Not only does Mario recreate famous nearly-nude scenes (Brad Pitt’s in “Thelma & Louise,” Burt Reynolds in the infamous “Cosmopolitan” centerfold, Richard Gere in “American Gigolo”),  but Mario reveals that he “sleeps naked,” drives a Toyota Land Cruiser and an Audi, and has had sex on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. True class! [Just makes you want to run right out and buy tickets to take your grandkids on that ride!]

If you still haven’t had your Mario Lopez quota after all the above, you can go to www.CelebHeights.com, where various strangers argue about whether he is 5’ 9” or shorter and, as a last resort, you can create your own fan site on www.Hollywood.com after you answer the rhetorical question, “Are you the Number 1 fan of Mario Lopez?” Isn’t everyone...wink, wink?

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Our previous posts in the series are here:

The Topsy Turvy Career of Mario Lopez...Here's "The Skinny"

Mario Lopez: More Twists and Turns Than Walt Disney's Scariest Roller Coaster Ride

Mario Lopez: Will Work For Food

Mario Lopez' Career...It's Been a Bumpy Ride...