Mario Lopez Named New 'Access Hollywood' Host, Signs Overall Deal With NBC
By Ryan Naumann on July 17, 2019 at 8:41 AM EDT
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Mario Lopez has been announced as the new host of “Access Hollywood” and secured a lucrative deal with NBC.
Deadline first reported that NBC has chosen Lopez as the new face for both “Access Hollywood” and the spin-off, "Access Daily."
Lopez will join his new co-hosts, Kit Hoover and Scott Evans, starting September 9.
He will be taking over the spot vacated by Natalie Morales after she left the show in April.
Lopez signed an overall deal with NBC that allows him to produce other original shows with Universal Television.
Sources close to the deal tell The Blast that NBC will also be using Lopez as the host of their holiday specials, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Lopez had been the host of “Extra” since 2008, until the show left NBC and went to FOX.
As The Blast first reported, former “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush was chosen to take over as host of the revamped “Extra Extra” on Fox, which launches later this year.
Bush was fired from "Today" and "Access Hollywood" after his participation was highlighted in the infamous 2015 video with Donald Trump.
The new gig is a cherry on top of Lopez's good year, with the television host welcoming baby #3 with his wife Courtney Mazza earlier this month.
The "EXTRA" host broke the news, telling fans, "It’s a BOY!!!! Healthy, beautiful baby boy... Santino Rafael Lopez!"
He added that "Baby & Mom are doing great," and specifically, "Mrs. Lopez came through like a Champ!"
Along with photos of little Santino, Daddy Lopez shared photos of himself in scrubs and his wife in her hospital bed ... looking beautiful, but tired.
It didn't take long for celebrities to start sending in their well-wishes and congratulations on the arrival of the new baby. Mark Wahlberg, who regularly trains with Lopez, wrote "Congrats!! That was quick," on his friend's IG feed.
"Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown wrote, "Awww so beautiful congratulations," while actress Jordana Brewster wondered, "how does mrs Lopez look so stunning after giving birth?"
Some of Lopez's boxing buddies got in on the congratulations too, especially legendary trainer Freddie Roach, who wrote, "Big congratulations to you."
