by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
George López
George López is upbeat about his upcoming entry into the crowded late-night television market.
At this month’s Television Critics Association gathering in Pasadena, Calif., the star of the late, lamented, self-titled ABC sitcom talked about López Tonight, which premieres on TBS in November.
“The simple plan of the show is to create an energy that isn’t anywhere on TV,’’ he said, joking “but apparently in some parts of the country I’ll be up against telenovelas — can’t win that battle.”
As to competing for top guests, he added, “l don’t think The Tonight Show is going after Menudo.” Then he presented a pilot episode that included a cameo appearance by President Barack Obama.
Lopez campaigned for Obama and called the President a ‘’close friend.” He told reporters he would be “personally offended” if he did not appear on López Tonight the next time he’s in Los Angeles.
But the comedian will be on TV before his new show premieres: he will co-host, with actress Eva Longoria-Parker, the 2009 Alma Awards in September.
The Desperate Housewives costar will again executive-produce the ceremony produced by the National Council of La Raza. It will air for the first time during Hispanic Heritage Month. The ceremony will be taped in Los Angeles Sept. 17 and be shown the next day on ABC.
In other television news:
- Latin Music Legends, a musical variety show hosted by Trini López, will have its national premiere in the singer’s hometown of Palm Springs before being rolled out to PBS stations nationally. The special, taped at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, will debut Aug. 14 on KCVR and includes performances by Julio Iglesias, El Chicano, Tierra and a tribute to another legendary Palm Springs resident, the late Lalo Guerrero.
- Telemundo will air the original version of a drama airing successfully on Spain’s state-run Televisión Espariola (TVE). It will be the Latin American distributor for Amar en tiempos revueltos, set in Spain’s post-war period at the beginning of the last century.
