Australian model Big, who is 22, has been catapulted to instant notoriety. From relative obscurity, his symmetrical features, attenuated body and accompanying bulge have been plastered on billboards and placed in magazines everywhere in the free world. From a bucolic background on a farm 40km outside Echuca, Victoria, where he regularly milked cows, Fimmel has rocketed into the pantheon of international sex symbols.

The coveted slot of Calvin Klein poster boy is the most illustrious a male model could snare, it’s the big kahuna of the glamour profession. Big has become the instant talk of the town and the stirring up of the controvercies. Some countries dediced to ban the ads, reasoning that it is sexually suggestive and demeaning to men.

However, this didn’t prevent this traffic stopper being noticed by American public, and even the celebrities. Meg Ryanfirst spotted the blonde Aussie on a giant billboard on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. He has since been spotted dining with the real thing at Robert De Niro’s Nobu restaurant in New York. Fimmel has a slimmer, more natural look than his preening predecessors Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bergin and Antonio Sabato Jr.

“We were looking for a new type of guy this time,” says Sydney Bachman, former global creative director of advertising and fashion for Calvin Klein. “Travis is slimmer and boyish. Today it’s not about working out in the gym and having yourself so pumped up and muscular. It’s more about being athletic and slim.”

As if to prove the point that models are extraterrestrial beings, beamed down from a parallel dimension to torment the rest of us, Fimmel admits his gym membership has long expired, and he eats what he pleases.

Fimmel lives in Los Angeles, where his routine seems to consist entirely of surfing and channel-surfing, as well as cruising around in his 1985 Bronco. He waxes lyrical about the beach at Malibu, an idyllic setting with dolphins and seals. He reserves his wrath for sharks of the human variety.

“The thing about Travis,” says Chadwick model agency booker Matthew Anderson, “is he is genuinely not aware of his appearance, or he’s just playing cool. It might be a mix of both.”

Fimmel is the youngest of three brothers. As a child, he worked on the family farm, rode motorcycles and hunted foxes. He loved his footy and his fishing.

“He’s always had an adventurous spirit,” says his mother Jenny. “He would disappear and camp out for the night. Even now, as soon as he gets home, he jumps on a motorbike and heads out to see what’s been happening on the farm. He’s always loved it here.”

Fimmel left home at 17, moved to Melbourne at 18, and arrived in London at 19, where he remained for two years. The modelling seed had already been planted when, in 1998, Anderson discovered him in a Melbourne gym.

“He was a bit embarrassed about it all, like, ‘What are you talking to me for?’” Anderson says. “He never saw himself as being a star and I don’t think he does now.”

In fact, Fimmel was self-conscious as a youngster. “He was small, the little guy,” says his mother, “so it doesn’t suit his character at all to make a big deal about his looks. Last time he was home, he got around in a checked shirt and torn jeans and I thought, ‘Can’t we dress him up at all? Isn’t he supposed to be comfortable wearing nice clothes?’ That’s not to say he isn’t enjoying his lifestyle. He’s making the most of it, as any 22-year-old would.”

“He has a beautiful face, a very funny personality, it all clicked.”

NAME: Antonio Sabato Jr.
NATIONALITY: Italian
HEIGHT: 6’1″
WEIGHT: 175 lbs
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Brown
BORN: February 29, 1972 in Rome, Italy.

EARLY LIFE:The son of Italian actor Antonio Sabàto Sr., and his Czech-born wife Yvonne Kabouchy, the family moved to the United States when he was 12. He attended St. Bernard High School (Los Angeles, California) before transferring to Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California. Sabàto became a naturalized citizen of the United States in November of 1996.

DISCOVERED: When Antonio arrived in America, he was a young teenager.

RÉSUMÉ: He replaced Mark Wahlberg as the Calvin Klein underwear boy. Antonio played Jack (Jagger) Cates on General Hospital for two years. He also starred in Steven Spielberg’s short-lived TV series called Earth 2. He also guest-starred in six episodes of Melrose Place, in which he played Heather Locklear’s husband. He has a small but noteworthy role in movie The Big Hit where he plays a dedicated mercenary opposite fellow hunk Mark Wahlberg.

He is now starting up his own production company called Namtab (Batman spelled backwards.) He has his own book about exercise, filled with photos of himself.

HOME: Has an appartment in New York City. Antonio’s father is Italian film star Antonio Sabato Sr.

SWEETIE: He has a son, Jack Antonio, born August 6, 1994 by actress Virginia Madsen. Theirs was a bitter custody battle which he eventually won. “Jack is the most important thing in my life.” says Antonio.

Antonio admits he’s leery of relationships because “I’ve been unlucky in love. I’m told I’m too nice. I’m always good to the women in my life so it’s easy for them to take advantage of me.” Antonio also has to be on the alert for female fans who stalk him. “They’re amazing. They learn what hotels I’m staying at and try to get up to my room. The scariest time was when I got a call at 1 am and the women told me she was on a cellular phone just outside my hotel room door. She was. I had to call security to have her removed.”

OTHER: Antonio models to pay the bills but his real goal is acting. “I could have been a regular on Melrose Place but I chose just to do a cameo. My goal is to make movies. Melrose Place came along right after Earth 2 was cancelled. I needed something to boost my ego a bit. We all thought with Steven Spielberg at the helm, Earth 2 was going to be a mega-hit.” says Antonio. “I’d have been much further ahead if I’d spoken English when I came to America 12 years ago.” explains Sabato. Antonio became a United States citizen in November 1996. Antonio now has his own exercise and diet/nutrition book, No Excuses, filled with photos of… who else? Antonio.

Juan Carlos Cuenca, better known by his screen name Jake Cuenca (born December 30, 1987 in San Jose, California, U.S.), is a Filipino commercial model and actor and now, currently a member of ABS CBN‘s circle of homegrown talents named Star Magic.

Cuenca grew up in San Jose, California and the middle child in a brood of three. He was a student of PAREF Southridge, a school for boys. His career in the Philippines began when he was discovered by a talent scout for Cosmo Modeling Agency at the age of nine. Soon after, he made several television and commercials including endorsements for Safeguard, Coke, and Globe Telecom.

By the time he was fourteen, Cuenca was taken under the wing of star makers, Neil de Guia and Douglas Quijano. In 2003, he auditioned for GMA Network’s highly successful youth program, Click, where he was included as one of the cast. His stint in the show contributed much to his growing popularity. When the show was defunct, Cuenca began portraying varied roles and was cast in several television outings including Hanggang Kailan, Forever In My Heart and Love to Love.

Alongside his growing television career, Cuenca also attended workshops with directors, Peque Gallaga and Joel Lamangan, where he developed the technique and motivation needed for television acting, a far cry from the broad-gestured and exaggerated manner of billing in commercials.

His career heightened in 2005 when he became part of the fantasy series, Encantadia, playing Dingdong Dantes‘s and Karylle’s invincible heir, Kahlil. He also appeared in the ninth season of Love to Love entitled Miss Match where he was paired with reality show winner and young actress Jennylyn Mercado.

He starred as one of the wizards in the fantasy-themed television series Majika. Cuenca, along with fellow male stars hailing from successful telefantasya’s, was featured in the second issue of X-ray Magazine where he sheds off his boy-next door charm for a much more provocative and mature take on his image [1].

Jake Cuenca is now in the Kapamilya Network ABS-CBN after his contract with GMA-7 expired. He is now featured in top-rated TV shows in ABS-CBN.

Jake was part of the cast of one of ABS-CBN‘s highest rating soap opera entitled Sana Maulit Muli. The series was topbilled by Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson in 2007. He was also in a Lovespell Episode called “Sweet Sixty”, starring Sarah Geronimo, Oyo Boy Sotto, and Roxanne Guinoo.

Cuenca got a big break in his career when he and supposedly ex-girlfriend Roxanne Guinoo were given the chance to play the lead roles in the well-received 2007 TV series Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?. He was also a part of the fantaserye Mars Ravelo’s Lastikman with Roxanne Guinoo, Vhong Navarro and Iya Villania. They played characters involving in a love quadrangle (square). He got his biggest break as he star in ABS-CBN‘s action series Palos with action star Cesar Montano.

Michael Fred Phelps (born June 30, 1985) is an American swimmer. He has won 14 career Olympic gold medals, the most by any Olympian. As of 2008^[update], he also holds seven world records in swimming.

Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics with the eight golds he won at the 2008 Olympic Games. With this record, he surpassed Mark Spitz, who was also a swimmer and had held the previous gold medal total with the seven that he won at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Overall, Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at in Beijing in 2008. In winning these medals, he has twice equaled Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin‘s record of eight medals (of any type) at a single Olympics; Dityatin garnered eight at the 1980 Summer Olympics, while Phelps won eight medals at both the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Out of his eight gold medals from Beijing, five were won in individual events, tying the record for individual gold medals at a single Games originally set by Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and equaled by Vitaly Scherbo at the 1992 Summer Games. Phelps ranks second in total career Olympic medals, after Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won a total of 18 medals (nine gold) spanning three Olympic Games.

Phelps’s international titles, along with his various world records, have resulted in him being awarded the World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 and American Swimmer of the Year Award in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Phelps has won a total of 48 career medals thus far: 40 gold, six silvers and two bronze. This includes all of the Championships in which he has competed: The Olympics, the World Championships, and the Pan Pacific Championships.

Leonard Albert “Lenny” Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is a popular American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and arranger whose “retro” style incorporates elements of rock, soul, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads.

In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, Kravitz often plays all the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and percussion himself when recording. He is known for his elaborate stage performances and music videos. Kravitz has had multiple number 1 hits on the US Top Singles Charts and many more worldwide. He won the Grammy Award for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” four years in a row from 1999 to 2002, breaking the record for most wins in that category and most consecutive wins in one category. He has been nominated many more times and has also won many other prestigious awards. He has sold an estimated 38 million albums worldwide.

His style is a combination of rock, soul, funk and psychedelic. Some of his biggest hit singles include “Are You Gonna Go My Way“, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” and “Let Love Rule“.

Tommy Gunn (born Thomas Joseph Strada on May 13, 1967 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), is a male American pornographic actor.

Having started acting in pornographic films in 2004, Gunn was the winner of the 2005 AVN Best Male Newcomer award, 2006 AVN Best Supporting Actor for his role in Pirates, and 2007 AVN Male Performer of the Year.

He was married to porn actress Rita Faltoyano from 2005-2008. According to IMDB.com, he previously divorced from Shana Hiatt, former hostess of World Poker Tour. In addition, he is the CEO of Assassin Pictures, Inc.

When asked during an August 2007 interview if there was a romance between him and fellow porn star Ashlynn Brooke, Gunn’s reply was “I think we are becoming something more”.

Gunn was featured in Rilo Kiley‘s music video for The Moneymaker, a song from their album Under the Blacklight.

Paul Patrick Rodil Gruenberg or simply called Polo Ravales, born June 27, 1982 in Manila, Philippines, is a Filipino actor and model with German descent.

Ravales’ first TV appearance came in 1995 as one of second batch members in the Philippine teen show TGIS. He is a former VIVA contract star along with fellow GMA stars Sunshine Dizon, Dingdong Dantes and among others. A year later, he got a small role in the drama series “Anna Karenina” as Vincent. Then followed by a few more soap series, “Click”, “Ang Iibigin ay Ikaw”, and “Hanggang Kailan.”

In 2005, Ravales landed his first big role in the hit telefantasya series Encantadia as Hitano, which followed by another successful telefantasya series Majika. He played a brave warrior and then a scheming lover, ably displaying manliness and machismo that heated the television screens.

Ravales has also starred in a number of successful movies in the Philippines, including Room Boy, Blue Moon, and most recently, Super Noypi, about six childhood friends discover that their parents are the legendary Super Noypi-the most powerful superheroes in the land.

Aside from his acting career, Ravales is also a model. He’s done print ad campaigns and TV commercials for Bench clothing, Ginebra, Coca-Cola, Colgate, and even made it to Cosmopolitan Philippines’ 2006 & 2008 Hottest Bachelor List.

When asked what he wants to achieve in his career, Ravales replied, “I want to win the Best Actor Award.” He added that his goal in life is to have his own restaurant business someday.

In 2008, he is Patrick Garcia‘s replacement for the role of Andy Abrigo in Sine Novela: Maging Akin Ka Lamang opposite Nadine Samonte. The role he reprised was originally potrayed by Christopher De Leon and was his biggest break in TV. After this, he joins the casts of Gagambino where he works once again with Dennis Trillo, Nadine Samonte, and Katrina Halili.

Before Fox Television turned him into “Joe Millionaire,” the eligible bachelor supposedly worth $50 million, Evan Marriott earned spare change modeling skimpy briefs for a California firm specializing in revealing swimwear, thongs, and leatherette underwear. Marriott, whom Fox describes as a $19,000-a-year construction worker, posed in November 2001 for California Muscle, a Los Angeles-based firm that sells its racy garments via a bi-annual catalog and web site. Marriott, as shown below, was snapped wearing a $26 Posing Suit. He can also be seen in a very snug $36 Arabian Boxer that leaves little to the imagination (the young and impressionable may want to avoid the photo on page two), and a $12.99 Gladiator Brief. According to Simon Nicholson, vice president of California Muscle, “Evan was short of cash and looking for work. He had a great face so we did a shoot with him.” Nicholson said Marriott was paid about $1000 for the session, during which he was also photographed in a variety of bathing suits and underwear. Since 1987, the L.A. company has been selling “men’s body and fantasy wear,” including the Libido Boxer, Piston Thong, and Goliath String. Marriott was referred to California Muscle by Paula Crane, a photographer who specializes in portraits of male and female bodybuilders. Crane told TSG that she met Marriott two years ago at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, where she “shot some candids of him there. He has a great physique and he’s a great looking guy…the girls were drooling all over him, the gay guys, too.”

Zachary David Alexander “Zac” Efron (born October 18, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He began acting in the early 2000s, and became known to young audiences after his roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, the WB series Summerland, and the film version of the Broadway musical Hairspray. Speaking to Newsweek in June 2006, director Adam Shankman described Efron as “arguably the biggest teen star in America right now.” In 2007, right before the release of High School Musical 2, Rolling Stone declared him the “poster boy for tweenyboppers” and featured him in their late August issue.

Early life and background

Efron was born in San Luis Obispo, California and later moved to Arroyo Grande, California. His father, David Efron, is an engineer at a power plant, and his mother, Starla Baskett, is a former secretary who worked at the same power plant as Efron’s father. Efron had a self-described “normal childhood” in a middle class family, and has a younger brother, Dylan.^[1] Efron is of Jewish ancestry and was raised agnostic, having never been religious. He has said that he would “flip out” if he got a ‘B’ and not an ‘A’ in school, and that he was a “class clown.” Efron’s father encouraged him to begin acting when Efron was eleven. He subsequently appeared in theater productions at his high school, worked in a theater called The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville, and began taking singing lessons. Efron performed in plays such as Gypsy, Peter Pan, Or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Music Man. Efron was recommended to an agent in Los Angeles by his drama teacher, Robyn Metchik (the mother of actors Aaron Michael Metchik and Asher Metchik). He was later signed to the Creative Artists Agency.

Education

Efron graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2006, and was then accepted into the University of Southern California, but he deferred his enrollment while he worked on film projects. He plans to return at some time. Efron also attended Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, a community college located in Santa Maria, California, which provided him with the opportunity to perform as a “young player” during the years of 2000 and 2001.

Career

2002-2005: Early work

In 2002, Efron began to appear in guest roles on several television series, including Firefly, ER, and The Guardian. He portrayed Cameron Bale on the now-cancelled WB series Summerland. Originally introduced as a recurring character, Efron became a regular cast member on the show in the second season in 2004, starring opposite the likes of Kay Panabaker,Lori Loughlin and Jesse McCartney. Since appearing in Summerland, he has also had guest roles on the shows CSI: Miami, NCIS (TV series), The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Replacements. In 2003, Efron starred in the Lifetime original television movie Miracle Run. He played Steven Morgan, one of two autistic twins. For his performance, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-series or Special — Supporting Young Actor. In 2005, he played a main character in Hope Partlow‘s music video for her song “Sick Inside.” Also in 2005, he played horse-loving Patrick McCardle in The Derby Stallion, where his character wants to beat the town bully at the steeple chase race.

2006: High School Musical

In 2006, Efron starred in the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical as Troy Bolton, the popular student and captain of the basketball team. The film, which he initially made with “low expectations”, helped Efron gain recognition among teenage audiences as both an actor and a singer. As a result, he placed as high as #4 on the IMDBPro’s STARMeter for the week of January 29, 2006. In August 2006, Efron won a Teen Choice Award in the Breakout Star and the TV — Choice Chemistry categories, shared with Vanessa Hudgens. The film’s cast, along with Efron, toured Sydney, Australia, London, England, and other locations to promote the film.

Shortly after High School Musical aired, Efron debuted with two simultaneous charted songs on Billboard Hot 100 on February 4, 2006, with “Get’cha Head in the Game” and “Breaking Free,” a duet with Vanessa Hudgens from the film. On the following week’s chart, Efron had five simultaneous song credits from High School Musical: “Get’cha Head in the Game,” “Start of Something New,” “What I’ve Been Looking For: Reprise,” “We’re All in This Together” and “Breaking Free.” “We’re All in This Together” was credited to the whole High School Musical cast. “Breaking Free,” at the time, made the fastest climb in the history of the Billboard charts, from #86 to #4 between the two weeks; the record has since been beaten by Beyoncé and Shakira‘s “Beautiful Liar.” Efron also appeared in the 2006 Disney Channel Games as captain of the Red Team.

Efron’s singing talents were disputed when it was revealed that Andrew Seeley‘s voice was blended with his on the soundtrack of High School Musical. An August 23, 2007 interview in Rolling Stone magazine revealed that he had been cast in High School Musical after the songs were written, and the songs (written for a tenor) were somewhat out of his baritone vocal range. However, Efron stated in interviews that he felt his future is that of a serious dramatic actor, not necessarily a singer.

2007-present: Recent roles

On April 7, 2007, Efron appeared in an episode of Punk’d. Efron also starred in the music video for Vanessa Hudgens’s single “Say OK“, where he played her love interest. The video aired on March 16, 2007 on Disney Channel. That year, he was named one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People in 2007. A picture and short profile of him was in the section “Coming of Age”. In it, he related how he was always the shortest kid in school (he is now 5’8″) and was teased for the “huge gap” in his teeth.

In 2006, Efron was cast as Link Larkin in a film version of Hairspray released on July 20, 2007. Efron performed all of his own vocals in the role, which was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, from September 5 to December 2, 2006. He cut and dyed his hair dark brown and gained about 15 pounds for the role. Both Efron’s performance and the film have received positive reviews. Because of this, he was not able to perform with his fellow castmates in High School Musical: The Concert. Drew Seeley took over for him.

High School Musical 2 was released in August 2007, and Efron topped IMDBPro’s Star Meter at #1, indicating that he was the most searched celebrity. Additionally, Lycos reported searches for Efron surged by 81%. The film set a new record, becoming the most watched basic cable program in U.S. history, with 17.2 million viewers. Efron also appeared on the cover of the August 2007 edition of Rolling Stone. The article about him revealed that he hoped to someday play an action hero.

Efron presented the 2007 Teen Choice Award for “Favorite Movie” along with Queen Latifah, and later that year, he co-hosted the Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice Awards with The Veronicas on October 10 in Sydney.

Efron’s upcoming roles include 17 Again, a high school-set drama/comedy produced by Adam Shankman and based on a pitch by Jason Filardi; the plot involves an adult who is transformed into a 17-year old (to be played by Efron). 17 Again will be released in 2009.

In early 2008, Efron was cast as the lead role in the film Me and Orson Welles. Based on Robert Kaplow’s novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 New York, tells of a teenager hired to star in Orson Welles’ production of Julius Caesar, where he becomes attracted to a career-driven production assistant. The film was shot in the Isle of Man, London and New York, during February — April 2008. It is currently set for release in 2009 and was introduced to North America via the Toronto Film Festival on September 5,6, and 11th 2008.

Efron reprised his role as Troy in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, released on October 24, 2008.

Efron is also scheduled to star in Paramount’s musical remake of the film Footloose. He has said that he would like to add his “own little bit of flair” to the role originated by Kevin Bacon.

Personal life

Efron owns an apartment and has two dogs, Australian shepherds named Dreamer and Puppy. He also has a Siamese cat named Simon.

On January 15, 2008, Efron was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for an emergency appendectomy.

Zac Efron was also on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2008, as number 92 with an estimated earning of $5.8 million from June of ’07 to June of ’08.

He was still dating his High School Musical series co-star, Vanessa Anne Hudgens as of September 3, 2008.

Mario López, Jr. (born October 10, 1973) is an American actor and author who has appeared on several television series, film and performed on Broadway. He first became well known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell.

Early life

Lopez was born in San Diego, the son of Elvia, a telephone clerk, and Mario Lopez, Sr., who worked for the municipality of National City. His parents were born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Lopez was a high school wrestler. During his senior season, he captured a 7th place finish at the California State High School championships. He attended Chula Vista High School: School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Chula Vista, California. He graduated high school in the year 1990 and continued his career as an actor and host.

Career

Lopez’s professional career began in 1985 when he appeared as younger brother yup Tomás in the short-lived ABC comedy series a.k.a. Pablo. In that same year, he was cast as a drummer and dancer on Kids Incorporated. Mario is a capable drummer and has been seen in his many television roles playing the instrument. Also, he appeared on The Golden Girls as a student of Dorothy’s, preparing for deportation. In 1989, Lopez was cast as A.C. Slater in the popular television sitcom Saved by the Bell, a role which lasted five years. Lopez’s character was a masculine, athletic student, helping to garner the actor a sizeable teenage-girl fan base. He maintains a close friendship with castmate Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Since his stint on Saved by the Bell, Lopez has enjoyed a career as host of a variety of television contest shows. He hosted Pet Star on the Animal Planet channel and was co-host of ESPN2‘s ESPN Hollywood. He is the captain of the L.A. Armed Response team on GSN‘s Extreme Dodgeball. Like fellow Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond, he was featured as a celebrity guest on The Weakest Link.

In 1991, Lopez was on American Gladiators, where he survived the 3 round competition winning $20,000. He then emceed the second season of the Family Channel game show Masters of the Maze.

He was also one of the co-hosts of the syndicated talk show The Other Half, which aired from 2001-2003. It was a male version of the female ensemble talk show The View, featuring four male co-hosts, including Danny Bonaduce and executive producer, Dick Clark.

As late as 2001, Lopez’ likeness was featured in the Disneyland attraction Space Mountain in Anaheim. He played a space captain that informed guests of the adventure-to-come while they waited in queue for the ride.

In March 2006, he joined the cast of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful playing the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. On July 18, 2006, Lopez was released from his B&B contract. He guest-starred as a plastic surgeon who drives Christian Troy to jealousy when he sees him naked in the shower in an episode of FX Network‘s Nip/Tuck during the show’s fourth season, which began in Fall 2006.

In the fall of 2006, Lopez appeared as a celebrity contestant for the third season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, who made her series debut. Lopez’s strong start in the program left some viewers wondering whether he had received dance training prior to joining the series. Initially, he said that he had not received any formal training, but he later revealed that, though he hasn’t had formal ballroom training, he has studied tap and hip hop styles. He finished second to Emmitt Smith.

He was announced as a celebrity guest host for the syndicated entertainment news magazine show Extra on January 12, 2006. His first assignment was covering the Golden Globes.

Lopez was scheduled to be color commentator for the first EliteXC mixed martial arts event alongside pro-wrestler Bill Goldberg, but was inexplicably replaced at the last minute.

Lopez is both the host with Carmen Palumbo and co-executive producer of Sí TV‘s Dating Factory.

On March 12, 2007, Lopez auditioned in a not-for-air episode of The Price is Right to take over for the retiring Bob Barker.

Lopez has hosted prime time television pageants; Miss Teen USA in 1998, 2003 and August 2007; Miss America in January 2007; and Miss Universe in May 2007, giving him the distinction of being the only individual to have served in hosting capacity for both of the major pageant system organizations.

Lopez is currently hosting the MTV reality show America’s Best Dance Crew and MTV’s Top Pop Group.

Lopez was featured in the third season of Mind of Mencia. After appearing on Nip/Tuck the nude shots from the shower appeared on the internet, but only his buttocks are exposed.

In 2007, Lopez— became an official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC.

In 2008, he appeared in the made for television movie Husband for Hire. On June 20, 2008, Lopez was named People’s Hottest Bachelor.

Lopez will take over as weekday host of the syndicated news show `Extra` beginning on September 15, 2008.

Broadway

Lopez made his Broadway debut on April 15, 2008, in the revival of A Chorus Line in the role of Zach.

Personal life

Lopez was married to Ali Landry for two weeks but the marriage ended on May 15, 2004. The marriage was annulled over alleged infidelities committed by Lopez during the relationship, and particularly the week leading up to the wedding. There have been rumors that Lopez is gay, to which he responded on Mind of Mencia by doing a Brokeback Mountain parody as well as a monologue about how it is not true.

Lopez was recently dating Karina Smirnoff. However, on June 4, 2008, Smirnoff confirmed that she and Lopez are no longer an item.

Lopez is an avid boxing fan. He was seen on camera during the Floyd Mayweather vs Ricky Hatton fight. He also commentates for Top Rank on overseas broadcasts of Manny Pacquiao fights.

Mario has a sister named Marissa, who is married to former NFL linebacker Kailee Wong.

He is still very good friends with fellow Saved by the Bell star and on-screen girlfriend Elizabeth Berkley, who came to support him while he was taking part in Dancing with the Stars.