(LOS ANGELES, CA. Feb 26, 2003). Legendary talk show host and TV personality Cristina Saralegui will guest star on ABC’s hit comedy series “George Lopez,” announced the show’s star and co-creator, George Lopez, co-creator and executive producer Bruce Helford and executive producers, Deborah Oppenheimer, Sandra Bullock and Robert Borden. Cristina’s guest appearance on “George Lopez” marks her primetime-acting debut on English-language TV. “George Lopez,” which is produced by Fortis Films and Mohawk Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television airs on ABC Wednesday nights at 8:30pm (ET/PM).

“Having Cristina guest star on the show is a dream comes true for me,” says Lopez. “She’s been a role model and icon to Hispanics for years.”

“I am a huge fan of George Lopez and have been following the success of his TV show,” says Cristina. “I’m thrilled to be invited to appear on my favorite sitcom.”

“We’re very excited that Cristina will join us as a guest star, “says Helford. “She is already so well-known and loved among Latino TV viewers, we hope they tune-in for her primetime acting debut.”

Season-to-date George Lopez is the #1 program in its time period among adults 18-49 and currently, it is the second highest-rated scripted program in Hispanic homes this season. Cristina guest stars in the episode entitled “George Has Two Mommies,” which is written by Robert Borden and Rachel Sweet and will be directed by Joe Regalbuto (Frank on “Murphy Brown”).

An EMMY?-winning talk show host, magazine publisher, radio personality, AIDS activist, wife and mother, Cristina Saralegui is THE role model for today’s young Latina women. Her internationally famous Cristina Show was launched on Univision in 1989 and continues as the #1 talk show on Spanish-language TV, seen by more than 100 million viewers throughout the world. Her media empire also includes Cristina Magazine, Cristina Opina, Cristina Online and Blue Dolphin Studios, the Saralegui’s brand new production studios in Miami.

“George Lopez” also stars Constance Marie, Belita Moreno, Valente Rodriguez, Masiela Lusha and Luis Armand Garcia. The series has featured other notable guest stars including Sandra Bullock, Esai Morales, Lou Diamond Phillips and Cheech Marin, among others.

As the U.S. Hispanic population continues to increase, mainstream networks have now begun to target both Spanish-dominant and English-dominant Hispanics as potential viewers. A recent Nielsen Media Research study found that the growth of the 2003 TV Universe Estimates (U.E.) was driven largely by U.S. Hispanics, who accounted for 84% of growth in the Total U.S. Adult 18-34 and Adult 18-49 demographics, Hispanic populations that grew by 40% and 24%, respectively, compared to 2001. Hispanics now account for 18% of the U.S. Adult 18-34 television population and 15% of the U.S. Adult 18-49 television population.

Media Contacts:
Latino Media ABC Warner Bros.
Gabriel Reyes Amber Gereghty Kerry Wilker
(323) 852-1525 (818) 460-6781 (818) 954-7356