Lopez to Host Miss America Pageant

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There he is, the new Bert Parks --or Ron Ely or Phyllis George or Tony Danza, or...

Mario Lopez of Dancing With the Stars and Nip/Tuck has been tapped to host the 2007 Miss America Pageant.

The pageant, whose ratings had declined steadily on broadcast TV, moved to Country Music Television last year where it became that network's most-watched show.

Lopez has signed a talent deal with The CW and continues hosting duties on syndicated mag, Weekend Extra.

The pageant, produced by Don Mischer, airs January 29 at 8 p.m. Judges include Chris Matthews of NBC's Hardball and the syndicated Chris Matthews Show; Delta Burke of Boston Legal, Nigel Barker  of America's Next Top Model , and dancer/singer/choreographer Debbie Allen.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.