You have to hand it to George Lopez: he’s managed to reinvent himself over and over again on the small screen. From his beloved sitcom George Lopez in the 2000s to his TBS talk show Lopez Tonight in the 2010s, the comedian always finds a platform to make people laugh.
Oftentimes, it’s a platform Lopez creates himself. He was a producer on both George Lopez and Lopez Tonight, and a historic one in the case of the latter, as he was the first Mexican-American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network. It looks as though he will keep his winning streak going too, as he’s the star and producer of the new NBC series Lopez vs. Lopez.
Lopez vs. Lopez may confuse some fans, since it’s a return to the sitcom format that made George Lopez such a runaway success. It’s not a sequel or a continuation of that earlier sitcom, but rather its own thing with a new story and characters. Lopez vs. Lopez puts a spin on the classic family dynamic by having Lopez play a guy named George who re-enters his daughter’s life after being absent for several years. His daughter, Mayan (Mayan Lopez), is the other Lopez, and she juggles her father’s shenanigans with the experiences of raising her own child, Chance.
If the names of the actors didn’t already spoil it, the fictional father-daughter duo is played by Lopez and his real-life daughter. It’s a fun concept, and one that allows their natural chemistry to inform the family-friendly vibe of the show. The working relationship also serves as a passing of the torch in many ways. Mayan Lopez grew up on the set of George Lopez, which sparked her interest in performing. She’s also following in her father’s multi-talented footsteps, as she’s one of the producers on Lopez vs. Lopez.
Is ‘Lopez vs. Lopez’ a spinoff?
Mayan discussed the fine line between fiction and real-life during an interview with Los Angeles Confidential. She noted that certain key changes were made to separate herself from the character of Mayan (such as making her a mother), but channeling the comedic energy between her and her father was always going to be a selling point for viewers.
“It is a sitcom and we have the jokes, we have the funny all laid out for you,” she explained. “But I think there are moments where you see a real father and daughter having a conversation and I think that makes for compelling and very unique television.”
While Lopez vs. Lopez has taken steps to differentiate itself from George Lopez, a particular episode did pay tribute to the latter by bringing back several cast members. The episode “Lopez vs. Christmas” featured cameos from Constance Marie, Valente Rodriguez, Belita Moreno, and Luis Armand Garcia.
The decision was not only made as a wink to longtime fans, but a tribute to how important George Lopez was at the time of its release. “It was one of the first Latinx shows, with a whole Latin cast, and to think of where it is now…” Mayan told TheWrap. “That started over 20 years ago and now we’re doing it together.” A return date for Lopez vs. Lopez has not yet been announced.