Lopez philosophical about cancellation

The two of them were backstage at Elton John's show -- John and George Lopez, two weekends ago -- and then they kissed. But it wasn't like that.

"We sang a little bit backstage. And before he left, he grabbed me and gave me a kiss on the lips!" Lopez tells me.

John's a good kisser, Lopez, a big fan, insinuates.

"There's intensity behind every kiss, apparently," says Lopez, who performs stand-up Friday and Saturday at The Mirage.

The same weekend as the kiss, Lopez sang and danced with Eva Longoria at the Tropicana to raise money for Padres Contra el Cancer, a charity for Latino children with cancer.

His time with Longoria was also not like that.

"She's like my sister," Lopez says. "We're kind of committed to each other -- in a platonic way. I think that's why we're so committed to each other," he says with a laugh.

I ask Lopez why Longoria (who's always nice to me, at least) is sometimes portrayed coldly by some in the entertainment press .

"I'm not sure where that comes from. She's very, very sweet," he says. "She's got the biggest heart of any size."

Lopez has more time to kiss John and party with Longoria lately because his late-night TV show was canceled.

I ask him whether he resents Conan O'Brien for: A) taking away Lopez's time slot on TBS and then B) O'Brien not attracting enough ratings to give "Lopez Tonight" a decent lead-in.

Lopez doesn't express resentment.

"I just think things happen for a reason. TBS was very enamored with Conan," Lopez says.

He and O'Brien were always supportive of each other, he says.

When the "Lopez Tonight" cancellation was going down, Conan called Lopez, "and he made a call on my behalf. I appreciate that."

He also says, "I don't think TBS was the right place" for it.

Lopez has only one real sadness about the end of "Lopez Tonight": "There won't be a show that diverse and that inclusive in a long time."

Lopez also snared big guests for his TV show. Having Prince perform on the show was certainly a highlight.

"He's very sincere and very kind," Lopez says of Prince. "He keeps his life very peaceful. He doesn't go on the Internet and doesn't use the phone. If you're gonna have peace in your life, those are two good things to start with."

Anyway, Lopez is "actually very cool with the outcome" of the cancellation because now he can do other things with his career, rather than talk to TV guests about their lives, he says.

"I'm not sure that being on that stage for the next 10 years ... would have been the way I wanted to spend my career. It wouldn't have been worth the money to give up my career."

Being freed from "Lopez Tonight" gives him time to add variety to his life again. He's planning an HBO special and another TV sitcom, though he doesn't give details.

And he just signed up with Carnival Cruise Lines as director of comedy. He'll help program comedy and perform occasionally.

At the New York news conference announcing the Carnival deal, Lopez enjoyed seeing cruise executives eat and drink cocktails.

"It's refreshing to work with a company (where) everything is about being fun."

Lopez also teases the possibility he may open for Santana at the Hard Rock Hotel for some upcoming shows. Or at least, he hopes so. They've toured together already.

"It's a great fit, and it's an honor for me to share the stage with him, so maybe one day we go back to Vegas together."

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.