Lopez: Mom prompted 'Dancing' appearance

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Mario Lopez says he took part in the TV series "Dancing with the Stars" because of a request from his mother.

Lopez, 35, said he joined the ABC dance competition's third season because "Dancing" is his mother's favorite show, but soon he was facing claims his dancing background gave him an unfair advantage, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"Yeah, I thought that was very flattering," Lopez told the Times about those 'Dancing' complaints. "I'm not a professional. I'm not. I pick up stuff quick."

Lopez, who is currently host of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," ultimately lost to former NFL star Emmitt Smith during the third season of "Dancing."

"The whole thing was fun," Lopez said of his runner-up status. "It's not like we were aspiring to be professionals or anything. At least, I wasn't."

Lopez, who started his TV career in shows like "Saved By the Bell," also serves as host of "Extra."