Mario Lopez joins voice cast of 'Chica Show'

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PHILADELPHIA, July 23 (UPI) -- Mario Lopez is lending his voice to an animated character on "The Chica Show," U.S. preschool television channel Sprout announced Monday.

A mix of live action and animation, the show is expected to premiere later this year. It stars puppet Chica the Chicken, the popular host from Sprout's "The Sunny Side Up Show."

Lopez will play Stitches, a "lovable rag doll who springs to life via animation as a warm, vibrant and fun-loving boy," a synopsis said. "Stitches is a loyal friend to Chica and the other characters on the show, as they take viewers on imaginative adventures that promote social-emotional development in preschoolers through creative play."

"I'm so excited to be on 'The Chica Show!'," Lopez said in a statement. "Sprout is my daughter Gia's favorite network and she absolutely loves 'The Sunny Side Up Show.' We're big fans of their programming and I hope to be working with Sprout for years to come."

Lopez is best known for his acting work on the 1990s sitcom "Saved By the Bell," as well as for competing on "Dancing with the Stars" and serving as anchor on "Extra!"