Lopez/Nick rivalry in Chorus..gotta love this.

[jacobson]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 8:37am

WHAT started as a battle of the biceps has turned into the battle of the bulges between stars of Broadway's "A Chorus Line."

Last month, Mario Lopez and co-star Nick Adams clashed when Lopez refused to wear his character Zach's trademark costume of a long-sleeve tan sweater. As first reported by The Post's Michael Riedel, Lopez wanted to show off his biceps, so he wore a short-sleeve brown shirt in order to display his "guns."



Lopez also requested that Adams, who plays assistant choreographer Larry, cover up his navy-blue tank top with a baggy hoodie whenever he danced next to Lopez. When Adams does wear just the tank top, it's in the show's opening dance number, where he's banished to the back of the line and can barely be seen by the audience.

Now the rivalry between the hunks has been pumped up with word that the men's-underwear company 2(x)ist has decided it wants Adams front and center in a shirtless ad and that it passed over Lopez.

"Mario was originally No. 1 on our radar as we planned the campaign," said an insider. "We were ready to call him with an offer, but then we saw Nick. He's younger, sexy, more interesting. On top of that, his body was crazy. We set up a meeting, and when he walked in, that was it. We never even looked at anyone else after that."

Jason Scarlatti, 2(x)ist's creative director, gave final approval. He told us, "Nick's very masculine, sexy, modern. It's totally all about his body. Mario is a good-looking guy, but Nick had it. He's up and coming, the new face of sexy. He's original. He's hot."

The ad campaign was shot in one day at Via Della Pace restaurant in the East Village. The series of shots shows Adams in an unbuttoned tuxedo shirt, a bow tie and underwear. It will appear in Out's August issue first and then in other magazines.

Lopez's rep did not return calls.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 9:13am

clearly...my boy is winning!

[shh282]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:16am

Mario is probably in fetal position with his book somewhere

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:18am

how disgustingly shallow, pretentious and superficial it all is.

what moronic b.s.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:20am

Awright, you two! I got a ruler so drop your pants and lets settle this sh*t once and for all!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:23am

No link?

http://gawker.com/tag/mario-lopez/?i=5016127&t=shirtless-actors-wrestle-over-underwear

http://www.queerty.com/nick-adams-tops-mario-lopez-20080613/

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:33am

Nice, Borstal, nice.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:52am

Karma at work once again.

Posted: 6/13/08 at 10:53am

Yes, I am sure Mario is curled up in a box of money crying himself to sleep.

[Okayfine]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 11:52am

I truly believed that this was something made up by OP for a laugh - then I went to the Post link (not that the Post is so reliable). Can this be? Have you ever noticed how it's the barely-celebrities who create the biggest fusses? Oy vey.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 11:56am

this actually made NY 1 this morning. *yawn*

Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:12pm

Good point! It is the "Barely celebrities" who make a fuss. This Nick guy must have three publicists working overtime on this. I guess when the high point to your career is "underwear Model" and "Third guy from the left" in Chorus Line you grab what you can.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:18pm

What's wrong with being an underwear model?

It's an honest job.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:20pm

Three publicists? Really? On a Broadway salary?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:35pm

Unless I'm reading it wrong, Mario would not have known he was in contention because they went with Nick before they even contacted Mario.

Something tells me Jason Scarlatti just made up the whole Mario consideration thing just to get on the Nick/Mario bandwagon, and get some press from the shameless Page Six, who is never a credible source for anything anyway.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:45pm

Girls, girls. You're BOTH pretty!

[Okayfine]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:13pm

JoeKv99 - I was thinking about Mario Lopez ... but ... YEAH, Nick, too!

[nitwit]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:13pm

mario is getting old. nick is way hawter.

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:15pm

Exactly L4C- what I wouldn't give to look like either one of them on their worst day!

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:21pm

If it is true that Lopez is the one who wanted Nick covered up and refused to wear the long sleeve shirt just to show off his biceps, then I am glad he didn't get the underwear shoot. it irks me that he would even be allowed to demand and get a change like that in the show. That shirt is pretty iconic as are some of the other costumes in the show. It also makes me wonder if this "biceps war" wasn't all a set up to try to sell tickets.

[maya5892]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:23pm

Jay, where did you get that picture of the cast?

[NDR]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:32pm

I think Nick totally deserves it. He has been working his butt off for the past few years. Additionally, he is a SUPER nice guy. Go NICK!

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:49pm

their rivalry has gotten SO out of hand...i'm TEAM NICK

[winter_sky]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 1:57pm

Mario Lopez was on Conan the other day and mentioned his costume in a way that makes it seem like he didn't choose it. They showed the ads that are around the city.

He said: "Let me explain the outfit first...it's a period piece that takes place in 1975 hence the very tight, mustard colored pants and chocolate colored shirt...I look like a pornstar...very Boogie Nights."

Seriously man, do not make it seem like that is the costume and poor you for having to wear it.

[SgtDonut]

Posted: 6/13/08 at 2:11pm

I don't really like Nick's hair but Mario is getting kind of old. I'm also a little offended I wasn't called!

Updated On: 6/13/08 at 02:11 PM