Mario Lopez's Surprising Cameo In Family Guy Season 21 Episode 1

The animated comedy "Family Guy," created by Seth Macfarlane and somewhat inspired by "The Simpsons," has hundreds of episodes to enjoy from over 20 seasons, with some ultimately being better than others. There is no shortage of excellent entries that fans continue to enjoy, and the Season 21 premiere, "Oscar Guy," arguably did not disappoint for a number of reasons, including cameo appearances.

The Emmy-winning series has been a powerhouse on the small screen for some time, and overall, "Family Guy" has become a billion-dollar franchise (via FastCompany.com). Over the course of its stellar run in animation domination, the series has introduced an array of gut-busting characters and memorable celebrity guest appearances. Big names like Robert Downey Jr., Carrie Fisher, Ricky Gervias, and more have all lent their vocal talents to "Family Guy" at some point, and the show continues to surprise viewers over and over again, with different stars making an impact in the silliest ways.

The Oscar-themed episode that kicked off Season 21 featured some hilarious parodies of former Best Picture recipients. "American Beauty," "Forrest Gump," and "The Silence of the Lambs" were all showcased in the entry, with various "Family Guy" personas playing the cinematic roles. In "The Silence of the Lambs" segment Stewie Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) plays Hannibal Lecter, and Lois Griffin (Alex Borstein) plays Agent Clarice Starling. Like in the movie, Stewie Hannibal Lecter won't assist Agent Starling without a quid pro quo. His side-splitting request allows for a funny joke and a cameo appearance from actor Mario Lopez.

In Season 21, Episode 1 ("Oscar Guys"), Stewie Hannibal Lecter requests that Mario Lopez record his outgoing voicemail message. The storyline for "The Silence of the Lambs" is set in the 90s, so Mario Lopez is "Saved By the Bell" famous at this point. Agent Starling gets him what he wants, but when he hears the recording, he is disappointed that Lopez didn't do it as A.C. Slater., the character he played on the hit 90s series. While it's pointed out that he didn't specifically request that, Stewie Hannibal Lecter insists it was implied.

Lopez posted a clip of the request from the entry on his Instagram, saying, "If that's what Family Guy Dr. Lecter wants, I think I can make it happen...." He seemed to enjoy participating in the gag, and it's not surprising since this isn't the first time Mario Lopez has been featured in the series. He once sent out a tweet with gratitude for the love "Family Guy" showed him in an episode where Peter Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) and Lois wore masks of the actor during their intimate role-playing.

There's no denying Lopez has had a pretty solid career with some fascinating credits to his name. The "Saved by the Bell" star has done it all, from being on "Golden Girls" to portraying Colonel Sanders in a Lifetime movie. While there many are many achievements to mention, many fans will find it difficult to forget his amusing appearances on "Family Guy."