Lopez just can’t leave Las Vegas

He may late to the party by following Jay Leno into the late-night talk show waters, but George Lopez is no less a veteran of the Strip.

In 1987 and 1988, Leno was breaking through as a Caesars Palace co-headliner while Lopez was still hosting "Playboy's Girls of Rock & Roll" at the bygone Maxim.

"We were out all night and slept all day. I had no responsibilities, other than to be downstairs by 8," he recalled a few years back.

"You know why I left? One weekend I went shopping for a pinkie ring. And I said: 'You know what? It's time to get out of here ... or else I'm going to become like this Vegas guy.' "

Lopez checked out, but he could never leave. And now he's back for 8 p.m. shows today and Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road. Tickets are $87.51-$135.91; call 732-5755.

-- By MIKE WEATHERFORD