PASADENA, Calif. -- A weird thing happened to comedian George Lopez on his way to hitting the links with Canadian pro golfer Mike Weir.

Lopez, who is a golf nut, was supposed to play in the Mike Weir Charity Classic prior to the Canadian Open last week. But Lopez was delayed at the U.S. border when he tried to re-enter his native country after attending the British Open, and he never made it to Canada.

"You're going to put me on the spot like that? I had trouble through customs," said Lopez at the Television Critics Association tour, where he was promoting his upcoming late-night talk show, Lopez Tonight.

"I had trouble getting back into (the U.S.) -- and I'm a citizen, actually."

A few minutes later, Lopez was asked if he was joking about the border thing.

"I was half-joking, I'm half-joking," Lopez said. "There is a guy that has my name that is apparently a bad guy, and every time I enter (the U.S.), I get pulled aside.

"I hate to drop names, but occasionally I have to."

Lopez is pals with U.S. President Barack Obama, and the prez appeared in a filmed promo clip for Lopez Tonight that was shown to critics.

Lopez Tonight debuts on TBS in November. Most Canadians can't get TBS any more, but instead receive a separate Turner Broadcasting property known as Peachtree TV.