More than three years after stepping away from KPRC 2’s Houston Life, one of the talk show’s most familiar faces is back on set, if only for a day.
“Anytime I’m out in the wild in Houston, people ask about you constantly, and I think that a lot of people don’t realize that we hang out regularly,” Shore told Zavala on air, adding that he recently dog-sat for her.
“We’re family,” Zavala replied. “We are constantly talking and in each other’s lives.”
The appearance comes about a month after co-host Tessa Barrera exited the show at the end of March, three years after joining following Zavala’s unexpected departure.
Since leaving Houston Life, Zavala has built a strong presence online, sharing a mix of Houston restaurants, shopping, fitness and family life with her followers. Shore nodded to that evolution during the show.
“It’s so much fun keeping up with your adventures,” he said. “I mean, you are out there moving and shaking and hustling.”
Zavala said the shift has felt natural.
“At the end of the day, I’m a storyteller; it’s what is in my heart, and what I love to do is to talk and tell people’s stories and just have a great conversation with people,” she said. “I get to shine a spotlight on our favorite city, the city that we call home. No better city to live in, to eat food in and go to the museums and all of the things. I love Houston.”
“Well, Houston loves you, too,” Shore responded.
The pair also revisited their early days on the show, when both were transitioning from traditional news into a more free-flowing format.
“You taught me a very valuable lesson, not only for these cameras, but in life, that perfect is boring,” Zavala said. “Things happen, it’s real life, but it’s okay to show that you’re human.”
They swapped memories from their run, from goat yoga segments to on-air pranks, including one involving a surprise appearance by a scary clown.
Off camera, Zavala shared a major life update. Her oldest son is graduating from high school and preparing for college, a milestone she said she’s been able to fully experience thanks to her more flexible schedule.
“There are so many things that have happened over the last three years,” she said. “I’m so blessed to be part of their lives on a continuous basis and not having to choose and really map the schedule.”
Zavala’s history with Channel 2 stretches back decades. She first joined the station in 2003 as a reporter, later left in 2014 after anchoring weekend mornings, then returned in 2017 to co-host Houston Life with Shore after Jennifer Broome’s exit.