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MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL 2003: SABADO GIGANTE {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's twentieth annual William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors "Sabado Gigante," the popular Spanish-language variety show which combines musical numbers, audience contests, news, interviews, and comic skits -- all held together by the indefatigable host, Don Francisco. Museum television curator Ron Simon begins by talking about the importance and influence of international television, particularly "Sabado Gigante," which is an "international phenomenon" broadcast throughout the Western hemisphere, and the longest-running series according to the "Guinness Book of World Records." Simon then introduces the short biography entitled "Who's Don Francisco?" which traces the career of Mario Kreutzberger from his first appearances on television in Chile over forty years ago as "Don Francisco," to his humanitaran efforts as the developer of telethons for handicapped children and as World Ambassador for UNICEF. Next, Simon introduces the panelists: director Vincent Riesgo; executive producer Antonio "Cuco" Arias; co-host and leading model Sissi; and creator, host, and executive producer since the show's 1962 debut, Mario Kreutzberger. Simon begins the discussion by asking Kreutzberger how he created the persona of Don Francisco. After thanking the Museum for recognizing the show, Kreutzberger discusses his background and influences: his parents, who were German Jews, particularly his mother who encouraged him to pursue an entertainment career; his trip to New York in 1959 when he saw television for the first time and was inspired by Jack Paar, Art Linkletter, and Ed Sullivan; the origins of "Don Francisco" in a club impression he did of a Jewish character who couldn't speak Spanish well; and how he got his first opportunity in 1962 on Chilean television. He also details how the show's format emerged: the challenge of filling eight hours of live television on Saturdays for fifteen years; how he took his style from the easy going attitude on American television; and his decision to include humor, interviews, and singers in his "soup." He describes the show's format as follows: "This is a soup that you can put in more ingredients or less ingredients . . . It's always the same soup, but it's always a different soup. You can have a different taste each Saturday." Prompted by Simon, each panelists discusses how he or she joined the show: Sissi talks about working in television in Cuba, seeing "S‡bado Gigante" on illegal cable and wanting to be like model Lili Estefan, and auditioning for the show in Miami; Arias talks about his transition from radio, the show's move to Miami in 1986, and his job to "balance the creativity of Don Francisco with the budget we have"; Riesgo discusses his move through various technical positions to finally become director.

Next, Kreutzberger, prompted by Simon, discusses the travel segments for the show known as "La Camera Viajera" ("The Traveling Camera") which started in 1963; Kreutzberger says that he has traveled to 146 countries and that the idea of the segments was "to give a sense of the place I was visiting, through my personality." Clips from travel segments broadcast over the show's history, featuring Buenos Aires, Panama, Italy, Puerto Rico, Thailand, and Iguaœ Falls, are shown. Kreutzberger discusses where he would like the show to go to next and how the show is still able to do the segments with his demanding schedule. Next, prompted by Simon, the panel discusses the musical guests: Kreutzberger explains that the broad audience requires them to have all types of music, while Riesgo and Arias specify that the guests are chosen for their popularity. Clips of guest appearances on the show, including George W. Bush, Al Gore, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Chayanne, and Gloria Estefan, are then shown. Kreutzberger then details, with some elaboration from Riesgo, the difficulties the show experienced in trying to get both presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush on the show. Next, the seminar covers the contests and game shows: Kreutzberger asserts that "we are the pioneers in the reality shows" and describes some of the shows regular "reunion" and "forgiveness" segments; Riesgo talks about how the show has changed, even in the last six months, which makes it a very exciting place to work. Clips are then shown from some of the games and contests. Sissi comments on the energy of the live show. Kreutzberger explains that while half of the show is pre-taped, half of it is still live; he argues that the key to the show lies in the fact that "you can watch and participate," and he demonstrates by singing a song and allowing the audience to complete the refrain. He also mentions going to The Museum of Television & Radio in New York and watching episodes of "Beat the Clock" and "What's My Line" to take ideas back to Chile for his show. Next, prompted by Simon, Kreutzberger discusses how the show gets the audience to sing along with commercial jingles; Kreutzberger argues that the way his program integrates commercials into the program allows him to keep share points while other programs lose them to the television remote control. A series of clips is then shown that demonstrates how the show integrates commercials into its regular format. Prompted by Simon to discuss the show's 40th anniversary, Kreutzberger reveals that the show is the earliest Spanish-language weekly program, other than news. He also gives more details about the show's difficult transition moving the production to Miami in 1986, the next year when the show went national, and their catch phrase used to represent the disparate Spanish-speaking audiences they now address -- "separated by distance, united by language." A promotional clip from the 40th anniversary which includes many celebrities from the Spanish-speaking world congratulating the show is then screened. For the last question, Simon asks how they are able to produce a 3-hour spectacular each week. Kreutzberger describes how much work is done in advance with the collaboration of Los Angeles, New York, and local producers, the improvisation that remains a part of the show, the long taping days, and the challenges getting guest stars who often need visas to appear on the show. Kreutzberger then takes the opportunity, speaking in Spanish, to thank the Museum for having the show, for recognizing the importance of Hispanic markets for the future, and to remind those present that although they represent over 13% of the population, Hispanics are represented less than 1% politically. The seminar is then opened to the audience for questions. A majority of the audience comments and questions are in Spanish. Most of the comments are expressions of gratitude to Don Francisco for his show and his humanitarian efforts, some from former guests on the show, others from people who would like to appear on the show. Particular questions eventually lead to a discussion of the following topics: how Kreutzberger deals with his own family since he dedicates so much time to the show; what advice he would give to a young person trying to get into the business; how suggestions or ideas for the show are received; why the show's format has never been successfully duplicated with an English-language program; and what it was like for Kreutzberger to return to Germany after his parents were forced to leave. The seminar ends with Kreutzberger giving thanks to the Museum one last time.

Details

  • NETWORK: Paley
  • DATE: March 5, 2003 7:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:50:01
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:76095
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ron Simon … Moderator
  • Arias, Antonio "Cuco" … Panelist
  • Mario Kreutzberger … Panelist
  • Don Francisco … Stage Name of Mario Kreutzberger
  • Vicente Riesgo … Panelist
  • Sissi (See also: Fleitas, Isabel) … Panelist
  • George W. Bush
  • Chayanne
  • Gloria Estefan
  • Lili Estefan
  • Al Gore
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Art Linkletter
  • Ricky Martin
  • Jack Paar
  • Ed Sullivan
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