Longest Running Comedy Variety Show Cancelled

Don Francisco 01

¡Aquí está Don Francisco! That’s how the host of Sábado Gigante has been introduced for decades. Now his last introduction will be September 19th. The longest running television comedy variety show in history- Sabado Gigante, is being cancelled by Univision after 53 years.

Sábado Gigante which literally means “Gigantic Saturday” started as a local show in Chile in 1962 by host Don Francisco when he was only 19 years old. The show that makes 40 year old Saturday Night Live seem young, is a mix of sketch comedy, game shows, panel discussions, interviews and singing and dancing numbers.

According to the Miami Herald, Univision has not said why the show is being taken off the air after 5 plus decades, but speculated that it’s due to a big ratings drop and how expensive the comedy variety show is to produce. Don Francisco who has only missed one show in its 53 year history when his mother passed away in 1974, will stay with the network and host charity events and specials.

Sábado Gigante which is seen in 42 countries across the Americas and Europe will have its last gigantic broadcast on Saturday, September 19th on Univision. Vamos a echar de menos a Don Francisco!

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