Sabado Gigante, one of the most famous TV shows among the Hispanic community here in Miami, is also the longest running variety show in television history. It turns 50 this month.
Gigante has been recorded here in Miami at Univision since 1986.
The show has been hosted by Don Francisco, whose real name is Mario Kreutzberger, since it got its start on Chile television.
Don Francisco created and started the show in his native Chile in August of 1962 on Canal 13… although it first aired on Sundays as “Show Dominical” before moving to Saturday nights a year later and changed its name to ”Sábados Gigantes.”When it premiered on Univision April 12, 1986, the title of the show was changed to the singular Sábado Gigante.” At the time, the network was still SIN (Spanish International Network). This year, it marks the show’s 26th anniversary in the U.S.
The show runs from 8-11 pm on Spanish-language television. In the 1970s and 80s, though, the show was 8 hours long.
