Xuxa (American TV program)

Last updated
Xuxa
Xuxa (TV series).jpg
Genre Children
Variety Entertainment
Written by Thomas W. Lynch
Directed by Gary Halvorson
Starring Xuxa Meneghel
E. E. Bell
Mark Caso
Natasha Pearce
Jeff Dunham
Opening themeXuxa and Her Friends (O Xou da Xuxa Começou) – Xuxa
Ending theme"Xuxa and Her Friends" (Instrumental)
ComposersDido Oliveira, version: Eric Thorngren and David Wolff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes65
Production
Executive producersThomas W. Lynch
Marlene Mattos
ProducersXuxa
John D. Lynch
Production locations Television City Studios
Hollywood, California
Running time22 minutes
Production companies Lynch Productions
MTM Enterprises
Original release
Network Syndicated
ReleaseSeptember 13 (1993-09-13) 
December 10, 1993 (1993-12-10)
Related
Xou da Xuxa
El Show de Xuxa
Xuxa Park

Xuxa is an American children's television series hosted by Xuxa Meneghel that aired in first-run syndication between September 13 and December 10, 1993, for a total of 65 episodes. The program was based on Rede Globo's Xou da Xuxa and was created by Thomas W. Lynch and Marlene Mattos, with MTM Enterprises handling production. [1] The show is made up of various segments of games, famous guests, and educational lessons.

Contents

In 1992, there was a dispute over who was going to produce the show, as both MTM Enterprises and DiC were interested. However, Xuxa ended up selecting MTM Enterprises in the end, as she thought their approach to bringing a Brazilian show to an American audience was better.

The program debuted in September 1993; it is entirely based on Xou da Xuxa, but designed with an American audience in mind. For example, the Paquitas were named "Pixies". Xuxa was also aided by different characters, such as a panda bear named Jelly, and a jaguar named Jam; they were played by E. E. Bell and Mark Caso, respectively. Xuxa was the first and only Brazilian to have a television program in the United States. [2]

Background

Xuxa is a combination game show/variety show, based on the Brazilian TV program Xou da Xuxa . The show features various activities that stimulate children's learning that are guided both by Xuxa and her assistants, Jelly the Panda (E. E. Bell) and Jam the Jaguar (Mark Caso).

The show is divided into about five segments, with breaks for commercials, just as the original program in Brazil. During the segments, Xuxa calls kids onstage for interactive games, and everyone wins a prize in the end regardless of the outcome. In other segments, Xuxa interviews various professionals (such as skaters, swimmers, animal trainers, etc.). She also hosted some celebrities that kids would recognize, like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. [3] Xuxa also sang versions of her own songs during the program, and at the very end of the show, a child was chosen for her to kiss on the cheek on-stage.

History

Background

As a TV personality, Xuxa was extremely successful in the late 80s and early 90s, not only in her native Brazil but in other Latin American countries such as Argentina. She hosted her own children's programs, Xou da Xuxa and El Show de Xuxa . In 1992, production companies MTM Enterprises and DiC Entertainment were both endeavoring to bring Xuxa to the United States to host a children's program for American audiences. However, Xuxa initially refused the invitations, because she believed that she needed to learn to speak English better first. [4]

Development and release

In 1993, Xuxa returned to the idea of doing a show in the United States. DiC Entertainment wanted to create a whole new program, but MTM Enterprises wanted to do a project based on the original Brazilian version of Xuxa's show. Xuxa ended up choosing MTM Enterprises, as this aligned more closely with her own ambition for an American program. Slated to run for 65 episodes in the first season, the American program was recorded at CBS network studios (it was filmed in CBS Television City's Studio 36 in Hollywood), with a syndicated run on The Family Channel. [5] [6] The show was made for children 2-11 years of age. MTM Productions was the former MTM Enterprises, one of the most acclaimed TV producers of the 1970s and 1980s. [7]

Expenditures around weekly production were budgeted between $150,000 to $200,000 according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine. The set design was a high priority, with capacity for 150 to 200 children that would be used for six weeks of recording. The total cost was more than $2 million. [8]

To some observers, Xuxa's entry into the dominant American market reminded her of another multitalented Brazilian celebrity; commenting on the movement, the editor of Brazil magazine in Los Angeles wrote that "since Carmen Miranda, Brazil did not have an exportable artist." [9]

In 1994, Xuxa recorded some unaired segments to be inserted into the programs as they were reworked. [10] [11] [12]

The show got 1.74 of audience in the month of November, which means that 16,000 families tuned in to the show that month. [13]

Controversy

In April 1993, The Globe tabloid published a full-page article in which it called Xuxa a "porn queen," for her posing briefly for Playboy and for her part in the film Love Strange Love , where her character is seen seducing an underage boy.[ citation needed ]The Globe criticized televangelist Pat Robertson, one of the owners of MTM Enterprises, which produced the new Xuxa show in the US; "Pay-TV preacher invites porn queen to present his new show for kids," wrote reporter Bob Michals. In the report, MTM spokesman Gary Berberet tried to soften the controversy by saying, "We knew of [Xuxa's] past, but she brings so much joy to the children of the world that we would not stop her from bringing this joy to America too." The article, titled "Sacred Cow", also featured statements by David Harrel, biographer of Pat Robertson: "Like every successful religious figure, Robertson does not separate God's voice from the voice of opportunity." Michals described Xuxa as a "provocative woman, who presents her show tucked in a pair of slacks or micro-shorts, high-top boots and revealing jackets." [14]

Award

The program was nominated in 1994 for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Best Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenography. [15]

Episodes

Home video and merchandise

VHS: Funtastic Birthday Party and Celebration with Cheech Marin

The show received five volumes on VHS, released in 1994 by The Family Channel and Sony Wonder. Two VHS issues are highly sought after today: Funtastic Birthday Party and Celebration with Cheech Marin. [16]

Talk to Me

Dolls

Rose Art Industries launched a line of Xuxa dolls at the American International Toy Fair in 1993, before the show debuted. The dolls, featuring Xuxa's likeness, were the same size as the famous Barbie doll, and were sold alone for $5.99, or for $24.99 with accessories. [17] The fashion doll was launched across North America, and quickly became the top-selling ethnic doll in the United States, with 500 dolls sold over the debut weekend. The doll's debut took place on the Toys 'R' Us Toys Network. Sale of the dolls exceded expectations, and after the first 200,000 dolls were sold, Rose Art had to manufacture 50,000 more to keep up with demand. [18] The dolls also came with a little K7 tape with songs by Xuxa in English. These tapes were titled "Xuxa, The Real Superstar".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xuxa</span> Brazilian presenter, actress, singer and former model (born 1963)

Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel is a Brazilian presenter, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Known as the "queen of the short ones", Xuxa built the largest Latin and Southern American children's entertainment empire. In the early 1990s, she presented television programs in Brazil, Argentina, Spain and the United States simultaneously, reaching around 100 million viewers daily. Xuxa has sold over 30 million copies of her records worldwide, which makes her the highest-selling Brazilian female singer. Her net worth was estimated at US$100 million in the early 1990s. Also successful as a businesswoman, she has the highest net worth of any Brazilian female entertainer, estimated at US$400 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xuxa discography</span>

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<i>Xuxa 2</i> 1991 studio album by Xuxa

Xuxa 2 is the eighth studio album and the second in Spanish language Brazilian recording artist Xuxa. The album was released on April 25, 1991, by BMG. The tracks did not undergo major changes, the instrumental sounded more pleasant and with a more Latin beat. The song "Crocki Crocki" is the only one that does not belong to the last two albums, but to Xegundo Xou da Xuxa (1987). The album was produced by Michael Sullivan and Paulo Massadas. The direction of the voice and the versions of the songs were made by Graciela Carballo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juliana Baroni</span> Brazilian actress and singer (born 1978)

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<i>Talk to Me</i> (Xuxa album) Studio album by Xuxa

Talk to Me is the first English language album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa. The album is a compilation of Xuxa's most popular songs in English versions for her TV show - Xuxa - but the material was never released commercially neither in America, nor in Brazil.

<i>Xou da Xuxa 3</i> 1988 studio album by Xuxa

Xou da Xuxa 3 is the fourth studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa. It was released on June 30, 1988, by Som Livre. Xuxa' best-selling album, has sold over 5 million copies in Brazil, making it the best-selling brazilian albums of all time, as well as the best-selling album by a female artist in the country.

<i>Xegundo Xou da Xuxa</i> 1987 studio album by Xuxa

Xegundo Xou da Xuxa is the third studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa Meneghel, released on June 23, 1987 by Som Livre. The album sold over 2 million copies. It is one of the most popular albums of Xuxa's career, surpassing sales in the previous album Xou da Xuxa (1986).

<i>4º Xou da Xuxa</i> 1989 studio album by Xuxa

4º Xou da Xuxa is the fifth studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa Meneghel, released on 11 July 1989. This LP was the fourth album of the collection Xou da Xuxa of a total of seven.

<i>Xou da Xuxa</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Xuxa

Xou da Xuxa is the second studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa. It was released on 30 June 1986 by Som Livre, along with her television show in Globo.

<i>Xuxa 5</i> 1990 studio album by Xuxa

Xuxa 5 is the seventh studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa Meneghel. It was released on August 1, 1990, by Som Livre. It was the fifth album in the series Xou de Xuxa. The best-known songs from this album are "Pinel Por Você", "Trem Fantasma" and mainly "Lua de Cristal". The album sold more than 1 million copies in Brazil.

<i>Xou da Xuxa Sete</i> 1992 studio album by Xuxa

Xou da Xuxa Sete is the eleventh studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa Meneghel. It was released on October 2, 1992, by Som Livre. It was the last album of the series Xuxa Show.

<i>Sexto Sentido</i> (Xuxa album) 1994 studio album by Xuxa

Sexto Sentido is the fourteenth studio album by Brazilian recording artist Xuxa. It was released on August 20, 1994, by Som Livre.

<i>El Show de Xuxa</i> Argentine TV series or program

El Show de Xuxa was an Argentine Children's television series hosted by Xuxa, between May 6, 1991 and December 31, 1993 and directed by Marlene Mattos.

<i>Xou da Xuxa</i> Brazilian TV series or program

Xou da Xuxa was a Brazilian children's television series directed by Marlene Mattos, and hosted by Xuxa Meneghel. It premiered on Rede Globo between 30 June 1986 and 31 December 1992, with 2000 editions completed. Xou replaced the Balão Mágico program. Later, it was repeated between January and February 1993, in the transition of the changes of programming of the transmitter. Then, Globo replaced the reprises of the Show by the reruns of the Mallandro Show, presented by Sérgio Mallandro. At the same time, the children's program Mundo da Lua TV Cultura, was also on display. In the daily grid of TV Globo, the Xou of Xuxa was replaced by TV Colosso, while the presenter prepared its program displayed on Sundays.

Xuxa Park was a Spanish children's television series hosted by Xuxa Meneghel, based on the Xou da Xuxa, produced by Michael Jay Solomon and screened from March 12 to June 18, 1992 by the Madrid network Telecinco, the third largest broadcaster of Spain in audience, totaling 15 episodes. The show worked with several blocks, where in each block a game is presented, counting on the participation of the Paquitas and the character Topo Gigio, a cartoon doll of a mouse that was very popular in the 1960s in Brazil and in the world.

<i>Xuxa Park</i> (Brazilian TV series) Brazilian TV series or program

Xuxa Park was a Brazilian children's television series hosted by pop star Xuxa Meneghel, better known by the homonym Xuxa, the series aired on Globo from 4 June 1994 to 6 January 2001. The program, a reboot of a Spanish program of the same name broadcast in the early 1990s, was shown on Saturday mornings and aimed at a family audience. The program featured many elements from the previous version, such as games, cartoons, and musical numbers.

<i>Xuxa: The Mega-Marketing of Gender, Race, and Modernity</i> 1993 book by Amelia Simpson

Xuxa: The Mega-Marketing of Gender, Race, and Modernity is a book by Amelia Simpson written in 1993. Xuxa, a woman whose career spanned many avenues, is an icon to many Brazilians due to her portrayal as the epitome of Brazilianness (brazilidade). Simpson's book discusses Xuxa's contributions to Brazilian culture through analyzing her fan letters, interviews, magazine spreads, and her children shows.

<i>Clube da Criança</i> Brazilian television series

Clube da Criança was a Brazilian children's television series in the Rede Manchete between June 6, 1983 and August 14, 1998.

<i>Xuxa Hits</i> Brazilian TV series or program

Xuxa Hits was a Brazilian music television hit pared, hosted by Xuxa Meneghel at TV Globo, which started on 8 January and ended on 16 April 1995. In fact, it was a Sunday replay of the musical block of Xuxa Park, in the first season of 1994, when the scenario was simple to the central title "Xuxa Park Hits". Until the end of these reruns, on April 29 of the same year, the program is again transformed into a painting of Xuxa Park.

<i>Xuxa no Mundo da Imaginação</i> Brazilian childrens series

Xuxa no Mundo da Imaginação was a Brazilian children's television series hosted by Xuxa Meneghel at TV Globo, shown Monday through Friday between 28 October 2002 and 31 December 2004.

References

  1. "'Xuxa' gets go-ahead". Variety (in Portuguese). April 28, 1993.
  2. "Programas - Xuxa". Xuxa.com (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  3. "Por essa você não esperava: as irmãs Olsen cantaram no palco do programa norte-americano da Xuxa". Rolling Stone Brasil (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  4. Cerone, Daniel (19 April 1992). "COVER STORY: A Hit in L.A. Latino Homes, Xuxa Is Working on Her English". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  5. Suzan Bibisi (5 September 1993). "Xuxa: Hello, Hello,' America". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  6. Tobenkin, David. "'Xuxa' resurfaces on Family Channel. (children's television show) (Brief Article)". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  7. Mendonza, N. F. (28 August 1994). "SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : Calling all good drivers and bomb defusers for Family game shows". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  8. Freeman, Mike. "Xuxa works on U.S. makeover. (South American children's television star)". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  9. Marsha Kinder (1999). Kids' Media Culture. Duke University Press. ISBN   0822323710 . Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  10. "10 curiosidades sobre Xuxa". Guia dos Curiosos. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  11. "Family Channel Wins 'Shade'". Variety. 26 April 1994. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  12. Rick Miller (13 January 1993). "She's Coming To America". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  13. Walstad, David (19 December 1993). "Will Xuxa spell success on American TV?". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  14. (21/04/1993). A "rainha pornô" dos baixinhos. Publicado em Jornal do Brasil. (Accesso data: 09/11/2016).
  15. "Xuxa (1993–) Awards". IMDb . Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  16. "Sony Wonder Has Some Wonderful News!". Billboard (in Portuguese). February 19, 1994.
  17. "COMING TO AMERICA...CHILDREN'S SUPERSTAR XUXA, A FASHION DOLL FIRST". PRNewswire. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  18. "Rose Art Industries History". FundingUniverse. Retrieved 10 February 2018.