Mario Kreutzberger
Host
About This Interview
In his one-and-a-half hour Archive Interview, host Mario Kreutzberger discusses moving to the United States from his native Chile as a boy to study men's tailoring - a career his father wished him to pursue. Upon arriving in New York City, he was immediately fascinated with television: "a radio you could watch." He describes being influenced by the American television hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson, and details abandoning his first career to try to get Chile's Canal 13 to give him a chance as an on-air host. He recalls his first Sunday show, which was soon cancelled, and outlines the creation of a new, 8-hour live show on Saturdays, called Sabado Gigantes ("Giant Saturdays"), which he hosted under the pseudonym "Don Francisco." The show premiered in 1962 and in 2003 was proclaimed the longest-running variety show on television by the Guinness Book of World Records. In over 50 years of hosting, Kreutzberger only missed one Saturday show -- when his mother passed away. In 1987 Sabado Gigante (he took out the "s" for the American version) was the first regular Spanish-language show broadcast nationally in the U.S. Kreutzberger also discusses Teleton, a charity telethon for physically disabled children, talks about the production schedule of Sabado Gigante, speaks of various stars who got their start on the show, and articulates the program's legacy. Claudio Tona conducted the interview on July 20, 2011 in Miami, Florida.
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Watch a clip of Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante:
Mario Kreutzberger was inducted into the 21st Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
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Highlights
Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante' s holding the Guinness World Record as the longest-running variety show on television
Clip begins at: 16:51- Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante' s legacy "we are still dreaming"
Clip begins at: 20:18, Duration: 01m 31s - Mario Kreutzberger on advice to aspiring television show hosts "perserverance"
Clip begins at: 30:02, Duration: 00m 21s 
Mario Kreutzberger on working for the biggest minority in the US vs. representing a whole country in Chile; on how the content of Sabado Gigante"has to go with the needs of the community"
Clip begins at: 39:24- Mario Kreutzberger on what makes Sabado Gigante successfull
Clip begins at: 47:22 - Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante' s impact "it was a flagship"
Clip begins at: 07:09 - Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante and what makes a good host "communication is magic"
Clip begins at: 12:30, Duration: 01m 41s - Mario Kreutzberger on why he has had such a long career (since 1962) on television
Clip begins at: 29:20
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood in Chile; his family and background
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On his father's wish he become a tailor and on coming to the U.S.; on the first time he saw television and knowing he wanted to change career paths; on anti-semitism he faced growing up in Chile; on high school and his early interests in performing
Clip begins at: 01:57 - On his first television appearance and changing his name to "Don Francisco"; on his early television influences
Clip begins at: 06:10 - On the origin of Sabato Gigantes; on the show's beginnings in Chile, on trying to bring the show to the U.S.; on being fired from his first show which aired on Sundays and coming back with the Saturday show; on his audience; on his hosting duties
Clip begins at: 08:21 - On moving Sabato Gigantes from Chile to Miami; on the challenges of a new audience; on the character "Don Francisco"; on how the show changed over the years; on the show not being political but responding to its audience; on the state of Spanish-language TV in Chili and then in the United States; on the difficulty of getting U.S. sponsors for the show
Clip begins at: 22:58 - Mario Kreutzberger on working for the biggest minority in the US vs. representing a whole country in Chile; on how the content of Sabado Gigante "has to go with the needs of the community"; on what makes the show successful; on why he changed the name of the show (dropping the "S") in the U.S;
Clip begins at: 39:24 - Part 2
- On the crew on Sabado Gigante; on a typical production month; on various musical guests and celebrities on the show; on handling censorship
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On what political issues Sabado Gigantte has covered; on 9/11; on his interviewing style
Clip begins at: 10:11 - On his interviewing style; on what makes a good host; on the audience of the show
Clip begins at: 12:30 - On Sabado Gigante' s legacy as the longest-running variety show on television; on where the show is seen worldwide; on it being primarily a "family show"; on how long he sees the show continuing
Clip begins at: 16:51 - On the power of content on television; on his proudest achievement; on advice to aspiring television hosts
Clip begins at: 24:34
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I have been on his show several times. He is hard working, and dedicated. Congratulations on your 50th. By the way I teach dancing to one of your first models, Lili Estefan.
This interview is very important. Many generations of my family have found great comfort in his entertaining programs over the years. Funny, I always thought his real name was Don Francisco until now.
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