Xuxa (American TV program)

Xuxa
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 theme	Xuxa's Theme (O Xou da Xuxa Começou) – Xuxa
Ending theme	"Xuxa's Theme" (Instrumental)
Composers	Dido Oliveira, version: Eric Thorngren and David Wolff
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	65
Production
Executive producers	Thomas W. Lynch Marlene Mattos
Producers	Xuxa John D. Lynch
Production locations	Television City Studios Hollywood, California
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	Lynch Productions MTM Enterprises
Distributor	International Family Entertainment
Release
Original network	Syndicated
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	September 13 (1993-09-13) – December 10, 1993 (1993-12-10)
Chronology
Related shows	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 31, 1993, for a total of 65 episodes. The program, which was based on Rede Globo's Xou da Xuxa, was created by Thomas W. Lynch and Marlene Mattos, with MTM Enterprises handing production.^[1] The show works with several blocks, where in each block, a game is presented. The program also received famous people or diverse professionals, as well as educational lessons.

In 1992, the program was in dispute to be created by MTM Enterprises, who had different ideas of a show for the Brazilian children's hosts. However, Xuxa considered the idea of MTM was more interesting, and ended up getting the company in the end.

The program debuted in September 1993; it is entirely based on Xou da Xuxa, but with more American culture aspects, gaining some differences from the original program, because the Paquitas were called Pixies and Xuxa had the help of characters like a panda bear named Jelly, played by E. E. Bell and Jam, the jaguar, played by Mark Caso, Natasha Pearce as Paquita, and Jeff Dunham. Xuxa was the first and only Brazilian to have a television program in the United States.^[2]

Background[]

Xuxa is a combination of a game show/variety show, based on the Brazilian TV program Xou da Xuxa, which discusses various games that stimulate children's learning, with various activities that are guided both by the presenter and by their assistants, Jelly the Panda (E. E. Bell) and Jam the Jaguar (Mark Case).

The show is divided into about five blocks, which served for commercials, as well as in Brazil. During the blocks, she calls some kids on stage for interactive games, where in the end, they all win prizes regardless of the outcome. In other blocks, Xuxa received various professionals (such as esquetistas, swimmers, animal trainers, etc.), who showed their work. She also received some famous people, like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.^[3] She also sang versions of her songs known during the program, and in the end, she kissed a chosen child on stage.

History[]

Background[]

In 1992, when Xuxa was making a lot of success in Brazil and in Latin American countries such as Argentina, with its programs Xou da Xuxa and El Show de Xuxa, companies MTM Enterprises and DiC Entertainment competed to bring the presenter to the US with proposals for a program based on the singer, however, she refused the invitations, because she believed that she should learn to speak English first, so she could think about having a program in the USA.^[4]

Development and release[]

In 1993, Xuxa returned with the idea of doing a show in the United States, closing with MTM Enterprises, who wanted to do a project based on the original television program of the presenter, while DiC Entertainment wanted to make a program of its own, totally different from what Xuxa imagined. The program was designed to have 65 episodes in the first season, recorded at the CBS network studios (it was filmed in the largest CBS Television City studio in Hollywood) with a screening for The Family Channel, dedicated to children ages 2 to 11.^[5][6] 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, all about building a great setting, with capacity for 150 to 200 children that would be built for the six weeks of recordings. 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]

For a year, the program aired without reruns, since Xuxa had recorded a good part of the episodes. But the program did not achieve the expected success. From September 1994, the program began to be re-run, remaining in the air until 1996, when the contract with MTM was not renewed.

Also in 1994, Xuxa recorded some unpublished blocks to be inserted in the programs reworked.^[10][11][12]

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

Controversy[]

In April 1993, The Globe tabloid published a full-page article in which she 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 pastor invites porn queen to present his new show for kids," wrote reporter Bob Michals. In the report, MTM spokesman Gary Berberet tries to soften the controversy by saying, "We knew of his past, but she (Xuxa) brings so much joy to the children of the world that we would not stop her from bringing this joy for America too." The article titled Vaca sagrada, also features 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." The journalist Bob Michals describes the presenter as a "provocative woman, who presents her show tucked in a pair of slacks or micro-shoes, 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 / Scenery / Scenography.^[15]

Episodes[]

Home video[]

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 of VHS 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, inspired by the features of the presenter, would be the same size of the famous Barbie doll, and would be sold for $5.99, only the doll and $24.99, when the doll came with accessories.^[17] The fashion doll was launched across North America, and was quickly becoming the top-selling ethnic doll in the United States, with 500 dolls sold only on the debut weekend, which took place on the famous Toys R Us Toys Network The doll ended up selling more than expected, which was 200,000 dolls sold, prompting Rose Art to manufacture 50,000 more dolls to surpass demand.^[18] The dolls also came with a little K7 tape with songs by Xuxa in English. All these tapes have the name: Xuxa, The Real Superstar.

References[]

External links[]

• Xuxa at IMDb
• Official Xuxa site (in Portuguese)