Xuxa (American TV program) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Xuxa |
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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) |
Composer(s) | Dido Oliveira, version: Eric Thorngren and David Wolff |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 65 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Thomas W. Lynch Marlene Mattos |
Producer(s) | Xuxa John D. Lynch |
Production location(s) | Television City Studios Hollywood, California |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production company(s) | Lynch Productions MTM Enterprises |
Distributor | International Family Entertainment |
Release | |
Original network | Syndicated |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | September 13 | – December 10, 1993
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. 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.
Contents
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. 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.
Award
The program was nominated in 1994 for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Best Art Direction / Scenery / Scenography.
Episodes
- Ed Alonzo (5 episodes)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks
- American Gladiators
- Birthday Party
- Deborah Blando
- Butterfly Man (2 episodes)
- Rudy Colby (2 episodes)
- Jeff Dunham (2 episodes)
- Joan Embery (2 episodes)
- Expose
- Michael Feinstein (2 episodes)
- Mitch Gaylord & trampoline
- Bob Golic
- Harlem Globetrotters
- Woody Itson
- Waylon Jennings (2 episodes)
- Jugglers
- Juggling Duo The Mums
- David Larible
- Amos Levkovitch
- Ronn Lucas (2 episodes)
- Cheech Marín
- Marsupial
- Marty Putz
- Mess of Mutts (2 episodes)
- Mongolian Acrobats
- Robert Nelson
- Mark Nizer
- Olga the Gymnast
- Olsen Twins (2 episodes)
- Orangutan
- Matt Plendl (2 episodes)
- Marty Putz
- Raven-Symoné
- Rebel Ropers
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
- Skate Squad
- Team Rollerblade
- Universal Studios Animals
- Kim Zmeskal
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.
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. 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. 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.