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Don Francisco (television host)

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For other uses, see Don Francisco.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Kreutzberger and the second or maternal family name is Blumenfeld.
Don Francisco
Born
Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld

(1940-12-28) December 28, 1940 (age 83)
Talca, Chile
NationalityChilean and American
Other namesDon Francisco
Mario Kreutzberger
CitizenshipChile
OccupationTelevision host
Years active1962–2020
TelevisionSábado Gigante,
Don Francisco Presenta
Don Francisco Te Invita
SpouseTeresa "Temmy" Muchnik Rosenblum (m. 1962; 4 children)

Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈɾjo ˈkɾojtsβeɾɣeɾ]; born December 28, 1940), better known by his stage name as Don Francisco (pronounced [don fɾanˈsisko]), is a Chilean television host, and a popular personality on the Univision network reaching Spanish-speaking viewers in the United States. In 2016, he signed into Telemundo. He is best known for hosting the former variety shows Sábado Gigante and Don Francisco Presenta.

Biography

Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld was born in Talca, Chile December 28 1940, to Anna (née Blumenfeld) and Erick Kreutzberger, German Jewish refugees who fled to Chile to escape from World War II.[1][2]

Career

Kreutzberger started a TV show in 1962, and he named it Sábados Gigantes on Canal 13. In it, he adapted many of the formulas he had seen in American television to the Chilean public. The show became an instant hit that had lasted over 53 years. In 1986, the show began to be produced by SIN in Miami, Florida, with the same formula used in Chile, with the slightly different name of Sábado Gigante to KMEX-DT channel 34 Los Angeles.

For the next six years, Kreutzberger developed a three-hour-long variety show, including contests, comedy, interviews and a traveling camera section. The traveling camera, or Cámara Viajera (originally La Película Extranjera, The Foreign Movie), has taken "Don Francisco" to over 185 countries worldwide, many of them more than once.[citation needed] Kreutzberger in his show has interviewed many celebrities, including Roberto Durán, Cristina Saralegui, Sussan Taunton, Charytín, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Bill Gates and many others. Through a talent partnership with Memo Flores of Jugaremos en Familia, Sabado Gigante has helped launch the careers of many famous entertainers, such as Lili Estefan, Sissi Fleitas, and numerous more. Kreutzberger appeared as himself in the movie The 33, about the 2010 Copiapó mining accident.

Immediately after the 1973 Chilean coup d'état the military sought after Kreutzberger. They took him to the vandalized house of Salvador Allende, where corpses of guards were still on the floor. The soldiers asked him to report on the events. Kreutzberger declined the offer, encouraging the captain who had approached him to take the role of reporter himself.[3]

Television career

Kreutzberger has also hosted Chilean versions of ¿Quién merece ser millonario? (which is based on the original British format of the international Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise), Deal or No Deal, and Atrapa los Millones (which is based on the American format of the international Money Drop franchise). He hosted the first three seasons of Atrapa los Millones before retiring from the program in 2014; Diana Bolocco became the host for the program's fourth season in 2015, and would eventually remain with the show until its cancellation.

He voiced Governor Bernardo de Galvez in a 2003 episode, "The Great Galvez", of a PBS Kids show Liberty's Kids.

In 2012, Sabado Gigante celebrated 50 years on air.

On April 18, 2015, Don Francisco announced his show would come to an end in September after 53 years on air; Sábado Gigante aired its final episode called "Hasta Siempre" on September 19, 2015.

On March 1, 2016, Don Francisco announced his return to the television and signed a multi-year deal with Telemundo. His first show on the network titled Don Francisco Te Invita, a Sunday night talk show considered to be a spiritual successor to both Don Francisco Presenta and Sábado Gigante, debuted on October 9, 2016.[4]

False death reports

On April Fool's Day, 2003, a rumor arose that Kreutzberger had died, the rumor appearing around the New York and New Jersey area. The rumor proved false, but sent many of his fans into a panic until it was revealed as an April Fool's joke.[5]

Personal life

Kreutzberger promotes and hosts the Teletón, a TV charity show for disabled Chilean children; there have been 22 telethons over 30 years. He is also the Hispanic spokesperson for the US Muscular Dystrophy Association, in which he also appears in a pre-recorded piece on its annual telethon, to appeal to Hispanics to donate.

Kreutzberger was also the first host of the Teletón USA telethon, which was introduced in December 2012 on the Univision network; the event and charity is based on the popular Teleton (Chile) the Chilean Teleton.

Honors

His show was in world's longest running TV variety show, according to Guinness World Records.[6]

Kreutzberger has received numerous awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (on 7018 Hollywood Blvd.).[7]

On March 1, 2012, Kreutzberger was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.[8]

On September 8, 2015, the city of New York named a street in the Washington Heights district in honor of Kreutzberger, named "Don Francisco Boulevard".[9]

Celebrity advertising

Don Francisco has been in commercials for La Curaçao Department Stores. He was even present for the opening of La Curaçao's South Gate, California and Arizona locations.

He also appears in TV spots for the Mexican telecom company Claro.

In 2010, the U.S. Social Security Administration enlisted Don Francisco to appear in a series of public service announcements to reach out to American Hispanics about the benefits of Social Security.[10]

Lawsuit

In 1992, Kreutzberger was sued by one of his models for sexual harassment, but the suit was settled out of court.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Larry Rother (2002-06-02). "TELEVISION/RADIO; For 100 Million, He Is Saturday nagas beludasNight". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Judith W. Rosenthal (2009-08-14). "The story of 'Don Francisco'". The Jewish State. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010.
  3. ^ Contreras, Emilio (July 13, 2017). "Don Francisco contó desconocido episodio vivido el día después al golpe de Estado de 1973". Radio Cooperativa (in Spanish). Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  4. ^ "Telemundo & NBC Universo Unveil Programming Plans For Next Season". Deadline. May 15, 2016.
  5. ^ Lee Alan Hill. "Giant of Spanish TV First in U.S. Production." Television Week, 30 May 2005, p. 26
  6. ^ "Longest running TV variety show". Guinness. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Hollywood Hall of Fame: Don Francisco". Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  8. ^ Archive of American Television: Mario Kreutzberger
  9. ^ "Latin Times: Don Francisco Boulevard – TV Personality To Be Honored With Street In New York". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  10. ^ "Latin Trends: "Don Francisco talks about Social Security Benefits Online!"; no date". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
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