Don Francisco (television Host) - Career

Career

Back in Chile, where TV was just beginning, "Don Francisco" started a TV show in 1962, and he named it Sábados Gigantes. In it, he adapted many of the formulas he had seen in American TV to the Chilean public. The show became an instant hit that has lasted over 50 years. In 1986, the show began to be produced in Miami, Florida, with the same formula used in Chile, with the slightly different name of Sábado Gigante. "Don Francisco" immediately became a household name among Hispanic families across the United States, and in the following six years Kreutzberger developed a three hour long variety show, including contests, comedy, interviews and a traveling camera section. Many argue that the talent on his shows were scouted from another show called "Jugaremos en Familia" hosted by Memo Flores in Los Angeles, California. 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. Kreutzberger in his show has interviewed many celebrities, including Roberto Durán, Cristina Saralegui, Sussan Taunton, Charytín, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Bill Gates and many others. In addition, his show has launched the careers of famous entertainers, such as Lili Estefan, Sissi and numerous more.

In September 1991, Kreutzberger introduced a new show on Wednesday at 10 pm on Univision called "Noches de Gigantes". It ran until September 1992.