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Don Francisco Returns to Univision With New Show 'Gigantes,' 11 Years After Sábado Gigante
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In brief
Veteran host Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, premiered a new weekly program called "Gigantes con Don Francisco" on Univision on October 11, 2026, 11 years after his landmark variety show Sábado Gigante ended. The limited series is filmed in the same Miami studio and pairs him with co-host Nitzia Chama for one-on-one interviews with guests including Lucero, Luis Fonsi and Memo Ochoa.
Mario Kreutzberger, the 85-year-old entertainer known worldwide as Don Francisco, premiered a new program on Univision on Sunday, October 11, 2026, titled "Gigantes con Don Francisco." It marks his first regular appearance on the network since his signature show, Sábado Gigante, ended in September 2015, according to Univision and the Argentine outlet La Nación.
What is 'Gigantes con Don Francisco'
The program is an eight-episode limited series built around one-on-one interviews, La Nación reported. Each one-hour episode centers on a single guest and combines a sit-down conversation with archival footage, family or friend reunions, live-band performances and audience games, cash prizes and a car giveaway.
The show is recorded in the same Miami studio that was used for Sábado Gigante, according to Univision and Infobae. Mexican host and journalist Nitzia Chama, known for Univision's morning show Despierta América, serves as co-host.
Confirmed guests for the opening episodes include Mexican singer and actress Lucero, Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, and Mexican national team goalkeeper Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa, La Nación and Infobae reported.
When and where to watch
Sources differ slightly on the broadcast time. La Nación and Infobae reported the premiere aired at 7:00 p.m. Eastern (6:00 p.m. Central) on Univision, while Univision's own program page listed the Sunday slot as 11:00 a.m. Central. Both outlets agree each episode becomes available the following day on the ViX streaming platform.
From Sábado Gigante to Gigantes
Sábado Gigante, the variety show that made Don Francisco a household name across Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market, ran for 53 years, first on Chile's Canal 13 starting in 1962 and later on Univision in the United States from 1986, according to Wikipedia. Its final episode, titled "Sábado Gigante: Hasta Siempre," aired simultaneously in the U.S., Mexico and Chile on September 19, 2015. The program is listed as the longest-running television variety series in world television history.
| Sábado Gigante | Gigantes con Don Francisco |
|---|---|
| Years on air | 1962–2015 (53 years) |
| Format | Weekly multi-segment variety show |
| Networks | Canal 13 (Chile), Univision (U.S.) |
| Host(s) | Don Francisco (solo) |
Estoy pensando en la noche cómo lo podría hacer mejor.
According to Univision's own coverage of the premiere, Don Francisco described the show's approach to the studio audience as inviting people to take part rather than simply applaud. Univision anchor Ilia Calderón, who visited the set for the network's report, highlighted this participatory format in her coverage.
Background on Don Francisco
Don Francisco, whose real name is Mario Kreutzberger, told Univision he has three children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and said that although television has changed with the rise of social media, he aims to keep the same on-air energy that defined his decades-long career.
Questions
- What is 'Gigantes con Don Francisco'?
- It is a new eight-episode Univision series hosted by Don Francisco (Mario Kreutzberger) that premiered October 11, 2026, with each episode built around an in-depth interview with one guest, plus archival clips, reunions and live music, according to La Nación and Univision.
- When did Sábado Gigante end, and how long did it run?
- Sábado Gigante ended on September 19, 2015, after 53 years on air, having started in Chile in 1962 before moving to Univision in the U.S. in 1986, according to Wikipedia.
- Who is the co-host of the new show?
- Nitzia Chama, a host and journalist from Univision's morning program Despierta América, co-hosts Gigantes con Don Francisco, according to La Nación and Univision.
- Who are the first guests on Gigantes?
- Reported early guests include Mexican singer-actress Lucero, Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and Mexican national-team goalkeeper Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa, per La Nación and Infobae.
- Where can I watch Gigantes con Don Francisco?
- It airs on Univision on Sundays, with each episode becoming available the following day on the ViX streaming platform, according to Univision, La Nación and Infobae.
How the world is telling it
- SpanishSpanish-language outlets (Univision, Infobae, La Nación) frame the premiere heavily around nostalgia for Sábado Gigante, emphasizing the shared studio, the 53-year run of the original show and Don Francisco's age and family milestones as proof of a career 'comeback' for Latino audiences across the Americas.
Sources
- Univision — Don Francisco regresa a Univision: Ilia Calderón revela los secretos detrás de Gigantes con Don Francisco
- Infobae — Don Francisco regresa al estudio de 'Sábado Gigante' con un nuevo programa en Univision
- La Nación — Es oficial: Don Francisco confirma su regreso desde el mismo estudio de Sábado Gigante
- Wikipedia — Sábado Gigante
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
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