Spanish-language TV host bids farewell

Television host Don Francisco ended a 53-year career Saturday night, offering a last, emotional show in which President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama praised him by video, and a constellation of Latin American pop stars thanked him for advancing their careers. Francisco, whose real name is Mario Kreutzberger, praised his production team and fellow performers for making the Spanish-language show such a long-running success.

“Sabado Gigante” was seen in millions of households in the U.S. and Latin America and holds the world record for the longest-running variety program with the same host.

“A show is not done by one person,” Francisco said in Miami as he bid farewell to his audience. “It is done by a team, by many people, many of whom you do not see, you do not know who they are, but they work hard, they put their hearts into it and their talent into it.”

Some of the celebrities who made brief appearances included Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Marc Anthony and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

After the show, Francisco told a group of reporters that he would continue to work in media but gave no details.

“I never thought we would get this reaction. It’s very emotional to see that this show had such an impact, that we showed to the very last day how professional we are,” he said.