Xou Da Xuxa
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''Xou da Xuxa'' () was a Brazilian
children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are Television show, television programs designed specifically for Child, children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are ...
directed by Marlene Mattos, and hosted by
Xuxa Meneghel Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel ( , ; born Maria da Graça Meneghel on 27 March 1963) is a Brazilian TV host, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Nicknamed "The Queen of Children", Xuxa built the largest Latin and South American children's ente ...
. It premiered on
Rede Globo TV Globo (stylized as tvglobo; , ), formerly known as Rede Globo de Televisão (; shortened to Rede Globo) or simply known as Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air television network, launched by media proprietor Roberto Marinho on 26 April 1965 ...
between 30 June 1986 and 31 December 1992, with 2000 editions completed. ''Xou'' replaced the ''
Balão Mágico ("Magic Balloon (aeronautics), Balloon") was a Children's television series, children's television program in Brazil that aired between 1983 and 1986. The children, who were the main stars of the program, were also part of a children's musical g ...
'' program. Later, it was repeated between January and February 1993, in the transition of the changes of programming of the transmitter. Then, Globo replaced the reprises of the Show by the reruns of the ''Mallandro Show'', presented by
Sérgio Mallandro Sérgio 'Mallandro' Neiva Cavalcanti a.k.a. "Sérgio Mallandro" (born October 12, 1955, date confirmed by Sérgio Mallandro on the TV Record program "Tudo é Possível") is a Brazilian actor and TV shows host. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Mallandro go ...
. At the same time, the children's program '' Mundo da Lua'' on
TV Cultura TV Cultura, or simply Cultura, is a free Brazilian non-commercial public television network headquartered in São Paulo and a part of Father Anchieta Foundation, a non-profit foundation funded by the São Paulo State Government. It focuses on ...
, was also on display. In the daily grid of TV Globo, the ''Xou of Xuxa'' was replaced by TV Colosso, while the presenter prepared its program displayed on Sundays. Occupying mornings from Monday to Saturday, the program featured auditorium pictures (mostly competitions and musical numbers) interspersed with cartoons. In spite of the systematic negative reactions of the intellectuals and specialized critics, ''Xou da Xuxa'' soon became the most successful children's show in Brazilian television history, transforming its presenter into a phenomenon between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. In 1993, she debuted an English version of her show in the US, but it was unpopular with American audiences and was cancelled after the first season.


The program

Xou da Xuxa was directed by Marlene Mattos, with Nilton Gouveia as the production coordinator. The program went off the air on 31 December 1992. The program's name, in Portuguese, is a play on the Portuguese word "sou", meaning "I am" and a Portuguese respelling of the English term "show" (Portuguese uses the letter "x" for the "sh" sound). This gives the name a double meaning, which can be understood as either: "I belong to Xuxa" or "Xuxa's Show." The program showcased plays, musical acts, circus acts, cartoons and special sets. More than two hundred children were cast for every recording. Through host Xuxa, the show delivered messages about self-esteem, caring for the environment, and avoiding drug use. Xuxa created characters who became show trademarks. Supporting cast members Andrea Veiga and Andrea Faria were two of the early "Paquitas", or stage assistants to Xuxa. The Paquitas were commonly dressed in clothes inspired by toy soldiers with white boots. Dengue ( Roberto Bertin), who was portrayed as a huge mosquito with multiple limbs, and Praga ( Armando Moraes), a turtle, contributed by livening the scene, helping the host and befriending the children. The program quickly became popular. Xuxa referred to children as "baixinhos" (little ones), and came to be called "Rainha dos Baixinhos" ("Queen of the little people" or "Queen of Children"). Her phrase "beijinho, beijinho e tchau, tchau" ("little kiss, little kiss and bye, bye") also became popular. Many products were launched under the Xuxa brand, including dolls, accessories and clothing. The clothing range led to a fashion craze for wearing white leather boots, as "xuxinhas" became popular among children and adolescents.


Impact


Ratings

The success of "Xou da Xuxa" led to an effort to conquer international markets, with mixed results. The Argentina version of the program, ''
El Show de Xuxa ''El Show de Xuxa'' was an Argentine Children's television series hosted by Xuxa, between May 6, 1991 and December 31, 1993 and directed by Marlene Mattos. It was through this program that Xuxa expanded its appeal among Hispanic audiences, the '' ...
,'' was considered a success, reaching an estimated viewership of 33 million. The United States version, ''
Xuxa Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel ( , ; born Maria da Graça Meneghel on 27 March 1963) is a Brazilian TV host, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Nicknamed "The Queen of Children", Xuxa built the largest Latin and South American children's ente ...
'', was launched in English. Xuxa's difficulty with the English language and cultural issues were cited among reasons for it lasting only one season.


Critical reception

Since its early days, Xou ''da Xuxa'' suffered intense questioning by intellectuals, politicians and journalists, who conflated criticism of the program and the presenter. An analysis offered by Riordan and Meehan of the reception of ''Xou da Xuxa,'' proposes differing cultural perceptions and attitudes toward the "sexiness" of the host, and her interactions with children on the show as one explanation for the show's failure to have cross-over success in the US. Similar reasoning is found in other readings, with claims that Xuxa's image, rather than the show itself, may have been a barrier toward the show. In a film entitled Amor Estranho Amor (1982), which translates to English as Love, Strange Love, by Brazilian director
Walter Hugo Khouri Walter Hugo Khouri (São Paulo, 21 October 1929 – São Paulo, 27 June 2003) was a Brazilian film director, screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for vis ...
, Xuxa plays a young prostitute who has a sexual encounter with an younger boy. Shaw and Dennison cite this film in suggesting, like Riordan and Meehan, that different cultural perceptions toward sexuality between North and South America may have influenced Xuxa's success. Another reason offered was the differing programming lengths between the US and Brazil broadcasts. While the Brazilian version of the program aired for an hour per episode and was showcased for a full morning of airtime, only a 30-minute segment was selected for US television broadcast audiences, by television executives. This in turn, the theory reasons, prevented Xuxa from building a connection with her audiences who were already less familiar with her established Brazilian star persona. A third rationale for the show's failure to take hold in North America is that Xuxa contradicted established perceptions in the US about Latin American women and beauty, because she is a light-skinned, blonde and blue-eyed Brazilian person. This fact of Xuxa's make-up, the rationale explains, presented a challenge toward ''Xou'' breaking into the US market. The common construct of Latin American ethnicity in the US runs counter to the concept of the existence of light-skinned, blonde and blue-eyed people being Latin American. While this construct represents a stereotype, it is offered as a reason for why other Latinas who fit the stereotype, such as
Carmen Miranda Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha (9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955), known professionally as Carmen Miranda (), was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell", she was known for her signature ...
,
Rosie Perez Rosa Maria Perez (born September 6, 1964) is an American actress. Her breakthrough came at age 24 with her portrayal of Tina in the film '' Do the Right Thing'' (1989), followed by '' White Men Can't Jump'' (1992). Perez's performance in '' Fear ...
or
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...
have gained stardom in the US, while Xuxa did not. In essence, this line of reasoning argues that Xuxa was "too blonde" to be widely accepted in North America as a Latin American star.


Awards

* Troféu Imprensa - Best Children's Program (Won 1987–1993)


See also

*
Xuxa Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel ( , ; born Maria da Graça Meneghel on 27 March 1963) is a Brazilian TV host, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Nicknamed "The Queen of Children", Xuxa built the largest Latin and South American children's ente ...
* ''
El Show de Xuxa ''El Show de Xuxa'' was an Argentine Children's television series hosted by Xuxa, between May 6, 1991 and December 31, 1993 and directed by Marlene Mattos. It was through this program that Xuxa expanded its appeal among Hispanic audiences, the '' ...
''


References


External links

* {{Xuxa TV Globo original programming Brazilian children's television series 1986 Brazilian television series debuts 1992 Brazilian television series endings 1990s Brazilian music television series Portuguese-language television shows Brazilian music television series Brazilian television shows featuring puppetry 1980s Brazilian television series Xuxa