Xuxa Park (Brazilian TV series)

Background

Xuxa Park was hosted by Brazilian superstar Xuxa, an actress, model and singer that became wildly popular with young viewers through her hosting of many similar shows in both Spanish and Portuguese (plus a one-season attempt at breaking into the U.S. television market with a show in English). While hailed by many for her talents and her love of children, she has also been a controversial figure due to her having previously posed for a Playboy magazine centerfold and also having played a prostitute in what some categorize as a "soft porn" film. She also hosted a more adult TV show concurrent with Xuxa Park—in this show (Planeta Xuxa) she would, among other things, interview guests about their sexual habits. This history has led some to condemn her as an inappropriate role model for children.

The show, consisting of games and musical numbers, took place on a colorful, futuristic set full of elaborate rides and props, among which was a mechanical "spaceship" through which Xuxa would normally enter the set at the start of the show, and leave at the end.

Production

Xuxa Park was recorded entirely in Teatro Fênix, in the neighborhood of the Jardim Botânico in Rio de Janeiro. The initial scenario housed a modern amusement park, full of lights, tunnels, spacecraft and toys that turned in all directions. Xuxa down a lift-shaped flying saucer. In the background, there was a crystal palace. In 1995, the scenarios have been modified. The Crystal Palace, however, continued to be the main reference.

In September 1999, the scenarios of Xuxa Park were redesigned, starting with the size. The program began to be recorded in Projac, in the studied area, and the whole studio space was used, leaving only small lateral access. The scene had a futuristic style and its design was based on the proximity of the new millennium.

Format

Xuxa Park was segmented into eight parts, spanning four hours and featuring a combination of games, musical performances, and cartoons. The airing schedule of the program underwent several changes over the years. Initially, in January 1995, Xuxa Park shared the Saturday morning slot with the children's show TV Colosso (1993), starting at 10:45 AM. By April 1995, the broadcast time was adjusted to 9:50 AM, and by July 1996, the show began airing at 9 AM.

The opening block Xuxa Park was dedicated to cartoons. The second block was dedicated to the games, usually competitions between boys and girls. In the third block, the Pequenas Crianças, Grandes Talentos, showed children from all over the Brazil, dancing or showing some skill. The room Xuxa Park block had the Canta, Brasil, framework in which Xuxa interviewed a Brazilian idol. Each week, the host received a guest. The fifth block was dedicated again to games, among which stood out Roleta. In the sixth and seventh blocks, the program had the Xuxa Hits, Music charts with the singers and the most played songs of the season.

Cast

The cast of the program, was attended had the participation of Paquitas; the twins Roberta and Mariana Richard, the Irmãs Metralha who also had worked in other programs of the host; and Eugenio Genio (Paolo Pacelli), a new character of the program.

Flash fire

The program was canceled after a tragic fire that occurred on January 11, 2001.