Xuxa (American TV program)

In 1992, when Xuxa was making a lot of success in Brazil and in Latin American countries such as Argentina, with its programs Xou da Xuxa and El Show de Xuxa, companies MTM Enterprises and DiC Entertainment competed to bring the presenter to the US with proposals for a program based on the singer, however, she refused the invitations, because she believed that she should learn to speak English first, so she could think about having a program in the USA.[4]

In 1993, Xuxa returned with the idea of doing a show in the United States, closing with MTM Enterprises, who wanted to do a project based on the original television program of the presenter, while DiC Entertainment wanted to make a program of its own, totally different from what Xuxa imagined. The program was designed to have 65 episodes in the first season, recorded at the CBS network studios (it was filmed in the largest CBS Television City studio in Hollywood) with a screening for The Family Channel, dedicated to children ages 2 to 11.[5][6] MTM Productions was the former MTM Enterprises, one of the most acclaimed TV producers of the 1970s and 1980s.[7]

Expenditures around weekly production were budgeted between $150,000 to $200,000 according to Broadcasting & Cable magazine, all about building a great setting, with capacity for 150 to 200 children that would be built for the six weeks of recordings. The total cost was more than $2 million.[8]

To some observers, Xuxa's entry into the dominant American market reminded her of another multitalented Brazilian celebrity; commenting on the movement, the editor of Brazil magazine in Los Angeles wrote that "since Carmen Miranda, Brazil did not have an exportable artist."[9]

For a year, the program aired without reruns, since Xuxa had recorded a good part of the episodes. But the program did not achieve the expected success. From September 1994, the program began to be re-run, remaining in the air until 1996, when the contract with MTM was not renewed.

Also in 1994, Xuxa recorded some unpublished blocks to be inserted in the programs reworked.[10][11][12]

The show got 1.74 of audience in the month of November, which means that 16,000 families attended the show during that month.[13]

The show received five volumes on VHS, released in 1994 by The Family Channel and Sony Wonder. Two of VHS are highly sought after today: Funtastic Birthday Party and Celebration with Cheech Marin.[16]

Rose Art Industries launched a line of Xuxa dolls at the American International Toy Fair in 1993, before the show debuted. The dolls, inspired by the features of the presenter, would be the same size of the famous Barbie doll, and would be sold for $5.99, only the doll and $24.99, when the doll came with accessories.[17] The fashion doll was launched across North America, and was quickly becoming the top-selling ethnic doll in the United States, with 500 dolls sold only on the debut weekend, which took place on the famous Toys R Us Toys Network The doll ended up selling more than expected, which was 200,000 dolls sold, prompting Rose Art to manufacture 50,000 more dolls to surpass demand.[18] The dolls also came with a little K7 tape with songs by Xuxa in English. All these tapes have the name: Xuxa, The Real Superstar.