After a Half Century, "Sabado Gigante" Going Off the Air

“Sábado Gigante” will end its 53 year run on Univision Sept. 19, the Spanish language network announced Friday.

The variety show airs in 40 countries and draws tens of millions of viewers every week. However, just two million US viewers tune in and the number of coveted young adults watching has dropped sharply in recent years.

The show is based in Miami, with many viewers centered in Miami, Los Angeles and New York.

“If any show was about creating the imaginary community of a united Latino community, it was that show,” Bridget Kevane, the coordinator of the Latin American and Latino Studies Program at Montana State University told the Los Angeles Times. “It connected Cubans with Puerto Ricans with Mexicans — undocumented with documented. It was a show grandparents watched with their children and their grandchildren.”

The last show will air on Sept. 19.

Image Credit @abc7 via Twitter

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