The world of television is coming to an end as we know it. After 53 years on the air (yes, 53!!!), Univision is pulling the plug on Sábado Gigante. The 3-hour variety show will air its final episode on September 19.

Sábado Gigante, which means Giant Saturday, is currently the longest running variety show in TV history. It airs in over 40 countries, and is one of the most-watched shows in Latino households. Even if you don’t watch Spanish television, chances are you are aware of Sábado Gigante thanks to parodies on The Colbert Report and Saturday Night Live.

The show is campy and irreverent, and as someone who grew up with a grandmother who religiously watched it, the news of its cancellation is somewhat bittersweet. Nonetheless, congratulations to the show’s host and creator, Mario Kreutzberger aka Don Francisco, for keeping Sábado Gigante on the air for five decades! Quite an accomplishment when you consider how easily shows are cancelled nowadays.

(source: LA Times)