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Brazilian actress, singer and model Xuxa Meneghel hosted a wildly popular children's television show in Brazil that ran from 1986 to 1992. This show Xou de Xuxa entertained an entire generation of Brazilian children; it was a variety show that had special guests, music, cartoons and other attractions. The show was so popular in Brazil that a Spanish language version was made for Argentina soon after called El Show de Xuxa.

This success led to an English language version simply titled Xuxa that aired in first-run syndication here in the USA from 1993-1994. 65 episodes were produced. It didn't catch on in Eagleland for a couple of reasons.

1. The shooting schedule was exhausting. All 65 episodes were taped over 5 weeks on a Los Angeles soundstage in the summer of 1993. Xuxa was taxed so much that she had to be hospitalized for exhaustion.
2. There were differences in the USA television market. Xuxa's American show was cut down to 30 minutes instead of the longer timeslots she enjoyed in Argentina and Brazil. The independent TV stations airing the show also dumped it in bad timeslots, usually early morning.
3. Xuxa is a white skinned blonde haired woman. Her appearance contradicted American images of South American peoples being more tan or copper skinned with dark hair. Some even may not have believed Xuxa was really Brazilian.
4. A smaller one - some moral guardians thought Xuxa dressed too sexy for a children's show. There was controversy over this in Brazil not much much in the USA since it came and went quickly.


So let's say we have a POD with the USA English language series. The POD could be that a significant number of the TV stations give Xuxa a good or even strong timeslot leading to the show drawing in more viewers and converting them to fans.

What happens then? Does Xuxa become a superstar in the USA with her name becoming a household word in children's entertainment like Barney the Dinosaur and Sesame Street? Do moral guardians here fume over Xuxa's provocative wardrobe when surrounded by all those children on TV? Waddyathink?
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