Don Francisco Applauds SNL and Marcello Hernández for Honoring Sábado Gigante’s Legacy 

Iconic Latino TV Host, Don Francisco, Shares Wisdom on Love as He Celebrates His Granddaughter's Same-Sex Wedding
Credit: Carlos Figueroa Rojas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marcello Hernández’s sketch on Saturday Night Live struck a powerful chord. His parody of Sábado Gigante, the beloved Spanish-language variety show, revived memories that once united Latino households across the U.S.  

For nearly 30 years, families gathered on Saturday nights to witness Don Francisco’s iconic presence on their screens. The show may have ended in 2015, but its legacy remains an irreplaceable piece of Latino culture that transcended television. 

Don Francisco Approves of SNL’s Recognition of ‘Sabado Gigante’

Don Francisco himself responded, acknowledging the sentiment shared by many: “I thank SNL for bringing back memories of our Sábado Gigante, which was not only a great television program but also very important as a meeting point for the family and our Hispanic community.” Like the rest of the community, Don Francisco understands that his show is a cultural anchor. Though it’s been nearly a decade since the final broadcast, the bond between Sábado Gigante and its audience is as strong as ever. 

Hernández’s sketch wasn’t just a trip down memory lane. It recreated the exuberant chaos of Sábado Gigante. SNL even included El Chacal de la Trompeta, the masked figure notorious for cutting off poor performers by blowing his trumpet and casting them into comedic disgrace.  

The segment was alive with music, dancing, and the madcap energy that defined the original show. Guest host Nate Bargatze, bewildered by his role as an English-speaking contestant, brought another layer of humor, mimicking the confusion that often bridged language gaps in Latino households watching Spanish television in the U.S. 

Marcello Hernández Is Helping Latinos Get Recognized

For Latinos, the sketch wasn’t just amusing — it was recognition. Seeing Sábado Gigante on a platform like SNL meant being seen, heard, and remembered in a mainstream space that had too often overlooked their stories. Hernández’s presence on the show helps close that gap. But, of course, more work needs to be done.  

Let’s hope other showrunners take notice of the success they receive when diverse voices get recognition. Also, it’s evident that having faith and trust in someone authentically from the community, like Hernández, is a big part of this. We need this to happen more often. 

The time to give Latinos in the United States is long overdue, but seeing it move in a positive direction is great. 

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