The idea of listening to a elderly man wearing a back to front baseball cap, bermuda shorts and talking in the high-pitched voice of a child for three hours each Sunday morning may not appeal to many.
Nonetheless, this Pee-wee Herman-type character has been an ever-present fixture on Mexico’s television screens for almost half a century.
He is known simply as “Chabelo,” although his real name is Xavier Lopez Rodriguez. His show, “En familia con Chabelo,” features games, contests and gifts, allowing for plenty of good-natured participation from children and their parents.
Last Saturday, Chabelo, now 80, presented his final show amid tears and nostalgic recollections. Millions of all ages tuned in to see his 2,459th program spanning 48 years. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto sent a message, congratulating Chabelo for his “permanent dedication, professionalism and commitment to family values.”
Also on hand was Emilio Azcarraga Jean, the chief executive of Televisa, and the son of the late Emilio Azcarraga Milmo, the pioneering founder of the broadcasting network who Chabelo thanked for giving him first chance on television.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Chabelo’s parents hailed from Leon, Mexico and, like many others, had moved north in search of work. He was recruited into the U.S. Army at the age of 18 but only served for three months at a base in San Diego before being discharged when the Korean War concluded.
After retuning to Mexico, Chabelo studied for a career in medicine while working part-time as a floor manager’s assistant at Televisa’s studios in Mexico City. He then decided to study acting and got a significant break after meeting two well-known comic actors, Arturo Ernesto Manrique Elizondo (el Panzón Panseco) and y Ramiro Gamboa (Tío Gamboín). Gamboa gave him the chance to appear on one of his TV shows, “Carrusel Musical,” and tell a joke dressed a kid with the name Chabelo.
Thus was born his famous character, which he subsequently developed and introduced to a wider audience. He received even more exposure after Pepsi Cola hired “Chabelo” to be their spokesman throughout North and South America. But after that contract ended, he found himself almost unemployable in Mexico due to his strong association with the Pepsi brand (Coca Cola’s big rivals). He was then hired for a show in New York for a fraction of what he had been paid by Pepsi, and ended up touring the United States for six months with the exotic Mexican dancer Tongolele.
His past relationship was eventually overlooked, and back in Mexico City he was hired to write and feature in a radio program called “La media hora de Chabelo.” This led to the first episode of “En familia con Chabelo,” which aired on Mexican television screens on November 27, 1968.
Remarkably, the program’s format has changed little over the decades. It has always started and finished with Chabelo singing a song, and contains a procession of commercial endorsements, with many products often serving as prizes. The incessant advertising, often pushing snacks of dubious nutritional value, have provoked criticism that the show is too aggressive in shaping consumer demand among young people.
The show has earned two Guinness records for its longevity. The few interruptions in its run have been due to the presenter’s ill health, various Olympic Games, the 2012 general election, the visit of Pope Benedict XVI and the swine flu epidemic of 2009.
During his career, Chabelo has recorded more than 30 records and CDs and appeared in as many films. Among his hobbies are motorcycles and collecting frogs – he has 2,400!
In an emotional farewell last Sunday, Chabeo thanked his cuates (pals) for filling the studio one final time. He signed off by saying, “When a man does what he likes for his entire life, he is a very fortunate man. And I am. Many thanks.”