Here's why talk show queen Cristina just returned to Univision after 15 years

Miami Herald

4 days ago

After almost two decades away from TV screens, Cristina Saralegui made a comeback back at the network where she became a household name — Univision.
The reason? The legendary talk show host, 77, revived her beloved 'El Show de Crisitina' to interview Karol G Monday night in a special to discuss the Colombian singer's new album, 'Tropicoqueta.'
We can thank the singer (born Carolina Giraldo Navarro) for the blast from the past — the pop star had her team reach out to Saralegui to see if she was game.
The 34-year-old grew up watching 'El Show de Cristina,' which aired from 1989 to 2010, and doing a sitdown with her idol was a 'childhood dream come true.'
At the top of the show, Saralegui turned the tables, with a question for her guest.
'The one thing I want to know is: Why me?' the industry vet asked. 'Why did you call me so much to get me out of the house?'
Karol G explained that producing this record was a bucket-list project and she knew the role Cristina played in opening doors for Latin artists across the world.
'I fell in love with artists because of your interviews,' she told Cristina. 'You talked about topics like music, intimate and personal [things], topics that were uncomfortable, but in a respectful way.'
Saralegui's Emmy winning show, based in Miami, did indeed cover a variety of controversial topics during its long run. It also featured appearances by big time celebrities such as Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Julio Iglesias and Emilio Estefan.
During their interview, Saralegui ran snippets of chats with stars from shows past, like the infamous moment when slain Tejana singer Selena, who was still learning Spanish at that point in her career, called the No. 14 'diez y cuatro' instead of catorce. Saralegui graciously helped her laugh off the gaffe at the time.
Other vintage clips — with snippets from icons Celia Cruz to Gloria Estefan — ran as well, filling Karol G and Cristina with nostalgia.
The interview, which you can see on YouTube, lasted about an hour, with no mention of whether this was a one-off for something more regular for Saralegui.
The pop-up must have been surreal for the journalist, whose sudden cancellation at Univision roughly two decades ago she called 'bittersweet' at the time.
'I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to host 'El Show de Cristina' over the past 20 years and work with the incredible people at Univision,' said the television pioneer in a statement back when her show went off the air. 'It is bittersweet to announce the end of what has been a very rewarding experience, but after many wonderful years, now is the perfect time to retire the show and move on to the next exciting phase of my career.'
The so-called Latina Oprah went on to star in a short lived variety show for Telemundo called 'Pa'lante con Cristina,' after her signature phrase, 'Forward with Cristina.' The University of Miami alum also hosted an eponymous lifestyle radio program on Sirius XM and wrote another book called 'Rise Up & Shine.'