‘We miss Lupita.’ Fans of canceled morning show want popular Univision Fresno host back on TV
The Central Valley’s Latino community is using the hashtag #DONDEESTALUPITA (#WHEREISLUPITA) on social media to demand answers from Univision Fresno and its parent company TelevisaUnivision as to why they abruptly canceled the beloved Spanish-language morning show “Despierta Valle Central.”
Latinos from Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties, including former Madera mayor Santos Garcia, showed up last week at Univision’s offices in north Fresno to seek answers from network executives.
Those who showed up last Monday afternoon were informed by a security guard that an appointment was needed for them to come inside Univision’s building.
The group carried banners with the picture of Lupita Lomelí, former longtime host of “Despierta Valle Central.”
Garcia said volunteers have been making phone calls and writing emails to local and national executives looking for answers.
“She provided invaluable information,” Garcia said. “We want them to know that the Latino community wants to know why they eliminated the program. Are they going to bring it back in some shape or form? Are they replacing Lupita? They haven’t responded to our calls.”
Officials at Univision Fresno and its parent company TelevisaUnivision have not publicly commented on why “Despierta Valle Central” got canceled.
Chris Morris, regional president and general manager of the Northern California region for TelevisaUnivision has not commented on the show’s cancellation since its last episode aired on Jan. 17. Univision Fresno has kept quiet about the cancellation, as well.
TelevisaUnivision did not respond multiple requests for comment.
“We’re not here to protest and argue. We just wanted to find answers and see what are they going to do in the future,” Garcia said. “If we can get her (Lomeli) back on the program, back to talking on a regular basis to Latino community with Univision, Channel 21 we would very much appreciate that, and that’s what we’re asking for.”
Univision Fresno closed the curtains on the popular morning show after 35 years on air providing news and entertainment to the Central Valley’s Latino community.
The show aired Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. before airing its last prerecorded show Jan. 17 with Lomelí and her co-host, Univision’s on-air talent Jose Anaya.
Neither Lomelí nor Anaya said goodbye to their viewers in their last prerecorded show, leaving the public with many questions and no closure.
KFTV Channel 21 launched the show in 1990 as “Arriba Valle Central.” The hour-long show was replaced with “Noticias Univision California,” a Sacramento-based newscast that provides local news from Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto, followed by the nationally syndicated show, “Despierta America,” according to the TV Tonight listings guide.
The concern from the Latino Community is that Spanish speaking residents in the Valley have less local newsnow that “Despierta Valle Central” has been replaced by a Sacramento-based newscast that focuses on Sacramento and the Bay Area.
“I watched Lupita’s show for years,” said Tulare resident Claudia Garcia (no relation to Santos Garcia). “We don’t know what is happening in our own community. We are having news from Sacramento which is irrelevant to us.”
As a viewer, Claudia Garcia said Lomeli was a trusted source of information.
The TV personality is also the Fresno Univision director of community empowerment.
Fresno resident Linda Martinez said she is advocating for the return of Lomeli to the television screen, calling her a community figure who provided essential information and resources to Central Valley’s residents.
“That’s why I’m mad. That’s why I’m frustrated,” Martinez said.
Norberto Gonzalez, who lives in Kings County, said the community is frustrated with how Univision’s handled the show cancellation — with no formal announcement.
“They literally pulled the plug on Lupita. That is who it felt for the community,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said the hashtag #DONDEESTALUPITA (#whereislupita) says it all, where is Lomeli.
“She is not on TV. We miss Lupita. Univision is not letting us see her on TV where she normally was,” Gonzalez said. “Lupita is the Valley. Lupita is valuable.”
The show coming to an end didn’t come as a surprise. Last month, UnivisionTelevisa announced structural changes and layoffs throughout the company “aimed at strengthening our position for 2025 and beyond.” Univision merged with the Mexico-based Grupo Televisa in 2022.
The City of Fresno proclaimed Jan. 30 as “Despierta Valle Central” Day.
This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM with the headline "‘We miss Lupita.’ Fans of canceled morning show want popular Univision Fresno host back on TV."
