Luis Manzano finds his sweet spot in game-show hosting

“Sa game show talaga, I get to be me.”

MANILA, Philippines — Having acted in teleseryes, appeared in films and hosted reality and talent competitions, Luis Manzano said that if there’s one corner of showbiz where he feels most like himself, it’s game-show hosting.

In a one-on-one virtual chat with The STAR, the “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” host looked back on how hosting became his strongest lane in entertainment — and how game shows, in particular, have given audiences a closer look at the real Luis.

“I’m very happy na ito yung bumukas na daan para sa akin. Ako yung unang-unang magsasabi na I’m a more competent host than I am an actor,” said Luis, who just received the Media Excellence Award in Entertainment and Popular Culture for Game Show (Individual Category) at the USTV+ Media Excellence Awards.

“Nung dati, umaarte ako, nag-‘Kampanerang Kuba,’ nag-‘Rounin,’ ‘Crazy for You.’ Yung ‘Crazy for You,’ parang tatlo lang yata nanood nun — mommy (Vilma Santos) ko, daddy (Edu Manzano) ko, tapos malamang baka si Toni (Gonzaga) pa. Ako, hindi ko napanood,” he quipped.

“Anything na pa-leading man, anything na pa-gwapo, medyo hindi ako swak doon, for obvious reasons. Yung ibang comedy na nagawa namin, that worked under, of course, ang momskie natin na si (the late) direk Wenn Deramas. And, you know, pagka-comedy, I was very, very happy.

“But (doing) game-show hosting, reality and when I did talent shows, ‘The Voice’ and all, sa game show talaga, I get to be me. Kumbaga yung Luis Manzano since day one, mas nahasa at mas nalalabas ko yung sarili ko through game shows.”

Now, it’s been 14 years since he debuted as a game show host via “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal.”

When he first took over the program, it had already been strongly identified with Kris Aquino, consequently, making the task of putting his own stamp on the show even more daunting.

“That in itself is the biggest challenge I had. Not just extra but ultra big shoes to fill, kasi kumbaga kami ni Kris, ibang-iba yung atake namin,” Luis recalled when asked about any untold stories from those early days of hosting.

He noted that even Howie Mandel, one of the hosts of the American edition of “Deal or No Deal,” had visited the Philippine version during Kris’ time.

“I mean, that’s how iconic the show was and is. The fact that it was given to me, it was a challenge to do my own style. It was a challenge to let me do the show because it’s easy for a new host to simply pattern yung hosting doon sa nauna.

“And it happens. It’s quite normal. Siyempre kahit ikaw as a fan of the show, may peg on how it’s supposed to be done. May peg ka sa kinalakihan mo. The biggest challenge was how to make it my own. I think I did okay.”

More than okay, as it turned out, as “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” is one of the game shows now most closely associated with Luis. Its latest season officially premiered last April.

Part of the show’s enduring appeal is that mix of thrill, humor and hope that has become familiar to audiences through various incarnations of the show.

When Luis succeeded Kris in 2012, contestants played with briefcases held by the 24K girls and faced the Banker for a top prize of P2 million. The show eventually introduced the Lucky Stars or 20 celebs who held the briefcases and could also be selected through a roulette to play. The current edition continues the format, with the chosen Lucky Star deciding whether to keep or trade an assigned briefcase while weighing the Banker’s offers for a chance to win the P1 million jackpot.

“We already worked on this formula na kulitan, pero hindi pa rin nawawala yung kaba (of playing a game). That’s the offering of ‘Deal or No Deal’ na kahit may kaba, may kulitan, may tawanan and just a fun time — something that is much needed in the day-to-day lives ng mga Pinoy,” he said.

His animated expressions during tense moments, meanwhile, aren’t for show.

“Lahat yun natural mula sa akin, and this is something we want to add. I say this in the program and when people ask me: Kahit isang tao, okay, a literal single soul, walang may alam kung nasaan ang amounts.

“Not me, not Banker, not even the production. Yung system namin is parang double blind, di ba? Triple blind pa nga. Triple-blind system kami, so kahit yung naglalagay ng amount doesn’t know kung anong briefcase yun.

“So yung facial reactions ko, ng player, ng audience, yung sigawan, lahat yun natural. And I guess that’s part of the magic of ‘Deal or No Deal’ — the way we react, sabay-sabay nating nalalaman.”

Asked for his most memorable moments on the program, Luis said, “Siguro kada bukas ng one million, that’s a given. Kada bukas ng piso, that’s a given.”

He, likewise, remembered episodes where the show was able to help regular contestants and their families.

“I get to sleep at night na nakangiti because ang aming programa ay naging daan din sa pag tulong sa napakaraming pamilya,” he said.

And even as viewing habits continue to change, Luis believes game shows still have a place in Filipino households because they offer viewers a breather.

“Maybe it’s a quick vacation from everything we’re going through. Alam naman natin na para sa napakaraming Pinoy, hindi biro ang kanilang pinagdaraanan araw-araw. That’s why kahit yung timpla ng game show nag-iiba,” he said.

“We all need that breather sa buhay natin, di ba? After a long day of work, worrying, maybe problems, minsan kailangan natin na kahit mga 30 minutes na wala tayong iisipin kundi tatawa. Minsan gusto nating ma-suspense nang konti and just, you know, laugh with the family. And what better way kundi yung mga game shows ng ABS.”

(Catch Luis Manzano on “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” every Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5 and ALLTV2, as well as on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube and Facebook, iWant and TFC.)