ABS-CBN Cebu entertainment head denies internal problems caused Jude’s exit

ABS-CBN Cebu Entertainment Head Donna Ocampo denied that internal problems were the cause of Jude Bacalso’s exit from “Jud Morning.”

A source had told The FREEMAN that it was internal problems that prompted its host to leave the Sunday talk show. 

“It was Jude’s personal decision to leave, and we had to respect that. He has decided to move on, so we should also move on,” Ocampo told The Freeman Entertainment in a phone interview yesterday. Ocampo further stressed that there’s no bad blood between ABS-CBN Cebu and Jude, citing a statement they released to the media yesterday that read: “ABS-CBN’s various platforms, however, remain open to Jude—acknowledging his versatility and valuable contribution to the industry.”

When sought for comment, Jude, on the other hand, reiterated earlier pronouncements published in Banat News, sister tabloid of TF, that his reasons for leaving were really personal and had nothing to do with the ratings. “I thought it was better to let go on a high note,” Jude explained yesterday.

As for his reaction to the statement made by ABS-CBN Cebu, Jude said, “I am most willing to work with the network, those were, after all, two very meaningful years in my life. And it wasn’t all about me…I owe an apology to every single person who invested something in ‘Jud Morning’...the amazingly diverse ‘Jud Morning’ girls, the sponsors and advertisers who believed in the show, and the televiewers for whom, to quote one who sent me an email, ‘the show became the voice for the Cebuano.’

“I am proud to be part of that. And should that opportunity present itself again, I shall willingly accept. ‘Jud Morning’ was an amazing experiment that worked...hard to top a first good run.”

 The TV host added, “If and when I do come back, and if and when they decide there is a perfect vehicle for me... I have to have more control over things. It was hard being in the frontlines of the battle and given your ammo and the map of the territory a few minutes before an attack. Not for anything, but I want to be fully accountable to my audience for what I give them.”

Meanwhile, according to Ann Marie Tan, GMA 7 Cebu station manager, that while she feels that the latest development in the rival show will have little effect on their Sunday variety program “Oi! Show Nato Ni,” she acknowledged that the local TV industry will be sad to see someone like Jude go. 

She also said that she doesn’t think it had something to do with the ratings. TF Entertainment was recently furnished with ratings by AGB Nielsen showing “Oi!” out-performing “Jud Morning” for the month of May. No word, however, on the June ratings as of press time. “It’s too soon (to count in the ratings),” said Tan.   

This coming Sunday, “Jud Morning” will still air and will be hosted by Neda Avinante and a guest host. The show will undergo a reformat eventually.