That job called hosting

What do Boy Abunda, Jessica Soho and Korina Sanchez have in common, aside from being famous and credible TV hosts and personalities? Simple. All three of them have the passion and patience, so that what they have in mind is transformed into reality.

Call them perfectionists and they won’t care. What matters to them is that they get the job right because it is their name that is at stake—and it is their face that graces the boobtube. When all else fails, televiewers will not curse the production team behind the program right away; instead the negative reactions would immediately be slapped on the show’s host.

I don’t have a TV job but I’m hundred percent sure and it’s common knowledge that the TV show production is not one man’s ballgame. And you don’t have to be a masscom graduate to absorb this basic fact I’m talking about.

But what if you have a masscom degree and yet you overlooked this reality? What does it tell the people around you? That you cut classes if not snore when your professor moved heaven and earth just so his students could comprehend the basics of TV Production? Or maybe you simply adhere to what teachers in Journalism schools would commonly tell would-be media practitioners--“forget everything you’ve learned in the classroom because it’s very much different in the real world.”

Yes, I think so, too. That is why others who are into TV show production throw out the basics and come up with their own style. Sad to say, such style would not be of any help to the entire production team. Having an attitude like that spells failure and nothing else! 

I’ve interviewed Ms. Jessica Soho two years ago, and she revealed she do not mind going home around 2am just to make it sure that what goes on air suits her standards. I’ve learned that Kuya Boy never leaves the office if he is not certain everything is correct. He writes, he edits his own spiels, and he never complains should there be a need to record his voice over again and again until he is satisfied with the final material. Ms. Korina is also Ms. Perfectionist and she knows what she is doing.

All three of them gather their own material, but most importantly they listen, they are open-minded. Teamwork is the key factor, and they all know that. So there’s endless brainstorming and exchange of ideas, everybody in the production team can suggest, and can raise a point. That to me is what TV production is all about. 

It is not just the Program Head, Executive Producer, Director or Writer who should have a say on things but everybody in the production team should be given the chance to speak up, suggest and contribute. That includes the host.

Oh well, I’m just being concerned after I have gathered from the grapevine recently that there is this TV executive who has been going around to sell a certain show to advertisers. But what has been happening, aside from sales talk, is that this executive backstabs “someone” just to get ahead of the game. Yes, I know showbiz is very dirty, where the dog-eat-dog world thrives and the crab mentality reigns to the max. But my gosh! Why does one have to knock down another just to remain standing?

Obviously that “someone” referred to is a host because the TV executive’s alleged claim was that the former is not a team player because the host supposedly interferes with aspects of the show, when that “someone” is just a host. But, shouldn’t a good host do that?

Common! Funny thing is that the advertisers who have been approached called up the host to share the story. So who comes out negative now?

The moral of the story is very simple--do your best to get ahead without stepping on somebody else’s toes.

I tell you success is sweeter when you gain it through hardwork and respect. Play the game fair and square. Wait for your time, be patient and most of all trust God’s will. If you do that, there is no need to put someone down just to go up.

I don’t have to name names. After all, I don’t backstab, but I just simply tell what I think is foul and fishy. And of course I’m very open to comments, so just drop me a line or two at [email protected]

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Let me take this opportunity to invite everyone to tune in to dyLA 909khz on dial, tomorrow 6-9pm for the pilot episode of  “Awitay sa

Sugbu,” live at the Philippine Tourism Authority stage at pier 1. It was formerly dubbed “Awitay sa Barangay,” an amateur singing competition that has been reformatted into a bigger, wider and more fabulous contest.

I’ll be one of the hosts; this is another opportunity which I never expected but has been given to me. Who I am to refuse? After all, this stint fell into my hands naturally without me stepping on somebody else’s toes.

It’s a blessing! Thanks to God for having met good friend, colleague and now my producer, Fred Languido. I’m looking forward to a good working relationship with him, after all Fred is open-minded, he listens, he welcomes suggestions as always. So, it’s a date friends! Mwaah!