John Lloyd, Sarah poised to become box-office king and queen

Unless a major miracle (or debacle) happens, John Lloyd Cruz is sure to be named as Box Office King for the second straight year, with Sarah Geronimo as his Queen. Even as the announcement from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation is still pending, the two are expected to snag the titles based on the overwhelming success at the tills of their first big screen teamup, “A Very Special Love,” from Star Cinema and directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

This would also be the first time that the singer-turned-actress Sarah would be named as Box Office Queen. However, at the presscon of “You Changed My Life,” the new movie of Sarah and John Lloyd, the young singer demurred and said that it’s too early to talk about the box-office queen title. Besides, she really doesn’t want to think about it.

The management of SM Cinemas, nevertheless, jumped the gun on GMMSF, Inc. by giving John Lloyd and Sarah the titles as Box Office King and Queen respectively last Tuesday at the 9501 resto inside the ABS-CBN compound during the presscon of “You Changed My Life.”

When asked to comment, John Lloyd said that the award somehow adds more pressure on him, and Sarah as well, to ensure that their latest teamup would equal, if not better the gross of their first project together on the big screen. It’s double the pressure for John Lloyd since it’s twice in a row for him to snare the box office king title.

So, everyone is sure to be waiting with bated breath if “You Changed My Life” could topple the box office record achieved by “A Very Special Love.”

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Ruffa Gutierrez sent text messages to her press friends, expressing her elation and thanks that “Ruffa and Ai,” her new talk show on ABS-CBN with Ai Ai delas Alas, made good at the ratings.

Said Ruffa’s text: “My gosh, we’re super touched. Ruffa and Ai won the national ratings for yesterday’s pilot both in Mega Manila (Ruffa & Ai 8.8, Sis, 8.7) and nationwide (ruffa & ai 12.1 vs 9.3)!!! Thank you, thank you so much sa lahat ng support. Please continue to watch weekdays 10:15 a.m.”

We didn’t get to watch the initial episode of “Ruffa and Ai” so we can’t really comment on its content and how different it is from “Sis” that made it won by .1 percent in the Mega Manila ratings and by a bigger margin in the national ratings.

Well, the people were probably curious as to what Ruffa and Ai Ai have to offer in their program, hence, there were more viewers who watched them. Since this is a lifestyle talk show cum variety show, it seems to have the potential to last longer. But, of course, its success is also dependent on the show’s content and the rapport between Ruffa and Ai Ai.

Add to that is how Ai Ai is as a TV host. As a comedienne, Ai Ai is definitely better when doing her scripted shows, although she can improvise and deliver adlibs if needed. We concede that Ai Ai still has a lot to learn when it comes to hosting. Yet, knowing how Ai Ai works, she won’t miss the chance to prepare and step up to this hosting challenge. She can’t, however, be OA and “pilit ang dating” on TV, something that she can get away in her scripted shows.

Regarding the new primetime show Showbiz News Ngayon, just how much gossip can you exhaust in the local entertainment industry if the people behind SNN hopes to make show last? There are not too many issues that can be talked about—you know, the ones that are really worth talking about and discussed on TV and not for mere promo purposes.

There might not be enough stories to fill up their segments every night, unless SNN resorts to making up their own story and then try to make the artists react. The stories could either be imagined or just fabricated just to come up with something to fill up a gap.

A case in point is the alleged closeness of Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion, in which there was really no closeness to speak of in the first place. In fairness, KC’s camp didn’t react to the story. KC’s handlers should take into consideration to protect her image. Imagine, a story linking her with her next leading man? Happily, this did not come from KC’s camp. She doesn’t need such crap. And knowing the people from KC’s camp, they are not exactly pleased with that, hence, they chose to keep quiet.

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What are the heartaches of an ugly bading? Diego, who was given the title “Pambansang Bading” in the gag show Bubble Gang, reveals everything from his diary, “Kwento ng Isang Desperadong Panget.”

Ogie Alcasid and Michael V will discover the story of a prisoner who hates the letter “O.” Antonio Aquitania will play the role of prisoner who beats up a fellow prisoner who says words that has the letter “O.”

Also worth waiting for is the story of a congressman who didn’t know that he was invited to judge in a fashion show.

Join Lovi Poe and Kevin Santos as they exchange laughs and participate in gags together with the Bubble Gang barkada of Ogie Alcasid, Michael V., Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Rufa Mae Quinto, Diana Zubiri, Francine Prieto, Maureen Larrazabal, Boy 2 Quizon, and Diego tonight after GMA Telebabad.