"WOWOWASTE"

CEBU, Philippines - Finally, ABS-CBN management has come to its senses by pulling out its noontime show Wowowee effective today, putting Willie Revillame’s showbiz fate

in limbo. According to an official statement last Tuesday, we will be seeing Robin Padilla, Mariel Rodriguez, Valerie Concepcion, Pokwang, and Kris Aquino in a new game and variety show titled Pilipinas Win Na Win (not Pilipinas For The Win as ABS-CBN previously announced).

We have yet to see how much it is going to be different from Wowowee, but expectations are already very high especially that Robin and Kris are heading the pack, so to speak. But what matters is that we won’t be seeing Willie on noontime television for now. Admittedly, Wowowee is a tough act to follow as far as nationwide ratings and commercial loads are concerned, not to mention its gigantic following abroad.

But who needs a host who displays arrogance and thinks and feels he is indispensable? I have been saying this since May and I will say this again: ABS-CBN made Willie Revillame and Wowowee. Therefore it is the network's responsibility to remind him who is more powerful between a talent and a talent maker. I love you Kapamilya for giving weight to the voice of the majority that roars loudly: kick out Wowowee!

The official statement, however, also revealed that Willie will be given a new show. That is understandable, after all TV is big business and Willie, whether we like it or not, has undeniable charisma especially to the more senior audience or those aged 50 years old above. But hopefully, having been away from the limelight for months and hopefully, having realized by now that no one is actually indispensable in showbiz, we would be seeing a new Willie—one who is mature, humble, and sincere---in a new show!

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Speaking of new, what has TV5 or the Kapatid Network done so far in Cebu? After a much talked about launching two months ago, I still don’t feel its presence here. I’m sure I’m not alone in this observation because weeks ago, GMA-7’s Yuri asked me what are the activities of TV5 in the Queen City of the South. Then last week, ABS-CBN’s Adrian Diongzon threw me the same question. And my answer has always been this: I don’t know!

How will I know about TV5 when in barangay Punta Princesa where I reside for two years now, its signal is dead. Ironically, the dead signal started after its supposed launching when it was publicized that the network had acquired state-of-the art equipment for clearer and better reception. It was better when the network was still carrying the slogan “Shake Mo TV Mo” as I was still able to watch my favorite Lucy Torres’ Shall We Dance and catch Juicy, with Alex Gonzaga and IC Mendoza as main hosts at that time. How will TV5 fight it out with the two giant networks that have been fighting for supremacy over the years, if it can’t be viewed clearly on non-cable or free TV?

I know it has a new talent show called Star Factor, which will be hosted by Ruffa Gutierrez, and which, if I’m not mistaken, held auditions yesterday at SM City Cebu. Knowing how interactive we have now become, I would expect that, aside from the artista appeal, the grand winner will be partly determined through text votes. How then can Cebu’s representative draw in text support when the show he or she is in is not accessible to fellow Cebuanos?

GMA-7 has a very clear signal in the Visayas, yet our very own Diva Mantalaba had a really hard time getting text votes during her Starstruck V journey recently. How much more for Cebu’s bet in TV5’s Star Factor? Will he or she suffer the same fate that befell Cebuano talents during the Philippine Idol search three years ago? The then-ABC 5 managed to select a bunch of really talented singers from Cebu for that reality show. But what happened to them? They were eliminated slowly, none of them made it as finalist, which is a big slap on our face knowing how undeniably superb Cebuanos are when it comes to singing. And why was that? They all failed to muster the needed text votes that will advance them to the next round. I hope history will not repeat itself for Cebu in Star Factor!

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Airing today at 7:30am is the GMA-7’s Night Race special, which was held in Parkmall last July 10. It was a very successful event presented by Energizer and had a very good cause since part of the registration fee went to the Kapuso Foundation. Watch out for it!

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