Matteo, Melai claim to not yet getting memo on HYY's fate

MANILA, Philippines - As Mariel Rodriguez wise enough to jump ship before the one she was on sank? Is her current boss Willie Revillame sporting a smug grin these days and preparing his ‘I told you so’ diatribe?

Rumors from sources who didn’t wish to be named have been cropping up for weeks now that ABS-CBN’s noontime variety show Happy Yippee Yehey! (HYY) is getting cancelled next month. A supposed last airing date, February 4, has been provided in entertainment reports, which means the program won’t even bother to wait for its one-year mark on the 12th of February. The top-rating game show before it, Showtime, headed by the crew of Vice Ganda, is said to replace HYY.

Matteo Guidicelli, one of HYY’s many co-hosts, was asked to confirm the news during the press conference here in Cebu for his Star Cinema movie My Cactus Heart.

“I’m not yet sure, but they’re talking about it. The management will be the one to confirm. I’m just a host. I’ve also been absent for how many days to tape for the last episodes of My Binondo Girl,” was all the Cebuano actor could offer.

Another one of HYY’s Bisaya-speaking co-hosts, Pinoy Big Brother winner Melai Cantiveros was also in Cebu recently for the Sinulog festivities, and was naturally queried on what she knew of her show’s impending fate. The General Santos City native was joined in the pocket interviews held at the Castle Peak Hotel by her Banana Split castmates, plus Gerald Anderson of Budoy and Kaye Abad of Angelito: Ang Batang Ama.

Melai similarly said she could not say for sure if they were getting the axe or not, but that she had heard news of the possibility. Asked if she felt nervous to lose one of her sources of income, the comedienne quickly retorted that she trusted management will give her a replacement if ever HYY does bid goodbye.

She still has the gag show Banana Split and is looking forward to the second season of I Dare You so she has no reason to totally worry, Melai said. She will be sad nonetheless, as Melai considers the HYY hosts and staff as family after spending close to one year together daily.

HYY has not been able to topple the long-running GMA 7 show Eat Bulaga off its ratings perch (or even come close EB’s viewership share), and had issues of its hosts not getting along off-cam.

Matteo and Melai share hosting duties with industry veterans Randy Santiago, John Estrada and Rico J. Puno, together with Toni Gonzaga, Pokwang, John Pratts and Bianca Manalo.

HYY first premiered in February 2011 after Pilipinas Win na Win with Kris Aquino and Robin Padilla was cut. Mariel, one of HYY’s original mainstays, moved to TV5 September of last year to join Wil Time Bigtime of Willie Revillame, who in turn is still not on good terms with Randy and John for accepting the Kapamilya network’s offer to headline HYY. (FREEMAN)