‘It’s Showtime’ reaches out

CEBU, Philippines – In the re-intensified war among the country’s TV network giants – ignited by the came-out-of-nowhere phenomenon that is AlDub and the Kalye Serye – the Pinoy showbiz spectator is benefiting from rival programs suddenly up on their toes, their creative heads roused awake from complacency as they woo audiences anew.

ABS-CBN’s beleaguered noontime program “It’s Showtime” found itself holding court Saturday at the Hoops Dome of Lapu-Lapu City, where they entertained Cebuanos and audiences coming from neighbor regions in a live out-of-town telecast dubbed as “Kapamilya Thank You! Biyaheng Cebu.” This, as its lording rival program announced an AlDub gathering next week at the massive Philippine Arena.

While many interpreted the visit as the show’s knee-jerk reaction to Eat Bulaga’s recent dominance, the hosts of “It’s Showtime” claim that the move to go out of the studio and into the provinces (the first leg was in Biñan, Laguna with more stops in their calendar) was merely a celebration of their sixth year anniversary and their way of giving back to audiences who’ve supported them from the get-go.

“It’s really about bringing the happiness from our studio to the Cebuanos, and to give thanks to all the support that they’ve given us,” said a chirpy Anne Curtis at a press conference at Pizzeria Michelangelo in Banilad held Friday night.

“It’s Showtime,” which initially shot to popularity with its competition format among groups, first mounted a show in Cebu five years ago at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Polarizing comedian Vice Ganda, the unofficial leader of the band, said that they do not have a clue what the next months, or years, have in store for the show. “Pumapasok lang po kami araw-araw to have fun and to propagate good vibes,” he said.

“We are cooking up new segments every now and then. I think viewers should just expect us to continue dishing out happiness. Expect that whatever ‘It’s Showtime’ will go through, we will still continue what we started,” added Vice Ganda.

Meanwhile, what was supposed to be a back-to-back Kapamilya invasion was cut short as the scheduled live Cebu telecast of “ASAP 20” was cancelled due to Typhoon Lando.

“In line with our mission to be of service to the Kapamilya people, we want to be ready to respond to the needs of our Kapamilyas in Northern and Central Luzon who may be affected by the typhoon,” read an ABS-CBN press statement that was announced during the “It’s Showtime” Cebu press conference.

“Hence, ABS-CBN deemed it best to cancel the ‘Kapamilya Thank You: ASAP 20, Biyaheng Cebu’ scheduled on Sunday, October 18 also at the Hoops Dome, in Lapu-Lapu City. We promise to bring ‘ASAP 20’ to Cebu at a better time and advise ticket holders to keep their tickets and wait for a future announcement,” ABS-CBN’s press release stated.—  VAB