Bad taste passed off as comedy ‘art form’

Gretchen returns to A.S.A.P.

Gretchen Barretto (with her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco) confirms reports that she’ll play an active role at ABC Channel 5 which has been bought by Tonyboy for P5 billion, not only as a talent but also in the "managerial/administrative" department. Gretchen knows the ins and outs of the TV industry and she’ll be a big help to the station which is set to be "reinvented."

But on Sunday, July 20, Gretchen will go back to ABS-CBN’s A.S.A.P. Mania to do the opening production number for little sister Claudine who’s celebrating her birthday on the show. Will she also bid a formal goodbye to A.S.A.P. followers and announce her move to ABC 5?

Asked what her other plans are for her new station, Gretchen said she can’t say just yet what they are.

"I’ll tell you as soon as they are finalized," she said.

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Joey Marquez, how could you!?!

Phillip Salvador, how could you!?!

That’s also how you would have reacted if you watched that now controversial episode of GMA’s Kool Ka Lang last week where Phillip appeared as guest, with Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez as one of the regular cast.

If you’re a regular TV-watcher, you must be familiar with the new style of sitcom performers making fun not only of themselves but also of people close and/or around them. It’s funny, all right, when they don’t overdo it. But when they do, like what they’re now doing, and hit below the belt, it stops being funny and starts bordering on bad taste which is now being passed off as the new comedy "art form". If you’re a spectator, watching those clowns in the comforts of your home, you are amused and entertained, aren’t you, even if they oftentimes go beyond the limits of good taste. But if you are the victim, the object of below-the-belt "merry-making," you cry "Ouch!," won’t you?

That’s just what Kris Aquino did when she watched herself being made fun of by Joey, her boyfriend, and Phillip, father of her son Joshua, as they played two guys fighting over a kris (Muslim sword). Talk about blunt "symbolism"!The two guys also mentioned a "ness" ("Kris-ness"?), obviously referring to Joey’s estranged wife Alma Moreno but I don’t know if Alma/Ness reacted to it the same way that Kris did. Yes, poor Kris was hurting, especially by that scene showing Joey and Phillip fighting over the kris, prompting Joey’s co-star Jomari Yllana to comment, "Bakit n’yo pinagaawayan ang kris na ‘yan, e, napaka-walang kuwenta naman niyan ngayon?" Ouch! Ang sakit naman niyan, Kuya Eddie!

Of course, Kris didn’t take it sitting down. She texted Joey’s manager, Douglas Quijano, and poured her heart out to him. Did she really make a comment to this effect, "If Ipe (Phillip) badly needed the money (reportedly Pl00,000, his talent fee for the Kool Ka Lang guesting), he could just have asked from me." (Actually, Phillip didn’t do it for the money -only for cheap fun? - because, according to a Funfare DPA, he won Pl.7 million in the races, although the DPA didn’t say if he gave any balato to Kris.)

Because of that Kool Ka Lang episode, Joey and Phillip have been getting the flak. (Did FPJ really "scold" Phillip for that?) Anyway, there must be some limitations to this kind of "comedy art form" which is also performed in other shows like ABS-CBN’s Ok Fine, Whatever!, etc. If they can make fun of their girlfriend(s), what will stop them from also making fun of their sister(s), their aunt(s) or, heaven forbid, their mother(s)?

Enough already!

Give me wholesome, clean and family-friendly comedy anytime.

Reaction from ABS-CBN

Here’s a reaction to a recent Funfare item, from Maloli Espinosa Manalastas, ABS-CBN Vice President for Government, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations:

Dear Ricky,

First of all, allow me to extend my sincere gratitude for your valuable support, understanding and patience regarding my newly-assigned corporate tasks.

Secondly, I would like to clarify certain points which you raised in your column last Saturday (July 5, 2003), regarding the similarity between the relationship of Ciara Sotto and John Lloyd Cruz with Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa in relation to Angelika dela Cruz.

It is not true that "ABS-CBN think tanks advised Jericho to steer clear of this then girlfriend Angelika dela Cruz." ABS-CBN and its Talent Center Management never interfere with the personal lives of its contract artists. Jericho’s decision to "steer clear" was his own.

Career plans are discussed and set by the company, with the concurrence of their talents and their parents, if necessary.

It is important to note that the realization of the career plans set by the company can only be achieved through individual dedication and commitment to their chosen profession.

ABS-CBN is committed to provide the talents the tools to become future "superstars." It is up to the talents to make it happen.

Again, thank you very much. Mabalos!

Happy B-day, FMG!

Sixty and going strong.

That’s Freddie M. Garcia - or simply FMG, President and COO of ABS-CBN - who turned 60 last Friday, July ll. To mark FMG’s special day, ABS-CBN Chairman and CEO Gabby Lopez, along with other ABS-CBN executives like Charo Santos-Concio (Executive Vice President for the Entertainment Group), hosted a fun party at the ELJ Communication Center’s l4th-floor restaurant which was made up like a little Las Vegas.

There was song and laughter, with Box-Office Queen Ai Ai delas as a "surprise gift" emerging from a giant box that looked like a cake. Jon Santos did some impersonation, much to the amusement of the Birthday Boy and his well-wishers. There was no invitation to the affair. But many remembered FMG"s red-letter day and they "surprised" him with their presence.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])