‘Must’ shows on ABC 5

Two sizzling shows debuted last Sept. 7 on ABC 5. After going through the eye of the MTRCB needle, the controversial talk show Secrets, hosted by Jualiana Palermo, finally hit the TV screen and now airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 p.m. Secrets is where confessions are made and little-known facts are revealed as Juliana dares probe into the secrets of personalities, professions, places and events.

The other show which premiered Sept. 7 is the reality program Three Blind Dates (Tuesdays 7 p.m.), hosted by JM Rodriguez (On-Air, MYMYX). It’s the Pinoy take on the hit reality show, Blind Dates. In every episode, a glam gal goes on a blind date with three guys: one selected by the girl’s family, one chosen by her friends, and the third picked from www.itzamatch.com.

Other program movements: The Big News, anchored by Cheri Mercado and Amelyn Veloso, airs 30 minutes earlier at 9:30 p.m. High-rating Sentro-Mga Kwento sa Gitna ng Balita hosted by Ali Sotto and John Susi now airs at 6 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. Where public affairs programs occupy the graveyard shift in other networks, they remain on primetime in ABC. Che Che Lazaro’s The Probe Documentaries and INQ TV (Inquirer on TV) go back-to-back on Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m.

Weekdays starting 4:30 to 6 p.m., kids get a triple treat as ABC presents anime back-to-back with Ninja Boy Rantaro, Cyborg Kurochan at 5 p.m. and Legend of Shao Ling Temple at 6 p.m. The anime wrap will soon feature a video jock (VJ) – the winner of ABC’s metro-wide search. ABC now offers a three-day cinema weekend ( 7 p.m. screening): The Best of Asian Cinema (Fridays), Viva Box Office (Saturdays) and Viva Cine Idols (Sundays).

For those into sports, ABC has programs featuring the most popular sports. For the country’s favorite, basketball, ABC has: PBA (now on break but to start again in October); The Best of PBA, Sunday at 5 to 7 p.m. The Basketball Show and Ringside (Saturdays 3 to 5 p.m.). For the latest craze badminton, ABC has The Philippine Badminton Tournaments (Saturdays 5 p.m.)and for billiards, Asian 9 Ball at 6 to 7 p.m. Boxing and mix martial arts aficionados will love Greatest Fights of the Century back-to-back with Fearless Fighting Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m.

In foreign canned shows, ABC has the highest-rated US series: Friends (Mondays 7:30 to 8 p.m.) The Apprentice and Donald Trump (Mondays 8 to 9 p.m.)

More: Sing-Galing (Saturdays, 9 p.m.), Maverick & Ariel (Saturdays 10 p.m.) and Wow Mali (Tuesdays 8 p.m.) continue to bring in viewers who will soon be treated to the reinvention of these shows as they are elevated to the next level.