Opportunity for comebacks

With the proliferation of afternoon and primetime teleseryes, the networks have realized their packaging of stars is getting to be monotonous. This is, therefore, the chance for actors inactive for a long time to return to the scene, not necessarily in lead roles but as significant support.

Aren’t the Gwapings Mark Anthony Fernandez, Joemari Yllana, Eric Fructuoso, Jao Mapa still familiar figures on the small screen? The original Bagets Aga Muhlach (now withTV5), Herbert Bautista (current Mayor of Quezon City), William Martinez, and particularly the women Eula Valdez, Jobelle Salvador, Yayo Aguila seem to be still visible on the boob tube.

The new generation Josh Padilla (son of singer Gino Padilla), AJ Muhlach (Aga’s half-brother), Sky Carlos, Aki Torio, Rico de la Paz, Yohance Laurence and others launched by TV5 in a new Bagets series, however, are having difficulties. It is not that easy to make a name, even if one takes over a famous brand.

On NET 25, we get the news of its initial drama offering 5 Girls and a Dad about single parenting written by Lualhati Bautista (Bata, Bata… Paano Ka Ginawa?) with Richard Quan picked to play the lead. A taxi operator driver left to care for five daughters when wife Lara Quigaman dies after giving birth to their fifth child.

Richard who has been in show business for 17 years (Saan Ka Man Naroroon with Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta, Ded Na Si Lolo indie film) confesses that it is like beginning again. “I am excited, inspired and quite nervous, but am downplaying it, putting my feet firmly on the ground.” This is his first time to play a widower and father of five girls. Super support comes from Leo Martinez as Lara’s father, and Vangie Labalan as Richard’s mother. 5 Girls and a Dad starts airing Jan. 23, Mondays to Fridays, 7:30 p.m.

Speaking of Leo, we had a rousing e-mail conversation after attending the launch of new actors in the Sound of Music extension at Resorts World. Leo has been active in theater, movies and television as actor, teacher, director and he shared with us some of his television characters.

Cong. Manhik Manaog is the popular character formed in 1989 when Mr. Shooli (Jun Urbano), searching for congressmen to interview and couldn’t find any, suggested that Leo create a character. He did, introducing himself as “This is Congressman Manhik Manaog at your self-service,” complete with Batangueño accent which caught the public by storm. Kung magsalita ay napakayabang, tanga naman, corrupt at balimbing, Leo described his character.

Showtime’s (from left) Kuya Kim, Teddy Corpuz, Vhong Navarro, Anne Curtis, Jugs Jugueta and Vice Ganda

Don Robert Dinero — Ober da Bakod (1992 to 1997). Even those not into politics followed this character, also with the Batangueño twang. The show introduced Gellie de Belen, Donita Rose, Manilyn Reynes and others.

Mayor Sanchez. When news of the Sanchez double murder broke, Leo was invited to appear in Channel 2’s Abangan Ang Susunod na Kabanata. This was while Ober was still on Channel 7, at times even airing opposite Abangan.

“Nuon lang nangyari sa TV na pagkalabas ng episode na yun, libo-libong request ang natanggap nila for replay at sa sunod na linggo ni-replay nga. First time. And I think last,” laughs Leo. “Hindi naman sa pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko, pero may nakapagsabi sa akin na ako lang ang star/leading man sa teatro, TV at pelikula.” Bongga!

Showtime, Happy Yipee Yehey!, Personalan

ABS-CBN’s noontime show Happy Yipee Yehey! has been given its walking papers end of January. Now speculations are rife about what will replace the show. Will it be Showtime, the show’s pre-programming which has been registering phenomenal audience ratings since it started in October of 2009? We keep watching Showtime daily at 10:30 a.m. with its main hosts and revolving judges or hurados.

At this point, the show’s casting has gelled with the combination of Vhong Navarro, Karylle, Anne Curtis, Kim Atienza and Billy Crawford as hosts. The evictable jurors at one time or another included Jhong Hilario, Ryan Bang, Gab Valenciano, Gretchen Fullido, Lauren Young, Gladys Reyes, Dimples Romana, Georgina Wilson, Nikki Gil, Luis Manzano, Kaye Abad, with Vice Ganda as the only untouchable, un-evictable judge in the lot. Eviction is the decision of the audience weekly and there have been dramatic scenes arising from this. The most touching we had watched was Ryan breaking down in tears at his eviction and Dimples presenting herself in his place. 

Showtime is fast-paced and energetic, its exuberance and vibrancy contaminating the audience and contributing to the liveliness of the whole show. There have been suggestions to move up Showtime to Happy Yipee’s timeslot, but then that would mean running up against the invincible Eat Bulaga which has ruled lunchtime television for decades. As they always say, Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

Meanwhile, Ali Sotto’s Personalan on GMA 7 has been challenging the older Face to Face hosted by Amy Perez on TV5. Watching both, we think that Ali has an advantage being the senior host with more experience despite her absence from the scene. Amy, on the other hand, has had time to be comfortable with the format which everyone knows is a take-off from the confrontational Jerry Springer show. We feel tired and uncomfortable with Ali and her fighting guests standing all the time on Personalan, unless this was the purpose. Ali is also made to carry the brunt of taming her combatants. In Face to Face, Amy has a team of advisers — a lawyer, priest, psychologist, etc. — to calm down the floor, although the audience of sawsaweros and sawsaweras often serve to agitate the opponents all the more.

Ali Sotto returns to TV in Personalan

All we can say is we don’t really see any value in this kind of a show where people wash their dirty linen in public. We really don’t think it is teaching the public lessons, but only whetting the appetite for more voyeurism, and underlining false values. Imagine our shock at overhearing the yaya of a neighbor speaking loudly into her cellphone to a friend, “Napanood mo ba si (blank) kanina? Sikat na sikat si donya. Pinag-aagawang sampalin ng mga inahas niyang mga jowa.” Teaching lessons? We hardly think so.

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