Single/Single: Like a breath of fresh air on TV

The first-ever cable mini-series, starring Shaina Magdayao (Joee) and Matteo Guidicelli (Joey), who are forced by circumstances to share living space, is like a breath of fresh air in a small-screen world dominated by Koreanovelas, remakes, etc.

In its first episode aired on Cinema One, Joee is shown at the airport, bidding goodbye to her former housemate, Issa, who is moving to Singapore.

Upon returning to her rented condo, Joee faces the unwelcome prospect of living alone. She tunes in to the nightly news, but is unable to sleep and calls her gay friend Benny to spend the night with her. But Benny is not available. Then Joee hears the sound of someone opening her door and finds a man coming in.

Joee faces the man who introduces himself as Joey, Issa’s cousin. At this point, Joey declares he is moving in. Joee can’t believe what this man Joey has just said, but then realizes that she doesn’t have a choice since she knows that the condo owner named Tita Blanca owns the condo she is renting.

Joee tries to get some sleep even as it is difficult after finding out that she is now sharing her space with a man. Later on, Joee tries her best to be welcoming to Joey. She tells herself that she has wished it upon herself when her roommate Issa left for Singapore.

When evening comes, Joee is awakened by the sounds of conversation, of music and worse, of singing emanating from just outside her room. She finds out that Joey is part of a band whose members get together intermittently to exercise their vocal cords, “at my expense,” as Joee tells herself.

They agree to disagree and finally start to discuss and lay down the ground rules that in one “awkward moment” change things for them. In an effort to make things more comfortable for everyone, Joey decides to introduce Joee to the last member of the family, his mother played by Cherie Gil, a single mom who has been dating guys much younger than she. One even leaves a kiss mark on her neck, which becomes evident when Joey’s mother makes a surprise visit to the pad.

The series has become a learning experience for all. It is a new concept, directed by 28-year-old filmmaker Pepe Diokno, with Lilit Reyes as writer, Bianca Balbuena as producer, and Anna Luna and Brian Sy playing Shaina’s best friends. 

Single/Single airs Saturday nights at 8 on Cinema One with replays on Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays 10 p.m. Single/Single is an exclusive production of Cinema One and The Philippine STAR.

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