MANILA, Philippines — It’s Wednesday once again and as early as 9 a.m., the Studio 4 inside the ABS-CBN compound is beginning to get noisy and busy as production people prepare everything (logistics and technical requirements) before the stars of CineMo’s Funny Ka, Pare Ko (FKPK) start coming in.
Lights are being set up, the Art Department guys are hammering nonstop, unmindful of the presence of the select members of the entertainment press, including The STAR, invited to do interviews with some of the sitcom mainstays like Bayani Agbayani, Dennis Padilla, Jayson Gainza, Grae Fernandez, Carlo Mendoza and Kira Balinger.
The sight of Carlo making funny faces for the pictorial indicates a vibrant atmosphere. The jovial mood rubs on you the moment you hear the warm greetings of the ever-pleasant Jayson, Bayani and Dennis. Equally amiable are Kira, Grae and executive producer Alex Punzalan.
“Call time for all artists are the same, except on our minor stars in accordance to the policy of DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment),” says Alex on schedule of actors. “If they need to come early (like Carlo who is already goofing around the set) then we have to make sure their work is done after four hours. So, we really need to plan the sequences for them.” Taping normally finishes at 12 midnight, and the latest is until 6 a.m.
Upon arrival of artists, they and the whole production team will have their breakfast first and after, they pray together just like a family before the start of script-reading session. “They do that in preparation for whatever the episode is required of them like kung may kailangan na ibigay na emosyon o adlib na dapat gawin.”
Atmosphere on the set is always light and Alex says they are lucky to have artists who are not demanding and sensitive. “Perfect example is during break, we eat together, we have a long table then whatever the staff eats, ‘yun din ang kakainin ng mga artista. We treat one another as family probably because we’ve been together for a long time and our genre is comedy that’s why we laugh a lot on the set. Punchlines and adlibs cannot be avoided, especially when they do them on-cam, may patok talaga kaya para lang kaming naglalaro. The show is a stress reliever for the actors and staff, tawa lang sila ng tawa.”
CineMo’s Funny Ka, Pare Ko is the first sitcom to air on digital free TV that earned positive response from the viewers. It was recognized in 2017 as the Best Comedy Program in the 15th Gawad Tanglaw Awards while Bayani was hailed Best TV Actor in a Comedy Program at the 25th KBP Golden Dove Awards.
Initially, FKPK was part of an experimental project that will only air for a short period yet it is now about to start its fifth season of airing beginning May 6.
“We are thankful for having reached this long and thank you also to CineMo for giving this opportunity to comedians,” says Jayson. “Now that we are in our fifth season, I guess, this makes for a good alternative. Me, personally, I enjoyed the ’80s and ’90s comedy shows like Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata, Chicks to Chicks, Palibhasa Lalake. I have nothing against teleseryes but sitcoms or comedy shows, di dapat nawawala ‘yan.”
From the very beginning of FKPK, they were already told not to expect for a new season and so they did. Result? It turned out to be a hit without them putting extra effort on lording over the ratings game or trying to edge out competition.
“We’re just enjoying the work. Relax lang talaga kami, masaya din ang bonding after the taping. We meet after either in Ate Karla’s (Estrada) place or Kuya Yani’s (Bayani) house. We have become close na kasi like a family.”
Although not all the cast members are meant to stay, Jayson is glad that newcomers also get the chance to show their flair for comedy through the show. For the new season, Funny One grand champion Donna Cariaga and finalists Anthony Andres and James Caraan will join in the riotous sitcom. Expect Dennis, Kira and Grae to add fun in the show. Jayson also admits newbie comedians have a different attack.
“Millennial na sila, iba na hugot ng joke nila sa kin kasi iba ‘yung comedy ko.” But he doesn’t consider them as a threat “because the more the merrier. And we always share tips on good timing kasi dati din naman tinuruan din kami like me, I learned from direk Bobot (Mortiz) about proper timing kaya ganun din ako dati kay Jobert (Austria) tapos s’ya pinapasa n’ya rin sa mga bago.”
The learning never stops on-cam since the show is all about maintaining a positive vibe despite life’s troubles. Bayani’s Bigboy continues to champion the training of future komikeros in their eatery’s Tawa ng Tanghalan every night.
“It’s important for us to help the new comedians because we know this is their stepping stone and after this, we are confident that they will become part of other shows,” explains Bayani. “We always tell them to love their work and the people behind the camera. ‘Yung talent nila di na mawawala yun sa kanila pero ‘yung pagmamahal sa katrabaho na kahit ano pa yung trabaho mo, dapat ‘yun ang matutunan nila at kailangan alagaan nila kung paano gagamitin ang talento at pakikitungo ng tama sa tao.”
Asked about the secret of their success to reaching another season, Bayani points out to the good values they inject in every episode. “Kami mismo dito masaya lang, maganda ang samahan at walang tampuhan. Everything is free-flowing.”