Goodbye EXTRA CHALLENGE, Welcome CAPTAIN BARBELL

GMA Network's Extra Challenge was still the country's No.1 reality program and the leading program on its primetime timeslot when it aired its final episode last night, according to the latest AGBNMR Mega Manila Ratings Data.

Ratings shows that despite being pitted against shows of different genre-from other reality programs to teleserye(s) by the competition, Extra Challenge has constantly posted solid numbers.

When the program was pitted against the newly launched Bituing Walang Ningning, Extra Challenge refused to take things sitting down. Featuring the country's newest singing sensations on its "Battle of the Singers" episode, Extra Challenge solidified its lead, posting an average of 31.5 rating points versus Bituin's 27.9 for May 15 - 19.

And on May 8 - 12, during the final airing week of ABS-CBN's Gulong ng Palad, Extra Challenge's "The Ultimate Sexbomb Showdown" episode posted an average of 29.7 rating points, edging the 29.2 average of ABS' Gulong ng Palad. Interestingly, it was only during its final airing week that Gulong ng Palad was strategically transferred to the after-newscast-timeslot.

Proving once again that with the program's phenomenal run of over 90 concepts, about 600 episodes aired, and more than 550 challenges featured, Extra Challenge has done almost everything and that the show has nothing more to prove. Significantly, after Extra Challenge became one of the primetime players on September 2003, the landscape of the primetime block was never the same.

Last Thursday, the program aired its farewell special-"HULING HAMON ng Extra Challenge," which was a celebration of sorts to the phenomenal success of Extra Challenge.

"HULING HAMON," according to Extra Challenge program manager Melo Esguerra, is the program's way of paying tribute to all the challengers who have shown the true meaning of courage and triumph, and most importantly, to express its gratitude to everyone who supported the program for almost three years and making it the country's No. 1 Reality Show from the day it was launched on primetime till the end.

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Replacing Extra Challenge in its timeslot after 24 Oras starting Monday is GMA's newest addition to its still growing roster of mammoth productions on primetime TV-Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbell.

The much-awaited comeback of one of the Philippines' most beloved local superheroes will be unveiled in an hour-long documentary to be hosted by singer, composer and comedian Ogie Alcasid.

In the documentary, Ogie (who played Enteng in Viva Films' 2003 remake of the Mars Ravelo classic) goes through an exciting, fun-filled and sometimes outrageous journey as he explores the world of Captain Barbell. There's a short account of Captain Barbell's colorful history, from his first appearance in Pilipino Komiks in 1963 to his forays in local movies where he was reincarnated by actors Bob Soler, Dolphy, Edu Manzano, and Bong Revilla, who will all share their fond memories of portraying the iconic hero.

Ogie's travails lead him and the audience to a series of wonderful discoveries, including a first look at Captain Barbell's fantastic sets and tantalizing computer-generated effects. There's also an interesting discussion on how Captain Barbell's story and look have been updated by the show's directors, writers, production designers, and visual effects artists.

Not to be missed are the interviews with Captain Barbell's stellar cast headed by GMA's most prized star, Richard Gutierrez, who will portray the dual role of Captain Barbell and his ordinary-guy alter ego, Tengteng. Viewers will get to see Richard's grueling and intense preparation for his role, as well as a never-before-seen footage of the search conducted by GMA for Richard's new onscreen partner. The cast also includes Richard Gomez, Paolo Bediones, Snooky Serna, Ricky Davao, Jackielou Blanco, Ryan Yllana, Ian Veneracion, Sunshine Dizon, and Camille Pratts.

The Captain Barbell Primer airs this Saturday, May 28, after S-Files. The series will premiere on May 29 on GMA's Telebabad block.

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