Kris, Pops and Zsa Zsa: Sheer girl power on TV

Women of style have this X factor that enables them to twirl people around their little finger. They fan the flames of talk and speculation with a little gesture, a slight twitch of their eyebrows.

Kris Aquino is in the eye of the storm right now because of her relationship with Joey Marquez. Pops Fernandez, with her love life still a big guessing game, and Zsa Zsa Padilla, of the quiet, steady homelife with Dolphy, have their own brand of talk to share.

The three are great friends offcam, sharing secrets, agonizing and crying over problems. So, it was not only a casting coup, but a no-fuss, no-sweat deal, when the three agreed to come together to host Morning Girls, their new magazine-type show on ABS-CBN, starting Monday, July 22, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The chemistry is palpable the minute the three sat together for a chat with the press at the ABS-CBN building. Ever irrepressible Kris ribbed Pops about a new guy in her life and Pops retorted, "He’s only a secret crush! (secret until a few minutes back, that is)."

Zsa Zsa admits she is partial to travel while conceding Kris can tackle anything under the sun. And Kris vows not to steal the show from her two co-hosts. ("Promise, I’ll keep quiet!").

It’s easy to believe not one of them ever brought up the all-important question of talent fee when Star Network management offered them the show. They chorused "yes, yes, yes!" right away the very same day.

It all started one fine day when Zsa Zsa guested on Talk TV (the show the trio’s new program will replace) to promote a concert. Kris and Pops also happened to be around.

Immediately, a light bulb flashed in network executives’ minds: why not a casting coup of a show that will bring all three friends together? Why not work on their built-in chemistry?

"These women are icons of empowerment. Through them, women can express themselves and men can understand women better," notes Deo Fajardo, creative director of the show.

Besides, it’s refreshing to see Kris, Pops and Zsa Zsa, they with their individual way of carrying clothes, deal with topics that will make viewers learn more about them as persons rather than stars.

All three will talk about what they learned from the day’s episode at the close of each show.

Kris, the most visible of the three these days, speaks for all of them, "The show is also our way of proving our loyalty and gratitude to the network. It feels good that you are needed, and you can contribute something."

"Contribute something" is an understatement. Deo Fajardo is gushing at the rich possibilities these three women with panache, as he describes them, can offer.

"They have such clout they can easily invite guests themselves. In fact, they can even act as talent coordinators," beams Deo.

Zsa Zsa, for instance, can easily ask home partner Dolphy to celebrate his birthday (July 25) on the new show. Neither was it hard to invite Robin Padilla (Zsa Zsa says all three of them are somehow related to Robin – she by blood, Pops because they have worked together and Kris, uh, because of the past), Bong Revilla, Joey Marquez and even Phillip Salvador as guests. In fact, Deo reveals they have agreed to be "grilled" in the show.

And because Kris, Pops and Zsa Zsa lead such colorful lives, airing an episode on "exes" is as natural as appearing before the cameras is to the three hosts.

"Understanding Your Man," a topic the three have a lot to say about, is also next in line.

This, and other topics, are not the usual stuff variety shows are made of. As Zsa Zsa says, laughing, "I’m so glad I have a show that will make me think."

Thus, Zsa Zsa is grabbing this opportunity to stretch her mental muscles to the max.

The challenge for Pops is different. This time, she does not just sing nor merely interview celebrities the way she did in her Penthouse Live! days with Martin. Her new lifestyle show will broaden Pops’ range of discussion to encompass more sober stuff like relationships – her favorite topic, among others.

"But I – we – don’t claim to be experts in this area," she admits. So Pops, the self-described listener, expects to learn a lot from their guests.

Authorities on topics women care most about will be invited. These SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) range from Vicki Belo for skin care to Margie Holmes for sex-related topics.

Women of privilege – Lucy Torres, Ayen Munji, Gretchen Barretto and Kitkat Silverio, will share slices of their charmed lives in the episode The Princess Diaries.

With Kris, Pops and Zsa Zsa baring themselves, not as distant, unreachable stars, but as human beings with a wealth of experience to share, women can have something more to reflect on, and impart to their loved ones at the end of the day.