Thank you, Cheche, for the 'probing'

“Probe signs off after 24 years.”

That piece of news that I read on the Entertainment section of this paper last Wednesday gave me mixed feelings: There was a pinch of sadness in my heart and was still a bit surprised about this development despite the fact that I’ve seen how Probe limped its way through the midnight slot of ABS-CBN in the past several years. At the same time, I was amazed at how the show had managed to survive through these past decades — knowing the fact that it was being churned out by an independent company owned by host Cheche Lazaro and in today’s world of television, very few programs make it unless these are station-produced.

The way I recall it, Probe started on ABS-CBN — shortly after the network reopened as a result of EDSA I. Since everything was still shaky in the Lopez-owned station then, Probe had an unsuccessful stint on Channel 2 that time and later moved as The Probe Team on GMA 7 where it spent many glorious years.

Yes, those were glorious times for The Probe Team. It may not have been as commercially viable as the variety show Vilma!, but it managed to get by financially. More importantly, it was being hailed as one of the best documentaries on TV in those days. It won strings and strings of awards from various award-giving bodies for television for being fearless, unbiased and technically impressive.

The Probe Team exposed corruption in government from top to bottom and got into trouble a number of times. But that made the program even more admirable because Cheche and her team were utterly courageous in their fight to stop and remedy the socio-political ills of this nation.

The problem with The Probe Team even then, however, was its inability to make the show look and taste more palatable for the TV audience in general. Of course, its main topics were very serious and so its approach was tough. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem appealing to most viewers, especially for those about to tuck themselves in bed and all set to have sweet dreams.

Even in its supposed light moments where they featured showbiz personalities, they chose the not-so-good-looking people — but with talent. While that is praise-worthy since they went beyond what is skin-deep, this is television where charisma and looking pleasant count for so much. The problem with the program is that it took itself too seriously that even its supposedly light stories came out heavy.

For all those little flaws (if you can call them that), which I pointed out, I maintain that The Probe Team will go down history as one of the best documentaries ever produced on Philippine television.

Less than a decade ago, it left Channel 7, a bitter parting the way I recall it. Did it have a short stint in Channel 5 (way before Manny V. Pangilinan’s takeover)? I am not sure anymore.

But when it went full circle and returned to its original home, ABS-CBN, somewhere along the way the show became Probe Profiles and I caught some of its episodes. I can never forgive them for their Hayden Kho feature aired around this same time last year.

In that story, they painted a very positive image of the doctor-turned-porn star/videographer — all because he gave them the interview. No, I am not just sour-graping because he refused to talk to us. Probe Profiles actually went overboard showing Hayden down on his knees in prayer like he was up for beatification. They also interviewed all his friends, who — as expected — only issued statements that could have made him eligible for the Nobel Prize. That to me was the only time Probe became biased.

Not long after, I became a Probe Profiles admirer again when the program featured Arnel Pineda of Journey and the singer’s long, circuitous road to success. Prior to that Probe episode, I didn’t give a hoot about Arnel. But thanks to the show I instantly became Arnel’s fan and felt humbled with the way he handles his celebrity status. Although I can live without listening to his singing (he screeches!), I have to say that I have so much respect for him as a person, especially with the way he has been giving back and sharing with others all the blessings he received from Above. That Arnel Pineda feature on Probe Profiles was a gem.

Prior to the elections, Cheche also had a series on the Presidential candidates that I tried to follow every week. Even if the GMA 7 news reporters were also doing the same feature, Cheche had the luxury of time (she had a full hour) and was able to delve deeper into the very innards of each and every Presidential bet.

But Probe is finally saying goodbye. Twenty-four years on television is a long, long time, especially if you consider the fact that it had to walk through a road lined with threats of lawsuits, death threats probably and the ever-changing tastes of TV viewers. Congratulations for making it through all that. And you have to give it to Probe for never resorting to sensationalized reporting — unlike most other TV documentaries we see today.

But what effects did Probe have on our lives, in our society and to this country. After 24 years, corruption is still rampant. Our population had grown bigger and so society has more ailments compared to two decades ago. But without Cheche Lazaro and her team probing into government, bureaucracy and society in general, our situation could have been far worse.

Goodbye, Cheche. Thank you for probing into our lives.