Randy not bothered by the ratings game

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN , Philippines  — Among the hosts of ABS-CBN’s Happy Yipee Yehey! (HYY), Randy Santiago is the old hand in doing noontime shows. Thus, expectations to make the show stronger, more exciting than its competition, greatly lie on his shoulders.

But according to Randy, HYY is not particular about drastically changing the figures in the ratings game. The show has been airing for just over a little two months now and, so far, it continues to come up with ideas endearing to televiewers.

“When the management talked to us, they told us not to think about the ratings. We just have to do what the viewers want, and that is to make them happy,” said Randy after the presscon held a day before the live airing of HYY at the Lingayen Beachfront. “And as long as we get a good percentage in the audience share, that’s enough for us.”

He, too, brushed off the wrong notion that HYY primarily banks on giving away huge cash prizes just so people will change their noontime show habit.

 “We don’t automatically give away money. Everything we give has a corresponding challenge because we never intended people to depend on us.”

Cash prizes, he furthered, give people the chance to make life easy and comfortable. “They can start up with their own business. But of course, it still depends on how a winner will use his prize money. Ang sa amin lang is we give hope.”

So far, many have already been fortunate to walk away with cash prizes in game segments Muk-Happy, Yipee, Yehey!; Pera O Bayong; One Time, Big Time!; My Girl; Ikaw ang Bida; Sa Poll ng Bayan; Happy Word; and Happy Ka-Family.

With co-hosts (from left) Bentong, Matteo Guidicelli, Sam Milby, Mariel Rodriguez, John Estrada, Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Manalo, Melai Cantiveros and Jobert

Happy Yipee Yehey! swings Randy back to noontime TV. It was years ago when he was last seen as a regular front liner of a show. His and co-host John Estrada’s decision to accept ABS-CBN’s offer to host HYY has even created a rift with Willie Revillame. The three are friends on and off-cam until Willie expressed his sentiments on air about their accepting the hosting task.

“We never get the chance to personally talk but I texted him although he never replied,” Randy shared. “We never badmouthed him and you won’t hear me talk against him.”

In fact, Randy begged off from commenting on an issue against Willie.

Prior to HYY, Randy was busy doing shows for TFC. He also did directorial work for Kapamilya shows like Aalog-alog and Pare Koy.

Does he plan to make a comeback on the concert scene?

“It’s enough that 25 years ago, I was able to fill the country’s major concert venues. Now, let’s just leave it to younger artists like Sarah Geronimo.”

(Happy Yipee Yehey! airs Mondays to Saturdays at 12:15 p.m. Other hosts include Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, John Prats, Bianca Manalo, Matteo Guidicelli, Bentong, Melai Cantiveros and Jobert.)