More love stories for the season

Love continues, possibly for the rest of February, as it is noticeable all over the boob tube on whatever channel we open. We had fun watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on TALKtv running smack against its local counterpart on TV5 the Medyo Late Night Show with Jojo A. Flipping the dial back and forth from one show to the other, we suddenly were given a surprise lesson on Five Ways to Keep your Audience Interested.

One is be imaginative; two is choose guests funnier than you; three is keep the show fast-paced with segments limited to 12 minutes; four is make fun of yourself; and five, do not stick to your script. Leno had a collection of specially-made funny Valentine cards, Valentine gifts like edible granny panties for senior citizens, and a Hunk of Chocolate which was just that — a man wrapped in chocolate one could spend the entire Valentine licking with gusto! 

Leno’s guest was Denzel Washington who was so funny without hogging the limelight (yes, that is possible!). Take note that none of those lessons cost much. It has nothing to do with budget. It has to do with talent.

We cannot leave these observations without segueing to Martin Nievera and thinking how perfect he is for a show like this on television. We watched Martin and Sharon Cuneta’s Once in a Lifetime Valentine offering which ran for more than three hours and covered 36 songs if my counting is correct, with none of the audience going home or even leaving for the comfort room. The show was a perfect combination of showcasing the Megastar’s multifarious talents and vocal excellence, guest Charlie Green, the G-Force dancers, with Martin as comic relief.

From left: Charlie Green, Georcelle Dapat of G-Force, Rowell Santiago and Martin Nievera

We certainly hope ABS-CBN gets around to fast-tracking Martin’s After Dark show as no one could really top Martin’s self-deprecating style and perfect timing. Hello Gary V. and BBC’s Rico Hizon who suddenly had to sing; Vicky Nievera, Martin’s twin sister he sought out in the audience to duet impromptu; Hello Vehnee Saturno, composer of the Once In A Lifetime song with Martin’s lyrics seated quietly suddenly finding a microphone thrust in front of him; and hello Dr. Floor, Sharon’s voice doctor who was Martin’s particular victim of the moment as he played around the good doctor’s family name. We wonder if these extended Dr. Floor capers before 20 thousand people in the coliseum would result in more or less clients.  

Meantime, GMA has just launched this week the original primetime soap My Beloved, termed “a beautiful and timeless tale of undying love between two people of two different worlds.” It is a love story of an angel of death who becomes mortal or sundo to save the life of the human he loves. The concept is perfect for real-life lovers Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, giving credence to what GMA president and CEO lawyer Felipe Gozon has announced as its change in the program grid, veering away from the fantasy series that the station has become synonymous with.

The serye has a convoluted plot of gangsters and jueteng collectors, love between a man in a painting and a human, an angel entering the gangster’s body. It is engaging, to say the least. Not to mention a support cast of Nova Villa, Rio Locsin, Paolo Contis, Katrina Halili, Marky Lopez, Chanda Romero, Jennica Garcia, Carl Guevarra, Louise delos Reyes, Alden Richards and Mikael Daez. Will My Beloved give competition to rival ABS-CBN in the genre it previously had mastered? Directed by Dominic Zapata from an original concept by RJ Nuevas.

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