The new home of Wowowillie

To describe the new home of Wowowillie as “very impressive” is an understatement. It’s awesome!

Before the TV5 top-rater’s followers get a chance to marvel at it when the reinvented/retitled show premieres tomorrow, Jan. 26 (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), host-producer Willie Revillame very kindly took Funfare on a quick tour of the studio that occupies the whole three floors of the former Delta Theater. It is equipped with Willie’s private quarters (which can serve as his second home, furnished with all the amenities, in case he’s too tired to drive to his mansion in Ayala Heights, Quezon City), a spacious dressing/relaxation room for his co-hosts (Mariel Rodriguez, Grace Lee and Camille Villar, together with new hosts Arci Muñoz and Ethel Booba), a VIP room, a conference room, a gym — name it, the studio has it.

The studio, which used to be occupied by Sharon Cuneta’s short-lived eponymous show, is for the exclusive use of Wowowillie, reminiscent of David Letterman’s theater on Broadway and that of Oprah Winfrey’s in L.A.

“Everything was changed and improved,” disclosed Willie, co-producer of Wowowillie (formerly Wil Time Bigtime) with TV5, who declined to confirm that he has chipped in more than P37 million from his own pocket as addition to the (also eight-figure) budget of Kapatid Network.

“The studio can accommodate more than 900 compared to the 650-capacity of the old studio in Novaliches, Quezon City,” revealed Jay Montelibano, business unit head and over-all head. 

Aside from the regular features, more games — and bigger prizes (still including the Camella house and lot donated by Sen. Manny Villar) — will be added. Such as what games?

“Surprise!” said JP Panizales, director of the show.

“The audience, both in the studio and at home, should stay tuned for the whole show to find out,” added Cecil Matutina, head writer/creative head.

“The studio alone is something to watch for,” declared Freddie Gonzales, head of the Visual Creative Group, who conceptualized the studio which is shaped like a dome. “I patterned it after studios in Las Vegas and that of American Idol.”

In-charge of the LED effects is Papu Ebriega. State-of-the-art lighting is by Erik Paycana.

The 17-minute opening production number (which the group was rehearsing during the Funfare visit) is spell-binding (no exaggeration!). Composed of 315 male and female dancers who auditioned under Ana Feliciano, choreographer, and trained for three days, the number has touches of Cirque du Soleil (trapeze-like routines, breath-taking triple somersaults, dancers thrown into the air and landing on co-dancers’ joined arms, etc.) calculated to sustain the inexhaustible energy the show is noted for.

“I’m glad that the show is back on the noontime slot,” said Willie. “I’m used to that schedule…from MTB to Lunchdate to Willing-Willie and Wowowee. Hindi ako pang-gabi.”

The show’s premier telecast serves as advance celebration for Willie who’s turning 52 on Sunday, Jan. 27.

(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)