Bossing’s style

MANILA, Philippines - Comedy king in his own right. Hari ng takilya. Versatile host. Sure winner. A man of few words.

All these fit Vic Sotto, the well-loved host of the longest-running noontime variety show Eat, Bulaga!.

He is twice the age of Eat, Bulaga! and like the unrivaled show, remains No. 1 in the hearts of many Pinoy televiewers.

“Bossing” is how Vic is addressed, but he’s definitely not the arrogant type who would reprimand co-workers, even if they are at fault, before an audience and on television.

Heaven-sent, they call him, too — the underprivileged individuals who were lucky enough to win gifts, both in kind and in cash, in the daily segment of Juan For All. Vic, after all, helps them in their miseries via the anticipated portion that mirrors the face of poverty in the country.

Had Vic agreed to run for a seat in the government in the May elections, he’d already be a sure winner. But as he repeatedly reiterates, “Hindi naman kinakailangang maging isang public servant para makatulong sa aking kapwa. There are many ways of helping. And furthermore, magulo na nga dito sa showbiz, bakit dadagdagan ko pa?”

With the passing of the Comedy King Dolphy, should he not be considered as the heir to the throne?

“Masarap pakinggan but in my heart, nag-iisa lamang ang Hari ng Komedya. Having done a movie with Dolphy is the crowning glory of my career,” Vic humbly states.

Metro Manila Filmfest after Metro Manila Filmfest, Vic continues to produce movies that aim to entertain the masses and nothing more. Statistics show that almost all his festival movies ranked No. 1 at the box-office. Hence, the tag box-office king.

In terms of substance and for a big change, would he not want to be handled by another director other than Tony Cruz? Try to imagine him working with a woman director like Olivia Lamasan or the award-winning indie filmmaker Brillante Mendoza. Call it wishful thinking on our part.

Of course, his quick reply is, “Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg?”

Where family sitcoms are concerned, his new offering from MZet and GMA 7 is a cause for some excitement. Titled Vampire ang Daddy Ko, it is patterned after his hit ’90s sitcom Okay Ka Fairy Ko and focuses on the father-and-son relationship with “vampirism” thrown in between.

The story in a nutshell: Vlad (Oyo Boy Sotto) is a semi-retired vampire living on animal blood. He has a human wife Sonia (Jackielou Blanco/Pilita Corrales) and two children Val and Vitorio (Vic Sotto). His love for Sonia urged him to reform. Expect more twists in his desire to adopt a new life.

Direk Bibeth Orteza adds, “We offer a faster pace of storytelling and modern post-production editing techniques. She also wrote the story which features Glaiza de Castro, Bea Binene, Derrick Monasterio and Sef Cayadona.”

This would be the first time Vic would be appearing in a teleserye with child wonder Ryzza Mae Dizon. It also introduces Korean beauty Jin Rin Park as his leading lady. 

Vampire ang Daddy Ko is aired Saturday nights.

The relationship between Vic and Pauleen Luna is an open secret, but don’t ask whether it would lead to the altar. Or how many children they intend to have.

Like his idol Dolphy, who had his share of women, Vic prefers to keep his personal life private. Very private.

On matters like this, Vic’s lips are sealed.