When Pops Fernandez flew to the States recently, she didn’t give any hint what she was going there for, except to say that she was taking a vacation.
According to Funfare’s California-based DPA, Pops actually passed the screening for The World’s Best, a CBS talent competition in which she will be pitted with 24 other international experts.
Quoting a story about the project, the DPA said The World’s Best “hails from reality TV heavyweights Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell, the forces behind two of the biggest talent competition reality series of the current unscripted wave, The Voice and American Idol. Burnett is executive producing NBC’s The Voice which is overseen by Darnell at Warner Horizon; while Darnell in his role as head of reality at Fox, Darnell developed and launched American Idol and steered the show for its first 12 seasons.”
The World’s Best is described as “a first-of-its-kind global talent competition that features acts from every genre imaginable, from every corner of the planet.” The contestants are tasked not only to impress the American judges (James Corden, Drew Barrymore, Ru Paul and Faith Hill) and 50 world experts but also to break through the “wall of the world.” One of the 25 participants from every field of entertainment will be chosen the winning act to be crowned as The World’s Best.
The World’s Best will be produced in partnership with MGM Television and Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television, and with Burnett, Darnell, Alison Holloway, Brooke Karzen, Barry Poznick and Dan Sacks as executive producers.
Casting for the show started just a few weeks after the new show was announced last February.
Added the DPA, “An L.A.-based talent scout was asked by a friend of one of the show’s producers to recommend a Filipino artist and the talent scout chose Martin Nievera to be interviewed by the executive producer. Martin impressed the executive producer but there was a hitch — conflict of schedules. It turned out that Martin was committed to do shows until Valentine’s next year so he couldn’t do the VTR scheduled this month and in November. Pops was the last to be interviewed and she passed. She’s now doing the VTR.” (The DPA mentioned Lea Salonga and Billy Crawford as among those also recommended.)
According to the same report quoted by the DPA, “CBS, which finds early reality success with adventure competition series Survivor and The Amazing Race as well as the voyeuristic Big Brother, has stayed away from the shiny floor/talent competition genre…but the time has come to take talent competition shows to the next level and bring in judges from around the world to decide on the ultimate winner.”
By the way, it’s reported that each expert will be paid SAG/AFTRA scale with all travel expenses paid (i.e. flight, hotel, etc.) and given per diem for additional expenses.
Oh well, let’s wish Pops all the luck and keep our collective fingers crossed that she will emerge The World’s Best.
More and more stars on the campaign trail
It was reelectionist Bacoor (Cavite) Mayor Lani Mercado who filed for husband Bong Revilla’s COC at the COMELEC accompanied by sons Bryan and Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla.
Here are the other stars and those showbiz-related who have filed their COCs (Certificates Of Candidacy) as of the deadline on Wednesday (Oct. 17):
• Edu Manzano for congressman of San Juan City…the joke is that Edu is being “demoted” from being president (Lucas Cabrera in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, hehehe!!!);
• Manila 3rd District Rep. Yul Servo for reelection;
• Roman Romulo for congressman in Pasig City;
• Vico Sotto (son of Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes) for Pasig City mayor;
• Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista for Q.C. congressman;
• Former Sen. Bong Revilla again for the Senate;
• Former Sen. Lito Lapid again for the Senate;
• Mark Lapid for mayor of Porac, Pampanga;
• Gary Estrada for mayor of Cainta, Rizal;
• Sen. JV Ejercito for reelection;
• Makati Councilor Jhong Hilario for reelection;
• Sheryl Cruz for councilor in Manila;
• Rommel Padilla for congressman in Nueva Ecija; and
• Jiggy Manicad for senator.
(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)