Billy Crawford is at it again, hosting another fun game show

MANILA, Philippines — First quarter of last year, Billy Crawford said in a group interview that The Wall Philippines was probably the most exciting game he had seen in a long time. The host’s statement was found to be true. Fans and contestants could attest that The Wall Philippines is a roller-coaster ride of emotions and decisions and a game of trust and composure. They would also agree it’s a game of knowledge and luck.

Billy is at it again with GMA as the game show’s newfound home. He begins the ball rolling today at 3:35 p.m.

“It’s always a new experience, iba na yung maglalaro, iba na yung makakasama mo,” answered Billy, also a singer and actor, when asked about a stance or mindset he takes in hosting a variety or a game show during a recent press conference. “There’s always a getting-to-know-you period. Kasi ako, to be honest, I try to love and enjoy what I do. I’m given the opportunity actually to get to know the contestants, especially in a game show like this.”

In headlining The Wall Philippines for the second time, Billy relies on his years of experience as a TV host and lessons learned from such personalities as director Bobet Vidanes, Boy Abunda and Luis Manzano.

“I try to put everything in one, in every show I do, I try to find kung ano yung mag-ma-match, kung kailangan bang mataas yung energy, kailangan bang galawgaw, kenkoy ba ako dito o  kailangan bang seryoso ako dito (I try to find what style will match the show. Do I need to have high energy in this one? Do I need to be playful, funny or serious?),” shared he in approaching a hosting work. “So kailangan pinag-aaralan din lang naman ang lahat nang ginagawang trabaho (I need to study the work I get into).”

Since he is working with former collaborators like direk Bobet and in a familiar place, work for Billy and The Wall Philippines team is fast and easy.

“We’ve done this for so long,” said the host, who recalled that, at the age of four, he jump-started his showbiz career in the Kapuso network via the now-defunct That’s Entertainment.

As to hosting again the Pinoy version of The Wall, Billy had this to say: “It’s familiar, pero may nerbiyos pa rin kada tapak mo sa entablado, kahit saan (you still get nervous every time you get on the stage).”

Even if he knows his work like the palm of his hand, Billy has to make some adjustments.

“In all jobs, in any show, whatsoever, ang pinaka-mahirap talaga (the most challenging part) is adjusting,” said he. “Yung unang araw namin dito sa The Wall, we finished (taping) almost at 5 a.m. You know everyone works so hard to make this work kaya, at first, maninibago at maninibago ang mga tao. At the end of the day, we felt at home and we felt welcomed. We feel na sobrang saya namin.” That feeling was also evident when Billy set foot again on GMA for show’s promo shoot.

“I will never get tired of saying that I feel welcomed again, I feel at home,” said he. “I feel my home was renovated, yun lang yung pakiramdam ko kasi nung pumasok ako nung unang araw pa lang, nung nag-po-promo shoot kami dyan sa GMA building, (I looked around and I could remember that was the place) where we would rehearse for That’s Entertainment before.” The latter, as a variety show that featured established and up-and-coming talents, became the playground for the young Billy to discover his performing skills. With that, one could feel the nostalgia and happiness Billy had to be part of The Wall Philippines, a collaboration between Viva and GMA.

“(It) has given me as a host and as an artist an opportunity again to be freelance and to be able to work with kahit sino dito sa industriya natin and it’s such a blessing, especially sa panahon ngayon, this specific time right now,” said he.

Like all game show hosts, Billy should be adept with the mechanics, and have the knowledge of the contestants’ emotional response, if one may add.

“That’s the best thing about game shows because you let their emotions out,” said he. “We need them to feel excited… and we need them to feel happy. Me, as a host, I have to bring that out of that person… Kung maganda yung laro nila, makikita mo yung tunay na kulay na saya, pero kung hindi maganda yung kalalabasan ng laro, makukuha mo yung damdamin ng isang tao.” The excitement in a game, however, also depends on how the contestants play it, as Billy hinted.

With his stint in The Wall Philippines and the TV5 variety show Tropang LOL, Billy is among those few Filipino talents, who have experienced at a certain point in their career to be seen on TV every day of the week.

In spite of that, he has bonding time with wife Coleen Garcia and their son Amari. “I still spend my time with my baby and my wife,” said he, who added that it’s a good thing his work doesn’t require him to be in a lock-in taping and be away from family for one week or two weeks.

“I don’t think I can handle that right now,” concluded he. “Hindi ko kayang mawala ang pamilya ko (o mawalay sa kanila for) more than a day.”