Eat Bulaga’s new hosts celebrated yesterday (July 1) the “first monthsary” since taking over the hosting duties of the GMA 7 noontime show.
Incidentally, July 1 also served as the first day of the TV comeback of the original Eat Bulaga hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) with the “legit Dabarkads” on TV5, as well as the first day of ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime to be airing on the GMA-owned GTV channel.
“Maaaring sabihin niyo na kaplastikan ‘to… but it’s a celebration. First time in history that there are three noontime shows (on free TV). So, there’s no point in fighting each other, right? At least now, they (the audiences) have three choices,” said Eat Bulaga host Paolo Contis on the sidelines of the presscon for his other GMA show, Bubble Gang, on Friday. The latter’s other cast members — Buboy Villar and Betong Sumaya — are also part of the new hosting lineup of the TAPE, Inc.-produced Eat Bulaga.
As of presstime, TVJ’s noontime show on TV5 had yet to reveal its title. But they had already expressed their intention to still use Eat Bulaga amid the trademark war with the Jalosjos-owned blocktimer TAPE.
Paolo, nevertheless, conceded that the TVJ-produced show was expected to generate the most interest yesterday, agreeing with the media comment that it could be out of curiosity or force of habit.
“Mahirap tapatan ang 44 years, yung nakasanayan,” he said of the veteran trio who fronted Eat Bulaga for four decades before severing ties with TAPE on May 31 and leaving GMA after 28 years.
Paolo, however, noted that they’re not really “thinking” about the TVJ show or even It’s Showtime because they’re more focused on the fact that they made it to the first month. This feat alone, he said, makes the group “emotional.”
“Hindi namin inisip na first day ng Showtime sa GTV or first day ng TVJ. Naisip namin na naka-isang buwan kami and we’re proud of that.”
Learnings
Interestingly, some of Eat Bulaga’s current hosts are also among the busiest talents of the network. As mentioned, both Buboy and Betong are part of Bubble Gang, and the former also appears in All Out Sundays.
Buboy said he feels blessed to have work and be seen on TV every day. “I feel like I’m in a big playground, playing and having different playmates.”
He’s not worried about the naysayers, he said. What he’s more concerned about nowadays is maintaining their health in the face of a daily grind.
“Actually, ang pinaka-iniingatan po natin ay ang kalusugan namin,” said Buboy, whom his co-hosts said is the one who prepares and reminds them to “take their vitamins.”
Betong was also asked how he’s been able to manage his schedule and the comedian shared, “Actually, hindi ko nga alam nasaan ako ngayon. Joke lang po.”
“But I’m very thankful. It really needs focus. At times, the schedule can be overwhelming. But I’m very thankful to our bosses, to (our talent management) Sparkle. It’s a team effort, para ayusin lahat ng schedule namin. I’m very happy that we’re able to accommodate all (of the shows).”
These are their learnings so far after hosting Eat Bulaga for one month now.
“Dapat ‘wag kang sigaw ng sigaw kasi ‘di na talaga nag improve yung boses ko. Learn to listen to each other. Minsan kasi ‘pag marami kayo sa stage, sabay-sabay kayo nagsasalita,” said Paolo. “Marami pa kaming matutunan.”
“Marami pa kaming kakainin na bigas,” added Betong.
They were proud to note that the group has been “intact” and “solid” since Day 1 and that they are “continuously” making an effort to “improve” as a team.
“I remember what Bossing (Vic Sotto) said during the (TV5) presscon, that maybe after 44 years, ‘gagaling sila.’ Because technically, we’re just one month old and our goal really is to be better. Never namin matatapatan yung galing nila. I hope people remember that,” Paolo said.
“But technically one month pa kami so sana konting tiis,” he quipped.
“(But no, I mean) we’re hoping for a little consideration. We hope that they grow with us.”
Not ‘legit’ Dabarkads?
They were also queried about their thoughts on not being called “legit Dabarkads,” a term being used to refer to TVJ and other former Eat Bulaga hosts.
Buboy said he’s not bothered. “‘Di naman po (Not really). Kanya-kanya po yan. It’s like basketball. Kanya-kanya tayong manok (We have our own bets). But at the end of the day, who’s the winner? The audience,” he said.
“Ako po, simulat sapul, bawat binibigay sa akin na trabaho, tinatanggap ko po yan… As an artist, as an entertainer, as an actor, I would do the job because it was given to me,” he said when asked by The STAR about rumors that there were several Sparkle artists approached to host Eat Bulaga but that they declined for fear of being bashed.
“Blessed din po ako kasi sa dami din pong tumanggi din siguro, sa dami ding umayaw, isa rin po ako sa napili, which is happy ako. I’m happy to make people happy.”
It was the same sentiment that Paolo said in an interview during the recent premiere of his new film Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars. He said it’s people’s prerogative not to call them Dabarkads.
“Kanya-kanya po ng perspective yan. We were called to work, that’s my job, and I’m doing the best that I can with that job. I’ve not stepped on anyone. That’s my belief,” he also said. “Nagpasintabi ako sa mga taong kinauukulan na kakilala ko. And I think that’s enough. And I believe everyone on their side knows that work is work. I believe they’re professional enough to understand that.”
Nevertheless, they confirmed that they have since lessened the use of the word Dabarkads on air.
“I’m not sure if I can actually say it, but yes. If you noticed, we’re using Kapuso… It’s proper to use the term because we are with GMA Network. It’s just right that we’re called Kapuso,” noted Paolo.
Reaction to it’s Showtime
Paolo also weighed in on ABS-CBN’s noontime show transferring to the GMA-owned GTV channel. The Vice Ganda-led It’s Showtime used to occupy the noontime slot of the Kapatid network, which now went to the TVJ show co-produced and co-owned by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., the firm that operates TV5.
On his reaction to the move, Paolo said he immediately entertained the possibility of a “crossover,” wherein It’s Showtime hosts would appear on Eat Bulaga and vice-versa.
“To be honest, ang unang naisip ko ay sino ang pwedeng mag-guest from Showtime sa amin,” he said.
For him, this seems more plausible now given the existing partnerships of former TV rivals GMA and ABS-CBN, from the first series collaboration in Unbreak My Heart to now It’s Showtime.
“Alam mo, never naman natin naisip yan. Sa tagal kong pagiging artista, nito lang nangyari yung Unbreak My Heart, yung ABS at saka GMA (partnership). So yung opportunity na… sabi nga namin baka pwede natin i-link si Dasuri (Choi) with Ryan Bang (of It’s Showtime). It no longer seems impossible.”
“Or Buboy to Anne (Curtis). Hahaha!” Buboy joked.
“Or Betong to Kim (Chiu) po,” Betong also quipped.
“Medyo nangangarap eh,” Paolo jokingly added before turning serious, “More than anything we’re very excited… Basically, we’re now under the same roof. They’re now our neighbors. Hindi namin sila kalaban (They’re not our enemies).”
Besides Paolo, Buboy and Betong, other hosts of the reformatted Eat Bulaga are Cassy Legaspi, Mavy Legaspi, Alexa Miro Kimpoy Feliciano, Dasuri Choi and former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.