28-year-old Bubble Gang reinvents itself

“It’s a welcome change.”

Said Michael V. of the latest developments — from new timeslot, new cast members to new live-audience format — in the country’s longest-running comedy program, which is now also called as BBLGANG.

“We’re giving it a new face, of course, because habang tumatagal, you always have to really reinvent yourself, especially for a program that has lasted this long,” said Lilybeth Rasonable, senior vice president for GMA Entertainment Group.

The GMA 7 show, which is turning 29 years old this year, will officially be relaunched tonight, moving from its late-night Friday schedule to its new primetime and more family-friendly timeslot at 6 p.m. every Sunday.

“For the longest time, Bubble Gang has been airing on Friday nights. The Sunday night timeslot is more wholesome,” said Michael V during a mediacon.

“(The timeslot is) for a wider audience and we’re very, very conscious of the content we’re creating.”

The timeslot change is also connected to the relevance of the show.

According to director Frasco Mortiz, “Pinu-push namin maging more relevant ang show in the advent of social media, where every day you see comedy content. So how do you stay relevant when your competition is social media?

“So, we make our topics relatable to the wider audience… and that would make people more engaged.

“Yes, it’s more wholesome, but maloko pa rin kami. ‘Di mawawala ang tatak Bubble Gang.”

Another big change for the cast is the instant reaction they get via the live audience.

Frasco said that the artists now deliver a different kind of energy while doing sketches and skits. “You feel that they’re all on their toes,” he said.

The director also came up with the idea of a rooftop setting, reimaginging BBLGANG as a hangout place for family and friends to chill, relax and have some laughs.

“True enough, I think it has a different flavor…. because there’s instant reaction from the audience. Nakukuha namin kaagad ang pakiramdam kung maganda ba yung ginagawa namin. For me, it’s still the same Bubble Gang with different sketches. (At the same time), it’s a different vibe. Parang nabuhayan ulit.”

Michael V said that an inspiration for the live audience is the American sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

“Even before direk Frasco (came onboard in 2021), SNL was an inspiration. We tried that several times during the lifespan of Bubble Gang,” he said.

The most notable was Parokya Bente Dos, which “was really a big endeavor for Bubble Gang and a milestone of the show.”

“This time, we will give it a try once again and will see what happens,” Michael V added.

The veteran comedian also suggested as much that the materials for this new phase of the comedy show will be somewhat “different in flavor.”

“For the longest time I was also the creative director of Bubble Gang and so for the longest time, I knew the flavor of the show. But this time around, nagbago ng konti. That for me is the biggest change.”

He pointed out that the good thing about BBLGANG is that its creative team is “always in the present.”

“Palaging aware sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Parang naging requirement na yan for the creative team, for the writers, and whoever is part of that team,” he explained.

“Even the cast, we have to be aware of what’s happening right now. As long as there’s material na pinanggagalingan, hindi ka mauubusan ng material i-produce.”

Asked if social media is a boon or bane to the show when it comes to content creation, direk Frasco said, “We get something from online, they get something from what we do. I think that’s the new norm na kailangan namin makasanayan, mag-iiba at mag-iiba talaga yung means of how we devour content. It’s up to us kung paano maging up to date in the things that we do.”

He further said the only advantage of social media is in terms of speed or how fast it reacts to events and issues.

“Let’s say, may issue na pumutok ngayong umaga, sa hapon may spoof na sila. Before, yung Bubble Gang known for that. If may issue ngayon, next episode may makikita ka ng parody or something,” Frasco said.

“But in terms of creativity and content, nanggagaling pa rin talaga dun sa creative team and the cast yung humor that audiences look for every week.”

For Michael V, it’s a symbiotic relationship. He admitted that social media is now a “big part of mainstream television and entertainment.” It does provide some ideas, he noted, especially “if it’s a gem, talagang dapat you have to do something about it. Pero hindi mo dapat gayahin. You have to do something better and improve.”

But he also pointed out, “If you analyze yung mga ginagawa sa social media, if you dig deeper, madalas ang source niyan Bubble Gang. It’s very evident na ang inspiration ng gumagawa ng comedy sa social media, it’s also the show. But it’s not just this show but even the (comedy) movies that came before us and …. other sitcoms, not just in GMA but also in other networks.

“So, it’s safe to say mainstream is still at this point inevitable, necessity pa rin siya to produce content,” he said.

One thing is for sure, everyone on the show is dependent on each other, in creating content and making the comedy click with its viewers.

“I always say that the gang, the Bubble Gang, is not one person, we are a gang for a reason,” Michael V said.

“And that’s not just within the cast, it’s the same with the creative team, with the production, with the network and all those who are helping us. As long as we are like that, as long as we’re a definitive gang, ‘di kami mauubusan ng material.”

In this new era of Bubble Gang or BBLGang, they are introducing fresh faces like EA Guzman, Buboy Villar and Chesca Fausto. Paolo Contis, Chariz Solomon, Kokoy de Santos, Betong Sumaya and Analyn Barro are still part of the show, but Valeen Montenegro, Faye Lorenzo, Sef Cadayona and Archie Alemania were let go.

“Maliit lang naman ang mundong ginagalawan,” said Michael V. “Even with our former cast members, there was a time when we made it a point to guest ‘graduates’ like sila Rufa Mae Quinto, Ara Mina… It was going to happen. It’s inevitable.”

The ideal cast members for him are “kelangan magaling ka na artista, that’s No. 1. Hindi lang kasi pagpapatawa ang comedy, a good chunk of it is acting so as long as you’re confident in doing characters and being someone else other than yourself, I think that’s a good sign. That’s a plus factor when it comes to joining the show.”

For his part, direk Frasco said, “That person should also be fearless, not afraid to join the gang. Because if you’re a newcomer, you will really feel intimidated to be in the company of these people (referring to Michael V, et. al.). And may hilig din magpatawa, magpasaya because if the comedy is innate in that artista, it will show. It’s a team effort.”

As the only remaining original member and one-time creative director of Bubble Gang, Michael V stressed that they’re not strangers to major casting changes.

“Being the eldest in the show, we’re a bit used to the reformat. This is not the first time na nangyari,” he said. “I’m always open to welcome new faces to the show. It’s an opportunity for the older cast to train and work with the younger talents.

“Hopefully, we can produce a bunch of new comedians and talented performers under our tutelage,” he added.

Besides the possiblity of having former cast members as guests, Michael V wants It’s Showtime host and Kapamilya comedian Vice Ganda to appear in the show for a collab skit with his signature character, Mr. Assimo.

“Vice Ganda has always been open to collaboration. And the last time we met, the last time we talked… He has always said, ‘I hope to guest in Bubble Gang.’”