TVJ back on air for noontime variety show wars

MANILA, Philippines — July 1 saw the “historic” showdown of three noontime shows. It would go down as one of the greatest moments in television history, sure to be talked about for years to come.

Following the programming movements, network transfers, new partnerships and promo blitz, all in the span of a month, yesterday signaled a new era in the “battle” for noontime patronage.

Former Eat Bulaga hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, also called TVJ, along with the “legit” Dabarkads finally returned to live television via their brand-new home network, TV5, since cutting ties with the Jalosjos-owned blocktimer TAPE Inc. and leaving GMA Network after 28 years last May 31.

Under an investment agreement deal, TVJ set up their own production company, TVJ Productions Inc., which is co-owned by MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the firm operating TV5, among others.

Their “exit move” led to a series of surprising if not shocking TV developments, such as new artists taking over the hosting duties of the longest-running noontime show and the move of ABS-CBN’s 13-year-old noontime program to GTV, the free-to-air channel owned by GMA. It’s Showtime once occupied TV5’s noontime slot until the entry of TVJ and the end of its blocktime contract on June 30.

Meanwhile, TV5 pulled out all the stops in welcoming the new Kapatids, deploying its media assets to cover the arrival of the Dabarkads at the TV5 headquarters in Reliance, Mandaluyong City.

One of the most anticipated updates yesterday was the unveiling, finally, of the official title of the TVJ show. Both TVJ and TAPE Inc. claim to be the rightful owner of the trademark.

But yesterday, TVJ announced its title by reworking the original theme song to simply say E.A.T. minus Bulaga.

This appeared to be temporary as sources said they would continue legal efforts to reclaim the Eat Bulaga title coined by Joey and largely identified with TVJ for the nearly 44 years of the show.

“Dabarkads, hinihintay pa rin namin ang pag-uwi ng pangalang itinawag sa amin for almost 44 years,” said Vic during the show.

“For now, Dabarkads, ang mahalaga ay sama-sama kami, sama-sama tayo. May nagkalinga po sa amin nung panahon na ‘di namin alam kung papaano at saan kami dadalhin ng tadhana,” he said.

“Ang title po namin… Eto na, marami naghihintay nito. Ang title na kung ano ang alam niyo na tawag sa amin. Ipinapangako po namin na E.A.T. E – Every day ang tawanan!”

“E.A.T, eto ang tunay,” Tito chimed in while Joey added, “E.A.T, eto ang tears. Hindi, eto ang truth.”

“Pwede ring E.A.T, eto ang tinadhana,” Vic continued.

Joey maintained, “Basta, E.A.T, eto ang title.”

To which Vic added, “Kaya buong bansa, buong mundo, E.A.T, every day, always.”

Family members like Vico Sotto, actress Kristine Hermosa, even Sharon Cuneta, came in full force to show support for TVJ and company.

Reportedly due to space constraints, there was no live audience but watch parties were mounted by the Kapatid network in various parts of the country, from Laoag to Zamboanga.

The pilot telecast of the veteran trio’s program successfully appealed to emotion, especially during the opening part.

Captured on live television were TVJ entering the TV5 hallways, teary-eyed and at one point, hugging each other, before proceeding to do their opening numbers, such as the OPM classic, Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal, composed by Tito and written by Joey for the VST&Co.

At one point, over 300,000 viewers tuned in to TV5’s Facebook and over 240,000 to TV5’s YouTube channel.

Showtime

As expected from a Vice Ganda show, It’s Showtime, on the other hand, went for pomp and pageantry.

It used the GMA headquarters in Kamuning to full effect, with Vice landing via chopper on GMA’s helipad to a full dance production in front of the station.

The show also guested some of the biggest Kapuso talents to perform alongside its resident hosts.

If anything, it made its point about the “co-production partnership” – the joining of forces between former TV rivals ABS-CBN and GMA.

For Vice, It’s Showtime’s airing on the GMA-owned channel is the “plot twist of the year.”

“Madlang People, eto na yun. Ito na ang inaabangan ng lahat, ang trending na usap-usapan at inaabangan sa social media, ang hindi natin inakalang mangyayari,” he said.

“It is really happening right now, right here, buong bansa at buong mundo, saksi dito sa makasaysayang selebrasyon natin. Wala nang hihigit sa pinakamatinding plot twist ng taon – dahil ang Kapamilya at Kapuso ngayon ay pinag-isa. Kaya naman pasabog din ang pa-welcome natin sa GTV, dito sa It’s Showtime.”

The current hosts of Eat Bulaga, on the other hand, welcomed the latest noontime developments.

Former Manila mayor Isko Moreno congratulated TVJ on their new home. “Tito Sen, Vic and Joey, and their Dabarkads, congratulations sa inyo. Masaya kami may bago na kayong tahanan,” he began.

Eat Bulaga also marked yesterday its “first month” anniversary since the show was revamped.

He also said that they’re happy for the audiences because they have more choices. “At least, ang noontime show ngayon, para nang buffet, marami ka nang choices. Taus-puso, sampu ng aming mga kasama – staff, production, the management of TAPE, Inc. – we warmly welcome and congratulate Tito, Vic and Joey. Congratulations po sa inyo!” he said.

Fellow Eat Bulaga host Paolo Contis also welcomed It’s Showtime to GMA 7, describing them as “neighbors,” not rivals.

“Dahil ngayon kapitbahay na namin kayo, masaya kami na matatawag na namin kayong Kapuso. Kaya kung ano ka man, parte ka man ng Madlang People, kung Dabarkads ka man, kung Kapuso ka man, maraming-maraming salamat.

“Masaya kami na dito kayo. Ang importante, tuluy-tuloy lang po ang pagbibigay namin ng saya dahil ang importante naman ay yung mga viewers natin.

“Welcome to your new home, It’s Showtime.”

Official ratings to determine which show won the most number of viewers yesterday, July 1, usually come two days after the airing date. While it remains to be seen, the presence of three noontime shows on free-to-air broadcast channels is, nevertheless, expected to help boost TV’s reportedly dwindling viewership.

But the events yesterday appeared to have captured the imagination of netizens and lit the social media sphere on fire.

On Twitter, the top trending topics until 7 pm on July 1 were all related to the noontime showdown with hashtags GnaGsaShowtime, TVJonTV5, Vice Ganda, Eat Bulaga, Legit Dabarkads, etc.