Joey de Leon on what to expect from TVJ’s partnership with MediaQuest
MANILA, Philippines — Joey de Leon shared what viewers can expect from the return on air of TVJ, his popular trio with Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto, along with the other Dabarkads, via TV5.
On Wednesday, MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., the firm that owns and runs the Kapatid network, issued a statement saying it has entered into an agreement with TVJ to “produce content for TV5 and other MediaQuest platforms.”
MediaQuest president and CEO Jane Basas said they felt honored that the pillars of the Philippine entertainment industry have agreed to work with them.
“Our partnership strengthens our ability to continue to deliver the best for Filipino viewers here at home and all over the world,” said Basas.
“I’m happy that Tito, Vic, and Joey will now call TV5 their home.”
The announcement came a week after the public feud between the original hosts of Eat Bulaga and the producers of the country’s longest-running noontime show, TAPE, Inc., came to a head last May 31.
On Eat Bulaga’s social media channels, TVJ stunned audiences when they announced that after 43 years, they were cutting ties with TAPE, which still has a blocktime agreement with GMA 7 until 2024. The rest of the hosts — Ryan Agoncillo, Allan K, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros — followed suit and tendered their resignation on the same day.
One week after the controversy-laden parting of ways, TVJ partnered with MediaQuest and found a new home in TV5.
In a separate one-on-one interview with The STAR on Wednesday, a grateful Joey said, “Co-produced kami. Kami ang bahala ng laman ng show at iba pa. Sila (MediaQuest) ang bahala sa the rest.”
The show, which Tito Sen said in a Pep report will still carry the name of Eat Bulaga despite a trademark war with TAPE, is set to start airing anytime soon. After airing reruns, TAPE resumed Eat Bulaga last monday with new hosts.
“(Sabi nila) ‘di ba parehong nakakahiya, dalawa kayong nag-eere, pareho ang pangalan? O kaya ‘di mo na gagamitin, ginagamit nila, pero alam ng tao na for more than four decades kayo yun?” Joey, who was the one who coined the title Eat Bulaga, said. “Hindi ako na-bo-bother.”
The program will air live from the TV5 headquarters in Reliance in Mandaluyong City.
Asked if audiences can start watching them next week on TV, Joey told The STAR, “Palagay ko mga ganun. Kasi inaayos pa. Nabanggit naman nila maliliit lang yung studio sa Reliance, so ‘pag sinamasama mga tatlo, kahit papaano medyo malaki yung opening (number).
“Sabi namin basta importante, masaya yung show, yung na-miss nila kasi nakaka-miss din talaga.”
Viewers can also expect the same but upgraded portions that Eat Bulaga popularized like Pinoy Henyo and Bawal Judgmental.
Joey said that even though he’s used to these portions, he still enjoys them because they’re “informative”.
“Ang dami naming natutunan dun, lalo na sa Bawal Judgmental kasi mga topics dun mahirap hawakan (sensitive). Kaya bilib ako kina Ryan, Maine, Jowapao (Jose, Wally and Paolo), kahit nagko-comedy, pag-nagtanong sila, although minsan fini-feed sila ng writers ng mga tanong, sanay na sila. Especially, sensitive topics, they know what to ask,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was a “long” decision to depart from TAPE, Inc., he said. According to him, it wasn’t until they planned on talking and were “prohibited” to broadcast live — they eventually opted for their social media channels — on May 31 that they finalized their decision. “Sabi nga ni Tito, tinulungan pa tayo na mag-decide. Kaya natuloy.”
One week later, they announced that they officially joined TV5 through a partnership with MediaQuest. Personally, TV5 has the “most weight” for Joey because he previously spent some 20 years with the network doing the gag show Wow Mali.
He added, “Actually, kahit ano, pero mas may weight sa TV5. Gusto ko lang gumawa ng record sa buhay ko na tatlong network napuntahan natin, gawin na natin apat. Malabo na yung lima siguro kasi sinusukat ko yung dami ng networks at saka dami ng presidente na dinaanan. Naka-walong president na kami. Pagdating namin ng 50 (years), computed na nine presidents and four networks. Magandang record yan, pwede ka ng mag-relax. Mahilig kasi ako sa record lists. I’m a sucker for records.
“But yeah, (TV5) has weight kasi sanay na ako. Alam natin yun yung mga malalaking networks. Lahat naman nagpakita ng (interest). Nung nagkagulo, nag-anohan sila sa amin. Sabi ni Tito, uy tumawag si ganun, si ganyan, eh hindi naman natin kayang gampanan lahat yun. Kung pwede nga lang na ka (stream) sa lahat, eh hindi naman pwede.
“So, finally after one week, we were able to decide. We will start in a few days. Yes (immediately). Hindi na namin papatagalin kasi hinahanap na rin ng mga katawan namin. Ang maganda nito, we’re already airing during our 44th anniversary and the wedding of Maine. So yun yung mga big events na aabangan niyo.”
Joey likened the move to TV5 as transferring to a brand-new house. “Parang bagong bahay din na kakalipat mo lang, masarap yung amoy ng pintura, ‘di mo alam saan maglalagay ng painting, ganun ang feeling namin eh. Mabilis din naman kami nakapag-decision. Nagawa namin maka-decide, ‘O ano, lipat?’ ‘Lipat tayo.’ ‘Bumabaha tayo, lipat tayo.’ Ganun ka bilis.
“However, emotionally… mukhang marami pa kaming iiyak siguro. Siguro yung luha because of saya (happiness) na nagawa namin ito, and No. 1, ang saya na-fi-feel namin lahat ngayon.
“I’m speaking on behalf of everyone, that the support of people, here and abroad, from all ages, nakakatuwa pag-binabasa mo. Siempre ‘di mawawala yung mga ilang bashers na mga galit sayo. Pero ang dami at saka ang ganda ng mga sinasabi, yung mga katwiran nila, overwhelming! Over talaga!
“Sabi ko nga kay Tito and Vic, nakakatuwa talaga kung iisipin mo, biro mo itong tanda nating ito, dapat retired na siguro, ngayon pa tayo pinag-uusapan ng mga tao, pinagkakaguluhan.”
“Actually, it’s a gift,” Joey said, further reflecting on the turn of events. “Kami pa nga ang nabibiyaan kasi nalaman namin ganun pala kami kamahal ng maraming tao.”
Is their show going to be back-to-back with It’s Showtime, the Vice Ganda-led ABS-CBN noontime show that’s also being aired on TV5?
“Kapatid na namin sina Vice, kasama na namin (on TV5)…,” he said.
“But the positioning, the schedule, hindi pa (napag-usapan). Pag-usapan pa nila Tito. Bahala sila (it’s up to them) we trust them. Kung ano bigay ng MediaQuest, okay lang sa amin.”
Nevertheless, Joey said they’re praying for a noontime timeslot. “Siempre dinadasal namin kami ang tanghali, kami ang 12 noon talaga, pero hindi natin alam.”
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