“It’s Showtime’s” highly anticipated return to the studio and on-air via Kapamilya Channel and Jeepney TV thrilled viewers in and out of the country as it dominated social media chatter and recorded millions of online views.
After three months, hosts Vice Ganda, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Karylle, Jugs Jugueta, and Teddy Corpuz finally reunited on stage, armed with face shields and standing meters apart from each other during the opening number last Saturday (June 13).
“The return of ‘Showtime’ and the airing of Kapamilya Channel is not a solution to COVID-19. It won’t cure the disease, but it can cure some illnesses caused by COVID-19, such as your sadness, your boredom, and the fear you’re feeling now. We will try to take that away from you and put smiles on your faces. So let us come into your homes, because we miss you very much and love you very much,” said Vice, who held back tears while speaking.
Messages of support and love also welcomed the show as it led the trending topics on Twitter worldwide with the #ShowtimeMagkaisayahan and #KapamilyaChannel, and “Kapamilya Forever” and “Showtime is back.”
“To be honest it’s the first time I have laughed this hard in 3 months and it’s all because of Showtime. More power, Showtime!” commented Janice Pring while watching on YouTube. “Watching It’s Showtime helped me in coping up with my depression and anxiety. I’m so glad they’re back,” said Azumi 93.
“The long wait is over our number one and favorite noontime show is finally back. Thank you ABS-CBN for creating a new channel for us to able to watch Kapamilya shows. Hope that someday we will seeing ABS-CBN / Kapamilya Channel on free TV,” posted Twitter user @Artlayug1.
Overseas Filipinos also joined the welcome party online, including @richiecausaren, who posted on Twitter from Indonesia, “Welcome back Showtime family. This proves that we will remain resilient whatever challenges we face. You’ve done so much in helping make OFWs happy.”
During its livestreaming, “It’s Showtime” attracted more than 137,739 concurrent viewers across YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook and earned more than 2.5 million views throughout the entire Saturday (June 13).
The show also introduced new segments that seek to provide Filipinos with joy, relief, and livelihood opportunities, such as “1Ted: Now Hiring,” where Karla Estrada successfully hired a secretary for her Queen Mother Salon. In “Pamilyanaryo,” Caloocan’s Brito family took home P81,000, while the singing battles continued in “Tawag ng Tanghalan.”
According to the hosts, all studio contestants underwent quarantine and rapid testing before coming into the studio.
“It’s Showtime” airs at noon from Mondays to Fridays on Jeepney TV and Kapamilya Channel (SKYcable channel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat channel 2, and most cable operators under the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) nationwide. Check mysky.com.ph and contact cable operators to know the channel assignments in other areas in the country.
While Kapamilya Channel will initially be seen by cable and satellite TV viewers only, ABS-CBN will find more ways to reach more Filipinos and bring news, public service, and entertainment to every Kapamilya around the world.
Livestreaming of the Kapamilya Channel and on-demand viewing of its programs are available on the iWant app and on iwant.ph. For updates, follow @ItsShowtimena on Twitter and like facebook.com/ItsShowtimeNa.
