Moving to its new home, the iconic noontime trio pretty much kept and delivered the same magic they have had in the past four decades.
The battle for noontime supremacy has certainly reached a new high last July 1, with all three strong noontime shows vying for domination. ABS-CBN’s’ It’s Showtime,’ which previously occupied TVJ’s current spot on TV5, now airs on GMA Network’s GTV.
TAPE Inc’s ‘Eat Bulaga,’ now led by the new hosts Paolo Contis and Isko Moreno, still has a lot of catching up to do with the original hosts now gone.
The Legit Dabarkads led by the legendary TVJ now face the challenges presented by its new home—one of which its narrower free TV reach—but proved viewers follow the brand wherever it goes, as reflected by its record-setting peak concurrent viewers on YouTube and Facebook on the show’s pilot episode on TV5.
As debuting shows tend to get extravagant with big production numbers, many highlights of the TVJ show’s pilot were actually with the hosts serving the audience with fun and nostalgic performances. The opening number itself spoke volumes of the show’s intent to create a riveting first impression. Although what the TVJ and the Legit Dabarkads delivered was not totally original at all, the pilot episode was nonetheless very remarkable because of such performances. The tried-and-tested formula that TVJ have been utilizing for the past 44 years still made the new noontime show on fire.
Prior to the show’s pilot airing, many were wondering if the iconic ‘Eat Bulaga’ theme song would be heard again on live television via the new Kapatid noontime show. Imagine their delight when the whole gang sang the song, albeit with few alterations in the lyrics.
It remains to be seen when exactly the show will bring back the segments that made the TVJ-hosted ‘Eat Bulaga’ iconic, but the ones they offered to the viewers during their pilot broadcast were nothing short of delightful. The comedy sketch presented by the cast led by Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto, and Tito Sotto was reminiscent of the old ‘Eat Bulaga.’ There was this sense that everything was not something you have not seen before. There was nostalgia, and for the most part of the show, it kept everything going for a fun ride.
Speaking of keeping the show going, no one could miss how the new TVJ show flexed the massive support it got from various brands. There is pressure, though, to gain wide viewership as these brands depend on such, not to mention the show’s long-term success.
The segments that will make up the new noontime show are also important in keeping the audiences glued. Based on the teasers, it seems that some iconic segments of the original ‘Eat Bulaga’ like ‘Bawal Judgmental’ and ‘Pinoy Henyo’ are making a grand comeback, something loyal viewers will surely look forward to.
While TVJ’s charisma was no longer surprising, the second trio of Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros collectively known as JoWaPao surely delivered a strong support, alongside Maine Mendoza and Ryan Agoncillo.
Overall, the pilot episode of ‘E.A.T.’ (if this is the final title the show will adopt) was such a refreshing entry to the ever-changing noontime TV landscape. Nostalgia was a major force that kept the viewers intrigued and thrilled from the opening to the closing frames, and that seems to be a good indication that future episodes will carry the same energy.
