Sharon-Ogie show enlivened by disarming features

CUNETA AND ALCASID. Cohost “The Mega and the Songwriter.”

Last Sept. 30’s telecast of TV5’s “The Mega and the Songwriter,” topbilling the new TV tandem of Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid, was a viewing and listening treat, for various reasons.

First, the program’s hosts are comfortably “copacetic” with one another: They’re both secure in their abilities, so there’s no upstaging involved.

Their efforts merit our support because, if they’re successful, other producers could think of reviving the dormant TV musical-variety format with new shows of their own.

At the height of its popularity on local TV, the musical program type boasted of glittering weekly showcases for the pioneering likes of Dee Marquez, Pilita Corrales, Carmen Soriano, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Baby Barredo, Carina Afable, Joey Albert, Alma Moreno, Dayanara Torres—etc.

Alas, these days we mostly have to make-do with cable shows and dance tilts like “So You Think You Can Dance?” to get our musical highs. Well, Ogie and Sharon’s new show is making up for that slack.

Aside from its reliable musical star-hosts, the program is enlivened by disarming features like its recent special guest, the “elevator girl” who’s a YouTube sensation, Cheridel Alejandrino.

Most elevator operators do their work without calling attention to themselves, but Cheridel is such an outgoing person that she can’t pass up the opportunity to interact with her passengers.

She informs them about the shops on the floor coming up, and comes up with entertaining banter and snippets of songs, generally making the brief trip up or down a fun way to travel!

Much like those traffic jocks who do a dance or jig as they direct traffic, Cheridel transcends the limits of her humdrum work, and makes it more eventful and entertaining, not just for herself but also for the bemused strangers she interacts with.

Incidentally, this is turning out to be the elevator girl’s month on the tube: Not only did she guest on Sharon and Ogie’s program, but her life story was also recently dramatized on “Maala-ala Mo Kaya,” with Meryll Soriano portraying her—to a T!

Cheridel’s portion with Ogie on “The Mega and the Songwriter” was made even more special when Ogie wrote a new novelty song for her, which he and Cheridel performed.

The number came off well, and Ogie was obviously very taken with his special guest, who had him in stitches with her spontaneous remarks and upbeat view of life!