Hits and misses

SORIANO. Newfound ability to express herself with cool confidence.

We were pleasantly surprised—and impressed—recently when we saw the “new and improved” Meryll Soriano being interviewed on TV. We’re used to seeing Meryll playing a wide range of gutsy characters in film and TV productions, but the Meryll we saw this time around was being herself, not playing a role. Instead, for a change, she was talking about an exhibit and book of photographs of the city of London that were shot—by her!

Yes, Meryll turns out to have studied in London and become a good photographer, to boot, hence her new “reintroduction” to the viewing public as a visual artist with a penchant for taking strikingly observed pictures.

Meryll’s recent TV appearance was made even more remarkable by her newfound ability to express herself articulately and with cool confidence. All those months spent living and studying in London have definitely added to her persona and cachet—and that’s all to the good.

Will the “new” Meryll also manifest her “improved” persona in the screen characters she essays? Let’s wait and see!

‘The Half Sisters’

From hit to miss: The concluding teleserye, “The Half Sisters,” has ended up being neither here nor there in advancing the careers of its young leads, due to a number of casting gaffes: Its young leading lady, Barbie Fortaleza, plays the kawawa card too unrelievedly, making viewers also feel miserable in the process, but for different reasons.

Another turn-off is the portrayal of Jean Garcia as Barbie’s blind mother. Several times in the series’ storytelling, the opportunity has presented itself for her to be medically helped to get her sight back, but she has opted to remain in the dark and thus unable to protect her poor daughter, so we’re irritated by that, as well.

Then, there are the utterly and unrelievedly villainous portrayals turned in by Thea Tolentino and Ryan Eigenmann, adding even more to our dissatisfaction.

The unkindest cut of all is the decision to pair small, insipid Barbie with tall and goodlooking Andre Paras—and to make her keep foiling his earnest, adoring advances, to boot! It’s the height of improbability and incredulity, and we pity Andre for having to put up with the sour and surly treatment. Let’s hope that the next production he topbills will treat him much more fairly—and believably!

Feedback

Vern Collantes is impressed by the success of Fil-Am cinematographer Matthew Libatique, especially his constant collaboration with ace filmmaker Darren Aronofsky.

Some career notes: Matthew took up cinematography at AFI Conservatory and did some music videos before teaming up with fellow AFI alumnus Aronofsky on a short film (“Protozoa”).

They then collaborated on Aronofsky’s first full-length features—“Pi,” “Requiem for a Dream” and “The Fountain.” Libatique was also director of cinematography on “Tigerland,” “Phone Booth,” “Gothika,” “Iron Man 1 and 2,” “Black Swan,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Ruby Sparks” and “Noah.”

Long-running shows

We join many televiewers in celebrating the fact that “Saturday Night Live” is marking its 40th season on the tube, still as funny and edgy as ever, and producing new batches of comics who are destined to join the stellar ranks of its many famous alumni.

Also being feted is the pioneering documentary show, “60 Minutes,” which is still coming up with incisive features on key topics that other shows avoid because they’re too tough or hot to handle.

Yes, some of the docu-magazine show’s hosts are long in the tooth and even wizened, but they are as gutsy and brilliantly analytical as ever, so the fact that they’re now senior citizens shouldn’t be taken against them, and should instead be considered a decided plus for the show!

We would also like to celebrate the return to regular TV program hosting of Meredith Vieira, who left the plum “Today” show on NBC to take care of her ailing husband, but is now hosting a new talk show.

Despite her new program, she still finds time to do stories for “60 Minutes,” as does another broadcast journalist of stellar popularity and clout, CNN’s Anderson Cooper.