MUHLACH. Star-making mileage.
The recently-concluded fantaserye, “Inday Bote,” had a good run. The successful series furthered the careers of some of its regular cast members, like ingenue lead Alex Gonzaga, Alonzo Muhlach as its youngest resident elf, Nikki Valdez as his ever-loving mother, and Alicia Alonzo as Alex’s grandmother.
Unfortunately, some other regular players didn’t fare as well: Aiko Melendez came on too strongly and viciously as the series’ main villain.
And the show’s male lead, Matteo Guidicelli, came across as too much of a mama’s boy to make a compelling screen consort to the feisty Alex—an opportunity sadly missed.
All told, it’s young Alonzo Muhlach who got the most mileage and traction from the show.
But, a recurring problem on TV these days is: What to do with a child talent after he or she clicks with viewers in a special way.
For instance, Jana Agoncillo was similarly a precocious sensation in her recent TV starrer, “Dream Dad”—but, what’s she done after that starmaking role? —Not much.
With so many series now starring children as leads, more young stars will soon be expectantly waiting for their attention-calling follow-up vehicles, so Jana and Alonzo’s backers and handlers should act now.
—What about a follow-up film for both new child stars? It would be hitting two birds with one stone, so it feels like the expedient thing to do!