Over-familiarity breeds predictability, boredom

DIXSON. The “excitement quotient” prevails.

The tendency is to use the network’s contract stars, or those freelancers who don’t charge a lot, or comebacking veterans, or fresh discoveries eager to prove that they are the Stars of Tomorrow.

That’s the theoretical matrix. In actual practice, however, many name players aren’t available for one scheduling reason or other, so directors are often forced to keep casting pretty much the same people from series to series.

Solution

The big problem with that solution, however, is it’s a band-aid remedy—and, worse, it quite often shows up how shallow the “overused” stars’ talents are.

Take Mark Anthony Fernandez. He’s still performing in the last, few episodes of “I (Heart) You Pare,” but he’s already in harness for another series, “Munting Heredera, “ which started airing last May 9.

It’s great for Mark Anthony that he’s so “in demand,” but his thespic “attacks” on his two roles offer precious few variations and adjustments.

This is a distinct pity, since both shows are aired nightly, so there’s a lot of opportunity for viewers to get sated or bored.

Even more regrettably, the actor used to be regarded as a dramatic find during his teen years, but he’s lost some of that edgy promise in his late 20s. He’s put on weight, his talent has turned correspondingly sluggish and predictable—and that really is too bad, because there was a time when it was thought that he and his thespic talent were made of sterner stuff.

Predicament

Alas, Mark is by no means alone in his comfortable predicament. Other actors and actresses, like Iza Calzado, Eddie Garcia, Jillian Ward, Jean Garcia, Cherry Pie Picache and Lotlot de Leon are seen much too frequently on the tube, sometimes in “round-robin” fashion, either in series or on guest stints.

Expectedly, the resulting over-familiarity breeds, if not outright contempt, then predictability, ennui and stultifying boredom.

Factor

Other stars have it better. For instance, Susan Roces and Alice Dixson can be seen in only one series, “Babaeng Hampaslupa,” so the “excitement quotient” prevails, as opposed to over-exposed leads’ “suya factor.”

Ditto for Amy Austria, Boots Anson-Roa, Lorna Tolentino, Coco Martin and Ronaldo Valdez on their series, “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.” The show is about to conclude its storytelling, so some of them could resurface on another series.

Well, as long as the new roles they essay are markedly different, that’s OK!