More efforted than effective

FROM left: Iya Villania, Tom Rodriguez, Dennis Trillo and Michael V. Popoy Caritativo’s Facebook

The local edition of “Lip Sync Battle” debuted on GMA 7 late last month, with Michael V on top of the zany proceedings.

He’s the right choice of host for this sort of show, due to his versatility and creativity as a comedy-musical performer and impersonator. Thus, when he made his first, format-defining appearance, Michael came up with a series of cross-dressing musical impersonations, along with “sidekick” Iya Villania.

It turned out to be a preview and portent of things to come because celebrity contenders, Tom Rodriguez and Dennis Trillo, ended up doing the same thing in trying to upstage and “out-point” each other.

Everyone got high marks on point of energy and “fun” froth and frolic—but, as the show unfolded, the feeling slowly sank in that lip-sync square-off because the concept could basically be self-limiting.

This is due to the fact that the performers aren’t doing their own singing. This is great and frenzied fun on a car trip with family or friends, with everyone busting a gut screaming along with a rock band.

But when you make the lip-sync exponent go solo and put him up on a stage or in front of TV cameras, the format’s seams and limitations start to betray themselves. That’s why, in lip-sync battles on TV abroad, the emphasis is not just on the antic, frantic performance itself, but on very creative packaging and context.

True, the fact that stars are the ones making gleeful fun of themselves is a plus factor, but it isn’t enough to keep the excitement level as high as it obviously intends to be.

To its credit, “Lip Sync Battle Philippines” did come up with some creative concepts that added to some of its numbers’ viewability.

First off, Tom cross-dressed (a first for him?) to saucily “sell” an already hot number and make it even spicier. But, the outcome was more efforted than effective, because Tom’s hulky, bulky physical frame made him look more matronly than slinkily sexy.

Dennis’ finale number was more successful and effective due to his lighter, leaner frame, plus his superior dancing ability, which was put to good use to “up” the number’s “degree of difficulty.”

This could be the key tip for other stars who join the new TV tilt: Don’t just bank on your lip-sync skill, the impact of which could quickly pall on viewers.

In addition, focus on your other talents—plus uniquely creative staging concepts—to make your performance stand out even more.

Dennis’ final number illustrated this particularly well when he “stripped” in the middle of it, revealing a “nude suit” that brought the house down!

For their part, Michael and Iya also need to work more creatively rather than just enthusiastically, to enable the show to rise above its format’s basic limitations.

Our final note: Given the eventual predictability of seeing and “listening” to stars just pretending to sing, we hope that joining it will motivate them to take voice lessons to improve their real musical talent, so the time will come when they can do their own singing on other TV programs!

In a country where most everybody sings well, stars are practically expected to sing during production promos and personal appearances, so if they do their own singing, that’s a decided career plus-plus-plus!