Overwhelming show of force–and love

THE “ALDUB” phenomenon, now all of 8 months old, is seen by some to be tapering off—but, if you watched “Eat Bulaga’s” birthday bash for its Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) last March 5, you would definitely disagree.

AlDub may be on the wane, but “Maine fever” appears to be as hot as ever—at least, as far as her many fans and fan clubs around the country and the world are concerned!

They were all present and accounted for by way of video clips greeting Maine a happy 21st birthday from here, there and everywhere, in a seemingly endless montage that must have made her year.

To her and “EB’s” credit, Maine wasn’t just on the receiving end of her fans’ adulation and love, she also had musical surprises in store for them. Some of them were carefully conceptualized, rehearsed and performed, indicating that her overwhelming success wasn’t being taken for granted by the show, which has gotten top ratings and viewership due to its lovey-dovey kalyeserye portion.

In particular, we enjoyed Maine’s big, solo showcase, full of energy, happy vibes and lots of visual trickery that must have been difficult to execute—but came off with nary a hitch.

Other numbers were less successful and effective, including an overlong interlude involving Yaya’s Alden, but no major harm was done.

Indeed, the studio audience was in seventh heaven and on cloud nine when Alden playfully and ardently stole “more than a smack” from Maine, who was “caught offguard” by his romantic “trickery.”

—Whereupon, Maine’s family members swooped down on them, wagging their fingers at Alden, who blushed and goofily begged forgiveness for his “accidental” osculatory coup. —What frisky fun!

What’s up next for the show and its resident “teen-but-now-20s” tandem? Maine may still be flying high, but if it’s true that the show’s ratings are tapering off, it’s time to conclude the daily segment while the concluding’s good.

—Which is not to say that it’s “The End” for the still popular tandem, since it can easily, breezily spin off into a rom-com series of its own, plus a solo film starrer, to follow up on their MMFF blockbuster.

Maine’s film prospect ties in perfectly with her stated birthday wish to make it as a movie star—so, why not fast-track it before 2016 ends? Obviously, she has more than enough fans who will be only too willing, eager and able to make it a big hit.

It would be even better, of course, if it turned out to be a very good movie, as well! So, we hope that GMA Films will tap the best writer and director to pull it off, to add to Maine’s cachet, not just as a popular star, but also as a good thespian.