One-two punch for ‘ToMiho’

TOMIHO: Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida

For quite a while now, we’ve been waiting for “the other shoe to fall” in relation to the new ToMiho love team of Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida. After they met and fell in love on “Pinoy Big Brother 737,” they were launched as a romantic tandem, but it’s been months since a launching project has been thought of for them—so, what really gives?

They have been featured on “Maalaala Mo Kaya” in an episode about Miho’s formative years in Japan, but that doesn’t constitute an “official” launch. Neither did the regular follow-up focus they got for a time on “It’s Showtime,” which was concluded after sometime.

This month, however, the other shoe appears to have finally fallen, because ABS-CBN has whipped up an afternoon drama series, “Langit Lupa,” for the ToMiho tandem.

In their new TV show they share stellar billing with Jairus Aquino, Sharlene San Pedro, Jason Abalos, Yam Concepcion and Patrick Garcia.

To make an even bigger “official” show biz entrance, Tommy and Miho’s handlers have also announced the production of their very first film, Regal’s “Never Been Touched, Never Been Kissed.” The movie also topbills Angeline Quinto and Jake Cuenca.

The TV-film “one-two punch” is especially attention-calling, so we trust that local show biz’s latest screen tandem lives up to all the hope and hype that’s been surrounding it.

At first blush, we weren’t all that “sold” last year when the ToMiho tandem was firmed up after “Pinoy Big Brother.” We felt that Miho was too mature for the fresh-faced Tommy, especially in the light of the fact that she already had a 5-year-old child.

But some key people seem to believe in the tandem’s stellar and romantic viability, despite its obvious dissonances, because their prospects haven’t diminished, and have in fact just been firmed up.

Come to think of it, perhaps those dissonances themselves could be a factor working for their “unexpected” pairing. The fusion of two unlikely and even contrary players could precisely be an unusual viewing attraction, particularly for older women who emphatically dream of finally finding happiness with a younger beau.

It all depends, of course, on how “Langit Lupa” will showcase its new stars. If it does go into an “opposites attract” direction in an insightful, believable and “identifiable” way, it could work. If, on the other hand, it goes on the usual idealized “fantasy-romance” mode, it could turn viewers off instead of on. So, we’ll be waiting and watching to see how this new TV cookie crumbles.

As for ToMiho’s new film, the fact that they share stellar billing in it with Angeline and Jake makes it even less easy to “shape” and “focus” for Tommy and Miho’s specific career objectives. So, fingers crossed!