Instructive contrast and context in ‘Got Talent’ compilation show

DAVAO. His latest starrer is eagerly awaited by nostalgia buffs.

With so many franchise spin-offs of the “UK” or “America’s Got Talent” shows being produced all over the world, it was only a matter of time before a “compilation” show made up of choice cuts from those programs would be created.

That “mother” of all “Got Talent” shows, “Planet Got Talent,” is locally viewable on Sundays on AXN.

The telecast of “Planet Got Talent” we caught last month included snippets from franchise holders all over Europe and Asia, including our own “Pilipinas Got Talent.”

One of the local show’s acts edited into the “Planet” compilation was a “female” singing trio that floored the studio audience—by using their deep, male vocal placement!

Toward the end of the telecast, another local talent was featured—a child singer who sang an “old” song in an engagingly period, “crooner” or “balladeer” style.

As for the acts from other parts of the TV planet, there were some real standouts and showstoppers—but there were also “epic fails” that brought the house down—in a funny-pathetic way!

The inclusion of both good and bad acts served to place the talent tilt in instructive contrast and context:

Even the best and most-rehearsed acts can bomb bigtime—if something unexpected happens.

The show’s illustration of this was a fire-eater who dramatically set up his “dangerous” act with great flail and flourish, and then was foiled by the simple fact that—his lighter wouldn’t spark!

After he realized what was happening, he ended up “juggling” his unlit torches in a silly way to draw a few, feeble giggles. So much for his dream of fame and fortune, gone up in (unlit) flame and smoke!

Happily, the telecast also featured much more successful and effective acts—so, we’ll continue to keep an antic eye out for “Planet Got Talent” for more TV tricks and treats from all over the performing and  competing world!

‘DOM’

More queries from readers about the new “DOM” (“Dirty Old Musical”) show, opening at Music Museum on Sept. 1 (call 891-9999, 776-4487 or 721-0635):

A musical-theater buff wants to know what the Spotlight Artist Centre production penned by Rody Vera and directed by Dexter Santos is “about.”

We’ve learned that it deals with “male midlife crisis” and involves the former members of an ’80s male singing group.

It disbanded for a number of reasons, but its now “golden” and “olden” members have decided to come up with a “reunion” performance as a fundraiser to pay for the medical bills of a former member.

The musical is eagerly awaited by nostalgia buffs, because it’s a “jukebox” show featuring well-loved ’70s and ’80s hits (plus three new songs), and has a topnotch stellar cast (Nonie Buencamino, Ricky Davao, Michael Williams, John Arcilla and Robert Seña).

Let’s go out of our way to support its opening performances at Music Museum, so that the new show will enjoy a good, long run—and add to the growing popularity of original Filipino musicals, as opposed to the still more “colonially” preferred “imported” interlopers.