Caught on camera

Tom Rodriguez (left) and Balang

Viewers of “#Like” on GMA 7 were watching the new TV talent tilt with no unusual “vibes” recently—when something unexpected happened that gave them cause for concern.

Just before he wrapped up the show, program host Tom Rodriguez suddenly felt faint and called for a break in
the taping.

Immediately, program staffers rushed to his side, to see how they could help—and cut to a commercial.

The worrisome moment, caught on-cam, must have alarmed Tom’s fans, but not to fret for long—in only a short time, trouper Tom was back, sufficiently recovered, to conclude the show—perhaps, not with a bang, but certainly not with a whimper.

The jarring viewing experience made us wish that all TV people would take it as a
timely reminder for them to not work so hard to get the rest they need.

All too often, TV taping schedules are too long and stressful for expediency and economical production’s sake, but the welfare of the people involved is more important than any other factor—so, careful.

Some TV-film talents are so “in-demand” that they go from one show’s taping schedule to another program without taking a break, and the stressful pace eventually takes its toll.

We know some really busy stars who are so determined to make hay while the show biz sun blazes that they even insert also profitable quickie “personal appearances” and product endorsements between their regular shooting and taping schedules!

This drives the different shows’ directors crazy, because the multi-moonlighting stars end up being late for everything, all down the line!

This is great for the determinedly driven stars’ bank accounts, but murder on their health, so there inevitably comes the time that the piper has to be paid.

Before that happens, stars and starlets should pay attention to the “warning” signs and portents, like Tom’s recent fainting fit, and get the rest, care and feeding that their bodies and psyches need and deserve.

Aside from TV-film performers, members of the creative and technical staff should also be concerned and forewarned, because some of them are even more highly stressed and pushed to the limit by excessively long and arduous work schedules, with much too few “pit stops” in between.

Just because they don’t have to “look good” for the cameras doesn’t mean that they can run themselves ragged from morn till night to next morn till—etc.!

We know some really busy crew members and even directors who get by only on catnaps for days on end, just to comply with relentless production deadlines and air dates.

This “superhuman” ability and indomitable “can-do” attitude make them their penny-pinching producers’ favorites—but they also tend to be popular with owners of hospitals and funeral parlors!

So, TV-film people, please read the warning signs and handwriting on the wall, before it turns out that what’s being written is an obituary—and it’s about you.