Super Tekla (left) and Boobay
It’s like going up against “a wall.”
That was how comedians Super Tekla and Boobay described their upcoming, self-titled television show being placed in the same Sunday night time slot as “Gandang Gabi, Vice,” which has been going strong on air for over seven years now.
But they’re not out to compete, they said—they just want to give the audience a new option.
“We have no intention of competing. It’s a management decision. Our purpose is to entertain viewers. At the end of the day, people know what will make them happy, and it’s up to them to go for what they prefer,” Tekla, whose real name is Romeo Librada, pointed out at a recent press conference for “The Boobay and Tekla Show (TBATS),” which premieres on GMA 7 on Jan. 27.
The comedy show, which began as a biweekly online capsule program, will feature various segments, including skits, riotous discussions about pop culture, celebrity interviews and challenges, live pranks and performances, as well as man-on-the-street interviews.
The strong online following of “TBATS,” producers say, inspired them to turn it into a full-blown television show.
“I was very nervous, but grateful more than anything. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I will one day have my own show,” Boobay—Norman Balbuena off-camera—said. “By adapting ‘TBATS’ for television, we will be able to reach a wider audience.”
Tekla was just as thankful, saying that this opportunity came at a trying time in his career. “I was jobless at the time; I had lost my regular stint in ‘Wowowin,’” Tekla said. “I looked for jobs, but I didn’t have many options. So I decided to try this online project. And now it’s on television. It’s true, what they say—when a door closes, another one opens.”
Prior to this partnership, which was GMA 7’s idea, Boobay and Tekla admittedly didn’t know each other personally, and it made them worry about possibly not having onscreen chemistry.
“We worked at different comedy bars and had yet to do a stand-up show together. We didn’t have rapport. But much to our delight, our personalities did jive the more time we spent with each other,” Tekla related, adding that perceptiveness and self-awareness are key to their tandem.
“We’re mindful of each other’s thought process when bantering in front of the camera,” he pointed out. “We know when to listen, we know when to chime in.”
“Tekla is quick at picking up cues and can adjust on the fly,” Boobay added. “And more importantly, he’s selfless. He lets me throw the punchlines, jokes I want, and doesn’t let an exchange end without me being able to contribute something.”
As stand-up comedians, spontaneity is crucial. But you can’t rely on wit alone, stressed Boobay. “Sometimes, you also get tired of the things we say. That’s why we read up on what’s happening around us, and interact with people we encounter in our daily lives. We can draw inspiration from them,” he said.