Pops Fernandez represents the Philippines as one of the judges in “The World’s Best.” —CBS
LOS ANGELES—“This show has gathered the best of the best from all over the world. The performances will make you laugh, cry and more,” promised Pops Fernandez, who represents the Philippines in the panel of international experts who will pick the winner in CBS’ “The World’s Best,” a new global competition series.
Premiering this Sunday in the United States after the Super Bowl, “The World’s Best” is hosted by James Corden.
Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles and Faith Hill are the American judges who, along with Pops and her group who are named the Wall of the World, will choose who eventually gets crowned as “The World’s Best.”
Pops is among more than 50 talents from all over the world—and from various fields, from K-pop, fashion, magic and martial arts to Bollywood—who came to Los Angeles to be part of the Wall of the World.
The Wall of the World, which includes Pops Fernandez, will help select the winner.
The diverse group includes former Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, who figured in that infamous Miss Universe flub by Steve Harvey, UFC legend Anderson Silva (Brazil), Royal Ballet dancer Cecilie Lassen (Denmark), multiplatinum artist Essai Altounian (France), Emmy-winning choreographer Hok Konishi (Japan), award-winning actress Kate Henshaw (Nigeria), actress-TV host Kathy Wu (China), Bollywood choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan (India), magician Stuart MacLeod (Scotland), fashion designer Thai Nguyen (Vietnam) and opera actor William Yuekun Wu (China).
They will judge different acts from various corners of the world, which include the Philippines’ TNT Boys, who are vying for the $1-million prize to be awarded after 10 episodes of competition.
The TNT Boys
Behind the show are producers Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Voice”) and Mike Darnell (“American Idol”) and executive producer and showrunner Alison Holloway (“America’s Got Talent”).
Pops said about this exciting new development in her career: “I had a mixture of emotions when I finally realized that I would be blessed to be chosen as one of the 50 plus judges in ‘The World’s Best.’ It is with great pride that I get to represent the Philippines. I was excited when I heard the news, but quite anxious as well, since they didn’t give full details of how the show will be [played out] and who will be part of it. Then came the nerves because I realized I do not really know anyone there.
“But as soon as I met the other judges and the production team, I knew it would be great. And indeed, it is a wonderful and unforgettable experience. The show is the first of its kind. The acts are truly the best from different countries.”
The singer gushed about the show’s host, the Emmy winner behind “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” “Before I knew who would host the show, I kept telling my friends, if I meet James Corden, I will faint! Thank God, I didn’t, but I was in shock when I found out it was him. I remember not being able to move for a few seconds.
“Then, seeing Drew Barrymore was another story. Drew! I kept saying ‘I love Drew’ every time she entered the stage. Fan mode. Then there is the beautiful Faith Hill and RuPaul. Overwhelming!”
Of the TNT Boys, who are featured in the show’s video teaser, Pops said, “Watching the TNT Boys’ performance brought tears to my eyes. I was so moved by their performance. They will make you all proud!”
She added, “As for the Wall of the World judges, we have all become attached to each other. We constantly communicate, and we love each other. This show has gathered the best of the best from all over the world. The performances will make you laugh, cry and more. But the best part of the show is that it has brought the world together. I am so honored to be a part of ‘The World’s Best.’”
Alberto Belli, who represents Mexico, said of his judging experience with Pops and other experts: “I’m the filmmaking expert on the Wall of the World, so I would value more how cinematic the experience was and how someone could make something extraordinary look easy.
Filmmaker Alberto Belli
“On the other hand, an experienced singer like Pops can easily judge how technically perfect the singer is when I would probably focus on the emotion I got and the arc of the show. That’s what makes the Wall of the World special!”
Alberto, whose early credits include producing “Delikadesa,” Fil-Am Lea Dizon’s short film set in 1980s Manila, said about the new series, “‘The World’s Best’ has exceeded all my expectations! From the breathtaking acts from around the globe, to meeting fellow international judges (we have become close friends!), to seeing how charming Drew Barrymore is, and how James Corden kills it as a host. The audience is in for a spectacular treat. Its main goal is to celebrate how diverse the world is, full of positivism, with acts that transcend the barrier of language.
“My favorite part of the show is enjoying the best international acts in one place. Thanks to the show, I don’t have to travel all over the world to see them. It was also inspiring to be surrounded by a group of experts with very different backgrounds and how each individual can have completely different opinions about the same act because of where they come from and/or what they do.
“The choices of what act makes it to the next round are totally unexpected because, like no other show before, they have 53 (including the three American star judges) voting according to their very distinct backgrounds.”
Alberto admitted, “I’ve shed tears of laughter. I’ve also experienced real emotions. It’s been a roller-coaster of entertainment, and I feel so fortunate to be part of it and representing Mexico in a positive way. Which is absolutely what we need right now!”
James Corden (center) with judges Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles and Faith Hill —Photos from CBS