Joey de Leon and Tito Sotto. Image: Instagram/@angpoetnyo, @helenstito
“Eat Bulaga” hosts Joey de Leon and Tito Sotto have commented on the supposed “rebranding” of the longest-running noontime show, which was said to have rooted from an internal conflict among the show’s producers.
Such rumors arose among netizens after columnist Cristy Fermin alleged that an “executive” was being “kicked out” of the show—a move that mainstay hosts De Leon, Tito and Vic Sotto are supposedly opposing.
The executive she was referring to was later revealed to be producer Tony Tuviera, one of the owners of the production company Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), which handles the show. Tuviera’s business partner, former Congressman Romy Jalosjos, according to the allegations, is planning to remove Tuviera from the company and take control of the show.
“Mayroon pong internal na problema na nagaganap sa programang ito,” Fermin said during her Cristy Ferminute segment on Thursday, March 2. “[Ang nagpapatakbo sa ‘Eat Bulaga’] po ay isang korporasyon, marami po sila dito sa TAPE Inc. Maraming namuhunan, maraming magkasosyo.”
(There is an internal problem in this program. Those who manage “Eat Bulaga” belong to a corporation. There are several executives in TAPE Inc.—investors and business partners.)
“Pero ang balita, merong isa na mahal na mahal natin, isang ehekutibo na gustong tanggalin, sipain, sa pamamahala ng programa,” she added. (But there are reports that they want to remove or kick out an executive, whom we truly love, from being one of the show producers.)
Fermin cited an insider who apparently disclosed that the show management was already in conflict even before the pandemic. She also said that De Leon, Tito and Vic would leave the show alongside Tuviera should he be kicked out as one of its producers.
While the management of “Eat Bulaga” has yet to confirm or deny these speculations, De Leon shared a report about the “rebranding” rumors and expressed delight that the public is still talking about the show.
“Actually, natatawa at natutuwa ako sa mga pangyayari kasi pinag-uusapan pa rin kami hanggang ngayon!” he wrote on his Instagram page on Friday, March 3. “Thanks!”
(Actually, I find these happenings funny and delightful because people are still talking about us even until now! Thanks!)
Tito, for his part, showed a photo from his recent meeting with Tuviera with the caption, “Tito and Tony last night! Who says we’re splitting?”
Meanwhile, De Leon and Vic will be the celebrity guests of Tito on the pilot episode of his TV program “Reality Check” on NET25 on Saturday, March 4. It can also be noted that both De Leon and Vic have their own respective shows in the said network. /ra