(From left) Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon. Image: Screengrab from Facebook/Eat Bulaga
“Eat Bulaga” mainstay hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon — also known as TVJ — have wrapped up the Mar. 4 episode of the longest-running noontime show, amid talks of its supposed rebranding among the show’s producers and hosts.
Rumors about the noontime series’ supposed internal conflict surfaced on social media after columnist Cristy Fermin alleged that an “executive” was being kicked out from the show, while Tito, Vic, and Joey are said to have been planning to join the aforementioned executive. “Eat Bulaga” has yet to confirm nor deny the speculations, as of this writing.
Minutes after the show’s “Little Miss Grand Finals” segment, hosts Ryan Agoncillo and Allan K called up Tito, Vic, and Joey to sing its popular theme song to end the show’s Mar. 4 episode. The song is noted for its lyrics “Isang libo, isang tuwa, buong bansa, ‘Eat Bulaga!’”
“At eto na nga, Allan. Ang ating mga judges, musicians, and hosts, the OGs (originals) and legit Dabarkads (barkada or friends), TVJ! Tito, Vic, and Joey,” Agoncillo said before the three mainstays went onstage.
Following Tito, Vic, and Joey’s rendition of the show’s theme, the hosts and audience erupted into cheers as they talked about where the song “Eat Bulaga” came from.
“Para sa mga kabataan at sa mga mas bata pa sa kanila, nililinaw ko lang na ang nag-compose ng kantang ‘Eat Bulaga’ ay si Vic Sotto. Ang nag-imbento ng salitang ‘Eat Bulaga’ ay si Joey de Leon,” Tito said, as he joked that he’s the show’s “manager.” (For our youth audiences and those who are younger than them, I just want to clarify that the composer of “Eat Bulaga” is Vic Sotto, while Joey de Leon was the one who invented the word “Eat Bulaga”.)
Fans expressed their support for the show in the comments section, with some even hoping that it would “last forever.”
Image: Screengrab from Facebook/Eat Bulaga
Prior to this, De Leon appeared to laugh off the rumors of the show’s rebranding on Instagram on Friday, March 3, but he noted that he is still delighted with the fact 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! Thanks,” he said.
Vic and Joey also made an appearance on the pilot episode of Tito’s new program “Reality Check” on NET25 on the same day, which is said to be the latter’s “form of public service” after ending his term as a senator. It can be recalled that Vic and Joey also have their own shows on the same network.
Produced by TAPE Inc., “Eat Bulaga” aired its premiere episode in July 1979 with Tito, Vic, and Joey as the original hosts. Among its current cast members include Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo, Allan K, Paolo Ballesteros, and Maine Mendoza, among others. EDV