Tito Sotto
Amid talks of a revamp of “Eat Bulaga,” former Senator Tito Sotto said that the longest-running noontime show is “here to stay.”
Earlier this month, the show was rumored to be involved in internal conflicts where producer Tony Tuviera was being “kicked out” of the show — to which Sotto as well as fellow veteran hosts Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon have expressed their dismay, as alleged by columnist Cristy Fermin.
Tuviera is one of the owners of the production company Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), which handles “Eat Bulaga.” It was then alleged that the executive’s business partner, former Congressman Romy Jalosjos, is planning to remove the former from the company and take over the noontime show.
Sotto, however, went on to confirm to broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez in a March 12 episode of her show “Korina Interviews,” that the show is “here to stay.”
“Oh, we’re there. ‘Eat Bulaga’ is there. Tito, Vic, and Joey, siguro ‘yung mga lumalabas na kwento at kung ano-ano, hindi ko na lang ia-address kasi ano-ano na ‘yung lumabas eh. Perhaps, the important thing to say is that Eat Bulaga is here to stay,” he said.
(Oh, we’re there. “Eat Bulaga” is there. I choose to not address the rumors surrounding Tito, Vic, and Joey because a lot of stories have been made about the issue. Perhaps, the important thing to say is that “Eat Bulaga” is here to stay.)
When asked by Sanchez on how long the show has lasted, the host-politician noted that “Eat Bulaga” is set to mark its 45th anniversary on July of this year.
“44 years. In July, it will be running for 45 years. The name ‘Eat Bulaga’ was coined by Joey, he owns it. The song was created by Vic, he owns it. So, ganoon talaga, and ako ‘yung manager (It’s really like that, and I’m the manager),” he said.
During the interview, Sotto was also asked about the longevity of the “Tito, Vic, and Joey” mass appeal in “Eat Bulaga,” and what made their tandem a hit among the Filipino masses.
“Siguro sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’ ang pulso namin kung ano ‘yung kagat sa tao, gusto nila, wala kaming portion na hindi gusto ng tao. Kapag may portion kami na gusto, hindi namin ipipilit kung mahina ang response. We try to feel the pulse of the people,” he said.
(I guess in “Eat Bulaga,” we try to listen to what the people want and what makes them tick. We don’t have any show portions that people don’t like. If ever there’s something that doesn’t seem to get the attention of the viewers, we’re not going to force our way. We try to feel the pulse of the people.)
Sotto appeared to have commented about the noontime show’s supposed rebranding on Instagram last March 3, where he shared a photo of himself with Tuviera. “Tito and Tony last night! Who says we’re splitting?” he said in the caption.
Tito, Vic, and Joey also caught the attention of netizens on the March 4 episode of “Eat Bulaga” where they performed the show’s theme song, known for its lyrics “Isang libo, isang tuwa, buong bansa, ‘Eat Bulaga.’” EDV