Tito Sotto on TAPE executive’s claim TVJ can’t live without ‘Eat Bulaga’: ‘That statement is false’
Tito Sotto. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Showbiz Now Na!
Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, dubbed as TVJ, appeared to have taken offense when TAPE executive Bullet Jalosjos said that the trio cannot live without “Eat Bulaga,” as the former Senate president noted how they had already made a name for themselves even before they became part of the noontime show.
Tito said this in an interview with showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin for “Showbiz Now Na!” on Thursday, April 27, wherein he addressed once again the statements made by Bullet on the controversy surrounding the show.
Tito was reiterating how he was prompted to speak up to air their side of the story when Fermin asked for his reaction on Bullet’s claim that the trio cannot live without the noontime show.
“Si Vic at si Joey nung pinag-uusapan namin ‘yan, galit na galit. Bakit? Remember, 1979 ang ‘Eat Bulaga’—kami ang nag-create ha—but 1976 ‘Discorama’ na kami. TVJ na kami,” Tito stressed. “Baka hindi pa sila pinanganganak no’n kaya hindi nila alam.”
(Vic and Joey were very mad when we were talking about that. Why? Remember, we created “Eat Bulaga” in 1979 but we were already part of ‘Discorama’ in 1976. We were already TVJ. Maybe they do not know that because they weren’t born yet at the time.)
“1978 ‘Iskul Bukol’—No. 1 primetime show for 10 years in channel 13. Aside from ‘Eat Bulaga,’ si Joey nagkaroon ng mahigit isang dosenang TV shows, hanggang ngayon meron pa rin. Si Vic gano’n din, meron sa channel 2, meron sa channel 7. Ako rin meron—sa ngayon meron kaming tig-iisang programa sa Net25 e,” he continued. “Kaya that statement is false. Papaanong ‘Eat Bulaga’ made TVJ?”
(In 1978, [we were also part of] “Iskul Bukol”—the No. 1 primetime show for 10 years on Channel 13. Aside from “Eat Bulaga,” Joey also has more than a dozen TV shows until now, same with Vic [who had shows] on Channels 2 and 7. I also had shows of my own, and now each of us has our own programs on Net25. So, that statement is false. How can they say “Eat Bulaga” made TVJ?)
When asked who owns the noontime show, Tito maintained, “Kami po ang may-ari ng programang ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Ang may-ari ng TAPE (production company) ay sina Romy Jalosjos. ‘Yun ang alam namin.”
(We own the show “Eat Bulaga.” Romy Jalosjos owns the production company TAPE. That’s what we know.)
During his conversation with Fermin, Tito also revealed that he had a meeting with Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez, who owns the production company Brightlight Productions.
“Maganda ang pinag-uusapan namin, maganda ang offer. I will not speak beyond that kasi ‘yun ‘yung pinag-usapan namin tatlo kagabi,” he said, without giving details on the offer.
(We had a good conversation and the offer was good. I will not speak beyond that because the three of us have already talked about it last night.)
Tito then underscored how “Eat Bulaga” comprises more than half of their lives, and how determined they are to continue the show no matter what it takes.
“Itutuloy namin ‘yon. Ang target namin tatlo ay umabot ng golden, 50 years ang ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Wherever, saan man abutin basta kailangan umabot ng 50 years ‘yon,” he said.
(We will continue [“Eat Bulaga”]. Our goal is for the show to reach its 50th year. Wherever it takes, the show must continue until its 50th year.)
Fermin then asked whether TVJ had ill feelings toward the Jalosjos family, to which Tito replied, “Masama ang loob namin sa nangyayari. Let me just put it that way para hindi naman ako maging offensive.”
(We are dismayed over what’s happening. Let me just put it that way so I won’t be offensive.) /ra
