(From left) Bullet Jalosjos, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon. Images: Instagram/@bullet888, Facebook/Eat Bulaga
Dapitan Mayor Bullet Jalosjos, chief finance officer of production company TAPE Inc., said he hopes viewers will give the hosts of the new “Eat Bulaga” a chance, as he addressed naysayers who compared them with Tito and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and the noontime show’s former mainstays.
Leading the new “Eat Bulaga” are hosts Paolo Contis, Cassy and Mavy Legaspi, Betong Sumaya, Alexa Miro and Buboy Villar, who were introduced on Monday, June 5. Their first episode, however, was met with mixed reactions, including Sen. JV Ejercito who pointed out that some of them probably needed to wear nameplates.
During an interview with CNN Philippines’ “The Source” on Wednesday, June 7, Jalosjos admitted that while the new hosts “can never compare” to TVJ, he appealed to the viewers to give the new set of hosts a chance to prove themselves to the public.
“We are not trying to compare. We never intended to compare. We are not here to compare them to our new TV hosts. I will always repeat that we will never beat TVJ. TVJ will always be TVJ. We can never compete with them,” he said.
The TAPE Inc. executive then stressed that the purpose of “Eat Bulaga” is to give a platform to “raw, good talents,” as he claimed that it was “lost along the way.”
“Sana bigyan po kami ng chance para mabigyan din ng opportunities ang bagong stars na makabigay kami ng platform to have them shine. ‘Yun naman ang essence ng ‘Eat Bulaga,’” he said. “Medyo nawala ‘yan along the way. Ang essence ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ is to find raw, good talents and for us to give them the platform.”
(I hope that you can give us a chance to also provide opportunities to new stars to have them shine. That’s the essence of “Eat Bulaga” that was lost along the way. The essence of “Eat Bulaga” is to find raw, good talents, and for us to give them a platform.)
Jalosjos also pointed out that loyal TVJ fans can “always choose” to watch TVJ’s new show, then return to the updated “Eat Bulaga” if they’re looking for “energetic and new faces.”
“If the people want to watch the old TVJ, then they can always look into that channel, pero kung gusto nilang makakita ng mas bago, mas masaya, mas energetic, new faces, they can go back to EB,” he said.
“Sana naman po bigyan niyo naman po ng pagkakataon ang mga talents namin na ipakita [at] mapasaya ang mga taong-bayan during this time. Wala naman po kaming hangarin kung hindi magbigay saya sa ating mga taong-bayan at manonood,” he continued.
(If the people want to watch the old TVJ, then they can always look into that channel. But if they want to see fresher, happier, more energetic, new faces, they can go back to EB. I hope that you can give our talents a chance to show and make viewers happy.)
‘Susuporta ako sa kanila’
Along with former mainstays, Tito, Vic and Joey recently announced their transfer to TV5 after inking a deal with Mediaquest Holdings Inc. However, details about their new show are yet to be disclosed.
When asked about TVJ’s transfer to TV5, Jalosjos stressed that he’s “happy” for the veteran hosts as they found a new home.
“I’m happy na meron na po silang bahay. I’d like to congratulate them for putting up a show this early [sa] TV5, and manonood po ako. Susuporta po ako sa show nila. Kung hindi same timeslot [sa new Eat Bulaga], manonood din po ako sa kanila,” he said.
(I’m happy that they’ve found a new home. I’d like to congratulate them for putting up a show this early on TV5, and I will watch it. I will support their show. If it’s not at the same timeslot as the new “Eat Bulaga,” then I will also watch it.)
The TAPE Inc. executive also spoke about mounting a new show “within five days” following the veteran hosts’ departure from the company, saying he’s “happy” that they managed to pull it off in the nick of time.
“It is what it is. Wala po kaming magagawa. As for now, we have to take it in stride with the work that we have, dito po we’re very happy. We’re happy to [create a] show within five days despite everything that has happened since May 31, medyo madami-dami po ang nangyari,” he said.
“Medyo mahirap ang pag-bangon ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ sa GMA-7, but we’re happy that we put it through, and we’re also happy with them na meron na silang channel na pwedeng ipalabas ang show nila,” he continued.
(It is what it is. We can’t do anything about it. As for now, we have to take it in stride with the work that we have, we’re very happy here. We’re happy to create a show within five days despite everything that has happened since May 31, a lot of things happened. It was hard for “Eat Bulaga” to recover in GMA-7, but we’re happy that we put it through. And we’re also happy with them that they have a channel to showcase their new show.)
Mediaquest Holdings Inc. confirmed TVJ and former “Eat Bulaga” mainstays’ transfer to the network today, June 7, with president and CEO Jane Basas hoping that their partnership will help in providing quality entertainment to the viewers.
“I’m honored that these pillars of the Philippine entertainment industry have agreed to work with us. Our partnership strengthens our ability to continue to deliver the best for Filipino viewers here at home and all over the world. I’m happy that Tito, Vic and Joey will now call TV5 their home,” she said. /ra