Vice Ganda. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
TV host-comedian Vice Ganda revealed that “It’s Showtime” has no ill feelings toward Tito and Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ), as the trio’s upcoming show is set to take over TV5’s noontime slot previously occupied by the Kapamilya variety program.
In his interview with GMA entertainment correspondent Aubrey Carampel on “24 Oras” Wednesday, Vice Ganda said they bear no bad feelings with TVJ’s transfer to the Kapatid network. The move’s ripple effect resulted in the decision of the TV5 management to go with TVJ instead of with “It’s Showtime” at its original timeslot.
“We don’t feel bad sa TVJ, wala kaming anong gano’n ha (We don’t have ill feelings),” Vice Ganda said.
The “Praybeyt Benjamin” star, however, admitted to feeling sad for the show’s staff after they were informed of the possibility that “It’s Showtime” will no longer air on TV5.
“Siyempre, nalungkot din kami, kasi siyempre, ‘yung hindi namin alam kung sa’n kami mapupunta… ano na’ng mangyayari. So, naaawa ako do’n sa mga tao, sa staff namin kasi sobra na silang naguguluhan,” Vice Ganda shared.
(Of course, we were also saddened because, of course, we did not know where we’ll be going… what’s going to happen. So, I felt bad for the people, for our staff because they were already so confused.)
During the June 20 media conference of TV5 following the formal contract signing with TVJ and the rest of the original “Eat Bulaga” mainstays, TV5 president and CEO Guido Zaballero said how it was provident that as ABS-CBN’s contract with the network for “It’s Showtime” was about to end by June 30, they decided to offer them the 4:30 P.M. window. Mediaquest executive Jane Basas said this decision was reached as they feel that this timeslot would have been more apt to it’s younger audience, while giving the incoming TVJ show the noontime slot.
The Kapamilya network, however, decided to decline, explaining in a statement how they “value the meaningful relationship we have built and nurtured with our audience in the noontime slot.”
Former Sen. Tito Sotto III, meanwhile, clarified that they had no direct hand in “It’s Showtime” getting “bumped off” their original noontime slot as it was a matter between ABS-CBN and TV5.
READ: Tito, Vic and Joey to coproducecontent with MediaQuest for TV5
With the official announcement of “It’s Showtime’s” transfer to GMA’s GTV Channel, where the Kapamilya program will continue airing on the noontime slot starting July 1, Vice Ganda expressed that he is very grateful to GTV.
“[N]o’ng binalita sa amin [‘yung tungkol sa transfer], siyempre, emosyunal kaming lahat kasi nasa kalagitnaan kami ng lungkot, ‘di ba, ‘yung parang nawalan ka ng tirahan. Tapos, biglang may kukupkop nanaman sa’yo. We feel so special, and we are very grateful to GTV,” said the “Rampa” singer who added that friends from the Kapuso network messaged him right away after the announcement.
(When we were informed of the transfer, of course, we were all emotional because we were in the middle of our sadness, right, that you somehow lost a home. Then suddenly, there’s someone again who’s going to take you in.)
Vice Ganda is firm about not taking the opportunity given by GTV for granted, saying, “E kailangan maghanda…Siyempre, hindi namin sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataong ibinibigay sa amin ng GTV, at ‘yung suportang — ‘yung pagpapahiram nila sa’min ng matitirahan. (We need to prepare. Of course, we won’t waste the opportunity that GTV is giving us, as well as the support — their lending us of a home.)
On the same day of the announcement, the “Unkabogable Star” took to Instagram to reassure his “It’s Showtime” family that they will be able to get through the situation they are in, reminding them of the love of their fans— the “madlang people” — whose heart is their “totoong tahanan” (real home). EDV