Coveted hunk stuns influential gay

TROUBLED sweethearts Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez still make each other smile.

Influential Gay has been eyeing Handsome Hunk for the longest time. During a provincial tour, IG made no effort to conceal his desire.

Apparently, IG managed to snag HH with a little help from Stunning Friend, who served as go-between.

Meaning to surprise HH, IG dropped by unannounced at the guy’s pad. It was IG who was stunned instead. He caught HH in bed with Rich Benefactor.

Hell hath no fury … Is this why IG shifted his attention and support to Gorgeous Guy?

Winds of change

BB GANDANGHARI wants to take gender reassignment slowly.

Changes, they are a-brewing over at TV5.

The Sunday variety show “Game ’n’ Go” will be reformatted, as Willie Revillame’s own program, “Wil Time Big Time,” moves to an earlier (noontime) timeslot on Jan. 26, the eve of his birthday.

Sharon Cuneta’s gab fest aired its season ender last week, and Viva and TV5 are now studying two concepts for a new show.

Behind the cameras, a former GMA 7 executive is said to be joining TV5, along with a PLDT boss, according to two different sources.

JENNYLYN Mercado doesn’t want to talk about son’s dad.

Like father, like son

Seems Prolific Playboy has something in common with his Amorous Son. PP and AS allegedly fell for the same girl— Glamorous Celebrity.

Sounds like the plot of a tawdry telenovela, but a mole insists it’s a true story.

Mercifully, the affairs happened years apart. But think about it: GC had no qualms about keeping it in the family!

Ew.

Unfriend

ROBIN Padilla says he loves his brother.

High-powered Insider rubbed Popular Star the wrong way. HI’s brash ways turned off PS big time.

Longtime friends claim HI wasn’t so abrasive in the past—but that was before HI got a taste of fame and fortune.

In any case, HI has lost a prime position and will soon be replaced by Industry Honcho, according to a well-placed source.

Instant karma?

Vilma in Cinemalaya

GERALD Anderson is torn between two girls

If all goes well, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos will finally top-bill a Cinemalaya film.

She was earlier earmarked to act in indie movies directed by Raya Martin (“Independencia”) and Adolf Alix Jr. (“Isda”). This time, all indications seem favorable for the indie film debut of the Star for All Seasons.

Radyo show

For more sizzling show biz news, tune in to “Kliq Showbiz” on Radyo Inquirer.

PAUL Soriano is willing to wait for girlfriend Toni Gonzaga.

Join members of the Radyo Inquirer, Bandera and Inquirer Entertainment teams as they dish out the latest chika and hottest blind items in local Tinseltown, weekdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on dzIQ 990 AM.

Rushes on SMS

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Just type INQ_ON_SHOWBIZ and send to 4467. The service is open to all networks, P2.50 for Smart/Globe subscribers and P2 for Sun.

Top of the talk shows

For those who missed last weekend’s TV gabfests  (And why we are moved, if we are moved):

Regine Velasquez on regaining her voice: “It’s nice to hear my voice! It’s back, konti-konti it’s getting there.” (Ah, the sound of one’s own voice! Don’t get used to it.)

Sen. Bong Revilla on “Indio” costar Jennylyn Mercado: “Si Jennylyn, habang tinititigan mo, lalong gumaganda at napaka-sexy kahit may anak na siya.” (Hmm, sounds familiar. Replay?)

Senator Bong, asked if wife Lani Mercado got jealous of his leading ladies: “Sanay na siya. Trabaho lang, walang personalan ’yun.” (Used to it is not the same as OK with it.)

Sam Pinto on her love life: “Sobrang saya ko na single ako!” (Woohoo!)

Richard Gutierrez on girlfriend Sarah Lahbati: “I think she made my smile more genuine. And I’m very happy.” (Well, that sounds sincere.)

Jennylyn Mercado on Patrick Garcia not visiting their son Jazz too often: “Ayoko na pong pag-usapan!” (Absentee dads are better off out of the picture anyway.)

BB Gandanghari, asked about undergoing sexual reassignment surgery: “More on psychological [consultations] muna … it’s a long process. There was a time na parang minamadali ko. So ang advice sa ’kin is to take it easy.” (Right. Take it easy.)

BB on still having no communication with brother Robin Padilla: “Nakaka-miss ’yung mga family reunions na hindi na nangyayari ever since na nagkaroon ng gap na ganito. Hopefully, there will come a time na magsi-sink in din sa kanya (Robin) ang mga pangyayari.” (Time heals, as they say.)

BB on Robin saying that he misses Rustom: “Natutuwa ako na nami-miss niya si Rustom. But it’s also a rejection of BB. So masakit sa ’kin.” (You said Rustom had died. Mourning takes a while.)

Robin, asked if he and BB have already reconciled: “Wala naman kaming kailangang ipag-reconcile—magkapatid kami, eh. At kami’y nagmamahalan bilang magkapatid.” (As brothers. Got that.)

Paul Soriano on what’s keeping him from proposing to Toni Gonzaga: “Personally, I’m ready. But there are still some things she wants to do in her career. She tells me she probably wants to settle down in her early 30s.” (She could do those things while married; there’s really no excuse.)

Rayver Cruz on why he and ex-girlfriend Cristine Reyes have kept mum about their breakup for so long: “We decided na nung naghiwalay kami, discreet na lang, huwag na lang maingay. Huwag na lang sabihin in public kasi nag-start ang relationship namin na sobrang daming naapektuhan. Sa tingin namin, ganoon ang tama.” (Dude, we totally get it. )

Gerald Anderson, asked if he’s courting Maja Salvador: “Being single, and siya rin single, kumbaga parang anong masama kung yayain ko siyang lumabas? O ano masama kung puwede kaming magkaroon ng pagkakataon para mas makilala ang isa’t isa? I’d love to kung bibigyan niya ako ng chance.” (Korek. This is so not out of the ordinary.)

Gerald on Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador’s rift over him: “Magiging maayos din ’to. Pero it depends sa maturity namin. We have to face this as adults.” (As we said.)

(Startalk, The Buzz)