Kris Aquino: Apologetic. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Friday’s taped episode of ABS-CBN’s morning lifestyle talk show “Kris TV” saw its host Kris Aquino in her usual probing and candid self, gushing and laughing heartily as her guests, the riotous ex-couple Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, bantered about their love story in a “tell-all interview.”
It was an entirely different Aquino viewers watched on “TV Patrol” the night before, when she emotionally announced she was quitting show biz.
Before she dropped the bombshell, Aquino profusely apologized for the trouble her sudden resignation will cause her bosses and coworkers in her mother network ABS-CBN, where she currently has three shows.
Aquino also appears in the prime-time drama series “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” and is supposed to sit as judge in a weekly reality talent contest “Pilipinas Got Talent 4,” which will air its first live episode on April 6.
“Kris TV” production manager Jasmin Pallera told the Inquirer that they had already taped episodes in advance but she is not privy as to how many they are, or until what date the program is expected to remain on air.
“Kailangan,” which premiered on Jan. 21, was tentatively set to end on April 19. But due to the unexpected turn of events, it remains to be seen whether Dreamscape, the business unit that produces the soap opera, will cut it short or push through with the original plan, according to a studio insider.
Final episodes
“Everyone’s shocked about what happened,” the source told the Inquirer. “‘Kailangan’ is taped two to three weeks in advance, so you’ll definitely still see her (Aquino) in the coming episodes.”
“We might ask for two to three more taping days from Kris after she gets back from her vacation in Paris so we could complete the final episodes. But still, everything depends on how things will turn out.”
Asked if Aquino will still sit as one of the judges in “PGT 4,” business unit head Joyce Liquicia told the Inquirer that “it’s still uncertain.”
In a press con for “PGT 4” last Feb. 13, Aquino revealed that she was down to the last nine months of her existing contract. However, there is no definite answer from ABS-CBN regarding Aquino’s contractual obligations, or whether she has already filed her resignation.
Thursday’s 30-minute tear-fest on “TV Patrol” did not exactly boost the prime time news program’s ratings. It garnered 22.7 percent while GMA 7’s “24 Oras”—where a brief interview with Aquino was also aired—got 22.9 percent, according to an unofficial copy of Nielsen Media Research Mega Manila ratings sheet for Thursday.