NIEVERA
When Martin Nievera launched his late-night talk show on ABS-CBN, hopes were high that it would make the neglected format popular again, like it was in the ’70s and ’80s. Sadly, however, less than robust ratings indicate that has yet to happen, so Martin and his show should redouble their efforts to tickle today’s viewers’ fancy.
For his part, Martin pleads for stronger support from his home channel, so we trust that everybody’s on the same page on this score from here on in, to assure the program’s success.
Having caught the talk-magazine show several times in the past, we know that savvy selection of guests is a key consideration. Martin may be an experienced “motor mouth,” but if the persons he’s talking to are less than smart and quotable, the chatfest sags instead of sizzles.
So, we were happy when we watched the program again last Friday, May 3, and saw that Martin’s guest was Vice Ganda, whose feisty way with words is well-known. Definitely, we were in for a smart and sassy conversation.
In addition, it turned out that Martin and his guest were “copacetic” with one another. The host was more willing than usual to enter into his flamboyant guest’s world, and even went to the extent of teetering about in Vice’s really stratospheric high-heeled shoes!
For his part, Vice was gamely forthcoming about his “social” life and his love for gender-bending relationships, so the show’s viewers were in for a “winking” and sometimes even verbally graphic good time—whether they liked it or not.
VICE GANDA
Expectations
Well, the program’s “witching hour” time slot was conducive to frank and even funky talk, so viewers with less than adventurous proclivities and expectations could always switch the TV set off—and go to sleep!
Since Vice Ganda hosts his own late-night show on Sundays, he knew how to keep the talk and temperature hot and spicy from start to finish. Even better, he was “game” enough to agree (after the fact) to be punked by Martin’s staffers, who connived with Vice’s people to subject the popular personality to the “unexpected” importunings of a bunch of guys who were out for a cheap handout!
It’s a good thing that Vice was in a good and giving mood, because he kept his cool as his visitors added more items to their list of “requests,” and even did a sexy dance around him!
Eventually, of course, the yowling cat was pulled out of the bag, and Vice realized that he had just been punked—and skunked! To his credit, he still kept his cool, prompting us to realize that he must be very happy with his life these days!
Best of all, the evening ended with Martin and Vice singing a song together—a bonus and icing on the cake (plus cherry!) that viewers loved.
Trouble is, Vice was such a great guest that Martin now really has to hustle to find other celebrity chatmates who won’t suffer in comparison to him. So, can we expect to see the similarly sassy and quotable like of Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Tessie Tomas, Lorna Kapunan, Fritz Ynfante, Nikki Ross, Ali Sotto, Willie Nepomuceno and Mitch Valdes guest on the show real soon—if it goes on to its second season?