Moves and countermoves on late-morning TV

MANABAT. More experienced and accomplished. Photo from joanonuevo.com

GMA 7’s recent decision to give its new child star, Ryzza Mae Dizon, her own daily show has apparently caught the competition off-guard, but moves have speedily been made to address the issue.

For instance, ABS-CBN’s popular “Minute to Win It” game show now fields younger players by way of its new “junior” edition —and, the hit teleserye, “Be Careful With My Heart,” has adjusted its time slot.

As for Ryzza’s show itself, it’s getting decidedly mixed notices, with its supporters raving about the new child star’s masa appeal and ability to interact with a great variety of adult guests.

On the other hand, the pint-sized host sometimes gets in over her head, there’s too much “dead air,” and some adult guests have bombed on the show.

What can’t be denied is that the new daily program has altered the programming equation on the late-morning TV scene, with child performers coming on strong as the new element to beat.

Initially, this would appear to be a logical and welcome development, since children and family fare are what the daytime and specifically morning TV hours should be about.

Prevalence

However, the prevalence of sexy dancers and “macho” hosts on noontime programs make for a bad mix for child talents, who unintentionally pick up smart-alecky notions from their adult counterparts that definitely don’t suit them.

DIZON. Spontaneity and flair for comedy. Photo from www.facebook.com

For instance, this early, Ryzza’s show is being criticized for encouraging some of its adult guests to kid the pint-sized host about her “crushes,” and Ryzza herself has asked her guests “cute” questions about theirs.

Goodness, the kid is only 7 years old, so give her a break! —And steer absolutely clear of topics like romantic love. Ryzza and her show’s very young viewers should have more age-appropriate things to think and talk about.

Last Wednesday, ABS-CBN led off at around 10 a.m. with “Wansapanataym-Summer,” starring its best child talent, Xyriel Manabat, in a fantasy dramatization in which inspiring life lessons are taught and learned. This was followed by the junior “Minute to Win It” show, then by “Showtime.”

On TV5, a Koreanovela series was followed by a cooking show, then by Marvin Agustin’s “Karinderya Wars,” leading up to Willie Revillame’s noontime show.

And, on GMA 7, another Koreanovela was the preprogramming for Ryzza’s show, which in turn preprogrammed “Eat Bulaga,” the show that discovered her.

It was interesting to see Xyriel and Ryzza performing on different channels on the late-morning time slot. Xyriel was clearly the more experienced and accomplished talent, but what Ryzza had going for her was her spontaneity and uninhibited flair for comedy.

On the other hand, her show gave her too much to do on her own, so she sometimes lost focus and tempo. Her guest that day, Judy Ann Santos’ mom, was too laid-back to be of much help to her in keeping the show consistently bubbly and fun.

We still look forward to the day when Ryzza’s guest is Vic Sotto, one of the people who discovered and built her up. He would know best of all how to most effectively “showcase” her! Under his careful mentoring, she could finally come into her own. Make it happen—soon!