Kiddie talent tilt needs to get its act together

JEN-JEN. Tops “Anak Ko ‘Yan.”

We watched GMA 7’s kiddie talent tilt, “Anak Ko ’Yan,” quite regularly throughout its run, so after its recent conclusion, we’re able to come up with this detailed evaluation: First off, the young finalists chosen for the months-long star-building and star-making competition were talented, but not really all that exceptionally promising.

The top winner, Jen-Jen, was also our choice on point of singing ability, but her penchant for speaking mostly in English was a debit point.

As for the other bets, James’ fixed, sullen looks and consequent lack of expressiveness was a liability that he should strive really hard to overcome, and Sean’s attempt at comedy were too knee-jerk.

On the other hand, Johnny had a good singing voice, and Dranrei looked good and was a frisky, feisty dancer. Her liability was her occasional penchant for seductiveness—at too precocious an age.

As for the tilt’s mentors and guest trainers, Dulce, who was in charge of the singing, was the best and most helpful of the lot. Jennylyn Mercado didn’t have the “K” to be all that credible and convincing as guide and mentor, and some guest trainors, especially in the acting department, weren’t good thespians themselves, so the “example” they set wasn’t all that helpful. In fact, they occasionally came up with “advice” that was way off the mark and shouldn’t have been followed by their young wards!

Training

Also generally less than helpful was the presence and training provided by the young competitors’ parents, who much too often insinuated themselves and their clashing agendas into the tilt.

Our general observation about the entire “Anak Ko ’Yan” tilt: It was not as ambitious and demanding as it should have been, starting with its choice of finalists and continuing with their training and showcasing. Some of the training they got was useful, so they did improve as performers, but not enough to emerge as true-blue stars. The tilt did best in building up the young talents’ fan base with frequent mall shows patronized by SRO crowds.

If GMA 7 will hold another kiddie talent tilt, we hope that it works harder to come up with much more gifted and truly promising finalists, tap more exemplary mentors and guest trainers, and minimize the “stage parents’” involvement.