Showcase for mature singers

CAST of “Dormitoryo”

Competitions and talent tilts on TV come and go, but “Showtime’s” new singing contest, “Stars on 45,” looks like it has enough “legs,” and could be here to stay. What makes us say this is not just the senior singers’ talent, but also their remarkable and inspiring durability.

Late last month, for instance, everyone in the studio audience was bowled over by the fact that the first contestant for the day was—75 years old!

The “singer emeritus” was still in good voice, and was a big hit with the audience. Unfortunately, the second contestant was an even better performer, so she ended up romping off with the top prize.

She scored extra points, when she revealed that all of her children also sing, and so did her husband—who, for proof positive, came up with his own standout performance!

The day’s proceedings were reminiscent of another time we watched the show, when one already fine performer was upstaged by an even greater senior bet!

This strongly suggests that we have more than our share of “old” performers who may already be semi-retired, but still have what it takes to entertain and impress listeners—so, they deserve to be given a performing showcase like “Showtime’s” new singing tilt.

With so many exceptional mature singers, we hope that a performing venue in Metro Manila will provide a regular showcase for them, so they don’t have to fade back into the woodwork after their stint on the noontime TV show.

This has been done in some other countries, and those venues for mature singers have attracted a sizable “niche” audience. The same thing could and should happen here!

Poor use of good talents

After her notable “indie” film outings, we wondered how long it would take for “mainstream” TV and movie producers to give the lovely and gifted young actress, Annicka Dolonius, the attention and bigger showcase she clearly deserved.

Soon enough, we learned that GMA 7 had made Annicka a part of its stable weekend chiller, “Dormitoryo,” so we watched the show fairly regularly to see if it would make good use of the young comer’s proven abilities.

Sadly, lesser costars were given more attention-calling things to do, so the series ended without making Annicka’s exceptional gifts known to a much wider audience than the people who were impressed  with her indie film outings.—Maybe next time?  Hope springs.

Aside from Annicka, we’ve been rooting for the similarly exceptional Art Acuña, but his TV exposure to date has also been rather disappointing, starting with his “do little” supporting performance some seasons back in a series costarring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

Next, Acuña was cast in a regular role on “Genesis,” so we hoped that he would fare better there. But, after weeks and even months, it looks like, once again, it isn’t meant to be. What poor use of exceptional talents!

But, talent will out, so we trust that, in 2014, Art and Annicka will finally get regular roles on TV that they can really savor and bite their teeth into!