Willie Revillame’s show returns, airs on GMA 7 in April

Willie Revillame. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Willie Revillame is set to mount a comeback via a new, self-produced Sunday variety-game show called “WowoWin,” which will be aired on GMA network starting next month.

“Willie is very excited and happy that he’ll be back to doing what he loves most—helping and bringing joy to the ordinary folk,” Elaine Timbol, business unit head of Revillame’s own production firm WBR Entertainment, told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

Revillame’s recent transfer to GMA 7 is a homecoming of sorts; the 54-year-old celebrity started his career with the said station in 1987, as one of singer-actor Randy Santiago’s so-called “Hawi Boys” or “bodyguards” in the defunct noontime show “Lunch Date.”

“Dito naman ako nagsimula sa GMA… Kumbaga nag-abroad lang ako” (I started in GMA… It’s like I just went abroad), Revillame was quoted as saying during the contract signing.

In Friday’s contract signing, Revillame, together with GMA 7’s top honchos, sealed an agreement for the airing of the program. The controversial television host will not be a contract talent, but a blocktimer—he will be purchasing airtime from the network.

“WowoWin,” debuting on April 26 at 3:30 p.m, will be directed by Santiago, his and Revillame’s “mini-reunion.” “We’re both very thrilled because since we both started in GMA 7. We’ll be with the people that we used to work with way back,” he told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

Revillame headlined different variety shows thereafter, including “Magandang Tanghali Bayan” (1998) on ABS-CBN, which he cohosted with Santiago and John Estrada. Revillame got his own program, “Wowowee,” which ran from 2005 until his unceremonious exit from the Kapamilya network in 2010, due to legal tussles.

He then jumped ship to TV5, where he produced and hosted subsequent incarnations of “Wowowee” from 2010 to 2013: “Willing Willie,” “Wil Time Big Time” and “Wowowillie.” In October 2013, Revillame decided to take a break from the biz “to recharge.”

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