The secret of ‘Eat Bulaga’s’ staying power

After 37 glorious years, the longest-running noontime program on television, “Eat Bulaga” (EB), hasn’t lost its magic… almost four decades of happy EB memories and still counting.

When it premiered on July 30, 1979, Joey de Leon, Tito and Vic Sotto did not expect that it would last this long. After all, they were in it just for the exposure and income.

More than the exposure, it was the bond created within the “Eat Bulaga” circle that made it possible for them to stick it out through the years.

If there’s a formula to it, Tape Inc. bigwig Antonio Tuviera (producer of EB) credits EB’s decades of supremacy to its endless pursuit to be relevant and to keep up with viewers’  ever-changing tastes.

The trick of the trade: transforming the old into something new. “It’s something familiar to the audience, but we present it in a different way,” said Tuviera.

You might think that the emergence of digital technology would mean bad news to mainstream media, including television.

But for “Eat Bulaga,” it’s good news. Social media made it possible for the program to widen its reach, making it possible to move out of its boundaries.

The record-breaking 41 million tweets on “AlDub,” the accidental love team of heartthrob Alden Richards and Dubsmash queen Maine Mendoza, for its “Tamang Panahon” special, attest to this.

To accommodate more people, the show will be moving to its new studio in a 3,000-square-meter property in Cainta by the end of the year.

Treating its loyal viewers like VIP is the show’s way of giving back to those who have made it a part of their daily lives.

Bravo, Dabarkads, for living up to your show’s title by never ceasing to surprise us every lunchtime.

Here’s my chat with some of the EB hosts:

How do you avoid being complacent?

Joey:  I always read the newspaper; I watch all the news reports of all the channels. I keep myself updated about show biz gossip, and I’m active in social media.

How does EB handle rival shows?

Vic: Whether we win or lose in the ratings game doesn’t matter as long as the viewers are having fun. It gets boring after a while, and there’s no challenge if there’s no competition.

Tell us about the creative process in coming up with EB segments.

Tito: One secret of “Eat Bulaga” that not a lot of people know about is that we conduct surveys when we have new segments—like “Pinoy Henyo” or “Laban o Bawi,” which lasted for years…

How has EB changed your life?

Ruby Rodriguez: It’s not just part of my family. It’s already my family. This is where I grew up and grew old.

What’s your fondest EB memory?

Ryan Agoncillo: Being part of the “Tamang Panahon” segment from Day One, it feels good to witness how the Dabarkads helped AlDub shine.

Patricia Tumulak: When I joined the show’s “Bulaga Pa More” show, I did an acrobatic act without prior knowledge.

It helped me discover that I’m capable of doing something I’ve never done before. EB has boosted my self-esteem.