Showbiz Roundup: ‘It’s Showtime’ on GMA, Liza Soberano’s luxury car and more

(From left) Vhong Navarro and Vice Ganda on the premiere episode of “It’s Showtime’s” on GMA, Liza Soberano. Images: Facebook/It’s Showtime, TikTok/itsdanielmac

The premiere of ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime” on GMA Network was a huge success, dominating the noontime TV slot on April 6 and earning 500,000 in peak concurrent views.

Meanwhile, Liza Soberano caught the attention of netizens after she was seen driving a luxury car in the US during a brief interview with American TikTok content creator Daniel Mac.

All these and more, as we look back at the biggest entertainment news of INQUIRER.net in the week of April 5 to 11.

‘It’s Showtime’s’ grand debut on GMA

‘It’s Showtime’ makes grand debut on GMA; Kapuso stars join on stage | Image: X/itsShowtimeNa

“It’s Showtime” made its historic debut on GMA Network on April 6, with hosts Anne Curtis and Karylle opening the stage with a stunning performance of “Power” by Little Mix, followed by an intense solo rope-dancing by Kim Chiu.

Other co-hosts — Amy Perez, Jackie Gonzaga, Cianne Dominguez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Ryan Bang, Ion Perez, MC “Muah” Calaquian and Lassy Marquez — also joined to kick off the episode with a bang.

Vice Ganda set the stage on fire with an explosive birthday performance, which included him sitting on the GMA logo on the network’s main building.

He wrapped his number with messages encouraging people to achieve their dreams as the other hosts greeted him with “Happy birthday, Vice Ganda!”

“We are making history today on… ‘It’s Showtime!’” Curtis said as the show’s theme song blared, and everyone in the studio shouted, “What’s up, what’s up, what’s up, Madlang Kapuso!”

After the opening number, Kapuso stars Sanya Lopez, Gabbi Garcia, Glaiza de Castro, Nadine Samonte, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista, Chanty of Lapillus, Jake Vargas, Mikee Quintos and Jillian Ward graced the stage for the “Karaokids” segment.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ bet at the Miss Universe 2023, Michelle Dee, and her mother, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, also joined the fun as they sat for the noontime show’s segment “EXpecially For You.”

‘It’s Showtime’ dominates April 6 noontime TV ratings

The hosts of “It’s Showtime” and “Eat Bulaga.” Images: Facebook/It’s Showtime, TVJ

It was a powerful entrance for ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime” on GMA’s noontime slot after its premiere episode under the Kapuso umbrella dominated the April 6 TV ratings against its counterpart, TV5’s “Eat Bulaga.”

Citing market research firm AGB Nielsen, GMA thanked the noontime show’s viewers for the support as it shared the ratings for April 6’s noontime slot on its Instagram page two days later.

“It’s Showtime,” which also aired on GMA subsidiary GTV, A2Z and Kapamilya channel, reportedly earned a 9.6% average program rating, against “Eat Bulaga’s” 4.4%. The latter show also aired on RPTV.

The official X (formerly Twitter) page of ABS-CBN’s Corporate Communications division also thanked the noontime show’s viewers after its premiere on GMA earned “500,000 peak concurrent views.”

During the show’s contract signing, GMA chairman Felipe Gozon expressed his intention for the noontime show to have significant ratings after its move to the Kapuso network.

Liza Soberano’s luxury car

Liza Soberano. Image: TikTok/itsdanielmac

Liza Soberano was driving a BMW I8 when she was interviewed by American TikToker Daniel Mac, who features luxury car owners and asks them what they do for a living.

She was driving her over P8-million car when she was approached by Mac, as seen on his Tiktok video on April 4.

“Hi! What do you do for a living? Your car is awesome,” Mac asked Soberano, who stopped the car to entertain the social media personality’s question.

“I’m an actress. A lot of my work is in the Philippines, so you probably don’t recognize me,” she answered.

Mac then said he recognized Soberano, saying his followers had been asking him to do a video with her.

Making another query, Mac asked the actress for “life advice” for those who want to pursue acting.

“Just be true to yourself and take risks,” she responded.

Before parting ways, Mac said he would be flying to Manila sometime soon and asked the actress for recommendations on places to visit.

The video has garnered over 120,000 likes and over 1.2 million views as of this writing.

Mark Herras’ P30,000 ‘debt’

Mark Herras and Lolit Solis | Images: Screengrab from Ogie Diaz/YouTube/Instagram, @akosilolitsolis

Mark Herras revealed that an old “debt” amounting to P30,000 from his former manager Lolit Solis had paved the way for the two of them to part ways.

In an interview with Ogie Diaz, Herras shed light on an issue of his having a P30,000 loan from Solis almost three years ago, saying Solis publicized it for him to gain media mileage.

In July 2021, Solis claimed on her online show that the actor asked ₱30,000 from her to be able to buy milk for his son.

When Herras spoke about the issue at the time, he revealed that he received indecent proposals from the members of the LGBTQ+ because of it.

Herras now told Diaz that while he did actually borrow money from his ex-manager, it was a long time ago and he had already paid it off before the issue became a big deal.

“Actually, ‘yung kay nanay [Solis] na ‘yon, lumang balance na ‘yon. Tagal ko nang hiniram ‘yon,” he said.

Herras then underscored that Solis decided to make publicity out of it so he would become the talk of the town again as he was struggling with his career at the time.

“Si nanay kasi, may mga ugali siya bilang manager ko siya before, ‘Oh. Hindi ka na pinag-uusapan. Kailangan mapag-usapan ka. Gawa tayo issue,’” he shared, while claiming he wasn’t aware that his manager would drop that stunt on him like that.

“Ang problema lang, nung nangyari ‘yon, syempre hindi ako handa. At saka may asawa na ako. Kahit nasa showbiz ‘yung asawa ko, hindi siya sanay sa mga intriga. ‘Jusko naman si nanay, hindi man lang nag-abiso. Hindi man lang ako sinabihan.’ Todo explain ‘yung asawa ko doon sa in-laws ko,” added the actor.

Herras said the episode became his reason to leave his manager, as such publicity is no longer worthwhile, given that he’s a family man now.

“[Sabi ko] ‘Nay hindi na ‘to magwo-work sa ‘kin. Yung ganitong klaseng mga issue. Hindi ko na kailangan ngayon ‘to. Nakakahiya na para sa asawa ko.’ Ayun na lang ‘yung naging reason ko na ‘Nay, it’s time for us to separate,’” he said.

Pokwang asks Lee O’Brian for child support

Pokwang, Lee O’Brian and their daughter Malia. Image: Instagram/@itspokwang27, @leeobrian

Pokwang directly addressed her former partner Lee O’Brian, as she demanded child support for their six-year-old daughter Malia.

The actress-TV host said this through the comments section of Atty. Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez’s Instagram video, in which the latter explained the right of a single mom to ask for financial support from their estranged partners, even if their child is over 18 years old.

“Grabe, thank you [Attorney]. Napakalaking tulong. God bless you po,” Pokwang wrote.

About a week later, Pokwang returned to the Instagram post and commented, “Hoy, [Lee O’Brian], ano na? Panay lang party at golf kasama ng mga pokpok? Mag-support ka, hoy!”

O’Brian made no immediate public response to Pokwang, just as he had done before.

Pokwang and O’Brian — who was deported on April 11 — had been in a relationship for around six years and they welcomed Malia in 2018.

The former couple confirmed their separation in July 2022.

Rochelle on SexBomb Girls’ removal from ‘Eat Bulaga’

Rochelle Pangilinan. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Toni Gonzaga Studio

Rochelle Pangilinan said that the members of the now-defunct SexBomb Girls were hurt by their abrupt removal from “Eat Bulaga,” saying the misunderstanding between their manager Joy Cancio and the show’s executives led to their being axed from the show.

In a “Toni Talks” interview on April 7, Pangilinan was asked by host Toni Gonzaga about what happened to the sudden disappearance of the SexBomb Girls from “Eat Bulaga,” in which she said there was no “closure” up to this time.

“Wala kaming closure. Bigla na lang kaming nawala, ang SexBomb. Pero sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’ may nangyari sa ‘min na nagkaroon ng di-pagkakaintindihan ang mga boss natin at si Ate Joy [Cancio]. Nagte-taping kami ng ‘Daisy Siete,’ ‘tas binabalita ang usapan. Tapos, nagkababaan daw ng telepono,” she said.

It was not immediately known which “bosses” she was referring to. At the time, the noontime show was being produced by TAPE Inc., under its producer Malou Choa-Fagar.

The actress-dancer also shared that she and the members of the all-female group initially wanted to show up in “Eat Bulaga” after their guesting at the now-defunct show “Sis” at the time. But they had to cut their appearance short when one of the SexBomb Girls was informed through a call that Cancio called her in tears.

“Meron kaming guesting pa bago mag-Eat Bulaga, so nag-guest kami sa ‘Sis.’ Nag-usap kami na kung sino gusto mag-attend, and majority wins. Eh, lahat kami nagtaas ng kamay. Pumunta kami. T’as sinabihan ko sila magsara ng telepono kasi sure na magtatawag si Ate Joy,” recalled Pangilinan.

“T’as meron isang SexBomb member na nag-abot ng telepono. T’as nakausap ko si Ate Joy. Sabi ko, ‘Bakit?’ Umiiyak siya. So umalis kami ng Broadway. Pumunta kami sa kanya,” she continued, referring to the noontime show’s old studio at the Broadway Centrum in New Manila, Quezon City.

Pangilinan was then asked how she felt when the EB Babes were introduced to the public. She admitted that the members felt insecure at the time, although she clarified that it had something to do with the group’s competitive nature.

“Noong hindi na kami pumasok sa ‘Eat Bulaga,’ nagpa-audition sila ng dancers. Nagpa-contest sila. T’as siyempre, magaganda at bata. Masakit ‘yun sa ‘min. Parang pinalitan niyo kami. Gan’un ang feeling namin n’un kasi lahat ng SexBomb, competitive,” she said.