Do you still remember how “It’s Showtime” used to be people’s laughingstock in 2015?
2015.
The phenomenal rise of love team AlDub had transformed the noontime show into dust.
Kalyeserye became a favorite afternoon segment then. Wherever you are, you couldn’t escape the power of AlDub.
AlDub was literally a golden couple at that time. No one can surpass them nor even equalize them.
That was the time when a once substantial castle called “It’s Showtime” collapsed miserably in front of millions of people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4fdw-pEm58
And that was also the time when a certain host of their rival show ”Eat Bulaga” suddenly forgot to keep his feet on the ground.
They were two, actually.
“It’s Showtime“ became an underdog for a long period of time.
They even celebrated their 6th anniversary prematurely just to compete with the heart-pounding encounter scene of AlDub in person.
And although they invited prime Kapamilya love teams, they still failed surpass “Eat Bulaga” during their special day.
The show for millennials tried to think of a program that will challenge AlDub’s Kalyeserye.
Thanks to viral video of Angelica Yap, her love story was publicized by the struggling show by then.
And that’s how Nasaan Ka Mr. Pastillas started.
However, it failed to capture the heart of Pinoys who were still hooked by Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza tandem.
To add salt to scathing wound, most of Kapuso fans, Dabarkads and AlDub Nation joined forces to attack ABS-CBN-owned pages.
The once highly acclaimed show received backlash and harsh criticism every single day.
From Twitter to Facebook to Instagram, “It’s Showtime” was literally a victim of bullying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud1N_B4Z0M4
Of course, even the bandwagon fans joined this hateful epidemic.
That was also the time when people started unfriending each other.
And the time when everyone thought it was the end of the once glorious show.
Especially, when “Eat Bulaga” announced that the Saturday episode of Kalyeserye would take place at Philippine Arena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buidpG0Yr64
Just so you know, it was the world’s biggest indoor arena with the capacity of 55 thousand people.
But “It’s Showtime” didn’t stop there.
The show still had the courage to air its week-long Magpasikat special… even though they were left by their fans in exchange to AlDub.
The Tamang Panahon event at the Philippine Arena was, for me, the peak of AlDub’s popularity. Equally, that was the start of their ending—their last hurrah.
“Eat Bulaga” enjoyed a whopping rating of 50.8% versus “It’s Showtime’s” pitifully 5.4%, based on AGB Nielsen.
Meanwhile, according to Kantar Media, the longest noontime show of the country crushed “It’s Showtime” into tiny pieces when it received a rating of 40.1% versus the latter’s 10.2%.
Correspondingly, hosts of “It’s Showtime” raised their white flags to “Eat Bulaga”, accepting their defeat, while giving their crestfallen statements… live! The team accepted their defeat as they tried to move on from such humiliation.
2016.
Until one day…
The show announced that Tawag ng Tanghalan will return to television.
It might be the last card for “It’s Showtime” but at least they still showed that they can still fight even in the darkest days of their journey.
It was not an easy battle for Tawag ng Tanghalan since AlDub at that time was still a hot food… metaphorically of course.
Unfortunately, jut like a hot food on the table, Kalyeserye experienced spoilage. The segment had become typical for many viewers. Thus, some of them decided to quit watching it, the entire “Eat Bulaga” rather, and turned their back to “It’s Showtime”.
It was a long and bloody time for “It’s Showtime” before they came back on top.
On 11 January 2016, the show regained the noontime block with 15.5% rating versus “Eat Bulaga’s”15.2% as per Kantar Media. Every single rating was a big deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0cyjmWuFRw
Some were even skeptical whenever the show topple “Eat Bulaga” on rating games.
But as the old saying goes: “Patience is a virtue.”
Months after the debut of Tawag ng Tanghalan, the pitiable show suddenly escalated on top of rating game.
On February 25, “It’s Showtime” finally took the top spot from “Eat Bulaga” on AGB Nielsen NUTAM survey with 16.7% versus 15.1%.
And that was the end of The Great Tribulation for “It’s Showtime”.
The show has finally back on track as “It’s Showtime” became a noontime habit of Pinoys across the country… again.
‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ enjoyed tremendous amount of positive feedback and cemented “It’s Showtime” as the leader of noontime show again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZe-6FmYEkk
No smack, fake marriage, kidnapping, or Kalyeserye comeback had matched the unkabogable “It’s Showtime” since then.
2017.
The trending segment had been airing for almost a year, until “It’s Showtime” decided to finally choose its finalists who will compete for the grand finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8hwlbzVBG4
The final showdown was held at Resorts World Manila and became the most of the talked about event over the week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK3JCS9G7bo
Finally, Kantar Media and AGB Nielsen decided that “It’s Showtime” was the most-watched program over the weekend, beating “Eat Bulaga” (even they invited Nora Aunor).
“It’s Showtime” savored 33.6% rating on Kantar Media and 23.1% on AGB Nielsen.
Meanwhile, the defeated and wounded “Eat Bulaga” got the ratings of 11.7% and 15.7% on Kantar Media and AGB Nielsen respectively.
It is indeed a major upside down for “It’s Showtime” and “Eat Bulaga”.
The once piteous show became the source of phobia of their rivals.
Like what Jugs and Teddy and Vice Ganda performed during “It’s Showtime’s” lowest point, we should always remember that “BILOG AND MUNDO.”
Anything could happen as long as you hold onto it.
BABALA! I mean, just remember: Remain humble all the time.
Congratulations, “It’s Showtime”! Sa inyo na ang korona!
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