According to reports, former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo G. Jalosjos, the chairman of Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.), is rumored to take over the long-running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!
It could mean the iconic trio of Joey de Leon, Tito, and Vic Sotto might leave the show if the takeover pushes through.
Sources say that Jalosjos is working on easing out his business partner, Antonio Tuviera, who is the current CEO and president of TAPE Inc. The company has been producing Eat Bulaga! since 1979. Jalosjos and Tuviera own TAPE Inc., but the former congressman has a larger share.
The move [was said] got delayed until Tito Sotto’s term as senator ended in June 2022.
Reports suggest that an exodus of talents, including the TVJ trio of De Leon, Tito, and Vic Sotto, may follow if Tuviera is eased out.
Jalosjos has entrusted the management of the noontime show, which has been on television for 43 years, to his three children: Bullet, John, and Soraya.
Jalosjos is said to be considering comedians Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Allan K as replacements for TVJ but reportedly does not want to retain Paolo Ballesteros and Ryan Agoncillo as hosts of the show.
Due to the ongoing issues within TAPE, the TVJ trio has allegedly met with Manalo, Bayola, and Allan K to explore creating a new show called Dabarkads, featuring all six of them. The three younger comedians were reportedly not yet committed to continuing on Eat Bulaga!
However, Tito Sotto recently shared a photo of himself with Tuviera.
“Tito and Tony last night! Who says we’re splitting?” Sotto said in the Instagram post.
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De Leon also shared his reaction to the news.
“Actually, natatawa at natutuwa ako sa mga pangyayari kasi pinag-uusapan pa rin kami hanggang ngayon! Thanks!” he said also on Instagram.
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TAPE is still under contract with GMA Network for three more years. Jalosjos’ company and GMA Network have a block time agreement to end in 2026.
Last year, the trio answered why the program had become more of an institution.
At a press conference for Eat Bulaga’s 42nd anniversary, the then-senator Tito Sotto stated that the show’s success could be attributed to its ability to understand and respond to the public’s interests and concerns.
“I think it’s more or less because of the pulse. Even before noong Tito, Vic, & Joey pa lang kami, panahon pa ng ‘Okay Lang,’ we sensed–ako noon pa lang naramdaman ko na kay Vic at si Joey na we have a very good sense of the pulse of the people. Kung ano ‘yung di nila gusto, ‘yung gusto nila.”
Sotto mentioned during the media conference for Eat Bulaga’s 42nd anniversary that they were fortunate to have new staff, particularly writers, who can understand and cater to the public’s interests.
“Lalo na swerte din kami, ang nakukuha namin, ang pumapasok sa Eat Bulaga na production people, lalo na ‘yung mga writers, eh ang lakas din ng pulso. Nare-read ‘yung mga kababayan natin, nababasa nila.”
De Leon mentioned that they have been keeping up with the interests of every generation throughout the show’s entire run.
“‘Yung sinabi ni Titong pulso eh nandoon din ‘yung salitang puso eh. Nasasakyan namin siguro dahil hindi kami nagbabago, mga pantalon namin ni Vic, mahigpit pa rin, tight fitting, may
sira-sira rin. Ibig sabihin hindi lang kami Kapuso, Kauso rin. Hindi kami nawala sa panahon, sumasabay kami. Nagpapa-uso,” he said.
“Noong nag-uumpisa kami, magkaibang kulay Converse ko. Nagkakamiseta ako, mahaba buhok namin, nagsho-shorts kami kaya ayun na-memo kami.
“Noong araw nga pag may taping kami na kunwari Iskul Bukol, pag sinabi noong mga opisyal na ‘oh change costume, sequence something,’ hindi uso sa amin ‘yun. Ang uso sa amin ni Vic, nagpapalitan lang kami ng T-Shirt,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vic Sotto repeated the Eat Bulaga tagline for their 42nd anniversary. “Basta ako, feeling ko, legit Dabarkads, legit Kapuso, ‘yun lang.”
