On May 30, a buzz surfaced about an upcoming TV5 noontime show for Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon fortifying rumors that the trio would be leaving the lunchtime program Eat Bulaga!
According to a network insider interviewed by PEP, the transfer of the noontime show hosts to TV5 is considerably a ‘done deal’ because of a negotiation between the trio and the network.
They also note that Tito, Vic, and Joey would allegedly be saying goodbye to Eat Bulaga! anytime this week because of their supposed TV5 program.
However, the insider didn’t clarify whether the supposed TV5 show of the noontime show trio already has a producer. Earlier reports had Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez’s Brighlight Productions, who helmed the now-defunct TV show Tropang LOL, as the prime candidate for producing the TV5 lunchtime program.
Earlier reports came about an internal issue between TAPE Inc and Eat Bulaga’s original hosts that implied the possible transfer of Tito, Vic, and Joey.
The internal issue between the two parties started after Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jaloslos and his siblings took over TAPE Inc, previously under the management of former House Representative Romeo Jalosjos.
Even before the issue between TAPE Inc and Eat Bulaga surfaced, Tito implied that they (Vic and Joey) received offers from other networks.
“That’s possible. That’s possible. As a matter of fact, I am not–well, how do I say it. I have no problem saying that we’re getting offers from two other stations.”
In an interview with TV5 broadcast journalists Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola, Tito also confirmed the possibility of their transfer to another network if the deal between them and TAPE Inc would not come through.
“Kung hindi maiaayos yung kasalukuyang sitwasyon at hindi matutupad ang mga pinag-uusapan namin, e, malaki ang posibilidad niyan. At saka ang mangyayari, I have to be very blunt about this, ang kausap ko, hindi ko na sasabihin kung sino, ang kausap ko, ang nire-represent diyan sa usapan namin, TV5 at saka ABS as one group.”
He also cited the record-breaking history of Eat Bulaga as a noontime show throughout the years.
“Natutuwa din kami kasi we’ve been associated with Channel 9, Channel 2, Channel 7. Di ba, nakakatuwa, e. Parang may isa sa amin, hindi ko na sasabihin kung sino, parang natutuwa na puwede kaming mag-Channel 5. Ito lang daw ang programa na nakaapat na TV stations. Wala pang makaka-break ng record na ito.”
Aside from the alleged network transfer, there have also been reports claiming that there are ‘huge changes’ in Eat Bulaga’s programming in the coming months, which further solidifies the speculation that Tito, Vic, and Joey would be saying goodbye from the longest-running noontime show in the Philippines by May 31.
