While awaiting the verdict of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) regarding ‘It’s Showtime,’ host Vice Ganda couldn’t resist making a joke about the show’s suspension during a conversation with Vhong Navarro on the ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ segment.
Although Vice Ganda’s remark was in jest, it appeared to have a deeper meaning, considering Vice Ganda’s reputation for not making such comments without reason.
Entertainment journalist Crispina Belen shared her thoughts on the 12-day suspension of the ABS-CBN produced variety show ‘It’s Showtime’ in a Facebook post. Belen expressed her sadness about the suspension, which she believed was imposed without due process.
The suspension is allegedly linked to an incident involving Vice Ganda and Ion Perez during one of the show’s episodes. Some viewers deemed their actions inappropriate, especially in the presence of minors. The incident prompted the MTRCB to summon the show’s authorized representative for a hearing.
Supporters of ‘It’s Showtime’ questioned the fairness of the MTRCB’s decision, citing a similar incident on the TV5 show ‘E.A.T.’ involving Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa. They argued that both incidents should have been treated equally.
Lala, the representative of ‘It’s Showtime,’ clarified that the MTRCB’s action was based on a violation of the program’s classification. The show is rated PG (Parental Guidance), and the MTRCB found that it had violated this rating due to the presence of children without proper supervision during the incident.
Lala emphasized that the MTRCB follows a strict process before summoning a show or program for a violation. Complaints go through an assessment and verification process by their Monitoring Inspection Unit (MIU) before being reviewed by her and sent to the Legal Affairs Division.
She also clarified that giving a notice to appear is not a biased decision. ‘It’s Showtime’ has received multiple notices for violations that occurred during its live broadcasts.
Lala acknowledged that she understands where the show’s supporters are coming from, as they defend the program. However, she stressed that the MTRCB has a responsibility to uphold its guidelines.
This is not the first suspension that ‘It’s Showtime’ has faced. The show was previously placed under a 20-day preventive suspension on January 11, 2010, after controversial statements were made by guest judge Rosanna Roces. The suspension was shortened to six days after the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order against the MTRCB’s decision.
