If GMA-7 Kapuso has successfully mounted a game show that is hosted by Willie Revillame, who has stirred its rival channel’s (ABS-CBN 2 Kapamilya, in particular) programming because of its tested captive audience that surely made the said production a top-rater on a Sunday slot; then another show that follows after its timeslot is maybe a ‘real treat’ for the whole family—‘InstaDad’ as it tackles issues on siblings in rivalry.
In today’s setting, it is quite obvious that there are issues and struggles that teenagers are facing today that have surfaced even before. The only difference now is that the teenagers are made to face their respective challenges in a more complicated setting. In the advent of social media—these teenagers aren’t sheltered from intrigues and all because any issue can be passed on instantly, via online. They are being ridiculed or being judged by not just their immediate environs, also the whole world.
The creators behind the show may have difficulties in putting together the three teen female discoveries since it was originally focused on one star that is Ashley Ortega. However, when GMA management opted to add two other stars—Gabbi Garcia and Jazz Ocampo into the plot—it became even more exciting to present a story about triplets having a dad; totally clueless in raising three growing-up daughters. Though it the idea is clearly interesting, frankly, the idea of putting together Ortega, Garcia, and Ocampo is no longer novel. Such concept has been done in 1996 series ‘Anna Karenina’ which had a remake in 2013.
Kenneth, the InstaDad is at a Loss.
The title role may be at a loss as the story progresses since it will be tackling the stories of his three daughters. That’s just how I fear and I do hope it won’t reach to that point.
Also, I find the actor who plays Kenneth Monteamor (Gabby Eigenmann) not fitted to be a former high school varsity player. I have nothing against Eigenmann, but it seems that the network is running out of actors to play certain characters in their shows. They should have given it to a taller actor who reflects the real image of a basketball player.
Meanwhile the issues on the three sisters are just as relevant as any teenager’s struggles. Having crafted complicated situations between the triplets—it allows its audience to see and appreciate what sibling rivalry is all about. But what is quite intriguing in this show also the rivalry of the three female young stars—if who’s who among the three could most likely make it big in this industry.
Duplicating the successes of the two ‘Anna Kareninas’?
It is clear that the network is attempting to duplicate the two versions of ‘Anna Karenina’ with its new set of three leading female young stars in the person of—Ashley Ortega, Gabbi Garcia, and Jazz Ocampo. But among the three new stars, Garcia is the most promising to likely succeed, individually. She just recently won an award for her breakthrough performance in the series ‘My Desitiny’, which featured Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez as the lead stars.
Garcia has proven that she deserves to be Ruru Madrid’s partner as opposed to Ashley Ortega, who was the original partner for Madrid that the network had in mind. However, with Garcia’s inclusion in the show—it drew much attention and clamor from the audience.
Clearly, the two stars—Ortega and Garcia are the real rivals in this series, while Ocampo is just a poor third. Ocampo has a lot of hard work to do in terms of acting. She has the face, but based on the previous episode—her acting lacks that ‘sensitivity’ even if she is forced to pit in acting with Ortega, who is just a second fiddle to Garcia.
Has Great Potentials though.
In terms of providing more relevant contents—this show has great potentials, but I do hope the writers won’t be too carried away in crafting their multi-dimensional characters. The characters should be both consistent and not predictable.
Apart from the 90s and the 2013’s popularity of girl stories, the show has great potentials of reliving the rivalry of Dina Bonnevie-Snooky-and Maricel Soriano. Unlike the three former Regal babies who have made names for themselves and have proven their respective mettle—Ashley-Garcia-and Jazz should step up to their plates.
Again, Gabbi is the most likely to succeed first among the three girls. Ortega may have been a star in figure skating, but she really has to be more believable in tackling certain scenes that require heavy emotions. She shouldn’t be just a pretty face like Ocampo.
‘InstaDad’ could have been a real and relevant concept, but there are still chances of maneuvering its storyline to make it more engaging for the televiewers to be hooked up after the Sunday game show. If ABS-CBN 2 made quite a leap in its experimental series called ‘Bagito’, here’s hoping that this show could present a more punch in its future episodes.
