Former Kapamilya director Bobet Vidanes seems to be joining the rival noontime show of his former brainchild It’s Showtime.
In an article by Kapamilya Online World, it said that Vidanes was spotted on the set of Brightlight Production’s Lunch Out Loud.
The article shared screenshots from Alex Gonzaga’s Instagram story on the set of Lunch Out Loud where Vidanes was seen together with her and another former It’s Showtime mainstay, Billy Crawford.
Rumors about Vidanes’ transfer have been going around for quite some time now.
According to veteran showbiz host and columnist Cristy Fermin, Direk Bobet’s move to Brightlight Production is due to his reduced talent fee and current stringent rules at the Kapamilya network.
“Ang dahilan daw nito ni Direk Bobet, ay kinaltas ang kanilang sweldo. At napakarami na raw na ipinagbabawal ng ABS-CBN ngayon,” said Cristy.
ABS-CBN has decided to slash the salaries and talent fees of their employees to mitigate the effect of their free TV shutdown and the rejection of their franchise application.
Another showbiz host and talent manager Ogie Diaz also shared his take on the rumor.
On his YouTube channel, Ogie shared his reaction to the news of Vidanes’ transfer echoing Fermin’s earlier statements.
According to Ogie, Bobet asked for an increase to his salary prior to the pandemic. But since pandemic came and ABS-CBN was forced to shutdown, his request wasn’t granted and ABS-CBN decided to let him go.
“Ang nabalitaan ko, parang sinabe din ni ate Cristy diba, na parang may demand si direk Bobet sa ABS-CBN bago pa tong pandemya na itaas ang kaniyang salary. Na hindi natugunan ng ABS-CBN kaya nung nag paalam si direk Bobet sa ABS-CBN management na ‘eto alok saakin ng TV5 ano yung pwede niyong maging counter dito’. Ang naibigay nalang ata ng management, eto nabalitaan ko lang ha. Ay ‘go ahead.’”
Ogie also added that he just hoped that Vidanes didn’t accept a program that will go head to head with It’s Showtime because the Kapamilya noontime show is his brainchild, his own creation. And it doesn’t add up going against a program that you created and fought-for for several years.
“Sana hindi katapat ng It’s Showtime kasi ang It’s Showtime ay brain child ni direk Bobet. Para lang din, alam mo yun diba parang bigay ko na yan sa ano. Bilang respeto ko nalang saaking ahhh parang pet project.”
Vidanes helped create Showtime in 2009.
When they were hit by the AlDub phenomenon where many people thought was the end of the show, Vidanes promised the hosts hat he will never leave them and that he will fight for the show to surpass the dreaded 5-year curse of Kapamilya variety shows.
Fortunately, the show was able to hurdle its darkest day and now they are on its 11th year.
Meanwhile, during the height of the ABS-CBN franchise issue, Vidanes also said that they will remain together until ABS-CBN rise up again.
“ABS-CBN di bale kahit magwalis at magsasaka na lang tayo, sama sama pa rin tayo,” he said,
But it seemed Brighlight’s offer is really hard to decline.
