In a television landscape where high viewership largely dictates how long shows should last, some certainly outlast their sentence and graciously hit that milestone episode not too many productions achieve.
You’ve got to beat the other program, or at least make the commercial load stay up to the brim. That must be the goal for every show. After all, it’s hard to tell a complete storyline while the threat of getting canceled lurks just around the corner.
That’s not the case for every production, of course. There have been canned shows that are already predetermined to last for a definite timetable long before they make their debut on air.
With ABS-CBN shutting down in 2020, there’s practically no major rival to beat; the goal, then, is [just] to rate high enough to keep the advertisers’ support. In that way, shows can extend plotlines because there’s actually money in doing so. Of course, as aforementioned, that’s not always the case, as some productions are canned and expected to end finales on specific dates.
One of the biggest wonders in local television is when a TV show hurdled the test of time and remained on the air, even after years of airing. Some are already for crossing the 100th-episode mark, but some go beyond 500th.
This year 2022–several shows crossed milestone episodes (100th, 200th, 300th, 500th, 1500th). Below is a look at some of them:
100th episode.
Most entries in this list are traditional soap operas, daytime, and primetime dramas with a season-run expectation, which [usually] is up to 13 weeks or roughly 65 episodes. TV networks either cut short a show’s airing or extend them beyond the usual 13 weeks, depending on their TV rating performance.
Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Jodi Sta. Maria, Iza Calzado, Sam Milby, Grae Fernandez, Kira Balinger, Joseph Marco, Rita Avila and Maricel Soriano
Date crossed: 1 January 2021
Chika, Besh! (TV5)
Format: Talk Show
Hosts: Ria Atayde, Pauleen Luna, and Pokwang
Date crossed: 7 January 2021
Walang Hanggang Paalam (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Paulo Avelino, Zanjoe Marudo, Arci Muñoz, Angelica Panganiban and JC Santos
Date crossed: 12 February 2021
Bagong Umaga (A2Z).
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Heaven Peralejo, Tony Labrusca, Barbie Imperial, Kiko Estrada, Michelle Vito and Yves Flores
Date crossed: 12 March 2021
Fill in the Bank (TV5)
Format: Game Show
Hosts: Jose Manalo, Pokwang
Date crossed: 23 March 2021
Huwag Kang Mangamba (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, Kyle Echarri, Seth Fedelin,Eula Valdez, Mylene Dizon, RK Bagatsing, Dominic Ochoa, Lotlot de Leon, Nonie Buencamino
Date crossed: 10 August 2021
Niña Niño (TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Maja Salvador, Noel Comia Jr, Ian Pangilinan
Date crossed: 20 September 2021)
La Vida Lena (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Erich Gonzales, Carlo Aquino, JC De Vera, Kit Thompson, Agot Isidro, Raymond Bagatsing, Sofia Andrez, Christian Vasquez
Date crossed: 12 November 2021
Init Sa Magdamag (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Gerald Anderson, JM De Guzman, Yam Concepcion
Date crossed: 3 September 2021
200th episode.
The daytime rating game got lorded over by these dramas. It got extended way beyond its intended originally for the production. A proven-and-tested formula and familiar themes hooked the audiences.
Prima Donnas (GMA Network)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan and Sofia Pablo
Date crossed: 7 January 2021
300th episode.
It takes endless wits and energies for the hosts to make a talk show survive, and that’s the case for GMA network’s Mars Pa More, which crossed its 300th episode this year.
Mars Pa More (GMA Network)
Format: Talk Show
Hosts: Camille Prats, Iya Villania, Kim Atienza
Date crossed: 15 January 2021
500th episode.
Some shows seem designed to last for decades because they seem to be in demand, no matter what (the season is). GMA Network’s iBilib is among those shows. It continues to serve its purpose in informing and educating kids and kids-at-heart about exciting scientific stuff.
iBilib (GMA Network)
Format: Informative
Hosts: Chris Tiu, Moymoy Palaboy
Date crossed: 17 October 2021
1500th episode.
The longest-running action-drama teleserye continues to create marvels even though the number of people who could see it, has been significantly reduced since ABS-CBN’s shutdown. A screaming testament to its massive popularity is its still high TV rating and record-breaking concurrent viewership online. Now in its 6th year, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano seems poised to last a few more years.
FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (A2Z/TV5)
Format: Series/Soap Opera
Starring: Coco Martin, Julia Montes, John Arcilla, Richard Gutierrez, Rowell Santiago, John Estrada, Sharon Cuneta
Date crossed: 9 November 2021
Take note: the list only includes shows that crossed traditional threshold episodes (100th, 200th, 300th, 500th, and 1500th).
Did you think we missed a title in the list? Join the discussion by dropping a comment below: