Author: JE CC

As ABS-CBN’s drama, Init Sa Magdamag, heats up Filipinos’ late primetime viewing, the Network’s string of sexy dramas, some of which were hits, while some, not-so. ABS-CBN has been known for producing many unforgettable soap operas, with some considered among the highest-rated ever in the local television history. While the traditional soap opera is known for its repetitive plotlines, ABS-CBN still managed to introduce a few tweaks to the format, by adopting a variety of genres to the classic Pinoy drama. Among those experiments, are its many sexy dramas, whose arguably main target audience are the masculine viewers. Alyna (2010).…

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GMA Network Actors: Barbie Forteza, Paul Salas, Adrian Alandy, Christopher de Leon, Benjie Paras, Arthur Solinap, Marina Benipayo, Elijah Alejo, Luis Hontiveros, Ella Cristofani, Jana Trias Genre: Crime-Thriller, Drama Premise: Emma Castro (Barbie Forteza) is under investigation because of her alleged involvement in the Penuliar family’s case. Does she really have a motive to make the family suffer? (GMA Entertainment)   Timeslot: Weeknights, after First Yaya Why You Should See It: The third episode of GMA Network’s second season of I Can See You is a highly successful primetime drama-anthology. A new story unfolds with crime elements, thriller, drama, and some romance, too–it…

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Not too very often, a charming new face graces the small screen—dashing and unmistakably oozing with leading-man potential, whose brimming appeal and talent would later on bring him to some of the brightest places in show business, and ultimately last longer than his countless contemporaries. Xian Lim is such a face, who after more than a decade of showcasing his massive artistry, still manages to make hearts skip a beat. Lim’s stellar entry to show business came through the sensational 2009 pre-primetime drama, Katorse, which was also widely credited as then newbie, Erich Gonzales’s breakout role. Starring alongside fellow Kapamilya…

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Finally taking the spotlight, after being underrated for quite a while, Zack Tabudlo releases the music video of his career-defining track, Binibini, featuring the team-up of up-and-coming teen stars, Seth Fedelin and Andrea Brillantes The newest entry to the seeming streak of heartbreaking official music videos that feature popular on-screen couples, Zack Tabudlo’s ‘Binibini’, tells a hopeful love story—albeit utterly devastating—in reverse. The release comes on the heels of the success of Ben & Ben’s Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay and Moira de la Torre’s Paubaya, whose respective viral music videos, featured love teams, KathNiel (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla)…

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Social media and talent searches continue to throw emerging talents into the spotlight, paving way for showbiz aspirants to join the league of superstars in the local entertainment scene Ever since Tawag ng Tanghalan debuted on ABS-CBN in the late ’50s, and became the first singing talent search on national television, countless programs with the same or similar format have proven to be the reliable venue for new talents to shine, and ultimately become industry idols. Nora Aunor, Edgar Mortiz, Diomedes Maturan, Regine Velasquez, Donna Cruz, and Sarah Geronimo, are all solid proofs of these formats’ star-building power, which continues…

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Bubble Gang may be now the longest-running Filipino sketch comedy show today, but television viewers in the ’90s were also glued on two similar programs, that first made millions of Pinoy viewers laugh, before the now 25-year-old Kapuso show, did. There is a number of big celebrities today who trace their roots to some iconic tv shows, in the ’90s. Among these shows, are ABS-CBN’s sketch comedy program, Super Laff-In, and TV5’s (formerly ABC-5) Tropang Trumpo. Interestingly, some of the stars from these iconic gag shows, also eventually joined Bubble Gang, which went on to become the longest-running comedy program…

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What the most recent edition of the hit reality series, Pinoy Big Brother proved, is that it remains a potent venue for emerging artists to thrive, even after ABS-CBN’s free television shut down, and the pandemic, whose challenges made the entire entertainment industry, practically stagnant. How PBB Connect hurdled ABS-CBN’s limited free tv presence, in its bid to discover new faces that would soon take the spotlight, may be attributed to the fact that many viewers have shifted to digital platforms in getting their fill of local and foreign entertainment, since the onset of the pandemic. The ongoing consumer migration…

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GMA Network Actors: Kyline Alcantara, Miguel Tanfelix, Aiko Melendez, Gabby Eigenmann, Mikoy Morales, Dani Porter Genre: Romcom, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Premise: An aspiring segment producer who likes to take all risks, just so he could capture the most peculiar of news, is haunted by his father’s death and by the mysterious footages of events that are yet to happen. Why You Should See It: I Can See You’s second season and its sophomore feature filled with mystery and gloom. There are enough moments to highlight not just the sensitive topic it wants to stress. It also has the brewing chemistry between…

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The meteoric rise of the idol group, SB19, has no doubt inspired aspiring local artists to follow suit, allowing a new era of OPM to begin and actually thrive, at a time when new sources of entertainment are scarce. The relentless surge of P-Pop as an emerging OPM phenomenon looks poised to send more local idol groups to the charts, and make a name for themselves in the global music scene. As more groups continue to discover the secrets to the success of K-Pop groups, P-Pop’s shot at dominating the world stage only gets stronger. Since last year, a number…

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Like Kapamilya-produced shows, Kapuso also takes pride in its highest-rated shows. Some of the Network shows also got listed as among the longest-running TV shows on Philippine television. These days, a TV series can already claim a successful run, if it was able to stay on-air, for a minimum of 13 weeks, or at least 65 episodes.  The following lists the longest-airing GMA Network-produced shows.  The list excludes weekly series, and those entirely produced by block-timers, but includes those co-produced by GMA. It also excludes soap operas aired in the 80s and earlier. Because these shows air on weekdays, or…

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Emerging as netizens’ top bet in the recently-concluded RAWR Pulse, DonBelle, seems poised to take its place alongside the country’s biggest love teams. Slated to star in one of the most anticipated movies of the year, ‘Love is Colorblind’—which will have the blockbuster director, Cathy Garcia-Molina, at the helm—Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, who are shipped by fans as ‘DonBelle’—take a golden ticket with them, as they journey into becoming their generation’s most popular teen stars. Kapamilya Homegrowns While ‘DonBelle’ is a relatively new team-up, both Pangilinan and Mariano have been with ABS-CBN, for a while now. Mariano started as…

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While a show staying on-air may no longer suggest its popularity, many of the highest-rated local shows were also listed as among the longest-running TV shows on Philippine television, having stayed on-air far longer than the others.  These days, a TV series can already claim a successful run if it stayed on-air, for a minimum of 13 weeks, or at least 65 episodes. Listed are the longest-airing ABS-CBN-produced shows. Because these shows air on weekdays, or even five times a week (except during holidays or on irregular programming), and the shows’ rankings–are based on their total number of completed episodes.…

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After just nearly six years in the business, Diaz has navigated her blossoming showbiz career at an astonishing pace, not too many of her contemporaries, could ever pull off. Francine Diaz is undoubtedly one of the most popular young actresses of her generation, one of the most talented television stars in the local entertainment scene, and she is only 17. Since her memorable stint as the young Ellen Adarna in the afternoon drama, Pasion de Amor, in 2015, she has evolved from merely a supporting star, landing challenging roles, albeit mostly small, that helped her prove her brimming potential as…

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Smile! Something better is coming for sure. If the buzz from the grapevine is true, ABS-CBN would expand its limited digital TV presence to its former bailiwicks in Northern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Looks like better days are not yet over for ABS-CBN, as another landmark deal that will bring its contents back to more Kapamilya viewers. It is reportedly poised to get sealed soon. Before this speculation, there have been hopes for the expansion of ABS-CBN’s digital presence nationwide, as both A2Z and TV5’s digital coverage, remain insufficient to reach much of ABS-CBN’s former strongholds. A2Z, for example, can…

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The Gen Z’s may be more familiar and can identify themselves better with ‘Kadenang Ginto,’ but in the 90’s and early 2000s, viewers were more immersed in the stories of some of the network’s top-rated day time series, among which include the unforgettable daytime series, Marinella. Marinella came on the heels of the massive success of the Star Cinema family- fantasy film, Hiling, which opened in cinemas, on November 18, 1998. The impressive success in the box-office of the film was seemingly taken as a cue by ABS-CBN, which immediately gave then child stars, Camille Prats, Serena Dalrymple, and Shaina…

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The pandemic may have presented formidable challenges for the local entertainment to thrive—the same way it did before this unprecedented health and economic crisis began. But it also allowed formats and venues for new artists to emerge and to shine under the spotlight. Despite being stalled for months, production houses are again active in producing new content, and along with it, comes the emergence of artists. As the whole industry recuperates, much of it races towards meeting public demands for new stories, new themes, and even new faces. Up-and-coming stars gather attention, and fans start rallying to support them.  This…

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