This marks the return to Reliance of Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon after 8 years.
On July 7, 2023, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, jointly announced their newfound partnership with TV5 for their new noontime program. In a statement on Wednesday, MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. — the conglomerate that owns TV5 —confirmed the news.
The Mediaquest group has entered into an agreement with Tito, Vic, and Joey, and the Dabarkads to produce content for TV5 and other Mediaquest platforms.
The deal opens yet another chapter in the long-running, celebrated entertainment careers of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon.
“I’m honored that these pillars of the Philippine entertainment industry have agreed to work with us. Our partnership strengthens our ability to continue to deliver the best for Filipino viewers here at home and all over the world.”, said Mediaquest President and CEO, Jane Basas.
“I’m happy that Tito, Vic, and Joey will now call TV5 their home,” she added.
“We are thankful to our friends at Mediaquest for this fresh start.”, said former Senator Tito Sotto. “Dahil sa ating mga Dabarkads na naging Kapatid, tuloy pa rin ang tuwa’t saya na aming dala.”
Mediaquest partners with Tito, Vic, and Joey (June 6, 2023)
The trio is to produce programs for TV5 and other Mediaquest platforms under their company TVJ Productions. The variety show is said to be a co-production between them and Mediaquest.
Furthermore, in a bigger twist to the events, Tito Sotto himself has confirmed that they will be using the title ‘Eat Bulaga,’ and will compete directly against the ‘Eat Bulaga’ produced by TAPE, Inc. This, as Sotto continues to maintain his claim that their group, particularly Joey de Leon, owns the title.
‘Dabarkads’ Maine Mendoza has also shared the teaser of the upcoming ‘rebirth’ of the show on the Kapatid network soon. Seen in the said teaser are the three letters that became important pieces to the history of ‘Eat Bulaga.’ These letters are RPN, ABS, GMA, and TVJ — the first three being the networks where ‘EB’ used to air, and of course, the iconic trio. In the last part, a stem grows from the ‘J’ and it morphs to ‘5,’ making it ‘TV5,’ their new home. The instrumental version of the ‘Eat Bulaga’ theme song is also heard in the background.
TVJ’s move to TV5 is the latest development in the controversy hounding noontime television institution ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Just last Wednesday, May 31, all of them tendered their resignation from Television and Productions Exponents, Inc. or TAPE, Inc. over several disagreements with the new management.
TVJ, kumalas na sa TAPE
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As for the hosts, only Maine Mendoza currently has an ongoing show in the network, ‘#MaineGoals.’ With the exception of Tito, this event also marks the return to the Kapatid network of Vic and Joey, as well as Ryan Agoncillo, who were all once considered the network’s pillars.
Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, and Ryan Agoncillo all had their own programs on the network during the period of 2020 to 2021. Allan K. also served as a judge in the revival of Sing Galing from 2021 to 2022, and even hosted the original 1998 version of the show. Ryzza Mae, meanwhile, also first appeared on TV via the former Kapatid variety game show ‘Wil Time Bigtime.’
Apart from them, Carren Eistrup is also joining the ‘Dabarkads’ over to the new program. Maja Salvador is also being considered to be brought back to the variety show.
TAPE, Inc., meanwhile, continued their own ‘Eat Bulaga’ on Monday, June 5, with live episodes and new hosts, led by Paolo Contis, Betong Sumaya, and Buboy Villar. They have yet to respond to the announcement of Tito Sotto’s intention to use ‘Eat Bulaga’ brand on their TV5 program. But speaking to CNN Philippines’ ‘The Source’ this morning, TAPE’s Director of Finance Bullet Jalosjos said that he will be supporting the new TVJ show and they are not threatened as they are “not trying to compare” and even said that he “will support” the new TVJ show.
New chapter for ‘Eat Bulaga’ under TAPE as show resumes with new hosts
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In a related development, the revival of ‘Wow Mali!’ will also be pushing through finally. As announced in the 2023 Trade Launch event of TV5, the ‘Eat Bulaga’ tandem of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola will serve as the new gen hosts of ‘Wow Mali!’.
Current TV5 noontime slot occupant ‘It’s Showtime,’ which had only returned to the 12 noon slot last month, had also given a “short statement” on the matter — which also happens to be their official program hashtag for today, June 7. “#ShowtimeTuloyAngGV,” along with a blue and yellow heart emojis, was shared by the show’s official account an hour after the TVJ announcement.
The fate of ‘It’s Showtime’ on the Kapatid network is yet to be determined. As of now, TV5 has not yet assigned the timeslot of the upcoming ‘TVJ’ show on the network and is understood to still be sorting the situation.
‘It’s Showtime’, balik alas-12 ng tanghali simula Lunes, Mayo 1, 2023
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Based on Tito Sotto’s several statements made these past few days, ‘Eat Bulaga’ on TV5 should begin airing by the first week of July. In a report by PEP, preparations for its studio inside the TV5 Media Center in Reliance, Mandaluyong is now underway. Studios 4 and 6 inside the Media Center are also being conjoined to accommodate live studio audience.
Through The Years: TV5’s noontime variety shows (2013-2023)
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