It’s historic to say the least.
On July 1, 2023, ABS-CBN’s longest-running noontime variety show ‘It’s Showtime’ entered a new era, as it made its maiden broadcast on GMA’s GTV channel. This, as the program ended its simulcast on TV5 on Friday, June 30, citing “programming movements in the station,” which involves TVJ’s new noontime show on channel 5, that also premiered on Saturday.
With that, let’s see how their first day on GTV went.
Rundown of events
The Saturday episode opened with an already expected grand production number. It began with the re-lyric version of ‘Toxic Free,’ which invited viewers to come and celebrate the momentous occasion. Later on, each member of the ‘It’s Showtime’ family had their own segments within the number.
But in a clear sign of a friendlier local TV environment, ‘Showtime’ also invited Kapuso artists like Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, Pokwang, Rayver and Rodjun Cruz, and Mark Bautista. That also signifies the deepening of ties between ABS-CBN and GMA Network. A relationship which allowed these artists to join ‘Showtime.’
However, the number one highlight of the day is yet to come. For the first time in the show, ABS-CBN, and GMA’s history, in a taped portion of the number, host Vice Ganda rode a helicopter. Her destination? GMA Network Center in Kamuning. Upon her “arrival,” she was greeted by Kapuso employees, that later led to her dance mob outside the center. That alone made the very first instance that a Kapamilya noontime program shot inside the premises of the Kapuso network.
Jumping ahead, after the production number, the ‘Showtime’ theme song remained the same, with the hosts only ad-libbing ‘Kapuso’ as a sign of gratitude to their new partner network. The GMA artists on stage and employees also joined the chorus, along with select staffers from ABS-CBN.
Speaking of which, Kapuso artists Barbie Forteza and Sanya Lopez were particularly giddy about being able to finally shout “what’s up, madlang people” on national TV. Another highlight of the day, we must agree.
After more than 30 minutes for the opening number, the next bodies of today’s program were dedicated to the grand finals of ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets.’ Per usual, the mechanics remained the same. Although, for the first time in the segment’s history, Kapuso singers were added as special hurados or judges. They were Mark Bautista and Christian Bautista. Interestingly, they were both former Kapamilyas and were also once performers in ‘ASAP,’ ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show.
Christian Bautista later joined the promotional number for ‘Unbreak My Heart,’ where he sung the drama series’ official soundtrack. The stars of ‘Unbreak,’ the first co-produced series of GMA and ABS-CBN, features Kapamilya stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Joshua Garcia, and Kapuso artists Richard Yap and Gabbi Garcia. The four of them were present in the said number. Their ‘Showtime’ appearance also marked the first time that they guested together in a Kapamilya program to market the show to viewers.
Back to ‘TNT Duets,’ Marielle Montillano and JM dela Cerna were named champions of the series. Ergo, they are also the very first TNT champions during this new era of the show.
That was basically it. The program ran from 11:30 am to 3:15 pm or a runtime of 3 hours and 45 minutes. It is now one of the longest editions of ‘It’s Showtime’ post-ABS-CBN shutdown.
Now, here’s the assessment
Since time immemorial, ‘Showtime’ has always proved itself to be a venue for spectacles on local television. May it be during the ‘Magpasikat’ anniversary presentations or special occasions like what it was on Saturday.
That day’s episode, in particular, could serve not only as proof of the show’s impressive track record in recent years in terms of quality production output. But it could also go down as one of the bests in Philippine noontime television history.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see Vice Ganda perform at the GMA Network compound for ‘Showtime,’ and Kapuso artists joining them on the stage itself. Something that was once impossible in the past, but is now a reality.
We, as viewers, will also have to get used to the set-up quickly. Especially the chances are very high that we will see more of the Kapamilya-Kapuso collab in action in the weeks, months, and even years to come on ‘It’s Showtime.’
Just some thoughts about ‘Tawag Ng Tanghalan,’ while it has presented new elements of surprise for the ‘Duets’ edition, it might actually be helpful for the show to experiment on other segments for the meantime. For 7 years, TNT has been a staple for the show, and maybe it’s high time for it to be replaced by other beloved segments of the program, chiefly ‘Kalokalike,’ and even a return to roots with the ‘classic Showtime’ dance contest if possible.
Overall, the July 1, 2023 episode of ‘It’s Showtime’ is one of its bests this year, if not at least in the past five years. We hope to see more of such in our local television, and perhaps, even better than that.
‘It’s Showtime’ airs from Monday to Saturday noontime on GTV, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Jeepney TV, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, and TFC.
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• “What’s up, madlang Kapuso!”: ABS-CBN, GMA sign contract for GTV broadcast of ‘It’s Showtime’
• Vice Ganda, ibinahagi ang kanyang personal na kwento sa mga pangyayari sa ‘Showtime’
• ‘It’s Showtime’ to air on GTV starting this July
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