He is the first Kapuso guest to appear in the program’s much-anticipated return to screens.
On Wednesday, September 9, GMA News confirmed the star who will grace the first episode of the comeback season of the long-running talk show Gandang Gabi Vice of the Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda.
The program, which is produced by ABS-CBN Studios and will air on GMA-7 starting Sunday, September 13, has tapped no less than the Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards to appear in the said special pilot episode.
This confirmation is also a wish of the host-comedian that has been granted, as she previously listed the Kapuso actor as one of the stars she is looking forward to interview in the revival of GGV.
“Pinaka-nakaka-excite ‘yung Kapuso stars na gusto kong interview-hin at makasama sa show ko, posibleng-posible na,” she previously said, adding that GMA artists themselves also want to have their own GGV experience.
It was then she revealed her wish list of Kapuso guests. “Laging si Michael V. nasa listahan ko, [then si] Marian [Rivera]… sina Alden [Richards], at [marami pang] Kapuso stars.”
This is an interesting episode as Alden used to be a host of Eat Bulaga, which is the long-running rival noontime show of It’s Showtime, where Vice is a main host.
In 2015, Alden was the other half of the phenomenon that was AlDub, alongside Maine Mendoza, that delivered consistent high ratings for EB and put Showtime at a difficult position.
In several instances in the past, Vice Ganda also regarded that period as the “lowest point” of the Kapamilya program.
However, eight years later, following the departure of Eat Bulaga from GMA after a feud with former producer TAPE, Inc., Alden made his first appearance on It’s Showtime in December 2023.
Although, the Asia’s Multimedia Star is no stranger to ABS-CBN as he previously did a couple of guestings as he top-billed the mega-blockbuster flicks Hello, Love, Goodbye and its sequel Hello, Love, Again, both with Kathryn Bernardo and under Star Cinema in 2019 and 2024, respectively.
