Give it up for GMA-7 for coming out with new trends in Philippine TV viewing. The network now prides itself on presenting the first ever reality sitcom. Entitled “Pepito Manaloto,” the show will premiere on Saturday night after “Pinoy Records.” It will henceforth be shown every Saturday night on GMA-7’s Sabado Star Power.

Directed by Bert de Leon, the side-splitting reality sitcom is an original concept of Michael V., one of GMA-7’s prime comedians, who is also a creative director and Asian TV Awards’ three-time Best Comedy Actor recipient.

“Pepito Manaloto” will have Michael V. playing title role. Joining him in the cast are Carmina Villaroel, Manilyn Reynes, Ronnie Henares, John Fier, and Joshua Pineda with the special participation of veteran actor and former senator Freddie Webb.

Manilyn, who started her showbiz career when she was barely 10 years old (we remember guesting her on the National Press Club’s “Celebrity Night” when she had just arrived from Cebu and already we were impressed by her innate talent in singing and acting especially in comedy), feels lucky and blessed that she is continuously given projects even after getting married and having children (Kyle, 13, and Kirk, 7). At the moment, Mane (as she is fondly called in showbiz circle) has two projects: “First Time” and “Pepito Manaloto.”

Previously, she was seen in “Lola Basyang,” “Bakekang,” and “All My Life,” among others. She has also appeared in many movies, among them comedies and horror flicks.

In “Pepito Manaloto,” she plays Elsa, the wife of Pepito. “Dito, talagang mahirap kami pero yumaman nang manalo ang asawa ko ng P700 million sa lotto. Ang tanong: Magiging pareho rin ba ang buhay namin at pananaw kung mayaman na kami? Panoorin ninyo…” she laughed.

“But seriously, makakarelate dito lahat ng Pilipino, especially 'yong mga mahihirap na nangangarap na maging mayaman. The situations are really funny. And if I am really very excited about this show, it’s because first time ko makaka-trabaho si Michael V. na talaga namang magaling na comedian. He’s very good [at] timing,” Manilyn added.

A very promising talent will surely shine in this sitcom. He is 10-year-old Joshua Pineda, who was discovered by German Moreno when he and his group “Voices of Negros” performed at the Assumption College last year. He has moved to Manila (from Silay, where he took up voice lessons) and is now being managed by Kuya Germs. Joshua was second placer in a competition held in Bacolod City where the winner was Jude Mathew Servilla, a protégé of Malou Choa-Fagar and also now appearing in GMA-7 shows like “Eat Bulaga.”

Joshua, who plays the son of Elsa and Pepito in the sitcom, started singing when he was only four years old. He started out singing Christian songs, “but now I love to sing Frank Sinatra songs. Also APO songs,” he said. Joshua’s inspiration, he added, is Charlie Green, who is half-Filipino and half-British.

* * *
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on March 20 go to US-based singer Dessa, designer-columnist Zardo Austria, Nenette Young, Buboy Madrilejos, Mrs. Josie Saddul, Jun Suarez, Nelie Yap, Arnel Martin, Bob Serrano, Carol Bautista, former beauty queen Therese Lorraine Lizardo, and MB’s Badette Cunanan.