TV programming is changing. Public affairs shows are now aired on late afternoons unlike some years back when you had them just before you sleep at night. Talk shows are everywhere. We still have them on weekend afternoons but some networks also air them every night (tsismis muna bago matulog ang peg!)
But there’s one TV show genre that I think TV lacks: sitcoms (well, there are still a few airing on the boob tube pero super konti na ha!).
This reminds me of the time I tried to do a sitcom years ago. I was part of “Everybody Hapi” with John Estrada, Long Mejia and Ms. Nova Villa. I really had a great time and learned a lot of things but I think acting is not really my cup of tea (kahit pa coffee, soup o salabat!). Even though some people call me a “comedian,” I always say: “Hindi po, masayahin lang” (sabi?!).
I miss the times when we get to laugh every night while watching well-produced sitcoms. I also miss our seasoned comedians and comediennes who truly know what comedy is all about. Some of them have tried drama (sa dami ba naman ng soap opera, dun na sila napunta.) Most of them are successful in venturing into this field but nothing beats them whenever they are their comic selves.
I asked veteran TV and movie writer/director Jose Javier Reyes for his take on this. I remember watching his masterpieces, “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata” and “Palibhasa Lalake” while doing my homework. For him, TV networks seem to have one approach in dealing with sitcoms. “The moment major networks changed their programming grids into HORIZONTAL PROGRAMMING (meaning one show, daily or night installment across the board through the week, like what they do in Mexico and Korea), the stand-alone weekly shows died. In other words, the weekly episodic genre – like drama anthologies, musical variety shows and comedies – specifically the sitcom – were relegated to weekends,” he said.
Direk Joey believes that this TV genre is not being given the right importance (aray!). This is the reason many comedy films sell – we don’t get it regularly on TV. Direk Joey pointed out: “The only kinds of comedies we have are those found in comedy bars brought to TV. Satire and the true sitcoms are dead. There are still a handful of attempts but only ‘Pepito Manaloto’ has remained credible to a newer form unlike others which are either gag shows or throwbacks to the kind of comedies done in the ’70s and ’80s.”
I just hope things change on television and that networks begin to once again accommodate sitcoms in their programming.
Direk Joey, however, thinks, it all depends on what the viewers would dictate.
“Hopefully a time will come when all the telenovelas will reach a saturation point in the audience taste. After all these years, more of the same in storytelling has become evident which is why they increase production value by shooting abroad, etc. When the whole addiction for drama IMPLODES, PERHAPS ... the comedy programs will return.When is that? God knows.” Direk Joey stressed.
May saturation na magaganap? May ganon?!
• • •
WTFu Showbiz Extra:
• Sharon Cuneta is reportedly doing a drama anthology for TV5.
– Ayan na ang pagbabalik. Kapit!
• Niño Muhlach’s three-year-old son will join showbiz soon.
– Kumakain pa raw ng ensaymada para mas lumaki. Chos! (remember ensaymada magnate si Niño! Magnate?!)
• The Mario Maurer-Cacai Bautista so-called romance.
– Cacai says: “Not true.” Oo naman. Naniniwala kaming hindi totoo.
• Young Actress Kim Chiu and basketball player Simon Atkins are reportedly dating. (O sila na?)
– Good news for Maja Salvador. Chos!
• Carlos Agassi regularly posts photos of himself (his muscles) on Instagram.
– Minsan walang humpay daw. Huwag na tayong choosy! Wala ring basagan ng trip.
(MR.FU hosts on 103.5 Wow FM, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. and TV5. Twitter: @mrfu_mayganon)