Programs to Replace Wowowee: Just Mere Speculations

ABS-CBN Corporate Communications head Bong Osorio on Friday dismissed as mere speculation reports that back-to-back programs starring Kris Aquino and Robin Padilla will replace top-rating entertainment show "Wowowee" on the noontime slot.

"Wala pa, speculations pa lang 'yan. It's mere speculations. There's no official announcement at the moment," Osorio told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

A Philippine Star report earlier said that ABS-CBN's morning shows will change starting this month of September and Kris Aquino, sister of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino will be hosting a new noontime show replacing "Wowowee."

Aquino recently resigned as host of ABS-CBN gossip shows "The Buzz" and "Showbiz News Ngayon" after his brother was elected president of the Philippines.

Though Osorio did not deny nor confirm the report, he said that everything will be announced in proper time.

"We will have proper communication if there will be changes in our daytime shows," he said.

The ABS-CBN executive also reacted on reports saying that comedienne Pokwang and Mariel Rodriguez will be kicked out from "Wowowee" once its main man Willie Revillame returns from his indefinite break this September.

"That's even more speculative, speculations lang yan," Osorio said.

Showbiz wags earlier said Revillame want the two female co-hosts out of the show for being very vocal in supporting President Aquino III. Revillame endorsed senator Manuel Villar for president.

In an interview with ABS-CBN.com, Pokwang said that she's just doing her job and will just leave everything to the management.

“Ang masasabi ko lang nandiyan ang management. Kami bilang nagtatrabaho sa ABS-CBN, bilang contract artist nila ako, hinihintay ko na lang kung anong utos sa amin ng mga bossing. Sila naman ang nakakaalam kung anong para sa amin at para saan kami.”

She also reacted on rumors that Wowowee will soon be replaced by a new program.

“Wala akong naririnig [na ganyang balita], kasi ako, kapag may mga ganyang hearsay, dumidirekta ako sa mga boss, talaga tinatanong ko sila.”

Pokwang and Mariel were also present during the inauguration of P.Noy at Quirino Grandstand in Manila and on the street part and inaugural concert of the president held at Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City last June 30

Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson on Meg July Issue

Kapamilya Stars, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson graced the cover of Meg Magazine thie July 2010.

Meg Magazine features how Kim and Gerald (Kimerald) stay on top of their game. They also released their annual list of 50 Hotties which include other Kapamilya stars.

Meg Magazine’s July 2010 issue is now available nationwide on news stands and bookstores.

"Mara Clara" Stars Reunite on Sharon

The stars of the beloved 90′s soap “Mara Clara”–Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes–reunite on Sharon!

“Queen of Pinoy Soap Opera” Judy Ann Santos and “Primera Kontrabida” Gladys Reyes visit Megastar Sharon Cuneta this Sunday, July 4, for a very special reunion—to celebrate friendship and motherhood. Together with Vice Ganda and Juris, don’t miss the surprises in store for the two expectant celebrity moms in the only musical variety Sunday night show “kung saan lagi kang kasama,” Sharon, after Rated K on ABS-CBN.

Cesar Montano Hosts Wowowee

It's final. Actor-director Cesar Montano is the new guest co-host of ABS-CBN's hit noon show "Wowowee" starting Saturday (July 3).

Montano confirmed his stint on the show Friday through ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

"For few days lang ito. I don't know siguro management but they offered me mag-ho-host ako, guest host," Montano said.

Montano said that his hosting job for "Wowowee" was postponed because he had to go to China.

"The first time kasi naman paalis ako for China. Hindi ako makaka-host mayroon na akong ticket naka-book na. As much as I want to do that kasi it's a great opportunity for me. Pleasure at marami akong mase-serbisyuhan kaya ang paalis na ako and hindi ko na matatanggihan ang commitment ko," he said.

Asked if seeks the approval of his friend Willie Revillame, who is the main man of the show, Montano replied: "No, hindi, hindi. It was offered to me pag gusto ko tanggapin ko, pag ayaw ko hindi. Hindi ko kailangang magpaalam kay Willie kasi hindi naman si Willie ang manager ko in the first place kaibigan ko lang siya."

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

"Twist and Shout" and "M3" Premiere this Saturday!

Two new great star-studded shows will premiere this Saturday, July 3 on ABS-CBN.

Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano team up for a different kind of singing contest on ABS-CBN. Singing in tune makes you a good singer but surpassing distractions while singing makes you a winner in ABS-CBN’s newest show “Twist and Shout”.

Filipinos’ talent in singing will be put to the ultimate test in this singing competition with a twist hosted by two of the most respected artists in the industry— Concert King Martin Nievera and Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano.

This is the first time the two will have their own program together and their wacky antics as well as perfect on-screen chemistry will definitely add up to the twist the show will be offering.

“I’ve never been a game show host. This is my first time, but I have Martin. I know we’re both going to learn from each other, we’re ready for the challenges,” said Gary in an interview with ABS-CBN.com.

“ABS-CBN has created a lot of game shows but the core element in Twist and Shout is not to try to be a game show and us hosts not to be like Edu Manzano, Cesar Montano, or Kris Aquino. We will just be Martin and Gary,” added Martin.

“Twist and Shout” will feature celebrities singing the country’s top hits while facing distractions such as running on a treadmill, becoming a human roulette, or being dipped in ice-cold water.

Every episode, two celebrity teams with three players will undergo three rounds with different distractions. Each one will take on one round and his only goal is to continue singing and endure the disruption for two whole minutes.

Judges Aiza Seguerra and Jimmy Bondoc alongside a weekly celebrity guest, will be giving them points and the team with the highest number of points will proceed to the final round called the Turn Table.

The winning team must again sing for two minutes while on top of the rotating circular platform to be able to win the jackpot prize. The timer will not stop until a member of the team is still standing and the moment the clock hits two minutes, three lucky audience from their side of the studio will divide amongst themselves P200,000.

“Twist and Shout” is a franchise from Zodiak Entertainment, a production and distribution group which aired the format in countries such as France, India, and Indonesia. The show received a very positive response from its viewers and it continues to air in other countries in its new title “Sing If You Can…”

Next in line is the romantic-comedy M3 (Malay Mo Madevelop) with the powerful tandem, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Aga Muhlach. Ai Ai plays the character of Kring-Kring, the single mother who meets JM, the eligible bachelor who is a lolo’s boy as played by Aga. She wears a mole like Cindy Crawford to make it different from her other roles. They have a bathtub scene that will be the talk of the metro once it’s aired. Directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, support actors include Megan Young, Nina Jose, Noel Trinidad, Mika dela Cruz, Jairus Aquino, and Jojo Alejar.

Don’t miss the exciting premiere of “Twist and Shout” with Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano this Saturday (July 3), 8:45 PM and "M3" with Ai-Ai delas Alas and Aga Muhlach at 9:45 PM.

Mariel Rodriguez on Cinco

Mariel Rodriguez will star in a Star Cinema movie, "Cinco". This movie will mark another milestone in the Philippine horror genre, which open on July 14 in more than 100 theatres nationwide.

The movie is a product of a new breed of creative and emboldened Philippine movie directors and visionaries that will push the horror genre into the next level. It has five horrifying episodes with an unexpected threading by a single element. Star Cinema will break the horror conventions of the Philippine Cinema.

Mariel stars in one of the series, Mukha. She shares, “I am very proud to be a part of this film po. May mga lessons na matutunan bawat episode… Katulad nga nitong Mukha… Ipinaalaala sa atin na hindi tayo dapat maging mapag-api at manakit ng ibang tao, lalo na kung ito ay may pinagdadaanan.”

Nick Olanka, a well-known scriptwriter and film director who is graduate of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, directed Mukha. His graduation short film, Lunes ng Hapis won awards from the 2005 Kodak Film School Competition and during the 18th CCP Independent Film and Video Competition and was the Philippine entry for the Asia-Pacific Kodak Film School Competition on the same year. Direk Olanka wrote Adela, a critically acclaimed and award-winning film. He also made an impressive job in his TV project in Maalaala Mo Kaya, a Kim Chiu-Carlo Aquino episode about the story of a forbidden young love.

“I had a good time working with Star Cinema. Mariel, Nanding Josef and Ketchup Eusebio gave an exceptional performance. Very professional silang lahat. My co-direcotrs have been very supportive. We collaborated closely for this project,” says Nick.

The Mukha episode cast includes Ketchup Eusebio and Nanding Josef.

On Spotlight: Bret Jackson of PBB Teen Clash of 2010

American teen housemate Bret Jackson won the hearts of viewers of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash of 2010 not just with his good looks, but also with his impressive musical talent. Although considered as a strong contender for the title of Teen Big Winner, Bret said in a press conference that he is not disappointed that he only finished last among the Big Six. “Okay lang po ‘yun. PBB had been a wonderful experience for me so I’m very thankful. Each week, all of us had the chance to prove ourselves that we deserve to be a Big Winner. Kuya made us realize that we must all believe in ourselves. Also I learned that the result of the voting was pretty close, we were almost 1% apart from each other. That made me feel like the people loved the six of us almost the same, so what’s wrong with that?”

Bret never intended to join showbiz and according to him, he only auditioned for PBB to experience adventure and meet new friends. But now that the reality competition has made him a celebrity, the 19-year old would like to take advantage of whatever opportunities are there for him. “If given the opportunities in showbiz I would love to sing, perform, have an album. We performed in ASAP after the Big Night and it was fun. I hope I can do more live singing there.”

The young lad from Dumaguete composed a few original songs that became novelty hits inside Kuya’s house. However, Bret revealed that his interest in music only started a year ago. “At first, I felt that I had a really bad voice. After coming from school, around ten in the evening I would be in my room and play guitar and sing without anyone hearing me,” he shared. He later became a fan of Pinoy bands like Chicosci, Sandwich, and Eraserheads, and he even confessed that he likes singing the E-heads song “Ang Huling El Bimbo.”

Bret won one of Big Brother’s tasks which was to undergo the audition for the MYX VJ Search. He said he is now looking forward to his very first job after his stint as a teen housemate. “I watch MYX almost everyday that’s why when VJ Chino (Lui Pio) and Bianca (Roque) came to the house I was really star struck. Then the other day I saw VJ Iya (Villania) and I was again star struck. I’m excited to do the job, be on TV and be seen by my family and then I can greet them on air, ha ha ha!” Bret named Iya as one of his biggest showbiz crushes.