- It’s not just any show. It’s Showtime!
Over the weekend, I found myself lost in Manila for a Kapamilya Visit by ABS-CBN, a media trip of some sort around the TV network’s studios and shows.
The itinerary listed three shows we were to visit: Showtime, X Factor, and ASAP 2012. They were pretty exciting; the minute details in each show made each pit stop all the more thrilling.
On a Saturday morning, we walked to ABS-CBN’s compound, which was just a block away from our hotel. We met their corporate communications officers, toured around their studios (more about this in my next story), and queued for that noontime show my sister Maria faithfully, devotedly, and religiously watches: Showtime.
Have fun or die
I learned that there is only one rule when watching a wacky noontime show live: have fun, or die. No one should ever be caught by any of the cameramen yawning or looking bored because it’s pretty embarrassing for anyone and for the TV network.
And the folks in Showtime devised mechanisms to ensure that everyone in the Studio is all perky and excited before the show goes live on air. And the mastermind? The floor director who comically threatened (err, encouraged) the front seat studio audience to clap and scream their heart out lest they be transferred at the back.
Our entourage was of no exception.
“OMG,” I thought to myself. “I have to sing and clap and shriek and feign excitement despite the absence of Anne Curtis!” The actress wasn’t around during that weekend’s edition of the show; she’s one of the celebrities I look forward to meeting in this lifetime. Blogger Mark Cabrera shared my sentiment. Who doesn’t want to see Anne Curtis in real life?!
Nervous
I was feeling irrationally nervous while in Showtime’s studio. I was afraid I might do something really, really stupid when the camera turns to me, or when any of the hosts ask me to greet people on national TV, which didn’t happen because I initially passed up for the opportunity (biggest regret of my life).
I shrugged off the tension when a girl on the stage started to teach us the audience dance moves for that day. It was fun. I still remember the dance moves as I am writing this. Do you want to see me dance it?
When the show finally went live, we were made to sing the show’s theme song like it was the song of our lives.
The three-hour show promised a lot of gags, wacky gimmicks, and “explosive” performances (with kids and adults gyrating on the stage) by the contestants of the monthly finals.
I also enjoyed feasting my eyes on Billy Crawford’s and Vhong Navarro’s shoes. I marveled at Vice Ganda’s and Ryan Bang’s craziness (and impeccable taste for fashion; or maybe it was their stylists’). I laughed at this grandma Barbie girl contestant. I got scared by this creepy kid dancer. I raised my scorecard with impunity. I scoffed at a girl at the audience who was being a drama queen. I praised the lightning quick backstage people who went in and out working on stagecraft.
Like what the ABS-CBN people said, it’s so much different when you watch their shows live. In my case, I tend to have noticed so many details, which was interesting and sometimes a little too disturbing. Case in point: when Vice doesn’t make people laugh, he mouths words (like social commentaries and his ideals) that desperately attempt to put sense into the show. Just make us laugh; Showtime is for entertainment, and it’s not a documentary on poverty or whatever.
At the end of the show (and after warming my butt cheeks for three hours in my seat), I took home a big smile on my face. Showtime is fun; more so when watched live.
Rae Ann, my college classmate who now works in ABS-CBN talked to me about how festive the show really is. She’s so right in so many levels: the singing, the dancing, the scorecards, the games and the jokes were crazy-fun. I would have enjoyed them more if I didn’t hold back; I wasn’t really 100% perky during the show.
I regret my not being able to greet my friends, family, and relatives to the 100th affinity and consanguinity on camera.
But to make up for it, here I go: Binabati ko po ang mga kaibigan ko! Si Henjie, Levi, at Karla Stefan Singson. Hello din sa mga kapatid ko sa bahay! Mayang, Jonah, paglung-ag na!
(Source: mindanaotimes.net)
