MANILA, Philippines - TV shows are like products. At some point, you need to refresh, to reformat, and to change for the better.?
ABS-CBN vice president for Corporate Communications Bong Osorio thus explained the network's decision to ax some shows, including the 10-year-old ?Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas.?
?Umagang Kay Ganda,? replacing ?MUP? on June 25, will have ?more balanced reporting? of entertainment and news stories, said Osorio. New hosts are Edu Manzano, Pinky Webb, Rica Peralejo and Donita Rose. Hosts Bernadette Sembrano, Kim Atienza, Winnie Cordero and Ogie Diaz will stay.
Julius Babao will still be on the current affairs programs ?XXX? and ?TV Patrol World,? but his wife Tintin Bersola will no longer have any program on television. ?The network does not have anything for her at the moment,? Osorio said.
The Babaos will still host dzMM's Saturday radio show ?Mornings with Julius and Tintin.? Osorio denied rumors that ABS-CBN dropped the female host because of her numerous product endorsements.
The axing of shows, reshuffling of hosts and introduction of new programs are obviously a bid to improve the station's performance in the ratings game.
On June 7, the network announced that Edu Manzano would officially host the game show ?Pilipinas Game KNB?? Until the announcement, Manzano was a pinch-hitter for Kris Aquino, who gave birth recently. Aquino will join Boy Abunda on ?Boy & Kris,? replacing ?Homeboy.? She resumes hosting ?Kapamilya Deal or No Deal? tomorrow.
Ruffa Gutierrez will officially be one of the three hosts (with Abunda and Cristy Fermin) of the Sunday talk program ?The Buzz.?
The drama series ?Ysabella,? starring Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo premieres July 21, in the time-slot of ?Pinoy Big Brother,? whose second season ends June 30.
?Kokey,? adapted from the '90s sci-fi movie, will replace ?Maria Flor de Luna,? expected to end in two weeks, or the fantasy series ?Rounin.? ?Kokey,? will star ?Little Big Superstar:? runner-up Joshua Cadelina, and airs starting July 30.
In September, Mars Ravelo's ?Lastikman? starts airing, with comedian Vhong Navarro in the lead role. Also cast in the show are Zsazsa Padilla, Dawn Zulueta, Carmi Martin, Tonton Gutierrez, John Estrada and Iya Villania.
After a six-month break, ?U Can Dance? goes back on the air July 7, with contestants not just from Mega Manila but from all over the country. The hosts are Iya Villania and Derek Ramsey.
Other new programs are the drama series ?May Minamahal? (starring Oyo Sotto and Anne Curtis), and the youth show ?Gokada Go? (with Kim Chui, Gerald Anderson, Matteo Guidicelli).
