SINCE OUR INITIAL REVIEW of “The Singing Bee” came out, the new “lyrics-recall” quiz show appears to be doing well. One time, in fact, we heard host Cesar Montano claiming in no uncertain terms that it was already the most popular show in its time slot, less than one month after ABS-CBN’s new weeknight show started telecasting.
If true, this is bad news for the teleserye showing opposite it on the rival channel, and proof positive that you don’t need to produce a big, expensive drama series to win viewers’ nod.
We further note that “The Singing Bee” has become a “giant killer” of sorts in another way: Its wide range of musical challenges is so difficult to measure up to, that even star singers like Rico J. Puno and Hajji Alejandro have fallen by the wayside. As for the non-star contestants, they, too, have had to work really hard not to get eliminated early in the competition so they can get a chance to win some big cash prizes.
Few winners
Fact is, very few contestants have been able to win substantial amounts on the show—which we believe is unfair, since they have to struggle so hard to emerge as nightly champions so they can compete for the really big bucks.
This is why we urge the show’s producers to make a key change in its “mechanics,” and give each night’s winner a prize of, say, P50,000 before he or she vies for the P1 million plum in the jackpot round.
Another follow-up observation is that the show’s challenges are so tough that prospective contestants, celebrity or otherwise, should “dare” to compete on the program only if they’re really gifted “lyric-recallers.”
Some celebrity contestants have tried to finesse their way through the competition, or played their ignorance for “comic” effect, but have only ended up with egg on their faces.
They should realize that “The Singing Bee” is a difficult quiz show, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Imagine, contestants have to be familiar with the lyrics of songs performed by artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Parokya ni Edgar, Engelbert Humperdinck to Aiza Seguerra?! So, no fooling around, please.
That’s why we urge the show’s talent coordinators to look for really experienced contestants, like karaoke and videoke clubs’ sing-along masters, whose job it is to know hundreds of songs.
Finally, we urge host Cesar to stop saying that it’s “easy” to compete in the show, since you don’t really need to know how to sing well, only to remember the quiz songs’ lyrics. Hey, that’s a really tall order!
Another update: On the daytime game show “Da Big Show,” the competitions based on traditional Filipino games have become even more diverting from a visual point of view. Aside from the original tsinelas and coconut tree motifs, the show recently had its contestants dressed like giant wooden chips, and they raced to be the first to fall on a number called out on the giant bingo board.
In addition, game master Ogie Alcasid’s colorful rapped spiels have helped make “Da Big Show” a breezy romp. Way to go!
Movies on MGM Channel
On Wednesday, May 14, at 8:45 a.m., “Of Mice and Men.” At 12:30 p.m., “Mystic Pizza.” At 2:15 p.m., “Run Silent, Run Deep.”
May 15 at 7:30 a.m., “Signs of Life.” At 2 p.m., “The Dogs of War.” May 16 at 5:15 a.m., “Wuthering Heights.” At 1:30 p.m., “A Rage in Harlem.” At 5:15 p.m., “Little Man Tate.” At 10:30 p.m., “A Dry White Season.”
May 17 at 5:30 a.m., “Topkapi.” At 9:30 a.m., “Annie Hall.” at 11:15 a.m., “Marie: A True Story.” May 18 at 12:15 p.m., “Manhattan.” At 5:15 p.m., “Playing Mona Lisa.” At 9 p.m., “Matewan.” At 11:15 p.m., “Twelve Angry Men.”
On Star World
On Tuesday, June 4 at 8 p.m., Muhammad Ali’s family and friends pay a star-studded tribute to the former boxing champion on his 60th birthday. Hosted by Will Smith, star of the motion picture “Ali,” the one-hour special taped at the new Kodak Theater in Hollywood presents film clips of Ali’s legendary career. Guest luminaries include Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Sidney Poitier, Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight, Sugar Ray Leonard, John Travolta, Larry King and Layla Ali, the boxer’s daughter.
