MANILA, Philippines?Boy bands are no longer in season, despite the Jonas Brothers? being the juvenile exceptions to this desultory rule. But, the US entertainment scene was recently pleasantly surprised by the unexpectedly strong comeback of the New Kids on the Block, one of the pioneering boy groups in the ?80s.

What was impressive about the ?new-old? Kids? comeback on US TV was the fact that they didn?t try to look as youthful as they did decades ago.

Unlike some other entertainers who try to freeze their performing personae in a time warp for fear of disappointing their fans, the Kids now present themselves as men, not boys. This is a sensible move, because their fans have matured along with them, and don?t want to see pickled and preserved versions of their former faves!

Signature songs

As more mature performers, the Kids may still sing some of their signature songs, but they now imbue them with a new edge and ?voice of experience? that heighten the impact of their performance.

It is hoped, of course, that the bandmates will soon add new songs to their repertoire that speak of their thoughts and feelings now, years after they first made it in the music biz as fresh-faced young comers.

Kids are by no means the only former show biz stars on the comeback trail this season. Also bent on reclaiming lost glory is Brooke Shields, whose TV-film career was capped some years back by the hit sitcom, ?Suddenly Susan.?

Young readers

In the interim, Shields has launched another career as a writer of stories for young readers (her latest book teaches children how to deal with the arrival of a new baby in the family).

On Monday June 30, however (9 p.m. on 2nd Avenue), Shields is going back to TV acting by way of ?Lipstick Jungle,? a series about three ?power? women in New York City.

Shields is cast a film executive who tries to balance family and career. The other lead characters are played by Kim Raver (as a fashion magazine editor) and Lindsay Price (as a designer desperately in search of True Love).

Since ?Lipstick Jungle? shares the same creator (Candace Bushnell) as ?Sex in the City? and both shows are about maturing ?power? women, Shields? new starrer is already being compared, perhaps unfairly, to Bushnell?s previous hit show. But, the comebacking TV star assures viewers that she and her costars fully intend to make their new series a hit on its own terms.

And, on the local film front, it?s Annabelle Rama who?s the current Comeback Queen by way of her first movie in decades, ?Monster Mom.? Annabelle began her acting career in the ?70s as a sexy starlet, but soon gave up performing to bring up her and Eddie Gutierrez?s big brood of kids?most of whom have now also ?gone show biz.?

Annabelle may have stopped performing all these years, but she?s become a popular guest on TV shows due to her idiosyncratic personality and sharp tongue. Thus, she?s making her film comeback not as an ex-star, but as a celebrity whose life is her best performance.

Big difference

Of course, there?s a big difference between being ditzy and spunky in real life, and sustaining viewers? interest for 90 minutes in a full-length film. So, we?ll be watching ?Monster Mom? when it opens on July 2 to see if Annabelle will be able to do just that.

Finally?and best of all, as far as we?re concerned?the Nora Aunor is making her film comeback with ?Care Home,? a drama about caregivers shot in the States by Suzette Ranillo. The good news is that ?Care Home? will be shown on QTV-11 at 9 p.m. Saturday.