MOST OF THE TIME, singer Ogie Alcasid and comedian Michael V enjoy flourishing separate careers. Every now and then, however, they join forces in a production, and their costarring work is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

Viewers get to enjoy this once a week on GMA-7?s ?Bubble Gang? comedy show, where Ogie and Michael have teamed up on many fun skits. They have played all sorts of madcap characters on the show, but their Yaya (Michael) and her Spoiled Brat ward (Ogie)?ironically named Angelina?have been particular audience favorites.

It?s instructive to note that both signature characters are ?female.? Thus have Michael and Ogie plugged into the tradition of cross-dressing that has been a staple of local comedy for generations.

Collaboration

The popular tandem?s latest comedic collaboration has been such a hit with viewers that it?s been spun off into a new weekday game show, ?Hole in the Wall,? that has been telecast on GMA-7 for a couple of weeks now. We?ve caught the show from time to time, so we can share these initial notes on it:

?Hole in the Wall? is so titled because it requires two competing teams of players to assume different poses and positions so they can squeeze through cut-out shapes in an approaching wall. If they fail to squeeze through the ?holes,? they end up in a pool of water.

Format

One would think that the rather limited format would prove predictable after some telecasts, but the show is able to sustain viewers? interest and even delight, because some of the cut-out shapes are really unusual?and most of the players end up all wet.

The show?s ?Yaya and Spoiled Brat? hosts do a lot to keep the game show diverting. Their love-hate, ?loser vs. winner? relationship is a fun running gag, and Ogie and Michael?s drag act is both brassy and blithe.

Another running gag is the fact that, despite ?her? youth, Spoiled Brat Angelina plays her Yaya like a yoyo. And, some telecasts end with Yaya being forced to subject herself to the ?hole in the wall? game, ending up all wet because?surprise!?there?s no hole in that wall at all!

Looking beyond their new TV show, Ogie and Michael have such a good thing going that they could parlay their joint popularity as comedians into a composite show biz ?brand,? like the popular and profitable ?Pugo-Tugo? and ?Dolphy-Panchito? tandems of old.

In their new comedy team, Ogie is obviously the ?pitcher? to Michael?s ?straight man,? and they?re well-suited to those roles, so they should do very well, indeed?while still enjoying separate stellar careers. How?s that for having the best of both worlds?