FOR WEEKS now, TV5?s Paolo Bediones has been following the country?s top ?presidentiables? on the campaign trail. Last April 11, his new ?USI? (for Usisero) show regaled viewers with the fruits ?and findings ? of his labors, and a good and informative time was had by all.
Paolo did better than some other political program hosts, because he appears to have the knack for making his interview subjects feel relaxed or forthcoming enough to reveal some heretofore unseen or unknown aspects of their public and private selves.
He even got some of the presidential candidates to engage in unusual activities, like Nicanor Perlas competing with Paolo in a game of soccer, Jamby Madrigal picking up garbage, Dick Gordon performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (on a dummy), and Eddie Villanueva driving his big campaign bus.
Revealing responses
In addition, Paolo asked some ?delicate? questions that got relatively honest and revealing responses, thus adding to viewer-voters? sense that they were getting to know the candidates as they ?really? were.
Most ?revealing? statement of all? Erap Estrada?s candid sharing that, every morning, one of the first things he did was to meditate on life and death at what is slated to become his tomb. Wasn?t he being morbid? Not at all, Erap retorted ? that?s where we?re all eventually headed, isn?t it? Touché.
Meanwhile, on GMA-7, we caught the first telecast of ?Party Pilipinas,? which turned out to be a long, overblown but underwhelming viewing experience. We appreciated the new show?s big production values, but rued the fact that it sometimes featured raw, young talents who didn?t add to its quality and entertainment value. Greater selectivity in guest artist selection is sorely needed.
Senior hosts
In addition, the ?new? program has opted to retain the old ?S.O.P.? show?s senior hosts (Regine, Ogie, Janno, Jaya), but hasn?t done much to shine up their acts.
If they were part of the old problems that led to the dissolution of ?S.O P.,? why are they now regarded as part of the solution that will make its replacement wonderfully dynamic, exciting and ?new??
Clearly, the changes in attitude, presentation and style have to go more than skin-deep for ?Party Pilipinas? to be a genuine blast ? not from the past.
