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kuyarexdelsdiaries · 6 years ago

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Magandang Tanghali Bayan (20 Years After)

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Twenty Years ago on Bonifacio Day, ABS-CBN Launched its noontime show "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" as they will compete with GMA's Eat Bulaga replacing "'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila" on the 6-day timeslot (Which GMA's Eat Bulaga, Ika-6 Na Utos, Contessa, Ika-5 Utos and Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko continued its practice to this day). Original hosts of "MTB" are Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Willie Revillame, Christine Jacob-Sandejas (now with CNN Philippines), Roderick Paulate, Vanessa del Bianco and Amy Perez. The show aired live from Studio 3 of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center. This marks the return of Christine Jacob to ABS-CBN since she left when she was a co-host of now rival Eat Bulaga! which moved from the network to the rival GMA Network in 1995.

The show assumed most of the segments and staff from its predecessor "'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila" during its first season. Among the most popular segments from APO's previous noontime show was "Calendar Girl", a daily pageant where pretty and sexy young girls 15–21 years of age participate in the talent and question and answer portions hosted by Estrada, Santiago and Revillame. To continue the chronology of the pageant (where monthly winners from January to December of the previous year converge to compete in the Grand Finals of following year), management decided to include the January–November monthly winners from the defunct "APO" show in the "MTB" grand coronation that happened on January 2, 1999.

In December 1998, "Pera o Bayong" (Money or Basket) debuted on TV as "MTB"'s highlight game portion. The engaging elimination round and the suspense-filled jackpot round won the hearts of most televiewers. It gave "MTB" better overall ratings than 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila, and the show even overtook GMA's Eat Bulaga! as the top weekday noontime variety show from early 1999 until Revillame's ouster in 2001. This led the show to replace Sabado Live! on Saturday timeslot and the show was extended to Saturdays in March 1999. Well-known TV director Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz started handling directorial chores for the show along with newcomer Bobet Vidanes.

"MTB" also had its share of controversies. The "Calendar Girl" portion became notorious for the main hosts' green jokes which subsequently got warnings from MTRCB (then headed by veteran actress Armida Siguion-Reyna). Eventually, the ABS-CBN management intervened and suspended the three main hosts indefinitely. With their suspension in August 1999, the show was temporarily replaced by "Esep-Esep" for a week. Estrada, Santiago and Revillame came back with a bang after their suspension a week later.

In the year 2000, the phenomenal game portion "Pera o Bayong" faced stiff competition from Eat Bulaga! when the long-running noontime show produced a segment called "Meron o Wala" (Something or Nothing). But despite the move from the rival show, "Pera o Bayong" still continued to enthrall viewers. The popular catchphrases coined by the hosts eventually became part of the Filipino pop culture. Because of its immense popularity, "Pera o Bayong" was made into a movie version ("Pera o Bayong not da TV)" by Star Cinema that year, with the whole "MTB" cast included.

Changes were suddenly made after the February 7, 2001 episode, when main host Willie Revillame was axed from the show after citing creative differences between him and the staff (He would later host "Willingly Yours" between 2002 and 2003). Matinee idols Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa and Rico Yan (collectively known as "Whattamen") replaced him on the show. Top-notch stand-up comedians Marissa Sanchez and Ai-Ai delas Alas also joined as new female co-hosts. "MTB" also started doing out-of-town shows abroad during the same year to promote ABS-CBN's international channel TFC.

In March 2002, "MTB" lost a co-host, Rico Yan, who died during his Lenten vacation in Dos Palmas Resort, Palawan. The show aired a week-long tribute for him.

That same year, the show introduced new faces to join the growing "MTB" family. The quintet Power Boys, the dance group G-Girls, morning traffic angel Pia Guanio and upcoming teen star Maoui David were among those that joined in the fun and that time, Christine Jacob-Sandejas left the show to focus on her family. During the 4th anniversary of the show on November 2002, the show underwent a major revamp with new game portions and some established ABS-CBN stars (Judy Ann Santos, Edu Manzano, Ryan Agoncillo) co-hosting on a weekly basis. By this time, the show had lost its luster in the ratings game to "Eat Bulaga" following the rising popularity of the reality portion "Sige Ano Kaya Mo?" and creating new sensations out of the Sexbomb Dancers.

"Magandang Tanghali Bayan" ended its four-year run on February 21, 2002 to give way to Willie Revillame's TV comeback on the noontime slot. The title of the replacement show ("Masayang Tanghali Bayan") and Willie's co-hosts (among them Randy Santiago and John Estrada) were not revealed until 12:00nn of February 22, 2002.

Prior to the start of the show, ABS-CBN drummed up month-long promotions for the show where they only revealed Willie Revillame, the JaBoom Twins and Cindy Kurleto as mainstays and had the audience guess the rest of his co-hosts thru a nationwide raffle promo. The title of the show was also kept under wraps as well.

It was on the initial telecast on February 22, 2002 when Willie Revillame revealed the title "Masayang Tanghali Bayan" and his co-hosts thru an elaborate opening number. He was joined by Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Dennis Padilla, Aiai delas Alas, Bayani Agbayani, Mickey Ferriols and Aubrey Miles. Resident comedians Tado and Bentong also came on board as well. The show was directed by ace TV director Johnny Manahan. The show had more game portions giving out big cash prizes thru "Super Jack en Poy" and "Urong Sulong" which gives out P2 million as the highest possible jackpot prize. It was also touted as the biggest noontime show of ABS-CBN, with a simultaneous airing on the Kapamilya Network's UHF channel, Studio 23.

Like its predecessor, the second version of "MTB" also courted controversy when John Estrada and Willie Revillame were suspended because of delivering their usual green jokes during the "Super Jack en Poy" jackpot round. The show's family also grew with the inclusion of former GMA-7 comedians Long Mejia and Dagul. However, before 2003 was about to end, Willie Revillame resigned from the show after a public outcry when he delivered a derogatory joke on midget co-host Mahal during her birthday.

The show continued to air until February 2004 with comedian Vhong Navarro and actor-host Edu Manzano taking over Willie's place. However, "Masayang Tanghali Bayan" failed to sustain viewership and was given the axe on February 20, 2004. Revillame on the other hand, moved to ABC to host Puso o Pera.

The ABS-CBN management capitalized on Aiai delas Alas' rising popularity following her box-office triumph in Star Cinema's "Ang Tanging Ina". She was named the main host, together with Edu Manzano and former GMA-7's resident game show host Arnell Ignacio in the third incarnation of "MTB". Mickey Ferriols and Tado were also retained from the former show, and were joined by the Viva Hot Babes, and newcomers BJ Manalo, Jeni Hernandez and Empoy.

"MTB Ang Saya Saya" premiered on February 21, 2004 with more reality based talent search segments launched. "TV Idol (You're the Man!)" gained popularity among the viewers and gave birth to the showbiz careers of Ahron Villena, AJ Dee and JE Estrada. The show also made household names out of Joross Gamboa, Roxanne Guinoo and Sandara Park fresh from their winning stints in the reality show "Star Circle Quest". However, these efforts were overshadowed by rival "Eat Bulaga" which celebrated its 25th anniversary on television with a Silver Special.

On November 15, 2004, "MTB Ang Saya Saya" lost its prime 12:00nn slot to Kris Aquino's "Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba?" and started airing as an afternoon variety show on a 1:00pm time slot. Soon after, main host Edu Manzano resigned on January 2005 to concentrate on his duties as chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB).

The show ended on February 4, 2005 and was replaced by "Wowowee", hosted by Willie Revillame, who made his third comeback on the ABS-CBN noontime slot due to public clamor.

After Wowowee, all noontime shows of Kapamilya network were followed suit including Pilipinas Win na Win, Happy Yipee Yehey, (both failed to claim the ratings game) and the present-day It’s Showtime when it became a permanent noontime show on February 6, 2012.

After MTB, Where Are They Now?

Willie Revillame hosted Wowowee on ABS-CBN from 2005 to 2010. Then moved to TV5 on October 2010 to host Willing Willie, Wil Time Bigtime in 2011 and Wowowillie in 2013 but hounded by the following controversies:

On February 4, 2006, while Willie was hosting Wowowee, the PhilSports Arena stampede occurred.

On August 20, 2007, During the episode of Wowowee, a technical error occurred during the final jackpot round of the show's Wilyonaryo segment which raised allegations within the media that the segment was, or could be, rigged by the producers. The incident prompted an investigation by the country's Department of Trade and Industry, and was also the catalyst of an on-air feud between Revillame and Joey de Leon.

Five Days Later, the Department of Justice dismissed criminal charges against Revillame in connection with the stampede. However, Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez affirmed the charge against 14 others, including ABS-CBN officials.

In the August 3, 2009 episode of Wowowee, during which the show was interrupted for live coverage of the transfer of President Cory Aquino's remains from La Salle Greenhills to the Manila Cathedral, Revillame said that he could not make people happy while the entire country was mourning. The Alliance of Filipino Journalists denounced his remarks as a sign of disrespect towards Aquino. Revillame said he had no intention of defaming the former president and her family. ABS-CBN senior executive Cory Vidanes said the network supported Revillame's action, stating that his outburst did not run afoul of the Broadcast Code of the Philippines. Network entertainment official Johnny Manahan said Revillame was correct in saying that the footage should not have been inserted, but the way he said it was wrong.

On May 4, 2010, Revillame went into another on-air tirade on his now-defunct noontime show "Wowowee", this time directing his anger at entertainment columnist and DZMM Radio host Jobert Sucaldito. Without mentioning him by name, he said he had enough of Sucaldito's alleged criticisms against the show having high-school contestants whose grades were below the passing mark for the Willie of Fortune segment and also ridiculing them on-screen. He threatened to resign from the show unless the ABS-CBN management dismissed Sucaldito, who described Revillame's rant as being "pikon" (Tagalog slang meaning 'touchy'). He went on an indefinite leave three weeks later after the network declined his resignation letter.

In a press conference on August 9, 2010, Revillame announced that he was ending his contract with ABS-CBN, even if it is supposed to expire in September 2011. He also accused ABS-CBN of violating several provisions in his contract. He narrated that his decision came out of meetings between ABS-CBN production head Linggit Tan and network president Charo Santos-Concio regarding a return to the show on July 31. However, on July 20, Tan said the management will replace Wowowee with a new show on July 31 and also offered him a one-hour weekly show. She added negative feedback still prevailed among network employees about him going to work again. Despite the move, the network stated that Revillame's Wowowee tirade only highlighted his arrogance and stressed that the contract is still in effect.

On March 12, 2011, a "macho dance" by an apparently unhappy six-year-old boy on Revillame's primetime show, Willing Willie, resulted in criticism, including the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development describing it as a case of child abuse. Revillame "sincerely and deeply" apologized for the segment, “which viewers may have found offensive or in bad taste.” The Commission on Human Rights pursued an investigation of the program for violating the law. In October 2015, the Court of Appeals allowed the arrest and prosecution of Revillame over the case.Atty. Nards de Vera, lawyer of Revillame, clarified in a GMA News article that Revillame has already posted the bail for the two cases in September 2013, and does not need the warrant of arrest served against his client. On April 11, 2016, the 3rd division of the Court of Appeal (CA) had affirmed the Regional Trial Court Quezon City Judge Roberto Buenaventura Decision. The CA said that Judge Buenaventura hadn't committed no grave abuse of discretion. In the CA's Decision, written by Justice Maria Luisa Quijano-Padilla, on the arrest and to bring to trial Willie Revillame, they said, " “as there is probable cause for the petitioner’s commission of a crime, his arrest and arraignment should now ensue so that this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties’ evidence and allegations may be weighed.”

On February 28, 2013, Revillame scolded co-hosts Ethel Booba and Ate Gay how Ethel had confronted him in the dressing room.

In January 2011, ABS-CBN announced through its Push.com site that a new noontime show, hosted by ex-MTB hosts Santiago and Estrada as well as Toni Gonzaga and ex-Wowowee host Mariel Rodriguez, was in the works. However, the new noontime show is called "Happy Yipee Yehey!", which set to premiere on February 12, 2011 until 2012 when the noontime show was replaced by It's Showtime.

Revillame would later take a break from 2013 until March 2015 when he signed a contract with GMA Network. His show Wowowin premiered on May 10, 2015 on the Sunday Grande sa hapon lineup until February 2016 and was replaced by Dear Uge at the same time, Wowowin ended up on the First timeslot of the GMA Telebabad which continued to this day.

In 2018, John Estrada left ABS-CBN to sign a new contract with GMA Network after 27 Years on the Kapamilya Network from "Palibhasa Lalake" up to "The Good Son". His first show on GMA was "Victor Magtanggol" as Loki/Dr. Mikolai.

Randy Santiago would resign as director and was replaced by Alberto Miguel.

Recently, Kiray Celis who discovered she joined a contest called Muntíng Miss U of MTB 1999, signed contract with GMA Network.

In Case Sunday PinaSaya ends its run, Willie, John, Randy and Kiray might revive Magandang Tanghali Bayan as a Sunday-variety/comedy Noontime Show inheriting all the SPS Hosts:

- Ai-Ai delas Alas - Jose Manalo - Wally Bayola - Marian Rivera-Dantes - Dingdong Dantes - Barbie Forteza - Alden Richards - Julie Anne San Jose - Valeen Montenegro - Jerald Napoles - Joey Paras - Gladys Guevarra - Boobsie Wonderland - Andre Paras - Ryzza Mae Dizon - Ruru Madrid - Mike "Pekto" Nacua - Kim Last - Lovely Abella - Bianca Umali - Miguel Tanfelix - Kyline Alcantara - Maine Mendoza

(NOTE: The contributor of this post is Carl Veluz, a good friend of the EIC/Publisher of KRD.)

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