After the initial IPO decision this week and regardless of any appeals that may come in the future, it’s time for TAPE Inc to move on from the Eat Bulaga brand. Not out of “respect” for any mere human being, but for their own benefit. And, maybe more importantly, for everyone’s sanity.
Since July 1, my family has actually watched both E.A.T and Eat Bulaga. We have no skin in the game and enjoy watching both shows whenever we need something on the TV. Whatever legal issues they have, they can deal with themselves.
But how are the shows doing content-wise? What seems to be working and what not?
The last full season of Big Brother US I’ve watched was season 20. It was surprising and definitely very exciting to see Filipino-American Kaycee Clark go all the way to the end and win the season. Since then, I just haven’t been able to get into the show. (Save for the amusing bromance between Derek Xiao and Travis Long in season 23.) For one, I usually lose interest halfway through any season. Especially when I have no one left to root for. Second, the lack of Asian-American HGs has become really annoying and almost upsetting to me. And that’s partly because, third, a small, but very loud section of the Big Brother fandom has become so overwhelmingly nasty and toxic. That I really think they are at least half of the reason the show has been in a steep decline.
Short answer: No, not at all.
Before Philippine entertainment goes dark for Holy Week, it seems like it has decided to drop a few bombshells for Mariteses everywhere to ponder over Easter weekend.
#NetworkWarCulture. That’s what.
But when thinking about the “end of an era,” the idea that Eat Bulaga might actually go off the air after 43 years really would fit that title. Even more shocking considering the way it apparently might happen.
Time to vent! And apparently celebrate because #NetworkWarCulture is alive and well in the Philippines! Wowowowin!
Until then, if you’re looking for a “Juan for All” experience, you might want to add The New Eat Bulaga! Indonesia to your daily habit alongside the original Eat Bulaga mothership. This nostalgic look at what life was like pre-COVID was strangely comforting and very much enjoyable. And it also instills a bit of hope for the future.
What I do know is that I am very much looking forward to Voltes V: Legacy. For now, there’s a lot of positive things to take away from this trailer. I hope it does well. I hope it delivers. And I hope that if it is successful, perhaps others can be inspired to take a long, hard look at how they do things with their own adaptations in the future.