IF COLLECTIVELY SUBJECTED to a lie detector test, tiyak na TRUTH ang ipa-flash ng police inspector sa sagot ng ilang staff ng Showbiz Central (na yes answer) sa tanong kung dismayado nga ba sila kay John Lapus (at least, I didn’t make oral reference to my “favorite” TV host).
Eksena ito sa naturang programa noong Sunday, si Bianca King ang sumalang sa segment na Don’t Lie To Me. Originally, may apat na tanong na ibabato si Sweet (John’s ironic monicker), the last of which had something to do with the infamous Ampalaya Anonymous, ang cyber gang na kinabibilangan ni Bianca.
Maayos naman ang pagkaka-construct sa tanong, ‘yun ay kung feeling ba ng mga miyembro ng naturang grupo ay nakapananakit o nakasasagasa sila ng ibang artistang hindi nila kaanib. But Bianca, who was paid a hefty P15,000 for her guesting, put her foot down.
Nagbanta raw ang aktres na magwo-walk out sa studio kung itutuloy ni Sweet ang pagtatanong. Slightly bothered, kinontak naman agad ng staff ng SC ang manager ni Bianca, si Arnold Vegafria who found nothing wrong with the inquiry. At kung sakali raw mag-walk out ang kanyang alaga, well and good, at least, it would have been the next issue people would love to talk about.
‘Ika nga, the air had already been cleared. Call na ‘yon siyempre ng SC lalo’t may basbas naman ng mismong manager ni Bianca. Ang nakaiirita kasi sa mga ganitong guesting scenario, almost always, the talk show is at the mercy of its whimsical guest. In short, saksakan nang arte, samantalang bayad naman ang kanilang appearance, hello!
Instead of invoking his right to free, no-holds-barred discussion, nagpaka-sweet-sweetan itong si Sweet. Hindi na raw niya itatanong ang huling question, gayong ang ipina-plug ng SC ay ang rebelasyon ni Bianca tungkol sa kanyang kinaaanibang grupo!
Worse, Sweet commited a crime of betrayal towards his staff. Kesyo hindi raw siya na-brief ng writer assigned, gayong klaro sa kanya ang stand ng show. Hayun tuloy, disgust was written all over the face of the staff, ilaglag ba sila?!
Let’s face it, marami na ang tumutuligsa sa “old school” type of hosting ni Sweet who resorts to obsolete Filipino con-
junctions such as “subalit, datapwat, ngunit etc.” All the more na magmumukhang CHEAP ang standard spiels ni Sweet with reference to the manikuristas and the pedikuristas at some parlor in his desperate attempt to inject comedy, but certainly to no avail.
Idagdag pa ang kanyang mala-megaphone, cacophonous voice that finds its rightful place in protest rallies with no cause to fight for. Tigilan na ang ganitong uri ng pagho-host that insults the sensibilities of the viewers.
While showbiz-oriented talk shows are mostly gay-dominated, maiaangat mo pa rin ang level ng showbiz news reportage with a more decent presentation that only more decent gay personalities can deliver.
Tumigil na si Sweet in his delusions of grandeur (acronymed D.O.G.) that he’s cut out for TV hosting. Dog?… Sweet just barks, period.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
