NAGSIMULA NA ang trabaho ni Johnny Manahan na kilala rin bilang Mr. M sa GMA-7 sa GMA-7. Ito ay pagkatapos ng halos isang linggo lang ng pag-welcome sa kanya ng TV network bilang consultant ng GMA Artist Center.
Former ABS-CBN Star Magic head first assignment is to help the GMA’s talent agency arm in disovering promising new talents.
Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay umupo si Mr. M sa screening panel for this week’s auditions kasama ng ibang GMA-7 executives and senior talent managers.
Samantala, hindi natanggihan ni Mr. M ang alok ng GMA-7 kaya mas pinili niyang muling magtrabaho kesa ang planong magretiro sa trabaho.
“Yes, there was a time I really thought I would just leave it all behind and just become a grandfather, play with my apos. But after a while, parang, you need to do something. Hindi ako mapakali pag wala akong ginagawa,” aniya.
Patuloy ni Mr. M, “I guess, I missed it. I really miss the business, so here I am again — refreshed after a rest. Let’s see what I can do. Sabi ko nga parang nabuhay ako uli.
“Sabi ko, ‘Sige, let’s talk. I think mahirap tanggihan yung offer nila. Maganda yung offer, nilatag nila yung mga gagawin ko, yung gusto nilang mangyari. Natuwa naman ako sa mga plano. So, that was an easy thing to do.”
Bilang consultant ng GMA Artist Center kasama sa trabaho niya ang pagdedesisyon kung sinu-sino sa mga Kapuso stars ang babagay at dapat gawing bida sa isang teleserye.
“I think that’s part of my mandate. Because I asked them what I can do. Ayun ang sabi nila. Pwede ako dun makisawsaw, kumbaga, kung sino pwede ilagay sa iba’t ibang teleserye.
“To ask me that, I appreciate that. I really appreciate that coming from GMA. Yes. They have a very good system na. Ganda ng latag ng sistema nila. I just want to see if that really works once it’s put into action. They gave me a wide scope.
“Si Attorney (Felipe) Gozon nga, baka yung isang show, baka meron daw akong inputs, meron akong suggestions. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Sure, Atty. Gozon, I will only be so happy to help out.’
“What we’re doing is we’re looking at their setup of artists. See if anything can be improved in the operation of the Artist Center. But overall, I suppose, what they want to do is develop a new breed of GMA artists, a new breed of ambassadors of GMA. Yun ang main goal,” tuluy-tuloy niyang pahayag.
Hindi na rin itinanggi ng star builder na may kasama siya mula sa ABS-CBN sa paglipat niya sa GMA.
“Meron kaming naisama dito sa organization ng GMA na galing sa dating organization. So far, two people from the other side, they were able to bring them to help us. Nagustuhan naman nu’ng mga executives itong mga tao na ito. Because we told them, ‘We’re not here to replace anybody. Consultants lang kami.’
“But if they can bring a couple of people to make the system smoother, kasi mga experienced na itong mga taong ito. So, sumang-ayon naman sila. They’re very friendly, actually,” katwiran pa niya.
