Big Brother USA is back and it’s bigger than ever. For the first time, I’m live-blogging the BB15 premiere. Later this week, I’m doing a full video recap on BB&J so you guys better subscribe.
Here we go!
Last June 21 (June 20 in the United States), CBS released pictures, interviews and biography profiles of sixteen all-new houseguests, who are all taking part in a summer long struggle to win half a million dollars in Big Brother 15.
The cast of BB15
As the input of Pinoy soaps increased in the 1990’s onwards to the new millenium, so are the ways and means for producers to get people hooked on whatever soap being shown on our TV screens. Other than the glossy title cards, the cheesy storylines, the glamorous stars with oozing seks appeal, and the “showbiz-branded” titles to the casted soap/movie veterans, the one thing that serves as the primary heart nad soul is the theme music that accompanies a drama serial, as with any TV show found on any other genre.
90210 Forever!
Image courtesy of 90210-Media.org
For five seasons, 90210 have bravely fought the good fight, avoiding cancelation as much as possible until the very end. The youth-oriented drama that was spun-off from a popular 90’s teen soap, about a group of teenagers living their lives through twists and turns against the backdrop that is Beverly Hills, ended its 5-year run on a bittersweet feel-good note.
BYEBYE…For now!
Around Tuesday of this week, I was approached by one of my superiors to tell me the news I’ve been surprisingly expecting to hear for nearly a month. He told me that the powers that be decided not to re-sign me as a regular employee in the subsidiary company I’ve been working in for the past 7 months.
It was shocking but not surprising. I did not even react to the news like some shocked fellow who got thrown under the bus without even looking. I knew frm the moment I was approached the month before that I’m not impressing TPTB enough to warrant a regularized employment contract for me. The extended lifeline I was given of 4 weeks was my last ditch effort to prove myself worthy to TPTB but alas, halfway along the road, I realized my days in the companymight already be numbered.
The good thing to come out of this is that I can finaly have the long break I’ve been wanting to have for some time now since I haven’t really stopped working since I first entered the workforce the day after New Year’s Day last year. The small breaks I got from the holidays and the past monsoon season wasn’t enough thus I see the one I’m in right now as the thing that could help me rest myself after feeling burn-out for sometime now.
To be honest, I did love what I’m doing in my second job. Being part of the broadcast industry, I learned a lot of new tricks that I never knew before I stepped out of college almost 2 years ago. Yes, it can be a little lonely, especially if I’m in the graveyard shift, but it’s all part of the fun. I mean, I can solely focus on myself and my work without much disturbance.
I met a lot of really nice people who are not only there for me but also helped teach me the things I need to know with regards to the stuff I do as an editor. I owe it to them for all that I have learned now despite being “too young” in the eyes of TPTB.
I guess the biggest downfall I have that led to TPTB to give me the axe was the fact that nerves do get in the way with the things I do at work. It’s not that it is a hindering factor but the fact that I do get nervous and unsure sometimes made me fear that I might not be doing the way TPTB hoped it would be.
As the song goes, I did my best but I guess wasn’t good enough. Such is it unfortunate that I’m not gonna stick around any longer. Even several of my co-workers from upstairs were shocked to hear when I told them I was sorta kinda let go.
My parents were also caught be surprised when I told then the day before my last day. My dad was most especially affected as shown by started assumptions that I might have made some form of mistake the cost my spot in the company. That kinda showed how disappointed he is for me but knowing my dad, he just cares…in a not so comfortable way.
No biggie because I kept it cool throughout the whole ordealbecause I know that as someone who was trained to go both freelance and corporate, there will be opportunities for me to explore.
As a matter of fact, this may not be the end of the road for me in BB-TV. I’ve set my sights some place where I might be able to fully explore my skills and capabilities as an editor.
For the meantime, I’m gonna enjoy this long overdue break so let’s all keep on moving anyway!
Right now fans are still recovering from the devastating news that, after 5 years on the air, 9O21O, a continuing spin-off from the 1990’s youth drama Beverly Hills 90210, is ending this May.
As of this writing, the show is still in the middle of production for its final episode, the show’s 114th, tentatively titled “We All Fall Down”. Details are being kept under wraps save for leaked spoilers regarding a cliffhanger ending. That would most likely be retooled considering fans like me who have stucked to the show since day 1 need closure (as with any other long-running shows).
Graphika Manila came back with another annual edition only months after the most recent one ended in August 2012. But upon learning about its roster of speakers this year in addition to the new venue at the Philippine International Convention Center, I just had to go.
As early as 8:30am, a line of people waiting outside the plenary hall was already starting to get long so I was kinda lucky that I was even there at my earliest. The doors to the main venue didn’t open until later at 11am, past the previously announced 10am start of the conference, much to dismay many of the delegates. It must be a truly logistic nightmare to the organizers but I understand that they had technical trouble hours before so they had to worked extra hard to have them resolved before the day was over.
Once inside, I was fortunate that I got myself a seat near the front row, complete with clear visibility of the plenary hall’s main stage as well as audibility to hear the speakers when they talk. Plus, I kinda had this surreal feeling of this place again, since this where my college graduation rites were held almost two years ago. Oh, and did I mention that I also have quick access to the restroom? 😀
For the first time since I’ve started attending GM in 2009 (this is my third conference visit), I happened to like every one of the speakers they have this year. All of them have very interesting things to share to the audience. So basically, here’s what I think is a perfect way to summarize each and every one of them: They’re all AWESOME AND EPIC!
They really have made some very interesting lectures to share to us students and working professionals. Jessica Walsh mentioned that we should enjoy what we’re doing as we’re “playing” with the things we like to do while Jame White of Signal Noise, who by the way seems to have an infatuation for rainbows, said we should always go back to the roots of why we do this as a career, having us ask ourselves into why we are into the field of arts and design; and knowing what’s our motivations that made us this way in the first place.
Devil Robots, a design team who has a liking to all things tofu, showed us all their works and photos of their exhibitions they have had over the years in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. I think what was enlightening in their very humorous 45-hour session was that they always stick to what they’re main draw is, their signature mascot, To-Fu Oyako (a jumpsuit-wearing mother and son duo made of tofu). What started as a doodle made for a design contest in Japan has what probably kick-started a nearly 20-year career for these guys.
I’m not a Game of Thrones fan, however, what I did like but never got to watch was the movie Hugo. So I was glad that Benjamin Seide of PIXOMONDO showed us how their team of VFX-savvy people were able to create some really great stuff that made that movie so golden and Oscar-worthy. I also commend them on being able to do all great visual effects as well, despite on a limited budget, for Game of Thrones, which, I’m sure, is really difficult to do for a television show.
Despite the lack of Philippine-based Filipino artists this year, I do like that the organizers were able to at least bring in some Pinoy flavor with Sony Pictures Animation‘s Armand Serrano. A true-blue Thomasian, and a product of his university’s fine arts and design college, he was able to work his way until he reached into one of the big animation studios in the United States. I like what he said in his session about always trying to do your best even if your ideas gets dropped and the whole concept goes literally back to the drawing board. On the one hand, you still get paid for your work, and on the other, you can always integrate elements of your previous conceptual art for a new one.
Buck‘s Ryan Honey also made his point, in sharing his insight of being able to realize ideas that seems so farfetched or at the very least impossible to create. Case in point was the 70’s/80’s film effect Buck was able to recreate for a short movie about milk. He and his team really did look for the last remaining piece of equipment that could still functionally create those gnarly things on film And yeah, it’s never child’s play to play around at work.
I think the most inspiring lecture out of all the speakers this year belongs to Benja Harney, a paper engineer who literally design and create things out of paper. As with all the other types of art and design professions, it’s never a laughing matter when you are spending hours conceptualizing and realizing what seems to be complicated designs for paper. That’s why I’m amazed on how much thought he put into with a lot of the works he showcased to us in his presentation, including the one where he designed a Kylie Minogue pop-up book.
I learned a lot from these speakers. I know that, like them, I have to enjoy what I’m doing as a design professional in my field of interest. Being 22 and working in an industry I’ve long been dreaming to be a part of, I know that I still have a long way to go before I land myself into a good place. I’m pretty sure, many of the 3,000-strong delegation who came to the event would agree that these speakers simply blew our minds out.
From L to R: Pixomondo’s Benjamin Seide, James White of SignalNoise, Jessica Walsh, Armand Serrano of Sony Pictures Animation, Benja Harney,Devil Robots’ Koto, Buck’s Ryan Honey and Devil Robots’ Shin.
Despite logistical and technical flaws, Graphika Manila more than made up for it with the amazing variety and quality of speakers they were able to invite for this year’s edition. I hope that next year would be even better.
GMA
Philippine Television, sixty years after its birth, does not have a traditional “TV season” similar to how things are done over at the US where they air new and returning shows September of every year. However, January seems to be the most logical month for Philippine TV networks to start the year in premiering the first batch of their new shows, composed mostly dramas and reality, in the hopes of garnering good ratings (a.k.a. first place in their respective slots). This year, with the special 90-minute premiere of TV5‘s Kidlat this Sunday, January 6, the netlet officially kicks off this year’s Philippine 60th TV season.
The main difference now is that with added competition with cable nets and their increasing output of original programming as well as the entry of domestic news channels alongside previously lonesome ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel); not to mention TV5′s aggressive programming moves to challenge ABS and GMA, Philippine TV is in for an interesting TV season.
On today’s post, we’ll take a look on GMA Network‘s current line-up, with carry-overs from last year and new shows taking over within the first three months of 2013.
GMA has always been on a boastful mood in showing off their dominance in the ratings race ever since taking over first place supremacy over rival ABS-CBN in 2004. Over the next decade since, their production output of entertainment and news programs have increased, most significantly on the drama side when they took over daytime soap duties from blocktimers Focus Entertainment and TAPE, Inc. around 2009.
However, they have a high intolerance over underperforming shows, which despite getting a second place finish in their timeslot, gets either moved to another time period or completely yanked out from the network’s schedule.
GMA didn’t expect ABS to get back at them when the latter cooked up what could be the best daytime programming line-up they had in years: two dramas (one foreign, the other an original production), and a reality competition show. So far, the move left a big gaping hole in GMA’s morning schedule, despite attempts of timeslot switches and extending its utility children’s programming block to soften the blow.
Adding to pressure of keeping its lead on daytime is the move of Willie Revillame‘s TV5 game show to 11:30am, against long-running behemoth Eat Bulaga on January 14.
On the primetime side, despite casting Jedi mind tricks to spin viewers, GMA did not completely dominated primetime for the entirety of the 2012 season. Rival shows like Walang Hanggan, Princess and I, and Ina Kapatid Anak were able to challenge Kapuso dramas like Aso ni San Roque, Pahiram ng Sandali and Luna Blanca.
As many of their carry-over shows from the previous are ending their runs within the first quarter (with the first one to go being Aso ni San Roque), GMA already have some shows ready to take their place. So far, Indio and Forever are being prepped up for their respective premiere within the next few weeks. Others, including a game show, have been announced but no other details have been released as of this writing.
GMA is also going to roll in Korean dramas into on its weekday schedule. Shows the network have in stock are Big, Padam Padam, Innocent Man, and My Husband’s Got a Family, among others .
On the reality side: Extra Challenge and Celebrity Bluff are, at least as far as I could remember, the only reality carry-overs from last year. Protege is currently on hiatus and if Teen Gen, which stars many of the reality show’s second season cast, prove to be a success and beyond, then a third season may be on the horizon.
Here’s a compiled list of GMA Network’s first quarter slate of new shows, carry-overs and cancelations as of January 13, 2012:
Carry-Overs (Daytime Originals)
New Shows (Daytime Originals)
New Shows (Daytime Canned)
Carry Overs (Daytime Canned)
Canceled/Ended Shows (Daytime)
Carry-Overs (Primetime Originals)
Carry-Overs (Primetime Canned)
New Shows (Primetime Originals)
Canceled/Ended Shows (Primetime)
1. Aso ni San Roque (Ended, finale aired last January 11)
Weekend Carry-Overs
Weekend New Shows
*List does not include news-current affairs/lifestyle and children’s programing, covering only talk, reality/competition, drama, comedy and foreign canned shows.
**This list will be updated throughout the First Quarter of 2013.
***Although there are shows that have been announced, I decided not include to them in the list for now while there’s no promos to those shows that would suggest they will air soon.
If I left out on some shows on the list, you guys may kindly let me know.
Coming up next: TV5.
ABS-CBN
Philippine Television, sixty years after its birth, does not have a traditional “TV season” similar to how things are done over at the US where they air new and returning shows September of every year. However, January seems to be the most logical month for Philippine TV networks to start the year in premiering the first batch of their new shows, composed mostly dramas and reality, in the hopes of garnering good ratings (a.k.a. first place in their respective slots). This year, with the special 90-minute premiere of TV5‘s Kidlat this Sunday, January 6, the netlet officially kicks off this year’s Philippine 60th TV season.
The main difference now is that with added competition with cable nets and their increasing output of original programming as well as the entry of domestic news channels alongside previously lonesome ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel); not to mention TV5’s aggressive programming moves to challenge ABS and GMA, Philippine TV is in for an interesting TV season.
On today’s post, we’ll take a look on ABS-CBN‘s current line-up, with carry-overs from last year and new shows taking over within the first three months of 2013.
ABS, which have gotten used on having most of their shows being on second-place on the Nielsen ratings (despite their reliance on ratings generated by TNS/Kantar Media), seems to have stabilized in terms of programming just enough shows in the most competitive hours, unlike before where they try to program as much as 6 or even more shows as possible within the primetime hours of 7:30-11:30pm.
On daytime, many of their current line-up have only started airing at the fourth quarter of 2012, with the only confirmed exiting shows this January being Sunkyunkwan Scandal and Two Wives. The net’s will premiere the first two of its 1Q 2013 shows with Rooftop Prince, taking over Sunkyunkwan’s place at 5pm weekdays on January 7 and You’re Still the One at 10am weekdays in place of Two Wives on the 14th. Kahit Konting Pagtingin, whose promos are being aired sporadically for the past few weeks is most likely going to be the net’s first original daytime soap for the year. No announcement on when it will premiere but I’m guessing the show will take over MMK Klasiks‘ 2:30pm slot if the the latter show ends its run this month or this February.
As for primetime, ABS will be busy filling vacant hours once some of their 2012 shows end their runs as early as January and as late as March. Shows that will surely end within the first quarter will be Princess and I, Aryana and Kahit Puso’y Masugatan. Last year’s latecomers Ina Kapatid Anak and A Beautiful Affair will definitely run well into the first 2-3 quarters of the year, depending on their respective ratings performances that would justify any decision prolonging their stay in the schedule. So far, ABS have confirmed 4 dramas to debut within the first 2 quarters: Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, Apoy sa Dagat, Juan de la Cruz, and May Isang Pangarap.
On the reality front: So far, only MasterChef Philippines (which started airing late last year) and Deal or No Deal are the net’s only two reality competition shows currently in the schedule, but that could change once ABS kick its reality slate into high gear. Season 4 of Pilipinas Got Talent will return this year but there’s no confirmed date as the show is still undergoing auditions for its top finalists. For the meantime, ABS will debut another franchised reality competition show, The Voice, based on the original Dutch format of the same title. No sure premiere date as wel, but given the recent showings of its first promo on the air, we might get an announced date within the next several weeks. As for Big Brother and the Biggest Loser, there’s still no news for the veteran show to return this year so PBB and TBL fans will have to wait. To be honest, ABS should not have more than two singing competitions, especially if they’re competing brands like X-Factor and The Voice. It doesn’t really make sense to acquire both formats if they were gonna see the light of day in one channel.
Here’s a compiled list of ABS-CBN’s first quarter slate of new shows, carry-overs and cancelations as of January 13, 2013:
Carry-Overs (Daytime Originals)
New Shows (Daytime Originals)
New Shows (Daytime Canned)
Carry Overs (Daytime Canned)
Canceled/Ended Shows (Daytime)
Carry-Overs (Primetime Originals)
New Shows (Primetime Originals)
Canceled/Ended Shows (Primetime)
Weekend Carry-Overs
Weekend New Shows
**This list will be updated throughout the First Quarter of 2013.
***Although there are shows that have been announced, I decided not include to them in the list for now while there’s no promos to those shows that would suggest they will air soon.
If I left out on some shows on the list, you guys may kindly let me know.
Coming up next: GMA-7.
Looking back to the year that was 2012, I must say it was unlike any other. Continue reading