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Eat Bulaga!

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Eat Bulaga!
File:Image1231-0151(GMA 7).jpg
Present logo of Eat Bulaga!
Created byTelevision and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc.
StarringTito Sotto
Vic Sotto
Joey de Leon
and others
Country of origin Philippines
Original languagesTagalog and English
No. of episodesunknown
Production
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running timeApprox. 1.5 hours (Monday - Friday)
2.5 hours (Saturdays)
Original release
NetworkRadio Philippines Network
ReleaseJuly 30, 1979 –
present

Eat Bulaga! is a local noon-time variety show in the Philippines produced by the Television And Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) of Malou Fagar and Tony Tuviera. The program is the longest-running variety show on Philippine television. It also holds the Philippine record of all-time number of live TV episodes. (Bulaga means "surprise" in Tagalog, although it should not be taken as the literal translation of the word surprise; its closest English equivalent is Peek-a-boo!) The show is aired on GMA Network at 12pm on Weekdays and on Saturdays. The show is broadcast TAPE Studios at the Broadway Centrum in Quezon City.

History

Eat Bulaga premiered on July 30, 1979 on Radio Philippines Network at Broadcast City, Diliman, Quezon City.

RPN outsourced the idea to TAPE. At that time, comic troika Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon were the most popular movie comedians. They were hired together with Chiqui Hollman and Richie Reyes (a.k.a. Richie d' Horsie) as co-hosts.

The TV program innovated numerous concepts on Philippine television which were later copied by rival TV programs. The show has maintained . Moreover, it is consistently recognized with awards from the local and foreign press and other organizations.

In 1989 due to the sequestration of RPN, the show moved to ABS-CBN along with other TAPE-produced shows Agila, Coney Reyes on Camera (once from RPN but moved to IBC) and Okay Ka Fairy Ko (from IBC) and helped strengthen the network's programming. The premiere telecast of Eat Bulaga on their new home was on February 18, 1989 and for this momentous event, the show was staged at the Araneta Coliseum.

In 1992, Tito Sotto left the show after he ran successfully for a Senate seat. He became the topnotch senator during the May elections, which saw Fidel V. Ramos winning the presidency. However, despite leaving the show, he still managed to appear on special occasions. Sotto was able to serve 2 terms in the Senate, from 1992–1998, and 1998–2004. In his last year at the Senate, he went back to Bulaga on a weekly basis (usually on Saturdays).

The show once again moved to another network, this time on GMA Network due to the fact that ABS-CBN wanted to buy the airing rights of "Eat Bulaga" from TAPE, Inc. When the group led by Tony Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar reneged on the proposed deal, ABS-CBN kicked "Bulaga" and its sister shows "Valiente" and Okay Ka, Fairy Ko from its roster of shows and decided to reformat its Sunday-only show Sa Linggo nAPO Sila into a week-long show, 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. "Eat Bulaga" premiered on GMA on January 21, 1995, again at the Araneta Coliseum. The transfer of this show to GMA marked the comeback of Tito, Vic, and Joey to their home station, GMA.

Eat Bulaga! celebrated its 25th year on television in October 2004 at the Expo Amphitheater in Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga, making it the longest-running television show in the Philippines. The television special was attended by an estimated 60,000 spectators and enjoyed the highest daytime TV rating in the Philippines. The special was cited as winner in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore on December 1, 2005. The said event was also hailed as the most successful television event on Philippine TV and was narrowly matched only by the 1st Starstruck Final Judgement.

In December 2004, GMA signed a 5-year contract extension to keep the show on their network until December 29th, 2009.

Over the years, many people have predicted that the show would return to ABS-CBN or move to the Associated Broadcasting Company every time their contract with GMA was close to expiry. But, in interviews with GMA executives led by Atty. Felipe Gozon and Jimmy Duavit - GMA expressed their desire to keep the show for as long as they can. Joey de Leon on the other hand, is also considered as an important factor to Bulaga's stay in GMA since he has been fiercely loyal to the station and his efforts have been rewarded. He is considered as a key asset to GMA.

Eat Bulaga is considered by many as an institution - becoming a launchpad for many different Filipino comedians and shwbiz newbies who have had large success on the show. Tony Tuviera identified the show as a "way of life" when they beat MTV's Tsunami Aid special at the Asian Television Awards.

In 2006, the SexBomb Girls left the show due to a dispute with the show's producers.

In January 2007, Gladys Guevarra left to undergo therapy. In May 2007, the casting for the show was affected when three of its hosts, Tito Sotto, Anjo Yllana and Teri Onor ran for public office. Sotto and Yllana were re-electionists for Senate and Paranaque Vice Mayor respectively. However they lost to more formidable opponents. Only Onor (real name Dexter Dominguez) won a seat as Vice Mayor of his hometown in Abucay, Bataan. Moreover, the line-up of hosts for "Bulaga" was reduced after some hosts either resigned or ended contract. In July 2007, Eat Bulaga unveiled its new stage design. Though Eat Bulaga has slipped in the ratings many times due to the ever-increasing competition in early afternoon television, they continue to regain their lead in the ratings race -- a very strong proof of their might as an institution.


Cast

File:Vic &jose gma.jpg
Vic Sotto and Jose Manalo during the Bulagaan segment of Eat Bulaga!

Hosts

Current co-hosts

Previous co-hosts

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