Startalk is a top-rating
showbizShowbiz is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Muse, released in the United Kingdom on 4 October 1999. Recorded between April and May at RAK Studios and Sawmills Studio, respectively, the album was produced by John Leckie and Paul Reeve in conjunction with the band...
-oriented
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
talk showA talk show or chat show is a television or radio program where one person or group of people come together to discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host...
in the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
aired every Saturday afternoons by
GMA NetworkGMA Network, Incorporated , a Philippine multi-media conglomerate, is a television network in the Philippines. GMA provides news and entertainment programs through its forty-seven fully-owned television relay stations, four affiliate television stations and thirty-four radio stations throughout the...
and simulcast over DZBB Super Radyo.
History
The show premiered on October 01 1995 as GMA Network's answer to
ABS-CBNABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine-based multi-media conglomerate. It is an integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with 42 subsidiaries and an asset base of more than PHP34 billion as of March 2009...
's top-rating Sunday showbiz talk show "Showbiz Lingo". The original hosts of the show were
Boy AbundaEugenio "Boy" Abunda, Jr. is a Filipino talk show personality who is dubbed as "The King of the Talk" in Philippine Showbiz.He was born in Borongan City, Eastern Samar...
, Lolit Solis and
Kris AquinoKristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino-Yap is a Filipino television and movie personality. Aquino has gained prominence due to numerous endorsements, talk shows, and game shows...
. It first aired on a late Sunday afternoon timeslot, parallel to that of Showbiz Lingo.
"Startalk" fared badly in its initial telecasts but it did not stop the show from continuously innovating and catching other people's attention. The most defining moment of the show came on December 1995 when it became the first showbiz talk show to report about
Gabby Concepcion and
Jenny Syquia's separation due to Gabby's alleged wife-beating. At that time, the wounds were still fresh between Gabby and his former manager Lolit Solis due to the 1994 Manila Film Festival scam. So when the show came out on its story on the Gabby-Jenny separation, it out-scooped its rival show for the first time.
After the initial exclusive scoop on the Gabby-Jenny separation, "Startalk" continued to churn out one explosive story after the other. Because of these exclusive stories "Startalk" became "The Showbiz Authority".
Some of the exclusive stories that came out on the first year of "Startalk" were the following:
- The Jojo Veloso Scandal
- The Hilda Koronel-Dr. Minguita Padilla Feud
- Rosanna Roces' Revelation on her Marital Status
- Mel Tiangco and Jay Sonza's Sentiments against their former network, ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine-based multi-media conglomerate. It is an integrated media and entertainment company in the Philippines with 42 subsidiaries and an asset base of more than PHP34 billion as of March 2009...
In October 1996, exactly after a year of airing, "Startalk" won its first award as Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show from the Philippine Movie Press Club's Star Awards. However, the celebration was only brief as main host Kris Aquino left the show to join rival network ABS-CBN.
Dawn, Osang and the T! Segment Hosts
When Kris left "Startalk" in 1996, award-winning actress Dawn Zulueta came in to fill the vacant slot as host. She brought glamour to the show and complemented the loud duo of Boy and Lolit. During the show's second year, it slowly gained an audience and ate a significant portion of its rival show's share of viewers.
But Dawn didn't last long in "Startalk" as she bade goodbye to her single-blessedness and married Davao businessman Anton Lagdameo in 1997. Sexy star Rosanna Roces was named as the new co-host and immediately blended with Boy and Lolit (who became her new manager).
Although Boy Abunda became famous for his "Mahiwagang Salamin" (or the Magic Mirror) when he grills controversial showbiz figures in the show and Lolit Solis for her never-ending greetings, Rosanna was clearly "Startalk"'s crowd-drawer and stole the limelight from her co-hosts. Her tactless remarks and flimsy gowns became the most anticipated moments in the show and earned the ire of the MTRCB. As a result, "Startalk" was able to close the ratings gap with its competitor while continuously dishing out the hottest exclusive showbiz news.
Aside from Rosanna (or Osang), "Startalk" also gave a big break to a trio of newcomers anonymously known as Steve, Fayatollah and Pepita. The new loud segment hosts handled "Startalk"'s tabloid segment "T! Tigbak Authority" where they criticize the senseless headlines printed on tabloid and the fashion statements of the movie/TV stars during awards night. Fayatollah (Real name: Issa Aguirre) later on became a regular fixture in other GMA shows while Pepita posed for FHM magazine last August 2003.
New timeslot for The Showbiz Authority
In June 01 1998, the GMA management decided to move "Startalk" to an early Saturday afternoon slot right after Eat Bulaga. This was a significant move because although "Startalk" created a noise in the Sunday afternoons for the past three years, it never gained headway against its rival show "Showbiz Lingo". Moreover, the move favored Boy, Lolit, Osang and the staff of "Startalk" (led by Floy Quintos) since they can dish out more exclusive showbiz news earlier than its competitor. Prior to the move, the Saturday afternoons belonged to GMA's other showbiz talk show "
ETChing; Entertainment Today with Lyn Ching" hosted by Lyn Ching. When Paolo Bediones joined Lyn on the show, "ETChing" was reformatted and became "
S-FilesS-Files is a showbiz-oriented television talk show show in the Philippines aired every Sunday afternoons by GMA Network.- History :"S-Files" premiered on June 07 1998 with Paolo Bediones and Lyn Ching as the original hosts of the show...
". It occupied "Startalk"'s previous Sunday afternoon time slot.
"Startalk" continued to dish out more exclusive stories on its new timeslot. In fact, this was the time when Boy Abunda's popularity rose to new heights. New portions like "Da Who" and "Startalk True Stories" were introduced. Of course, there's Rosanna's ever-reliable potshots (mostly at the rival network) and outrageous gowns, and Lolit's non-stop greetings that netted her a 60-second portion in the show entitled "Alok Bati" (Offer a Greeting) at the end of the show.
Walang Takot Sasabihin (Not Afraid to Tell)
"Startalk" also pioneered the no-nonsense segment,
"Walang Takot Sasabihin (WTS)", (
lit. Not Afraid to Tell) where the show speaks out its opinion about the week's biggest showbiz news. It usually starts by giving a blow-by-blow account on what really happened, and why did it happen. At the end of the segment, the show gives an unsolicited advise to the persons involved in the controversy and the show's final stand to it. Overall, the segment serves as a mouthpiece of the show to praise, crucify, criticize, and open the eyes of the Filipino public to awareness.
Farewell Boy, Hello Butch
"Startalk" reigned in the Saturday afternoon ratings where drama shows from ABS-CBN used to dominate the slot. But in
May 1999May 1999 was a month with thirty-one days.The following events also occurred during the month:...
the show had to say goodbye to one of its pioneer hosts, Boy Abunda after he got an offer from ABS-CBN to host the new Sunday talk show "
The BuzzThe Buzz may refer to:*The Buzz , a fictional character in the Marvel Comics' series Spider-Girl*The Buzz , a television show on the UK channel Eat Cinema...
" and was given several shows. The GMA management hired former "Showbiz Lingo" host Butch Francisco to replace Boy Abunda in the show.
Boy's farewell from "Startalk" left Lolit Solis as the sole pioneer host from the show. The show's ratings declined after Boy left but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it regained its share of viewers a few months after, thanks to the newfound chemistry of Butch, Lolit and Osang.
Osang's controversies
Rosanna Roces was Startalk's consistent crowd-drawer ever since she started on the show. But with her popularity came several issues raised against her. Some viewers observed Osang as too frank with her comments and occasionally displays her lewd conduct in front of her guests. The MTRCB even issued a warning against Osang for wearing gowns that are too provocative, two of them when she hosted the
1998 Star Awards for Television where she just wore a body paint to cover one of her breasts, and one where she wore an all-black nun costume with a silver cross at the front, with a see through satin at the back, revealing her buttocks. A very emotional Osang later on appeared in the show a week after the awards night wearing a black t-shirt that printed "
Down with Hypocrisy" as her response to MTRCB's warning. She stressed that MTRCB should not single her out and instead look after the slew of sex movies that came out in theatres almost weekly.
Another controversy that put Osang in hot water was her statement regarding the stories surrounding the mysterious death of matinee idol
Rico YanRicardo Carlos Castro Yan was a Filipino matinee idol, model and actor. He was under an exclusive contract in the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network. Yan was a member of ABS-CBN's circle of homegrown talents named Star Magic. He graduated from De La Salle University-Manila, with a degree in Business...
in 2002. n died from acute hemorraghic pancreatitis (or more popularly known in Filipino parlance as
bangungot) but Osang claimed on the air that he died of drug overdose and that Rico's friend Dominic Ochoa is also into it as well. Osang's controversial statement drew irate reactions from Rico's legion of fans and threatened to boycott "Startalk" for as long as she is there. As a result, the GMA management suspended Osang for a month.
The Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) was also one of the governing bodies that censured Osang in 2003, together with newscaster Mike Enriquez. It triggered GMA's withdrawal of its membership from the said group.
On year 2004, Osang had a widely-publicized feud with close friend and dermatologist Dra. Vicki Belo. The said feud had something to do with Osang allegedly violating the contract she signed with Belo's company, Forever Flawless, where she was the main endorser. As a result, Osang was replaced by Lorna Tolentino and Katya Santos. Osang retaliated the move by not acknowledging Forever Flawless on-air (which she was supposed to do as part of the exchange deal) and instead started to acknowledge Dra. Belo's rivals in the dermatology industry, Drs. Manny and Pie Calayan. She also revealed on air that her liposuction sessions with Dra. Belo was not something she was really proud of and called Dra. Belo just a gym instructor.
When Osang jointly celebrated her birthday with co-host and manager Lolit Solis during a special episode of "Startalk" during May of 2004, not too many people knew that it would be her last live appearance on the show. A week later after the joint birthday celebration, she was a no-show during "Startalk"'s regular live telecast and instead had a phone patch with co-host Butch Francisco. During the on-air phone patch, she called Lolit "
ahas" (snake) and threatened to boycott the show as long as Lolit is there. It was reported that after the said phone interview, GMA management tried to pacify Osang and Lolit's feud by calling the two for a meeting. But the two warring hosts declined. The "Startalk" staff also reportedly sided with Lolit and threatened to boycott the show if GMA decided to side with Osang. On the first week of June 2004, Osang finally bade goodbye to "Startalk", by appearing on GMA's other talk show "S-Files" and declared that she was out of the show. After her farewell with GMA Network, Osang appeared at
The BuzzThe Buzz may refer to:*The Buzz , a fictional character in the Marvel Comics' series Spider-Girl*The Buzz , a television show on the UK channel Eat Cinema...
where she revealed her issues with Vicky Belo and Lolit Solis.
Lorna Tolentino and Joey de Leon join "The Showbiz Authority"
After Osang's farewell, GMA Network took in several celebrities (see
Guest Hosts) to join Lolit and Butch on board. Grandslam actress
Lorna TolentinoVictoria Lorna Aluquin-Fernandez, better known as Lorna Tolentino , is a Filipina actress, host, executive producer and widow of actor Rudy Fernandez. Together, they bore two sons named Ralph and Renz.She was born on December 23, 1961 in Concepcion, Tarlac and later moved to Manila...
was later on taken in as guest co-host and went on to appear in the show as such for three months, until she was named as Osang's permanent replacement in the show.
During
Joey de LeonJosé María Ramos de León, better known as Joey de Leon is a Filipino comedian/TV host. Famous for his wit, green jokes, and sarcasm, he is one of the popular hosts of the long-running noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the famous comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made...
's second suspension from the noontime show "Eat Bulaga" in 2004, "Startalk" became his second official home as he guested in the show for several occassions. His funny repartee with Lolit (who happened to be his classmate in elementary school) and his biting wit and sarcasm served as an attraction to the viewers. Even when he returned to "Eat Bulaga" later on, Joey continued to appear on the show until he was named as the fourth co-host of the show.
10 Years
Year 2005 marked the 10th year of Startalk in the Philippine TV Industry, making it the longest running showbiz-oriented talkshow on Philippine TV. It released a commemorative magazine, featuring the present hosts and former hosts of the show (except for Rosanna Roces).
Crisis: Lorna Tolentino
This year 2008, "Startalk" suffered a hosting crisis when one of its hosts, Lorna Tolentino took a leave from the show to take care of her ailing husband, action star
Rudy FernandezRodolfo Fernandez commonly known as Rudy and referred as the "Iron Man of Asia", is a multi-awarded, one-legged Filipino triathlete who had finished a degree in Physical Education at the University of Baguio.-Personal life:He is currently married to Melba, a midwife, with whom they have three...
. The show had weekly updates on the actor's battle with periampullary cancer until his recent death last June 6, 2008. After Rudy's burial, it was unclear whether Lorna will stay on as host of the show.
More than a month after her husband Rudy's death, Lorna appeared live for the last time on "Startalk" as special guest. In her last guesting appearance, she told stories about her recent trip to Jerusalem which gave her time to heal emotional wounds brought about by Daboy's death. Last Friday, September 19, 2008, she finally bade goodbye to GMA executives after she decided to accept ABS-CBN's offer which included movie appearances on Star Cinema, a recording deal with Star Records and a soap opera which will feature her alongside
Gabby ConcepcionGabriel Arellano Concepcion, known as Gabby Concepcion is a Filipino actor. Also nicknamed "Gabô."-Early life:...
.
Entertainment columnist Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star was taken in to replace her.
Joey de Leon as "Commentirador"
On August 30, 2008, "Startalk" launches another innovation among Philippine showbiz talk shows. With TV host/comedian Joey De Leon headlining a segment entitled "
Diumano" (Allegedly), expect loads of laughter and controversy as he dishes out no-nonsense reactions to some of the most controversial showbiz news. However, the segment will have Joey as "Commentirador" (a combination of words from the English words "comment" and "slingshot") dressed in disguise complete with costumes and raincoat . Some people have branded the "Komentirador" segment of "Startalk" as a reaction to
Willie RevillameWillie Revillame , is a Filipino actor and tv host. He is currently hosting ABS-CBN's noontime show Wowowee.-Early career:Willie "Bayot" Revillame earned a living as a professional clown...
's rumored entry as a regular "
Entertainment LiveEntertainment Live is a Filipino showbiz oriented talk show, of ABS-CBN which airs every Saturday afternoons.From the producers of The Buzz, another ABS-CBN showbiz talk show, Entertainment Live! boasts one and a half hours of pure showbiz fun, brought to you by Toni Gonzaga, the "Showbiz Sister",...
" co-host. "Entertainment Live" is Startalk's direct competition airing over ABS-CBN.
The segment received mixed reviews among televiewers. However after the first episode, "Diumano" was discontinued because of Joey's other commitments.
The segment returned on April 4, 2009 as part of Startalk's "Parinigan" portion along with the pioneering "T! The Tigbak Authority".
Competition with other shows
In the Philippine television industry, the 2 pm to 4 pm timeslot was widely regarded as a "dead timeslot" primarily because no advertiser would place their spots where less people are watching television. But GMA Network brought life to the Saturday timeslot of 2-4 pm by airing showbiz talk shows starting in the late '80s. "Startalk" is the fourth showbiz talk show to air on that slot starting in 1998, preceded by "Movie Magazine", "Channel S" and "ETChing". Its consistent dominance in the Saturday afternoon timeslot thereafter prompted rival network ABS-CBN to do away with producing weekly dramas in 2003 and instead, put another showbiz talk show to compete with "Startalk".
The show has survived competition from 3 Saturday showbiz talk shows that were produced by ABS-CBN from 2003-2007. These were: "Showbiz Sabado(S2)" (2003) hosted by Edu Manzano, Cristy Fermin and Alfie Lorenzo; "EK Channel" (2004) hosted by Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa, Angelika Dela Cruz, Rica Peralejo and Ogie Diaz; and "ETK:
Entertainment KonekEntertainment Konek is a showbiz-oriented talkshow aired on ABS-CBN.- Hosts :*Ogie Diaz*Dominic Ochoa*Derek Ramsay*Angelika dela Cruz*Toni Gonzaga*MJ Felipe*Direk Jose Javier Reyes*Ricci Chan*Stephanie Camacho...
" with Toni Gonzaga, Ogie Diaz and Joey Javier Reyes. Currently, "Startalk"'s competition in the same slot is "
Entertainment LiveEntertainment Live is a Filipino showbiz oriented talk show, of ABS-CBN which airs every Saturday afternoons.From the producers of The Buzz, another ABS-CBN showbiz talk show, Entertainment Live! boasts one and a half hours of pure showbiz fun, brought to you by Toni Gonzaga, the "Showbiz Sister",...
" hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales and Luis Manzano.
Segment / Co-Hosts
- Chariz Solomon
Charyze Pagotan, better known by her screen name Chariz Solomon , is a Filipina actress and television personality, who is one of the hosts in the Philippine television program Startalk...
- Jan Manual
Jan Manual is a Filipino actor and comedian. He made his first showbiz appearance on the fourth season of the Philippine reality show StarStruck where he finished as an avenger...
- Paulo Avelino
Michael Paulo Lingbanan AvelinoMichael Paulo Lingbanan AvelinoMichael Paulo Lingbanan Avelino(born May 13, 1988 in Baguio City,Philippines or more famously known as Paulo Avelino is a Filipino Film and television actor. He start to rose when he join the reality talent show StarStruck...
- Alyssa Alano
Alyssa Alano is a Filipina film and TV actress. She was a former member of the popular Viva Hotbabes franchise. Though she grew up in Tarlac, Alano was actually born Geramie Daud in Zamboanga City on 11 August 1987, to a Filipina mother and an Australian father of Spanish descent .She has been a...
- Pepita, Fayatollah and Steve
- Marky Cielo +
Main hosts
- Kris Aquino
Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino-Yap is a Filipino television and movie personality. Aquino has gained prominence due to numerous endorsements, talk shows, and game shows...
(1995-1996)
- Boy Abunda
Eugenio "Boy" Abunda, Jr. is a Filipino talk show personality who is dubbed as "The King of the Talk" in Philippine Showbiz.He was born in Borongan City, Eastern Samar...
(1995-1999)
- Dawn Zulueta (1996-1997)
- Rosanna Roces
Jennifer Adriano-Molina , better known by her stage names Rosanna Roces and Osang, is a Filipina actress known in the early 1990s as one of the hottest "TF" /sexy flicks actresses...
(1997-2004)
- Lorna Tolentino
Victoria Lorna Aluquin-Fernandez, better known as Lorna Tolentino , is a Filipina actress, host, executive producer and widow of actor Rudy Fernandez. Together, they bore two sons named Ralph and Renz.She was born on December 23, 1961 in Concepcion, Tarlac and later moved to Manila...
(2005-2008)
Guest hosts
- Ruffa Gutierrez
Sharmaine Ruffa Rama Gutiérrez is a Filipina model, beauty queen and actress. She was Binibining Pilipinas-World 1993 and the Miss World 1993 Second Princess...
- Lani Mercado
- Tessie Tomas
- Sheryl Cruz
Sheryl Cruz is a Filipina actress and singer who was once a teen icon in the Philippines.Her full name is Sheryl Rose Anna Marie Sonora Cruz-Bustos....
- Aiko Melendez
Aiko Shinoji, also known as Aiko Melendez, is a Filipino councilor and a former actress. Her father was an actor named Jimmy Melendez who has Japanese and Spanish blood. In the late 1980s, she was discovered by Regal Films where she signed a contract there and became one of Regal Babies...
PMPC Star Awards
- 1996 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show
- 1999 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show
- 2000 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show
- 2002 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show
- 2006 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show (Tied w/ The Buzz)
- 1999 Winner, Best Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host
See also