GMA-7's Pinoy Idol Set to Premiere on April 5, 2008

Pinoy Idol is the second franchise of Idol series in the Philippines. It is set to replace Associated Broadcasting Company's (ABC) Philippine Idol, which was the first and the original franchise, after it was not been awarded by FremantleMedia to ABC for its supposed-to-be second season. GMA Network promoted Pinoy Idol as "the first Idol competition in the Philippines" during its New Year's Eve 2007 Presentation, and therefore will not recognize Philippine Idol and its winner Mau Marcelo. It will be hosted by Raymond Gutierrez, with Ogie Alcasid (singer, songwriter, and record producer), Jolina Magdangal (singer and actress), and Wyngard Tracy (retired talent manager) as judges. The winner will receive P1 million, brand new car, a recording contract with Sony BMG Music Philippines, a television contract with GMA Network among other prizes. It is set to premiere on April 5, 2008


ABC was supposed to have the second season for Philippine Idol, as announced in a report in ABC's late night news show Sentro. This was also announced by Marcelo during the concert of the first season's final 12 at the Araneta Coliseum in late March 2007. However, rumors began to spread that Philippine Idol would not be having its second season in 2007 as planned, while major station GMA Network was planning to acquire the Idol franchise.Sources claimed that ABC incurred heavy losses in the previous season, primarily because of the low number of advertisement placements despite being a widely-followed show. ABC asserted that it was still under negotiation with FremantleMedia about the second season and had earmarked Asian Idol as its "big launch", although there was a possibility that GMA was negotiating about Idol as well since the network already had local franchises of Celebrity Duets and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?--both FremantleMedia franchises.

After several negotiations, FremantleMedia officially decided to move and to have the second season aired on GMA Network, slated for a 2008 premiere. FremantleMedia's representative Geraldine Bravo said that it is "very fortunate" to find a new partner, while GMA Network's Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante added that both parties have agreed that the network "has the experience, the resources, and the people to mount talent-search programs".

ABC was reportedly sore about the deal, saying through its senior vice president for Corporate Affairs Terra Daffon that ABC was willing to buy only Idol with no other packages attached, but FremantleMedia has apparently found a better deal with GMA, "a giant" compared to their network which they described as a "Jack trying to climb the beanstalk". ABC was also saddended by rumors that GMA would relaunch the show instead of recognizing the first season and therefore not acknowledging Mau Marcelo as the first Philippine Idol. Daffon commented that GMA's move to acquire FremantleMedia programs was a complete turnaround from its previous vow not to "buy" any foreign franchise, and that it seemed set in battling rival ABS-CBN anew as the latter now has four franchises from Endemol. Galvante, meanwhile, countered that she will not back down from what she said that GMA will not "copy" foreign franchises completely, without making adjustments to entertain local viewers, which was different from her own statement over a year before that the GMA network didn't need to "buy" a foreign franchise to put up their own talent searches.

Auditions

Auditions for Pinoy Idol was held in the following cities: Cagayan de Oro, Batangas City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Davao City, Pasay, Dagupan, and Angeles. Auditions in Naga City were canceled for unknown reasons. Out of thousands of aspirants, 179 passed through the next round of eliminations.

Production

Louie Ignacio, who directs GMA's variety program SOP Rules and was part of the network's own singing competition Pinoy Pop Superstar, is slated to direct the first season of Pinoy Idol. Ryan Agoncillo, who hosted Philippine Idol, will not reprise his hosting stint due to his contract with rival network ABS-CBN. Likewise, Philippine Idol judge Ryan Cayabyab will not return to his jury duties not only because of his previous connections with ABS-CBN, but also because he accepted the offer to appear in Pinoy Dream Academy's second season as its new "headmaster".

Eventually, Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona, both judges from Philippine Idol with connections to GMA 7, were not selected to reprise their jury duties in Pinoy Idol as those roles were given to Alcasid, Magdangal, and Tracy. Hosting chores were given to Raymond Gutierrez. Veteran TV host Paolo Bediones and singer-actress Regine Velasquez were considered for the role as Pinoy Idol host, but were rejected due to being overaged under Idol franchise standards.Additionally, FremantleMedia personnel did not want a singer like Velasquez to host the show so as not to take attention away from the eventual finalists. Meanwhile, GMA does not recognize Philippine Idol winner Marcelo as the first-season winner although her runners-up Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal are both part of GMA's roster. As their preparation for Pinoy Idol, GMA Network shelved all of their other talent search programs such as Celebrity Duets: Philippine Edition, Pinoy Pop Superstar, and StarStruck.Meanwhile, FremantleMedia has given GMA Network the right to broadcast Pinoy Idol on its U.S. cable channel GMA Pinoy TV.


Controversy

Early into the development of Pinoy Idol, there is a growing petition in online forums requesting for Ignacio's exclusion as its program director primarily because of his frequent use of butterflies (whether live butterflies or having people wear butterfly wings) on every project he has directed. He commented that he would still stick to his "lucky trademark" and even taunted petitioners to direct the show and put beetles or mosquitoes on the set if that is what they want.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinoy_Idol

Regine Velasquez, Goodbye GMA-7 ? ( *Updated!* )

**Update: Regine Velasquez is staying at GMA-7 after a meeting with the GMA bosses

For weeks now, news about Regine Velasquez's alleged move to ABS-CBN has been the buzz in and out of showbizlandia. Not just Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid and Kris Bernal (?) are also rumored that they leaving the Kapuso Channel.

At first,


Regine's boyfriend, Ogie Alcasid, denied this report in his interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the audition of Pinoy Idol in Iloilo last February 2. A few days later, Ogie was interviewed again by PEP and when asked again about Regine's alleged transfer to the Kapamilya network from GMA-7, he was singing a different tune already. That time, he wasn't sure anymore, telling PEP that he was not the best person to ask.



Yesterday, February 16, ABS-CBN tendered a special presscon for Regine. No, it was not the announcement of Regine's transfer to ABS-CBN. The presscon was for her second appearance on Maalaala Mo Kaya, the drama anthology of the Kapamilya network, which will be aired on February 22.



It can be recalled that Regine's first appearance on Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2002 with Piolo Pascual in an episode titled "Lobo," won for her a Best Actress trophy from Star Awards for TV. Piolo was also Regine's leading in her first movie with Star Cinema, Paano Kita Iibigin.



In the said presscon, Regine, as expected, was asked about her rumored transfer. The Asia's Songbird neither confirmed nor denied the rumor, although she admitted that she has an offer from ABS-CBN but she has not yet decided on it.



Regine also said that she is happy where she is now. But then, she admitted, "as an artist, minsan you want to experience something else. You want growth, you want to be challenged..."



Earlier this afternoon, February 17, in the "Constellation of Stars" segment of SOP, which Regine co-hosts, the regular performers of the show sang songs talking about goodbyes and friendship. It was also evident that the main hosts—Regine, Jaya, Janno Gibbs, and Ogie Alcasid—were very emotional while singing these songs. And at some point, they tried controlling their tears to no avail, especially Regine.



In her solo number later on the show, Regine sang Whitney Houston's "Try It On My Own," which has lyrics that go, in part: "I'm not afraid to try it on my own / I don't care if I'm right or wrong / I live my life the way I feel / No matter what, I'm gonna keep it real / It's time for me to do it on my own."



After watching these scenes and hearing the meaning of the songs, many are baffled and asking: Why was Regine crying? Is it true that she is moving to ABS-CBN?



People expected Regine to answer these questions before the end of SOP. But it never happened. Regine and the rest of the hosts did not talk about it and the show ended on a happy note, with all the SOP performers singing an upbeat song.



After the show, a reporter asked Regine if she is really moving out from GMA-7. But the Asia's Songbird said that she is not yet ready to talk about it.



But according to an insider, Asia's Songbird is more likely to accept the offer from ABS-CBN. Regine could not possibly turn it down because she was told that "sky is the limit."



The multi-million peso deal, according to another source, includes Regine's own choice of show, movies for Star Cinema, and guaranteed exposure via The Filipino Channel (TFC), ABS-CBN's international channel.



Regine will have a series of concerts in Europe this year to be sponsored by TFC. This means that the singer-actress has to promote these shows on different ABS-CBN programs.



Another source, who requested anonymity, told PEP that Regine will be given a self-titled musical variety show and the title role in the Filipino version of the hit TV series Betty La Fea.



But GMA-7 is reportedly not giving up on Regine. According to some insiders from the Kapuso network, GMA-7 executives are pulling all strings to persuade the Asia's Songbird to stay.



Regine has been with GMA-7 for the longest time. Aside from SOP, she hosted Search For A Star, which later became Pinoy Pop Superstar, and Celebrity Duets with boyfriend Ogie Alcasid. She also starred in a soap opera titled Forever in My Heart opposite Richard Gomez and Ariel Rivera.



The singer-actress also did a movie for GMA-7's film arm, GMA Films, in co-production with Viva Films—Till I Met You, which served as her second team-up with action superstar Robin Padilla after Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw.



Before the news came out that Regine will transfer to ABS-CBN, she is scheduled to do a movie with Ogie for GMA Films with a working title Love Is Blind...And Deaf. Regine and Ogie were also supposed to co-host the second season of Celebrity Duets, which will begin right after Pinoy Idol.



But with this new development in Regine's career, there's a possibility that she won't be doing these projects for GMA-7 anymore.

http://www.pep.ph/news/16430/Regine-Velasquez-keeps-mum-about-her-rumored-transfer-to-ABS-CBN




REGINE, STAYING

Ilang araw nang pinoproblema ni Regine Velasquez ang nakabiting desisyon niya kung lilipat ba siya sa ABS-CBN o mananatili bilang isang Kapuso sa GMA-7. Naisulat na namin dito sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na kung hindi mapipigilan, puwedeng masungkit na nang tuluyan ng ABS-CBN si Regine.



Nakahanda na ang lahat sa paglipat ng Asia's Songbird. Isang pirma na lang ang kailangan para tuluyan siyang maging Kapamilya. Hanggang sa huling sandali, ayon sa isang source na malapit kay Regine, masakit sa loob ni Regine ang paglipat sa ABS-CBN. Pero wala na siyang choice at that time kung hindi ang lumipat.



But PEP has the inside story on how this ABS-CBN deal with Regine has been thwarted again. Kampante ang GMA-7 na kahit kumakalat ang balitang kinu-consider ni Regine ang paglipat sa Dos noon, iniisip nilang hindi ito basta magagawa ng Asia's Songbird.



For a time, parang binabalewala ng Kapuso network ito. Ayon sa source, nanliit si Regine nang alukin diumano siya ng Kapuso network ng isang bagong show na bahagi ng Dramarama sa Hapon.



Mahirap tapatan ng GMA-7 ang offer ng ABS-CBN, kasama ang multimedia deal sa recording at pelikula. Kung natuloy si Regine sa ABS-CBN, magkakaroon siya ng sariling musical-variety show, bukod sa planado ang lahat ng gagawin niya sa recording at pelikula.



In fairness sa GMA-7, inalok nila kay Regine ang hosting job para sa Pinoy Idol nang mag-fold up ang Pinoy Pop Superstar. FremantleMedia approved Regine as the show's host, kahit nga overage na ang singer-actress. Pero ang naging problema roon, hindi kakayanin ni Regine ang rigid schedule kaugnay ng reality TV singing contest. Kalahati lang daw ng schedule na naibigay ang pupuwedeng sang-ayunan ni Regine kaya nag-decide ang GMA-7 at FremantleMedia na si Raymond Gutierrez na ang gawing host ng Pinoy Idol.



Hindi hawak ng GMA-7 ang kabuuan ng schedule ni Regine kaya tiyak na magkaka-conflict. Ito rin ang naging problema nang nagtangkang gumawa ng isang soap opera si Regine sa GMA-7 noon, ang Forever In My Heart, na hindi nagtagal sa ere dahil sa erratic na schedule ni Regine.



As of 10:30 AM this morning, February 18, dumating si Regine sa tanggapan ni Atty. Felipe Gozon, ang top honcho ng GMA-7, para ayusin kung anuman ang problema. Obviously, ang pandedeadma ng GMA-7 for the past few days sa kaso ni Regine ay nagkaroon ng drastic move and decision dahil nga sa nakakaalarma ang pag-iyak ni Regine sa SOP kahapon.



Ayon sa source, walang alam na ibang dahilan ang marami sa emotional outburst ni Regine sa nabanggit na show, pero malinaw sa malalapit sa Songbird na 'yon ay luha ng pamamaalam sa Siete at sa show na talagang minahal ni Regine.



Nasa SOP din kasi ang kanyang boyfriend na si Ogie Alcasid ang mga malalapit niyang kaibigan na sina Jaya at Janno Gibbs. Bukod pa sa napalapit na rin sa kanya ang karamihan sa mga young performers dito, gaya nina Jolina Magdangal, Kyla, Karylle, Dingdong Dantes, at iba pa.



"Masakit sa loob ni Regine ang ginagawang trato ng GMA-7 sa kanya. Parang ang feeling niya, ito ba ang kapalit ng pagiging loyalistang Kapuso niya?" pahayag ng aming source.



Nagkaayos sa masinsinang usapan sina Regine at mga GMA-7 bosses. Ang immediate plan ay ang pagsisimula ng isang soap opera na pagbibidahan ni Regine, at hindi ito daytime show gaya sa ikinabuwisit ng Asia's Songbird noong una, kung hindi pang-primetime na.



Isa pang bigwig ng GMA-7, si Ms. Wilma Galvante, ay talagang nag-dialogue daw ng, "Hinding-hindi ko matatanggap na mawala si Regine sa GMA!" Ito ang na-realize nila nang mapag-alaman nilang isang serious matter pala ang paglipat sa Dos na kinu-consider na talaga ng kampo ni Regine.



Ayon sa aming source, "Hindi magiging maligaya si Regine sa paglipat sa Dos dahil makakaapekto ito sa showbiz status niya kung sakali. Walang katiyakan kung mas gaganda ba ang takbo ng lahat sa career niya despite the big offer from ABS-CBN. Pero kung ginawa niya siguro 'yon, 'yon ay dahil sa wala na rin siyang ibang pupuntahan at ang panged-deadma ng Siete sa mga naiparating niyang kahilingan ay talagang hindi rin niya matanggap."



Naramdaman ni Regine sa biglang pagtawag ng emergency meeting with some GMA-7 bosses na malaking artista pa rin pala siya sa Kapuso network na ipaglalaban ng mga ito.



Kaya, at press time, mananatiling Kapuso si Regine. Tingnan na rin lang natin kung hanggang kailan mapagbibigyan si Regine sa mga gusto niyang mangyari sa kanyang career, at kung kakayanin pa rin ng GMA-7 ang liberty and freedom na tinatamasa ng isang malaking artistang gaya ni Regine sa nabanggit na network.

http://www.pep.ph/news/16438/FIRST-READ-ON-PEP:-Regine-Velasquez-decides-to-stay-with-GMA-7-after-meeting-with-big-bosses