After successfully pushing a Senate investigation on alleged cheating in ABS-CBN’s “Wowowee,” veteran comedian and TV host Joey de Leon is now himself subject of a Congressional inquiry. Together with “Eat Bulaga!” co-mainstay Michael V. or known by his showbiz nickname, “Bitoy,” a bill has been filed in the House of Representatives to check reality-based practical joke shows, which it said had exposed its victims to public humiliation.
These shows–Joey’s “Wow Mali!” on ABC-5 and Bitoy’s “Bitoy’s Funniest Videos” on GMA-7–allegedly subject their victims to ridicule, forcing them to situations they would not choose to get involved in full view of millions of televiewers.
While we all know that this format has long been a popular fare in television worldwide, I can understand why this measure has taken its legislative course. Personally, I could not imagine being the victim of a practical joke by friends, much more by a top-rating television show. The feeling of being led to a false situation or incident, then caused me to react passionately or violently, and in the end told that it was just a joke and part of a television prank would be something I would definitely abhor. Yes, I would call the attention of the producers, network executives, or worse file a court case.
But then again, people take such things differently. Some enjoy the TV exposure, the instant celebrity tag from such pranks. Others appreciate the joke as even a “friendly gesture.”
Going back to Joey and Bitoy, yes they could shed some light on the allegations. But they are not fully at fault for any harm done on the show’s “victims.” The probe should instead focus more on the TV executives and producers behind the shows. They are in a better position to explain the relevance, necessity, and significance of these practical jokes shows in their programming.
Being the faces on the frontline, however, these two well-respected and multi-awarded comics could not take this with just a mischievous grin. The bill has a valid point.
* * *
Now that ABC Studios and “Desperate Housewives” producers have decided to delete the controversial “slur” against Filipino medical doctors in its season premier for its future broadcasts and packaging (such as in DVDs) and have apologized, I think the Filipino-American community has proved its point.
It’s rare for such a highly-rated show to give in to a staggering show of dissent over the fracas. Well, considering how Filipinos were united in their protest, I think US television scriptwriters would definitely think twice before taking Filipinos lightly or making them the butt of jokes. And, the main lesson: consider facts, research well, and not depend on years of cultural biases to earn a living.
43 Feedbacks on "Joey, Bitoy in hot water over practical joke shows"
susan
naku naman,,,huwag na naman patulan ng congress yang mga ganitong shows…mas maraming dapat na unahin na gawin kaysa dito,,,,maawa naman kayo kay juan dela cruz na nagpapasweldo sa inyo,,,,,,
randy
It is commendable on the part of ABC to issue an apology for their mistake. It is so different with the way Manila Standard and People Asia handled the case of Malu Fernandez when she insulted the OFWs in Dubai through her column in both publications.
Gil Collantes
I think they will not air the show unless the subject or the victim agrees. (sa pagkaka-alam ko lang!)
Jun Pindot
Joey de Leon’s cross dressing schtick getting very, very tired and really, really old. He needs to show his real age and take senior citizen roles. He is arrogant, obnoxious and annoying.
badongski
di ba ang Senado is somehow a big practical joke sometimes
jobert
In the US and other countries, victims of these pranks are asked to sign a release form. Without a signed release form, the clip cannot be aired.
In the MTV Show, Punked, an actor (I forgot who) declined to sign the release form because the prank involved him in a plane that was supposed to be crashing. That clip was never aired.
It’s just easy as that. I can’t understand why congress would want to involve themselves in this. Oh well, remember the time a Philippine Congressman proposed to print more money so poverty can be alleviated?
Willy Boy
I think it is not okey to be a victim of a practical joke. The T.V networks should ask the victim’s approval/signature before they can air it. Otherwise it is a humilation for the victim who might not want the joke to be aired.
vangie
Joey and Bitoy just want people to be happy even just for an hour to forget their problems temporarily. And I agree withthe comment of Gil Collantes that it will not be shown unless the victim agrees. So Congress should not pursue this bill. Many other things should be given attention rather than this issue.
maria
hay nako joey de leon.na ganyan ang napala mo mo kasi sobra ang believe mo sarili mo .
tonette
TV shows, movies, ad campaigns - all are produced with a view to a market demand or a profitable, potential market demand to be created or stimulated. Joey, Bitoy and Willie remain employed and on media because they have fans and they are bankable. Otherwise they are has beens by now - regardless of age. Apparently people watch them.
celebee
all i can say is KARMA! joey de leon finally faces the rule of KARMA!
ryan
I think they have consent forms; the person who was pranked could either choose or refuse to air the footage taken of the practical joke. As a whole, this is taking legislation to ridiculous lows, but knowing the quality of the kind of people we have in congress, I’m not surprised. On the DWives brouhaha, I don’t think that was a united front put up by Filipinos- more like a united middle-upper middle class Filipino thing; the kind of people who can afford intelligent, sympathetic doctors. I mean 30,000 online signees sa petition doesn’t correct the fact that the kind of doctors we have here in the philippines (yung mga di pa nakakaalis o hindi makaalis papuntang abroad) are most often callous and indifferent, kulang sa extra training to diagnose diseases efficiently and are more concerned with the income-generating aspect of their profession
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[...] Showbiz Talk : Joey, Bitoy in hot water over practical joke shows [...]
vench
drama naman ng kongreso, dming pwedeng gawin bkit di na lng pabayaan sa televiwers? sila lng naman ang may gusto kung bakit tumatagal ang ganyang shows sa tv.
Gary
Joey De Leon? Bastos talaga yan. Mayabang, he’s too old to act like that. dapat i-ban na yan sa showbiz. Walang matutunan ang mga kabataan sa panonood sa kanya kundi ang pagiging mapanlait at alimurang tao. Magbago ka na ‘JOEY’, matanda ka na!!!
Ed
We are tired and sick of Joey De Leon’s ‘Jokes’. You’re too OLD to act like that. Come to THINK of it, that most of the TV viewers are kids. Be a role model to all, but not a RUDE and ARROGANT exhibitionist.
jun
does congress have no better things to do? i know these gag shows need to be look at, but there are other important matters to prioritize that impact the economy. please give us our taxes worth you worthless politicians!
ferdinand
it’s just okay bacause nakakaoffend naman talaga yung ginagawa nila kung minsan, they are unfair kung minsan
Ghie
“Practical Jokes” is the format of these shows and I’m sure they will only air episodes with permission from the people involve. Bakit parang personalan na. Just because Willie has some problem with Wilyonario game and Joey made his side, they also need to find something bad against Joey and to think that Joey’s & Bitoy’s programmes are running longer that MRT ? Kayong mga nasa Congress or Senate, bakit di ninyo ayusin ang economiya ng Pilipinas instead of riding the popularity ng mga artista or hosts ? Porke wala kayong magawang mabuti, inililigaw nyo ang mga tao sa dapat nyong gawin. May mga agency naman na dapat humawak ng mga problema sa TV or radyo, bakit kayo pa ? O kaya’y yung mga committee lang na may kaugnayan sa Media, hindi yung buong Senado na o kayay kanya kanya ng pa interview for their own exposure. Ang cheap nyo ha ?
Bitoy
Hey, you ever heard of “waiver forms”? If you were ‘victimized’ and feel it’s ‘okay’ to be aired and viewed by people, you sign it. If not, you don’t. If you didn’t sign and it airs, you can sue. This form is pretty standard with every show of this format, so the bill would be a waste of time and effort.
As for Desperate Housewives, the Filipinos are overreacting. Thousands of Pinoy rallyists criticize Americans (especially its president) on CNN; do they ask us for an apology? Why not just make fun of Americans on our local shows? That way, we’re even!
Hypocrites.
Joey
Who is Joey de Leon????
Is he the propagandist of various copycats for US talk or funny shows?
Yerrright…..
Let us separate the men from boys.
ATONG
Meron na bang inatake sa puso sa practical jokes nila o kaya na-high blood dahil sa nerbyos o inis sa pag-aakalang tutuo yong nangyari? hihintayin pa ba ng management pag may namatay na tao?
rudy
sus tinood dong amuy lupa na joey bakit kapa nakikialam sa mga bagay na pambata uy ewan mo na lang sa iba yan kumanta ka na lang sa kyapo no lagyan mo ng baso sa harap ok na kita kapa dun
sa mga desperado wife na yan @ least nagbabasa cla ng news current events take note sa pilipinas pa ha ok yan kala ko alang utak mga yan eh
manjo
what’s really going on in the philippines? the philippine government’s priorities are really misplaced! tama na, sobra na!
manjo
Joey de Leon is Joey de Leon. He’s an institution in the entertainment industry - one of the very few artists/commedians who “broke the barriers” of the showbiz norms feeding on his talent(s) alone. His age has nothing to do with his act. You cannot expect people to act his age - there is always a child in all of us. Joey on camera is different from the private Joey de Leon as most of us are different when in the company of our family or friends outside our own homes.
emnem
It’s about time. For Joey de Leon even before wow mali he’s doing great already. My husband do not watch Wow Mali but he’s an avid watcher of BFV. As for Michael V, before he’s ok but for me now he’s overacting. I don’t allow my kids to watch BFV because of the pranks that they are doing. I pity those who get involved in his practical jokes. Is there really a release form? If indeed there is, then those who wanted to have their video exposed should not complain if they become the laughingstock of the Republic of the Philippines. Hopefully, BFV or WM won’t make a joke on someone who has very weak heart or someone who has hypertension. If something happens to them, will MV still say it’s just a joke? Please regulate them. Thank you.
HELBERT
congress/senate
Work on poverty alleviation matters, wag sa awayan ng mga artista, eh di doon na lng kau mag trabaho sa d buzz at showbiz central…. cheap nyo ha!
The Boss
Hindi na dapat pakialaman ng senado ang mga ganyan. Palibhasa ang senado puro artista ang mga nakaupo, kaya ang payo ko sa inyong lahat, sa susunod na presidential election, iboto ninyo si BITOY.
pamaypay
joey de leon ikaw ay suminga ng barko..
ml
Utang na loob! Juan dela Cruz is so hungry and is banking on his government to feed him, have a roof on his head, send his kids to school and have a medical coverage for his family. tama na! sobra na! puro showbiz na lang. Baka hindi magtagal ang tawag sa ating inang bayan eh Showbiz Pinas! Wag naman! Mahal ko ang aking lupang sinilangan! World-class ang Pinoy!
Mike
Come on…pati yan pinapatulan nyo pa? Focus on the real problems of the country. Poverty, corruption, money hungry congressmen, senators and politicians…But Joey and Michael V?
It just shows how low our lawmakers have become.
Willie
suskopo! sa dami nang problema ng bansa, si joey de leon at bitoy pa ang uunahin? lumakad kayo sa labas ng senado, panay pulubi at kapos palad makikita nyo… yan ang imbistigahan nyo, bakit sila nagkaganon.
mel
who watch them….i don’t …kaya di issue sa akin yun…kaya yung nagwatch…bakit kayo magalit eh watch tinatangkilik niyo pala mga ganung show
ronaldubai
unahin nga muna ng mga mambabatas na ito ang corruption,hello garci,subic smuggling,zte broadband illegal deal,fertilizer scam,wiretapping and the recent SUHULAN.ang dami nyo’ng pwedeng imbestigahan kung anu-ano ang napagdidiskitahan nyo.dahil ba sa hindi kayo nasuhulan ng mga producers ng mga shows na to?mahiya naman kayo!
saan na ba patungo ang ating bansa?
Raul
The practical jokes are OK as long as the “victims” give their permission to have their “participation” aired. However, what I am sad about is when members of a show like BFV and wow mali, ask for help and the person who responds to the call for help turns out to be the butt of the practical joke…Alam nyo, pag ganyan ng ganyan, maraming tao na tunay na nangangailangan ng tulong ang baka hindi na tulungan dahil iisipin ng taong nakakakita, practical joke lang ito ng isang TV show. Sana itigil na ang ganitong uri ng pagsasamantala sa kabaitan ng tao.
willie de leon
Joey is a genius dude. Inggit lang kayo. Matalino yan. galit lang kayo dahil di nyo sya kayang isahan. Si Willie paawa effect lagi yan. Di mo na dapat ipamukha yung lagi kang tumutulong sa mahirap dahil pareho lang naman ang format ng eb at http://www.
Go Joey!!!!
DRENCHU
EVERY ONE ALWAYS HAS A SAY IN EVERYTHING! WHY CANT WE JUST LET THINGS BE! INSTEAD OF DIVERTING THE PUBLICS ATTENTION ON THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION IN OUR GOVERMENT, MAKING AN INQUIRY ON GAG SHOWS IS ANOTHER WASTE ON TAXPAYERS MONEY, THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN? FOCUS PEOPLE! FOCUS!!
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star
i dunno where to post this but hope makakarating to sa GMA-7…please if maghanap kayo ng bagong Darna pwede d si nadine samonte. maganda sya pero d bagay sa kanya ang role kasi napakalamya nya mg salita e. yun ngang supertwins before e sos super hero ang pinoportray nila hindi cla superhero ang dating. so please dont consider her. pang drama lng sya.
Pepsi Paloma
Before i like Joey de Leon but recently he is being mayabang na, parang feeling niya siya lang ang pwedeng magbiro. Dapat maghinay siya sa kanyang pananalita at panglalait sa kapwa niya artist din.
Jokes is a jokes but sometimes kung sobra na at nakakasakit ka na ng damdamin ng tao, its time to stop. Or say sorry nalang diba. hindi yung iniinis mo lalo yung tao. at syempre pag napuno yung kabila magsasalita sila.
As an artist dapat nagtutulungan kayo hindi yung nakadapa na nga yung kasamahan ninyo tatadyakan mo pa. yung ang ginagawa ni joey. siya itong nangiinis tapos pag sumagot ang kabila siya pa ang galit at kung ano-ano pa ang binabato sa kabila.
Apostol111
Pag maraming mamunga ang puno talagang binabato ‘yan, at si Joey you can compare him sa puno na mabunga laging binabato!
Mr. Joey De leon was known for being a joker talaga and he won’t be Joey De Leon kung hindi siya ganoon magbiro!
One thing more totoo siya at hindi mandarayaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simple lang naman ‘yan, KUNG AYAW MO HUWAG MO!
“Patuloy mo ang Pamumunga Mr. Joey De Leon! (basta walang daya!)
-MIZS.GCKRANE A.K.A ANGELA -
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LABYO AHA ..
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I’LL W8 FOR IT ..
TNX ..
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