Feisty show biz talent manager Lolit Solis dropped a bombshell on an otherwise lazy Monday morning.  That of an alleged Hotel Sofitel (formerly the Westin Philippine Plaza) rendezvous of two matinee idols by the poolside.

Lolit bared in her tabloid column that she got “lost” inside the hotel purportedly searching for the venue of an exhibit she was invited to attend. While seaching she ended up in a cafe restaurant by the Sofitel pool, which had a few patrons on that Friday afternoon.  As she tried to look for a way out of the cafe, Lolit noticed two male patrons on the far end of the cafe from where she was standing who were “sweet” to each other. They whispered and talked intimately, she said, with their faces almost touching each other at one point. This was when she tried to get closer and take a clear look to confirm what she suspected. Restaurant staff, she said, called her by name and when they did, the two left the place in a huff. But before they did leave, she was very much sure who the “couple” was–Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby. This, she said, the restaurant staff confirmed. They said the two frequent the place because of its discreet location, which is far from any show biz follower’s prying eyes.

Camps of the two actors, however, belied Lolit’s tale. In a PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) report, Piolo’s handlers said the actor was doing a shoot for a Timex commercial at the time the alleged sighting took place, a claim corroborated by the watchmaker’s executives. On the other hand, Sam was at the Essensuals Toni & Guy Salon in Makati at that time, a separate PEP report said. From there, the actor-model then proceeded to a shoot in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

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Snooky Serna let out a flurry of controversial remarks in a radio program recently.  After revealing she had been raped at age 14, Snooky went on to disclose whom she thought were the most “plastic” (hypocritical) persons in show biz. She named two–comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas and teen heartthrob Gerald Anderson.

Snooky justifies her choice. In an interview with ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz” on Sunday, Snooky relates:

“Magkasama kami sa pelikula noon. Talaga, she was so friendly, ang ganda nung relationship namin ni Miss Ai-Ai. Di ko makalimutan kasi yon. In-invite kasi ako ni Direk Wenn (Deramas) sa premiere party at saka, I think if I remember right, birthday celebration din ni Miss Ai-Ai. Tapos the whole evening di niya ako pinapansin. Although binati ko siya. If felt so left out. To put it bluntly, I felt stupid na para bang trying hard ako na pinipilit ko ang sarili ko na magpa-in doon.”

Ai-Ai is out of the country and could not respond. According to Ai-Ai’s manager and “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda, she will answer the charges next week.

After Ai-Ai, Snooky trained her guns at another showbiz personality, teen actor Gerald Anderson. She again relates:

“Pero ang feeling ko, pinakilala kang minsan, okay. Sabihin natin, nagmamadali ka. Pero pinakilala kang nang harap-harapan, pangalawang beses. At naka-ganyan ka lang. Parang, hello, helleur. Hindi naman ako siguro kasing superstar mo, Gerald, may karapatan naman ako sigurong galangin mo. I’m also an actor like you are.”

Snooky further gave Gerald some pieces of advice in treating actors from another generation:

“Gerald, you don’t have to kiss my (edited out). You don’t have to make me samba-samba. Sana lang naman, huwag lang naman tratuhin kaming mga medyo matagal na sa industriya na para bang hindi na kami mga sikat so, ‘Do I know you?’ Parang ganoon ang dating. Nasaktan ako siyempre. Baka kailangan ni Gerald ng memory pill.”

Unlike Ai-Ai, Gerald is in the country, surprised about the special mention and gave this reaction also to “The Buzz”:

“Kung yun po ang tingin niya sa akin, ano po ang magagawa ko? You can’t please everyone. Si Miss Snooky yan. Di ko alam kung paano ako nadamay doon eh.”

“Sorry po kung ganoon ang reaction ko kasi ngayon ko lang po talaga nalaman. Aminin ko, sobrang mahiyain po ako. Hindi po ako lalapit talaga sa ano hangga’t hindi pinakilala.”

“Sorry kung meron po akong ginawang masama.”

Now comes Kim Chiu, Gerald’s partner in the Kimerald love team, defending him at all costs while risking her own potential brush with her 1980s counterpart.

“Sabi ni Snooky? Di naman siya (Gerald) plastic. Ang bait-bait nga niya kahit hindi niya kakilala. Siguro naiingit lang sila kay Gerald. Sino ba ito, Snooky na babae o Snooky na lalake?”

* * *

Jennylyn Mercado has now started mending her ties with GMA-7 by agreeing to one condition network officials had allegedly pointed out to her previously — have her manager Becky Aguila out of the picture.

Becky, who discovered Jennylyn before she ever set foot on GMA Network Center, had become persona-non-grata in Kapuso country after engineering the flight of erstwhile GMA prized actress Angel Locsin to the network’s rival, ABS-CBN. After Becky had decided to make that gargantuan shift, the most affected were her other talents with live contracts in GMA-7.  While Angel had escaped the wrath, the other prominent talent of Becky, Jennylyn Mercado, was left with abandoned projects and a potential bypass of the remaining three or four years in her GMA contract since the network had since refused to ever talk to Becky again. 

While Becky had placed the blame on GMA for being an “unchristian” employer, an objective eye would always consider the move as extremely risky for someone in the business of talent management, unless her business revolves around just one talent. But, no, Becky has other talents, who gave their full trust in her expertise and connections. Now, they are all floating, waiting perhaps for the Kapamilya network to give out their “entry visas.” But of course, ABS-CBN can’t take them all.  Good thing Valerie Concepcion still made that slim cut. Valerie now co-hosts ABS-CBN’s noontime show “Wowowee” with Willie Revillame, Mariel Rodriguez, and Pokwang.

This Jennylyn can’t do–jumping to ABS-CBN like what Angel or Valerie did. She still has a live contract with GMA-7 for the next few years. The only recourse for Jennylyn was to arrange for a “semi-release” from Becky. This means, GMA-7 will speak directly to Jennylyn for television projects, allowing the first Starstruck grand female champion to receive the entire talent proceeds from negotiations. But Becky can still negotiate for Jennylyn’s projects outside of GMA-7, like film projects or concerts.

According to Jennylyn she would rather be released by Becky than be dumped by GMA-7:

“Siyempre kahit sinong tanungin niyo, oo siguro yung sagot,” Jennylyn told GMA-7’s “Startalk” in a taped interview aired Saturday.

“Ayoko nang pumasok ulit sa problema pang hindi naman ako ang may kasalanan. So ngayon sana huwag uli ako madamay. Trabaho na ulit ako sa GMA. Loyal naman ako sa GMA eh. Thankful ako sa kanila na binigyan uli ako ng opportunity after all.”

Jennylyn will make her GMA-7 “Telebabad” primetime block comeback soon with the drama “La Vendetta” opposite Sunshine Dizon, Jean Garcia, Rustom Padilla and Mark Herras. She made her last appearance in primetime through the GMA-7 fantasy series “Super Twins” early this year.

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.

KC CONCEPCION will soon start her show biz career with a television special on ABS-CBN. Part of her entry into show biz is, naturally, the onset of intrigues. First, the long-time rumor linking her to film-TV director Lino Cayetano. Then the controversial statement of singer Billy Crawford that she was a “good kisser.”

Amid all the intrigues, however, KC remained poised and unaffected, still beaming that affectionate smile when reporters continue to bug her about these so-called issues. About Lino, she politely gave not really a showbiz remark but a response anyone could give: it’s something personal and should remain as such, without confirming or denying the rumor.

As for Billy, she immediately said that the comments made by the international Filipino singing sensation was understandable and would not think of making them to undermine her person. With his public apology, KC did not waste any more words: “Apology accepted.”

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