Kris Aquino GAME SHOW papalit sa Wowowee?!!

First, let’s set the record straight.

As far as I know, Willie Revillame, who should be forever known as the trademark host of Wowowee (the show is just not the same without him, is it?), hasn’t been suspended by ABS-CBN as everybody must be concluding. “He was just asked to take a three-month vacation,” clarified a network exec who requested anonymity.

The “vacation” is good until September and Willie, so I heard, is enjoying it by playing golf and simply taking it easy. The guy deserves an R&R, having worked himself to exhaustion resulting in a clogged heart, bad throat and all the aches and pains found in the medical book. You see, hosting a three-hour show like Wowowee can be, hmmmm, “hazardous” to one’s health.

Wowowee is currently temporarily hosted by Luis Manzano who came after Robin Padilla (for two weeks), Rico J. Puno, and Billy Crawford and John Lloyd Cruz who both dropped out after doing the job together with Luis in a few editions. So until when will Wowowee have “temporary” hosts…until September when Willie is presumed to be back?

Wait a miniute.

There are whispers that if ever Willie comes back, it won’t be for Wowowee but for a new game show.

But then again, according to Funfare’s VDPA (Very Deep Penetrating Agent), ABS-CBN think tanks are, perhaps without Willie’s knowledge, indeed hatching up a new game show that might replace Wowowee but not with Willie as host but, brace yourselves, Kris Aquino.

“Pinaplano na nila,” said the VDPA. “Pero sekretong-sekreto pa.”

Contacted by Funfare, Kris texted back this message: Hello from Zamboanga,Tito Ricky. I have no idea what’s in store for me because they haven’t presented any new shows or concepts to me yet. The only thing certain is June 25 will be my last SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon) and June 27 will be my last Buzz. (As she promised during the campaign, Kris is distributing school supplies among school kids in several places, Zamboanga among them.)

Incidentally, I saw MTRCB Chief Consoliza Laguardia in GMA last Saturday when she dropped by Startalk to plug the MTRCB Awards set for this Friday, June 25.

“Is my friend Willie a ‘frozen delight’?” Madame Laguardia wanted to know.

I told her that, as far as I know, Willie is only “on leave” (not “suspended”) for three months but he’s prohibited from guesting in rival networks.

Does the prohibition include not exactly “guesting” but also only showing up to greet a good friend a happy birthday like what Willie recently did for John Estrada on the TV5 Sunday show PO5? No, we didn’t get to see it because ABS-CBN promptly sent TV5 execs a notice to the effect that it would take legal action if Willie’s “visit” would be aired.

Doesn’t that amount to a “double standard” on the part of ABS-CBN?

You see, there are reports that the network has sent feelers to Manny Pacquiao and to Sen. Bong Revilla to guest-host in Wowowee even if ABS-CBN execs know fully well that Manny and Bong are under contract with rival network GMA. Is that a case of what’s good for the goose is not good enough for the gander?

“Shouldn’t ABS-CBN practise what it preaches?” somebody (no, not me!) is asking.

Meanwhile, let’s stand by and wait for further developments in the ongoing Wowowee “cliffhanger.”

The big question is: If ever Kris’ rumored new game show eases out Wowowee, will Willie…if he can…surface in another channel?

The plot is thickening.

RICKY LEE – THE PHILIPPINE STAR