Lobo debuts, but Marimar still #1 in ratings

We don't really care what TV network a Filipino show is on, I've watched great shows on all the networks. I loved Darna and Encantadia on GMA, and on ABS-CBN I liked Pangako Sa'yo and Til Death Do Us Part. But personally, I would've liked to have Lobo be something other than a violent military and gun-oriented TV show, then I would've watched more of it (I saw the first chapters), not that I don't like action movies, but to watch something like this day in and day out doesn't really appeal to a lot of people, hence the low ratings, but it's quite obvious that there are three reasons that Piolo Pascual is in a show like this:
1. To compete with the upcoming Robin Padilla series, that is sure to garner ratings
2. To make Piolo Pascual pass as a heter@sexual, covering up his true identity, forcing him deeper into lies and deception, and plummeting him deeper into his reported depression and self-hatred, which is sad for him, because he doesn't realize that God does not hate g@y people, and neither do most Filipinos. A lot of closet hom@sexuals commit suicide because they can't accept themselves for who they are, let's just pray that that does not happen to Piolo Pascual or Sam Milby, with what their network is doing to them, because that would be a real tragedy.
3. To attempt to repeat the success of Panday, by repeating it's formula, which obviously didn't work due to the low ratings
I was excited that a new show from my favorite Angel Locsin was coming and was gearing up to watch it, but who wants to watch violent military oriented shows like this day in and day out? Filipinos want to watch a TV show to momentarily forget about our guerrilla and terrorism problems, not be bombarded with images of them everyday like in this show. It just stresses people out. I'd rather watch a Jean Claude Van Damme movie instead. I must admit, I'm not watching Marimar that often just because, well I'm busy, and I already know the story, and watched the first one, but Marimar has something that Lobo lacks, which is a heart, which makes it more fun and compelling to watch. But the Lobo pictures look nice. Robin Padilla's show is gonna be violent too, but there's just something about Robin that makes it bearable, because he always adds a comedic touch to the TV shows and movies he does, something that Lobo lacks. Also, Angel Locsin's character transforms into a wolf. Haven't we seen that formula done before, when Angel Locsin's character transformed into a Mulawin?

Ratings war to escalate with the entry of Robin Padilla

By Prof. Ed H. Pangilinan

Local show business was reverberating with talks about the simultaneous
launch of three new programs by the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN network last week. Because of the escalating war on program ratings (which is getting dirtier and more tiresome), Channel 2 decided that bringing in three new shows will definitely change the seemingly unbeatable dominance of GMA 7 in evening primetime viewership.

Based on surveys for the first week of airing, Lobo (starring Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin) is showing strong presence although not enough to topple Marimar. Well, not yet, so insiders claim. The show has strong production value and is like a movie made for TV. The challenge for directors Erick Reyes and Cathy Molina will lie on how they will be able to sustain the series in terms of artistic merits, interesting subplots and realistic character development.

The surprise of the three-in-one punch of ABS-CBN is KungFu Kids, perhaps the series with the smallest budgetary allotment but the one with the most potential to the high ratings. We learned that kids from the posh villages to the most depressing households are tuned in to KungFu Kids, a good sign that a well-written and produced material for and about children can generate good following.

The same cannot be said of Palos, which is lagging behind in terms of ratings. There are several obvious reasons. First, whoever decided to allow Jake Cuenca to carry a show must be out of his mind. Cuenca has no solid credibility both in the acting and box office appeal departments. The only thing going for this newcomer is a small amount of charm, not even warmth that will endear him to the viewers. Second, the plots and subplots in Palos are nothing new, and the title itself sounds very dated. If you mention the name Bernard Bonnin to anyone below 30, you’ll definitely be given just a strange look. In short, Palos feels and looks so dated.

Now comes along the latest buzz on TV: the new show of Robin Padilla titled Joaquin Bordado, set to air its pilot episode on Monday, February 11, on GMA 7. Anything with Robin Padilla draws attention and from the trailer that we saw, here is another sure winner for GMA 7. If it competes with Palos, the poor Cuenca will be headed for the exit door as fast as he entered. We don’t think Robin would personally want to compete with the Kung FuKids—he always plays fair. If Bordado competes with Lobo, then it’s an interesting match to watch.

Bordado is said to be teeming with action scenes. Former child actor turned action star turned dramatic actor Ian Veneracion gets the biggest break of his TV career with a wonderful role as Robin’s half-brother. It’s about time that Veneracion gets an interesting role. We were delighted to see him in Enteng Kabisote during the holidays and we are happy to learn that he is getting the importance he deserves in Bordado. Iza Calzado is also cast as Padilla’s lady love, and we hope she won’t just be a decoration in this male-focused series.

It would be interesting to see how the ratings game will tube affected after Robin Padilla’s series starts airing. Stay glued.