WATCH: What changed as ‘Showtime’ went live without studio audience due to coronavirus

Contestant wins jackpot in ‘PiLing Lucky’ segment

MANILA — For the first time in its decade-long run, “It’s Showtime” held its live episode without a studio audience as a safety measure amid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“It’s Showtime” is among several programs of ABS-CBN that are temporarily suspending admissions of live audience members, a day after the government declared a state public health emergency.

The absence of a live audience meant tweaks in some portions of “It’s Showtime,” which has involved its “madlang people” significantly over the years, whether through games or interactions with the hosts.

That there were no “madlang people” who would laugh at jokes became a running joke of its own, as hosts Vice Ganda, Jhong Hilario, and Vhong Navarro had playful exchanges.

Here’s a rundown of some changes or unique moments brought about by “It’s Showtime” going live without a studio audience due to COVID-19, compiled in video:

• The theme song of “It’s Showtime” was performed as usual, but noticeably without audience members singing and dancing along. Instead, “PiLing Lucky” contestants, crew members, and other hosts filled the screens dedicated to the “madlang people.”
• To avoid gathering a large group of people, the 20 contestants of the luck-based game “PiLing Lucky” were pre-drawn. Similarly, studio contestants for the rest of the week will be informed ahead, eliminating the need to gather the usual 100 hopefuls, the hosts announced.
• Luck bearer Genie-pon, whose introduction in the “PiLing Lucky” segment usually includes playful sneezing, excluded the action upon the reminder of Vice Ganda, out of sensitivity to the COVID-19 situation.
• In the jackpot round of “PiLing Lucky,” the final two contestants had no input from the “madlang people.” Usually, hosts ask audience members to share their own bet on the lucky item.
• As “PiLing Lucky” contestant Danica won the jackpot prize money of P200,000, the hosts instincts were to give her a congratulatory hug, until they were reminded of social distancing — one of the safety measures recommended by the Department of Health to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
• “Mini Yorme” Aaron Sunga, a regular co-host in the “Mini Miss U” pageant, said he felt sad because of there were no “madlang people” in the studio.
• The same segment temporarily suspended auditions for “mini” hopefuls, usually held at ABS-CBN’s audience entrance in Quezon City. Instead, online auditions will be held, the hosts announced.
• As co-hosts cracked jokes, a quick follow-up would mention the lack of amusement from the audience. Vice Ganda quipped that their hosting stint would be without pay that day, since no one appeared entertained inside the studio.
• The lack of audience members allowed for a more riotous interaction among the hosts. At one point, Vice Ganda and Jhong Hilario chased each other throughout the empty studio, jumping from one row of seats to another.
• The judges of “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” including music veteran Pilita Corrales, noticed the different energy in the studio without the “madlang people,” prompting yet another running joke of canned cheers being played until the end of the show.

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