After a hiatus of over a month, noontime show "It's Showtime" on Saturday made an emotional comeback on Philippine television that marked the beginning of ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Channel.
Main host Vice Ganda could not hold back tears as he once again welcomed the "madlang pipol" since the shutdown of the network.
"We are back," Vice Ganda said.
"Miss na miss namin kayong lahat. Alam namin hinihintay n'yo kami. Ito na magkakasama na tayo ulit. Sana magdire-diretso na."
Jhong Hilario even attempted to kiss the stage to express how much he missed working for the program.
The show opened with Hilario and Vhong Navarro singing "Doo Bidoo" of Kamikazee followed by a dance number from Ion Perez and Jackque Gonzaga to the tune of Kim Chiu's viral "Bawal Lumabas." Amy Perez and Ryan Bang joined the opening virtually.
Vice Ganda had his rendition of December Avenue's "Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig" following by Karylle, Jugs and Teddy's "Kahit Pa" song number.
Physical distancing was observed at the studio in the entire OPM-filled first gap where face shield-protected hosts stood a meter apart from each other. This, however, did not prohibit Vice, Hilario, and Navarro from throwing funny banter.
On Friday, 'Showtime' hosts returned to the ABS-CBN Studio for the first time in three months. Present during the rehearsals were Vice, Navarro, Hilario, Karylle, Perez, Jugueta, Corpuz, and Bang.
The show last held a live episode inside the studio in mid-March, before the coronavirus lockdown. Then the program went online, with hosts interacting via conference call from their respective homes for few weeks until the government shut down the network in May.
The Kapamilya Channel will be available starting June 13 on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) nationwide.
Besides "Ang Probinsyano" and "It's Showtime," programming will feature "A Soldier's Heart" and "Love Thy Woman," as well as the hit K-drama "The World of a Married Couple."
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