Reports about the possible collaboration between former rivals, Eat Bulaga and It’s Showtime have been circulated on social media amid the upcoming grand contract signing between GMA Network and the ABS-CBN noontime show.
According to some sources, a possible joint force between the two noontime shows was not far from reality as the same network is handling them.
Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.) Chief Financial Officer Seth Frederick Pal Jalosjos made a hint about the possible partnership between their noontime show and It’s Showtime to possibly match the upcoming program of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon on TV5.
It can be recalled that TAPE Inc. and TVJ parted ways on May 31, 2023, because of unresolved issues, including unpaid talent fees and business decisions made by the Jalosjos family-owned company.
Several Eat Bulaga hosts have already expressed excitement about the possibility of sharing the stage with It’s Showtime talents.
“Exciting ‘yun. Ang panalo is ‘yung mga (televiers). Sinimulan na ng GMA and ABS-CBN ang collaborations, and this is a very big collaboration kasi noontime show ito,” he said. “It opens a lot of opportunities for actors para makapag-guest sa (“It’s Showtime”) at makapag-guest din sa (“Eat Bulaga”). It is a competition but it will be a very healthy competition because you’re basically under one roof.” Eat Bulaga host Paolo Contis said.
However, there were also rumors that It’s Showtime’s arrival to GMA might become a reason for early termination of the contract between the Kapuso Network and It’s Showtime.
Some observers believed that if ever Eat Bulaga failed to reach the expectations of the network, GMA might end its partnership with TAPE or transfer the noontime show to GTV and be replaced by It’s Showtime.