Pinoy boy band JBK impresses ‘X Factor UK’ judges

Another set of Filipino acts is aiming to replicate the success of the girl group 4th Impact who made it to the top 5 in the hit reality show The X Factor UK Season 12.

Since the premiere telecast of its 14th Season on Sept. 2, three Filipino acts have already advanced to the next round of competition.

A modern-day retelling of a landmark series

Roots is a historical portrait of American slavery, recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship. 

Discovery Channel gets up close with predators

A new series premiered on Discovery Channel on Nov. 17, the show is called Predators Up Close with Joel Lambert, which airs 8 p.m. every Tuesday .

The five-part series features Joel Lambert and his team of experts traversing through the plains of Zambia and the frozen ice floes of Norway down to the waters off the coast of South Africa. Encased safely inside a high-grade transparent pod among land and ocean predators, they get up close and personal with some of nature’s most dangerous and smartest food chain alphas.

Pinoy hopefuls shine on Asia’s Got Talent stage

Ten-year-old Filipina Gwyneth Dorado wowed the judges of Asia’s Got Talent in the premiere of the regional version of Got Talent franchise aired last week.

Judges Mel C of Spice Girls, Indonesian chanteuse Anggun, F4’s Vanness Wu and composer David Foster were impressed with the young talent who played the guitar and sang Katy Perry’s “Roar.” Her audition piece earned her a standing ovation from the audience and judges Mel and Vanness. The Indonesian singer quipped and told her fellow judges that they better watch out for their respective careers. David, on the other hand, gestured a nod of approval and said, “I think this business has a place for you.”

#KathNiel revives ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo’

THE blockbuster drama that made stars of Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales will see another happy ending as ABS-CBN is set to recreate the prime television series next year.

The love story of Yna Macaspac and Angelo Buenavista, the main characters in a top-rating soap opera that aired between 2000 and 2002, will be revived by the popular love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. It is also the tandem’s first foray into heavy drama.

Survivor returns to the Philippines

Season 27 of the Emmy award-winning reality competition Survivor sees the show return to the Philippines for its third straight season. Set this time on the northeastern island of Palaui in Cagayan, the 20 castaways feature former Survivor players who have returned to compete with – and ultimately against – their loved ones, in order to outwit, outplay, and outlast, for the title of Sole Survivor. 

Three times the fun: Wowowillie vs It’s Showtime vs Eat Bulaga

Not so long ago, Willie Revillame said he would never compete against the country’s longest- running noontime show ever again, Fast-forward to Jan. 26. TV5’s Wowowillie debuted in a nearly five-hour spectacle beginning at quarter to 12 noon.

HBO ASIA celebrates its 20TH anniversary with billion dollar month this June

HBO celebrates 20 years of bringing the best of Hollywood to Asia this June, with a line up of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters every night at 10pm from June 4 to July 1. Titles in this line up have grossed billions in box office receipts – these include FAST FIVE, THOR, BRIDESMAIDS and THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY, culminating on July 1 with TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON.

Who will be the next American Idol?

In January, American Idol gave out more than 300 “golden tickets to Hollywood” to those who successfully passed the scrutiny of Jennifer Lopez, ­Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler. Now after four months of performances and eliminations the competition in the highly successful talent show is down to two singers.

And the PBB Season 4 Big winner is…Slater Young

Twenty-four-year-old Slater Young from Cebu was named big winner of the 4th Season of Pinoy Big Brother (Unlimited) on March 31 during the finale of the reality show held at the Quirino Grand Stand in Manila.

Net 25’s first drama 5 Girls and a Dad starts today

NET 25 of Eagle Broadcasting Corporation presents its initial drama offering billed as “5 Girls amd a Dad,” a family drama about single parent families, written by award winning novelist and screenplay writer Lualhati Bautista ( Bata, Bata Paano ka Ginawa?, Dekada ’70)under the direction of Elson Montalba, with Richard Quan playing the lead role of Lorenzo Legaspi.

Who is No. 1 if Kapuso Network is second best?

How do we gauge a local network so we can call it the best television station? Is it on the number of awards it has received throughout the years, the number of its top-rating shows, or the data that indicate its revenue?

The answer differs on whom you would ask first. Additionally, someone will not use any numerical data to support his answer, rather he will respond depending on which channel he patronizes. If you happen to speak with a diehard Kapamilya, the answer of course is ABS-CBN, and if you chanced upon a loyal Kapuso, without thinking twice, it is GMA Network. However, if you would ask the Philippine Movie Press Club, its members will have a unanimous answer.

HISTORY features Manila as a hidden city

by Nickie Wang

An hour-long special on the Philippines will be featured on History’s flagship original production, Hidden Cities. In this episode, the team spearheaded by American-Burmese Anthony Morse, visited the Philippines and discovered stories and places that according to the host “may not even be familiar to locals.”

Deglamorizing Gerald Anderson

Kapamilya network’s golden boy Gerald Anderson is a fine-looking actor. Known for his sleek image and boy-next-door fashion sense, he dresses well when out in public and his hair is neatly styled. But in the new series Budoy, Gerald ditches the cosmo look and dresses down for the role he considers his most challenging yet.

In the first episodes of Budoy, Gerald is seen sporting a messy hairstyle as if he hasn’t combed his hair for days. His teeth are protruded and yellowish and he dons a one size bigger t-shirt matched with a pair of pants cut right above his ankle.

Child stars and television

by Nickie Wang

Seeing adorable kids portraying difficult roles on television is a better entertainment than watching adult actors who cannot even act or deliver their dialogue well.

People are talking about Anne Curtis, Marian Rivera and The Kitchen Musical

Anne Curtis

Star Cinema and Viva Films’ No Other Woman is breaking box-office record. According to an official of ABSCBN’s production outfit, the movie has breached the elusive P100-million-mark in just 5 days. But the number of movie tickets sold is not real buzz about the film. Our apologies to Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes but “other woman” Anne Curtis is clearly the stand out in the movie.

Former police officer and wild card entry Larry Martin wins the first Biggest Loser Pinoy edition

Former police officer Larry Martin, 36, won the title The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition winner after losing 101 pounds and spending 125 days training at the Biggest Loser camp.

Larry, who was retained in the show being a wild card entry, won P1 million and a condominium unit. Also, he will appear on the cover of Men’s Health Philippines in its November issue.

Is radio a dying medium?

by Nickie Wang

Back in college, we were taught that radio is the theater of the mind because tuning in a radio program involves a lot of imagination. We rely on sounds to create pictures of what we hear from it so listeners are able to think and be attentive—a good exercise for our brain cells.

Spotlight: Superstar Nora Aunor and Drama Queen Judy Ann Santos in a grand showbiz comeback

by Nickie Wang

Two prominent showbiz names are making a big comeback on television. The first is hailed as the country’s lone superstar, who was out of the country for eight years, and the other is touted as soap opera queen, who took a short break after giving birth to her first child.

Television: Sizzling series from Kapamilya and Kapuso stations

After a very long wait, Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee starrer Maria la del barrio will finally air on primetime. The local adaptation of the popular Mexican series that originally starred Latin superstar Thalia, will take the timeslot of Mula Sa Puso.