TEN years ago, Vice Ganda was just an ordinary comedy bar regular who would occasionally do some TV guestings in variety shows or in a teleserye or two. She then received a call that would forever change the course of her life: a “guest” stint as a judge in a new TV reality program that would air once a week every Saturday night. Vice, along with other judges, then taped the pilot with Vhong Navarro and Anne Curtis as host.
The ABS-CBN management felt there was something fresh and new with this show they were doing, such as a reality-dance contest wherein audiences not only judged the contestants but also the judges. They tweaked some things here and there, and decided to convert this to a daily morning show, preempting ABS-CBN’s then lunchtime lord, Wowowee.
They decided to call the program It’s Showtime.
October 2009, It’s Showtime debuted on ABS-CBN and it started out as a contest for dance groups to out-move each other with a panel of judges, headed by Vice Ganda. In true Vice fashion, she would give her opinions in a humorous way—sometimes acerbic, sometimes wholesome, but more often than not, she would hit the mark. Then began her quick rise to superstardom and she is now known as the phenomenal unkabogable star with whatever she touches: whether it’s a movie, a concert or an album, it would certainly become a hit.
Little do people know that Vice once considered quitting the show early on. She said she was earning P5,000 a day already then but given the daily expenses with her hair, makeup, clothes plus the salary of a PA she had to hire, Vice felt she was earning and taking home more in her stints in comedy bars because she didn’t have to spend as much.
“Pagod na pagod talaga ako. Tapos feeling ko hindi ako nakakatawa, feeling ko wala na akong maisip na mapapatawa pa. Parang lahat na ata ng jokes, naubos ko nung unang year. Kaya sabi ko hindi na ako magiging effective kasi ubos na ako.”
Vice, along with her then-manager Ogie Diaz, asked to be let go but ABS-CBN management negotiated by just asking her to take a sabbatical leave. Ogie also asked for better pay, which the TV network gladly gave.
“Napaisip talaga ako hindi lang dahil OK na sweldo ko, etc., pero na-realize ko hindi ko pala kaya pag hindi ko makikita ang Showtime family ko everyday. Particularly that time si Anne [Curtis]. Dun ko nasabi na kailangan ko bumalik,” says Vice.
Fast forward to 2019 and Vice along with the rest of the It’s Showtime family are now celebrating their 10th year on air, and it will be a yearlong celebration kicking off with the annual “Magpasikat” competition featuring the Showtime hosts battling out in different production numbers. The hosts are grouped and required to bring together 120 madlang people or ordinary audience members to be given a chance to shine on TV.
The country’s top-rating noontime show also looks back on its 10 years by relaunching its well-loved classic segments, and the continuation of recently launched contests, such as “Mr. Q&A,” “Kaparewho” and the return of “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” Furthermore, It’s Showtime will also be pushing for environmental protection and conservation, the details of which cannot be disclosed by Vice but all she can say is it was her cohost Karylle’s idea to continue the legacy of ABS-CBN’s Gina Lopez.
The 10th anniversary is daunting and draining for everyone in Showtime. Asked if he still feels tired with his busy schedule, Vice reveals, “Oo naman. Nakakapagod naman talaga. Physically draining lalo na kung sabay-sabay mo ginagawa ang lahat. Pero sa experience ko dati, dun ko na-realize na iba ang pagod sa burnout. Ngayon ’pag naririnig ko mga mas bata na nagsasabi na bu-burnout na sila sa trabaho, pinagsasabihan ko sila na hanapin nila ang purpose ng ginagawa nila. ’Yun ang nangyari sa akin. I found the purpose of my work and while I feel physically tired, never ko naramdaman ang burnout. Magkaiba ’yun kaya importante talaga you should find your purpose.”
Unkabogable words from an unkabogable star.