Robin’s ex to come for his birthday
BY MARIO BAUTISTA
GMA’s line-up for 2009, 2010
GMA’s VP for Entertainment Wilma Galvante yesterday revealed the Kapuso network’s entertainment lineup for the end of 2009 and their opening salvo for 2010.
Their popular artista search, "Starstruck" will return this November with hosts Raymond Gutierrez, Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo, who is a replacement to Dingdong Dantes. The fifth season will air weekends, and will just show recaps of the contestants’ week-long activities. Lolit Solis, Iza Calzado and Floy Quintos will act as the jurors.
Speaking of Dingdong, he has been tapped to host "Family Feud" after Richard Gomez takes a break to campaign for Leyte congressman.
Carla has another project aside from "Starstruck V." She and her leading man in "Rosalinda," Geoff Eigenmann will show their comedic talents in "Carinderia Queen" aired Thursday nights.
"Rosalinda" will be bowing out this November and to take its time slot is the Tagalog versiaon of the hit Koreanovela "Full House," starring Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista. Mark Reyes will be at the helm of the series, which will feature several scenes in Prague.
"We’ve been there twice," said Galvante, "We chose Prague kasi ibang iba ang scenery. Nakapunta na kami sa lahat, New York, San Francisco, Bangkok… Ang Prague, sabi ko nga, ay eye candy ang visuals."
The Kapuso Network has a special "Christmas-serye" planned for December. It will be aired for five weeks and star movie queen Susan Roces and drama king Christopher de Leon. Roces will be playing the matriarch who unites her family for the holidays.
"It’s a drama that has a tender love story inside," describes Galvante. "It’s a compelling love drama."
Maxene Magalona, TJ Trinidad, Yna Asistio, JC Tiuseco and JC De Vera are also in the "Christmas-serye" tentatively titled "Sana Ngayong Pasko," to air on December 7.
For their Christmas special on December 13, they will have a musical featuring Regine Velasquez, "After the Rain."
"After the calamities, hindi puwedeng magcelebrate ng sobra," says Galvante, "It will talk about what the country went through pero may charity incorporated."
After the Christmas musical, the Songbird will be featured in a drama series in 2010 tentatively titled "Diva," to be aired in March.
The network’s "New Year’s Eve Countdown" welcoming 2010 will be held at the SM Mall of Asia.
All Sundays of December, the young pair featured in "Stairway to Heaven" shall be seen in "Dear Friend." Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza will be in a tale of innocent love.
And next year, on January 18, Joshua and Barbie will again be paired in "First Luv" which will replace "Ikaw Sana." Jhake Vargas and Joanna Marie Tan are also in the cast.
GMA’s studies show that the network’s core competence is the telefantasya, reveals Galvante. "Ang thrust ng network ay telefantasya so we plan top continuously improve them."
For 2010 they have planned two. The first one is "The Last Prince" and the other is "Panday Kids."
Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal’s fans can look forward to their idols’ romantic telefantasya which opens 2010 with a blast.
"GMA Sinenovela" will have mother and daughter tandem Jean and Jennica Garcia in "Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?" beginning January 25.
Another heavy drama, "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak?," premieres on February 8.
Galvante says that "Starstruck 2"winner Jackie Rice will be more active in showbiz this year. Robin Padilla remains a Kapuso but she and the action star have yet to talk about a new project. She also denies the rumor that Aga Muhlach will be a Kapuso. "He is doing a movie with Regine that GMA is co-producing with Viva," she clarified.