(GMA) |
Channel: GMA
Genre: Sketch comedy
Creator: Marivin Arayata
Running time: 45 minutes
Started: October, 1995
Status: Running
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Bubble Gang is a sketch comedy
television show in the Philippines airing Friday
evenings by GMA Network. The show is part of the
network's GMA KiliTV block. For more than a decade,
Bubble Gang has made some audiences around the Philippines
roll over with laughter. Their commercial spoofs
and recurring characters keep everyone in stitches
while the parodies on politicians prove that nothing
is sacred to their funny bones.
The format of Bubble Gang emphasizes on pop culture
parody. Skits and sketches are performed in a manner
similar to other variety shows.
Ang Dating Daan |
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Bubble Gang spoofs other shows and commercials,
such as the GMA Network's primetime newscast, 24
Oras hosted by Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, and
it also takes on other celebrities and political
figures, like Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
Boy Abunda and others.
Bubble Gang first aired on GMA Network on October
1995 as a counterpart to ABC's gag show Tropang
Trumpo. Two of its first cast members; Ogie Alcasid
and Michael V. came from that show. During its first
year, it was shown around 7:30 in the evening and
carried a slogan "Bubble Gang: Just chew It!"
The show gained popularity when it introduced
a segment called Myusik Tagalog Bersyon (MTB) and
Music English Version (MEV). In late 1998, Bubble
Gang came up with an idea to spoof a religious program,
Ang Dating Daan into Ang Dating Doon. They originally
intended to quote the Bible, but because of religious
sensitivities, they just decided to quote English
fairy tales and Tagalog nursery rhymes and make
fun of it.
Currently, the show runs in its 11th year and now
the longest-running gag show in Philippine television,
surpassing T.O.D.A.S. (Television's Outrageously
Delightful All-Star Show) which aired on IBC from
1981 to 1989.
[ THE
GANG ]
Main Cast Members
The Gang |
|
Ogie Alcasid (1995-present)
Michael V. (1995-present)
Ara Mina (1998-present)
Rufa Mae Quinto (1999-present)
Wendell Ramos (1999-present)
Antonio Aquitania (1999-present)
Featured Cast Members
Diego Llorico (1999-present)
Mykah (1999-present)
Maureen Larrazabal (2002-present)
Boy2 Quizon (2004-present)
Diana Zubiri (2004-present)
Francine Prieto (2005-present)
Occasionally Guests
Paolo Contis
Mark Herras
Gian Carlos
Ang Dating Doon Segment
Isko Salvador (Brod Pete)
Ceasar Cosme (Bro. Willie)
Chito Francisco (Bro. Jocel)
Previous Cast
Wowie de Guzman
Maricar De Mesa
Assunta de Rossi
Eric Fructoso
Toni Gonzaga
Aiko Melendez
Amanda Page
Sherilyn Reyes
Sunshine Cruz
Shirley Fuentes
[ TRIVIA
]
Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. came from another gag
show, Tropang Trumpo, before being cast members.
"Bubble Gang" occupied the Friday night
timeslot of the now-defunct musical variety show
"Vilma" when it first aired in 1995 and
since then, the show has changed timeslots within
the Friday night schedule. It has survived different
competitions from the rival network through the
years until today.
The show changed its jingle three times. The first
jingle was a rock ditty entitled "Bubble Gang
(Just Chew It!)", which figured prominently
in the show's opening billboard (OBB) from 1995-1997.
The second jingle was a reggae, "Chew (The
Bubble Gang Ye!)" which had two versions. The
first version played in the show's OBB from 1997-1999
while the second version (which was played from
1999-2002) removed the reggae beat and changed it
into an a cappella performed by Michael V. and Ogie
Alcasid. The current jingle, "Bubble Gang (Pwede!)"
was adapted from the Mexican song "La Cucaracha".
A second version of the jingle, a candy factory-like
sound, is used in the "Bubble Gang" OBB
until October 20, 2006.Today's OBB was a third and
current version of "Bubble Gang (Pwede!)"
with a little bit of tune from the first version,
the vocals also returned and a little bit of new
tunes also added. All the show's past and present
jingles were made by Ogie Alcasid and Michael V.
Spoof of 24 Oras |
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Among the big-named stars who have guested in the
show were Aga Muhlach, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon,
Christopher de Leon, Eddie Garcia, Manny Pacquiao,
Bong Revilla, Regine Velasquez, Armida Siguion-Reyna,
Tessie Tomas and many more. Most of these stars
joined the gang in special segments only and not
during the whole show, with the exception of the
"Champoy" cast led by Subas Herrero, Noel
Trinidad and Tessie Tomas who appeared during the
show's special episode tribute to the defunct gag
show "Champoy".
Cast member Antonio Aquitania was the one responsible
for creating Bubble Gang's hit spoof group Sexballs,
which copied the antics of the SexBomb Girls. Sexballs
has also guested as a group in other GMA shows and
appeared occasionally in concerts headlined by either
Michael V. or Ogie Alcasid.
Several years after they left the show, former cast
members Aiko Melendez, Brod Pete and Assunta de
Rossi reunited in another gag show in 2002 this
time aired on ABS-CBN, the now-defunct "Klasmeyts"
where they had Herbert Bautista, Bayani Agbayani
and Keempee de Leon as their co-stars. Brod Pete
revived the Ang Dating Doon segment on that show,
which was retitled "Doon Dati" to avoid
any copyright infringement violations. After "Klasmeyts"
folded up in 2004, Brod Pete and Aiko Melendez were
retained along with Bayani Agbayani to form the
pioneer cast of the live ABS-CBN gag show "Yes
Yes Show" while Assunta's career went in limbo
after the Kapamilya network did not give her any
TV assignments. But the show was not a winner in
the ratings and it was cancelled in 2005. Aiko has
gone back to public office, with occasional TV guestings
while Brod Pete has since returned to "Bubble
Gang" and is also part of the QTV sitcom "Family
Zoo".
This show is sometimes considered the Filipino equivalent
to Saturday Night Live , as both shows have parody
skits , and both air on weekends (though an Philippine
airing of Bubble Gang precedes one American airing
Saturday Night Live by a day)
[ AWARDS
]
Bubble Gang also is a grandslam "Best Gag
Show" recipient given by different Philippine
TV Award giving bodies.
"Best Gag Show" - 1996 PMPC Star Awards
for Television
"Best Comedy Program" - first USTV Student's
Choice Award.
"Highly commended", Best Comedy Programme
category - Asian Television Awards (2003 and 2005)
