Eat Bulaga!


Eat Bulaga! formerly Eat... Bulaga! is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 12,619 episodes. Originally hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Chiqui Hollman and Richie D'Horsie, it premiered on July 30, 1979. Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, de Leon, Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, Jose Manalo, Allan K., Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Pia Guanio, Pauleen Luna, Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Baste Granfon, Luane Dy, Echo Calingal and Kayla Rivera currently serve as the hosts.
The show is streaming online on YouTube.

Overview

Radio Philippines Network (1979–1989)

Production Specialists, Inc., a company owned by Romy Jalosjos, came up with an idea of creating a noontime show for Radio Philippines Network. Antonio Tuviera pitched that Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon would be the "perfect" hosts for the show. At a meeting at the InterContinental Manila, Tuviera made an offer to them which was accepted.
Eat Bulaga! premiered on July 30, 1979, with its pilot episode filmed in RPN Live Studio 1 in Broadcast City. Chiqui Hollman and Richie D'Horsie also served as the original hosts. The theme song was written by Vincent Dy Buncio and Pancho Oppus, while melody was composed by Vic Sotto and musically arranged by Homer Flores. During the show's first few months, it was in the brink of cancellation due to competition and lacked of advertisers, despite having their advertising rates reduced to ₱750 and the hosts' lack of salary for six months.
De Leon said that he, Tito and Vic didn't sign a contract with the show, when they were offered to become hosts. Vic Sotto said that he accepted the offer and would stop, once he had money to buy a personal vehicle. De Leon also said that the show was supposed to be a short-term employment. After 2 years, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and de Leon decided to stay with the show. The show gained top-rating status in 1980 with the segment "Mr. Macho." Production Specialists later handed production to TAPE, Inc. In 1982, Coney Reyes joined the show as the newest host.
During the People Power Revolution, the show went off the air from February 27, 1986 to March 1, 1986 as the transmitter of RPN had been shut down. In 1987, Aiza Seguerra joined the show after Little Miss Philippines. The show left Broadcast City on December 2, 1987, and transferred to Celebrity Sports Plaza on December 3, 1987. The network was also beset by periodical change of management, leading to Tony Tuviera's decision to conduct negotiations with then-fledgling network ABS-CBN to eventually transfer the show.

ABS-CBN (1989–1995)

In 1989, Eat...Bulaga! moved to ABS-CBN under a co-production agreement due to problems brought about by the sequestration of RPN. On February 18, 1989, the show premiered on ABS-CBN and was staged at Araneta Coliseum, with a TV special titled Eat... Bulaga!: Moving On. After its transfer to ABS-CBN, the show started airing from ABS-CBN Studio 1 at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center. During the show's special occasions, they were used the network's Studio 2 as a venue. The show's tenth anniversary was held on September 23, 1989 at Araneta Coliseum. In 1991, Ruby Rodriguez and Rio Diaz became regular co-hosts. In 1994, ABS-CBN attempted to buy the airing rights of the show from TAPE Inc. Antonio Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar rejected the offer, leading to ABS-CBN giving an ultimatum to the show to leave the network in January 1995.

GMA Network (since 1995)

In 1994, the show moved out from ABS-CBN Studio 1, and returned to Celebrity Sports Plaza, as preparation for the show's transfer to GMA Network. A contract signing between TAPE, Inc. and GMA officials was held at the Makati Shangri-La, Manila on January 19, 1995. The show premiered on GMA Network on January 28, 1995 with a TV special titled Eat... Bulaga!: The Moving!.
Toni Rose Gayda, Allan K, Samantha Lopez and Francis Magalona became hosts in 1995, and Anjo Yllana in 1998. In 2000, Eat Bulaga! became the first to give away millions on Philippine television. The show introduced "Laban o Bawi" to its audience, and it became an instant hit. In May 2001, Magalona was removed from the show following his arrest due to drug possession. Janno Gibbs served as his replacement. After his acquittal from the drug charges and subsequent rehabilitation, Magalona returned in 2002. In April 2002, the ratings of Eat Bulaga! surged following the popularity of the SexBomb Dancers and the segment Sige, Ano Kaya Mo? Sakmo!. The 25th year celebration of the show was aired on November 19, 2004 from Expo Pilipino. It won the Best Entertainment Special at the Asian Television Award in Singapore on December 1, 2005. The presentation, titled Eat Bulaga Silver Special, was broadcast on November 27, 2004 and November 29, 2004.
In 2005, Eat Bulaga! started airing worldwide through GMA Pinoy TV. In 2006, the SexBomb Girls left the show due to a dispute with the show's producers. They were replaced by EB Babes in August. In March 2007, the SexBomb Girls returned to the show and would later leave in 2011. In September 2007, de Leon started an on-screen war with Willie Revillame, which led to the Hello Pappy scandal.
On March 6, 2009, Francis Magalona, died due to leukemia, and a tribute episode was held the following day. Ryan Agoncillo joined the show later in 2009 and the show's 30th anniversary special, Tatlong Dekads ng Dabarkads aired.
In 2014, Lenten drama specials returned and an annual awards ceremony, the Dabarkads Awards was first held.
In July 2015, the love team AlDub started along with the segment, Kalyeserye. The show tripled its Mega Manila and nationwide television ratings and became a daily trending topic on Twitter worldwide. The show held 10 out of 10 highest-rated episodes in 2015. The show held a benefit concert at the Philippine Arena on October 24, 2015. Dubbed as Sa Tamang Panahon, its hashtag #ALDubEBTamangPanahon reached 41 million tweets, becoming the most used hashtag within 24 hours on Twitter. The segment Kalyeserye concluded on December 17, 2016 with a total of 400 episodes.
On December 8, 2018, filming location of the show moved to APT Studios in Cainta, Rizal. In March 2020, the admission of a live audience in the studio and production were suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show resumed its programming on June 8, 2020.

Cast

;Macho Men
;Current
;Recurring
Eat Bulaga! has aired television specials some were held in a stadium or an arena. The following is a list of some of the specials aired;
Two documentary films about the show which were co-produced with GMA News and Public Affairs aired; Eat Bulaga Silver Sunday Special on November 29, 2004 and Kuwentong Dabarkads on October 16, 2011. The show also aired two television films; Love is... on October 21, 2017 and Pamana on July 28, 2018.

Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the show had its highest rating on October 24, 2015 with a 50.8% rating during the Tamang Panahon special.

Accolades

Filming locations

The first regional version of the show, Eat Na Ta! premiered on November 12, 2007. While Eat Na Ta sa TV premiered on November 24 of the same year. It served as a pre-programming for Eat Bulaga! in Visayas until 2008.

International versions

On July 16, 2012, SCTV aired the show's first international version, Eat Bulaga! Indonesia and later The New Eat Bulaga! Indonesia. Eat Bulaga! Indonesia concluded on April 3, 2014 while The New Eat Bulaga! Indonesia ended on August 8, 2016.
In 2019, Eat Bulaga! Myanmar started development.