MANILA, September 13, 2013 – This weekend, TV5 offers its viewers eight new programs, with pilot episodes that feature sex scandals, showbiz spats, celebrity sibling interviews, love songs, and even extreme karaoke.
The new offerings are part of the network’s attempt to catch up with its much older competitors, ABS-CBN and GMA 7.
“We want programs that will spark dialogue on certain issues; shows that are entertaining, educational and will make people think,” TV5 CEO Noel Lorenzana told Inquirer.
Weekend Do It Better begins on Saturday at 6 p.m. with Showbiz Police, with a full feature on Claudine Barretto and the case she filed against her husband Raymart Santiago. Meanwhile, resident showbiz critic and analyst Direk Joey Reyes gives his thoughts on private videos and sex scandals.
Also on Showbiz Police is Lucy Torres-Gomez’s one-on-one interview with Edu Manzano, and Cristy Fermin’s investigation on the real score between Derek Ramsay and Cristine Reyes.
For the first time ever, Raymond Gutierrez interviews his siblings Richard and Ruffa.
Following Showbiz Police at 7 p.m. is Tropa Mo Ko UNLI, featuring gagsters Ogie Alcasid, Gelli de Belen and Wendell Ramos. Alcasid and de Belen will do a spoof of Eat Bulaga’s Ryzza Mae Dizon, and a duel of dunces in satirical quiz show Battle of the Brainless.
At 8 p.m., the spotlight is on extreme sing-along in Killer Karaoke, where the popular pastime becomes deadly with snakes, pools, and other crazy challenges.
Saturday’s lineup closes with Edu Manzano’s not-so-late night comedy talk show, What’s Up Doods, in which he shows how the Kasambahay Law changed his life.
Four more programs will be launched on Sunday, starting with Pinoy Explorer at 6 p.m., in which Aga Muhlach goes to New York. As he explores the Big Apple, he meets up with fellow Kapatid stars Sharon Cuneta and Derek Ramsay, and runs into Lea Salonga at Times Square.
At 7 p.m., pharmaceutical employee Arthur Ross Guilas attempts to become the newest Pinoy millionaire in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
At 8 p.m., Joey de Leon pulls pranks in Wow Mali Pa Rin, followed by the first episode of The Mega and The Songwriter at 9 p.m., featuring Ogie Alcasid and Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Based on the life of a letter sender, Alcasid writes a song, while Cuneta sings classic love songs by request.
“With these stronger and more star-studded weekend primetime programs, your Saturdays and Sundays will surely become better only with the best network when it comes to weekend primetime — TV5,” the network said.
Lorenzana told Inquirer that TV5 would not “join the fray,” but would “focus on our own strengths.”
The network’s new programs, starting with the revamped lineup of weekend shows, are “about giving the viewers choices or alternatives,” as Lorenzana said.
