"Banana Split" to premiere on October 11

Angelica Panganiban (left) and Cristine Reyes (right) are among the stars of Banana Split, which will air every Saturday night on ABS-CBN starting October 11. They will be joined by Roxanne Guinoo, RR Enriquez, Dianne Medina, Princess Ryan, and Valerie Co

Author: Jocelyn Dimaculangan

For several days now, viewers have been seeing the sexy teaser of Banana Split showing female actresses in their swimsuits playing around a water fountain. According to a PEP source, the female counterpart of the defunct gag show Goin' Bananas will air on ABS-CBN by October 11 (Saturday).

Once a week, Roxanne Guinoo, Angelica Panganiban, Cristine Reyes, RR Enriquez, Dianne Medina, Princess Ryan, and Valerie Concepcion will tantalize audiences with their sketches and comic skits. Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 alumna Riza Santos was supposed to join this show but she was pulled out because she had to go back to Canada.

Banana Split is a spin off of the popular sitcom that aired in the '90s, Goin' Bananas, which starred Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz, Johnny Delgado, Al Tantay, Christopher de Leon, and the late Jay Ilagan.

This sketch comedy show is directed by Direk Edgar "Bobot" Mortiz and his son Frasco Mortiz. The headwriter of Banana Split is Ricky Victoria, currently the creative manager of Goin' Bulilit, which is also being helmed by Direk Bobot.

"May mga skit, may mga sexy na sayaw, para talagang Goin' Bananas," says the PEP source regarding the gag show.

One male star will be the guest of the Banana Split girls every week. John Lloyd Cruz will be their first guest in their pilot episode on October 11. Zanjoe Marudo, Diether Ocampo, Sam Milby, and Piolo Pascual will then follow suit. "Pinipila namin ang mga matinee idols ng ABS-CBN."

The PEP source pointed out that Ryan Agoncillo's Pinoy Fear Factor will be aired sometime next year, in 2009. "Timing lang kasi we have four series now. Merong Dyosa, Betty La Fea, and Iisa Pa Lamang. Pag nilagay mo pa ang isa, masyado nang late, e, sayang. Sayang yung ginastos."

Parekoy. There have been reports that there will be a predominantly male comedy show titled Parekoy that will be topbilled by John Prats, Jayson Gainza, and Zanjoe Marudo--the three stars who worked together in the defunct show Aalog-alog.

"Medyo mahirapan pag nag-uumpisa ka ng bagong format. Comedy-serye siya, e. Sanay kasi tayo na once-a-week lang ang comedy. Mahirap talaga mag-sustain ng comedy araw-araw. First attempt namin na may kwentong sinusundan at comedy pa every scene."

Has it already been shelved? "Hindi naman, inaayos lang namin. Kaya nahihirapan ang Parekoy kasi daily siya. May kwento ka na kailangan tumatawa ka pa every gap, otherwise, it's not a comedy-serye. Tatlo silang magbarkada pero may kwento. Okay naman yung Aalog-alog noon, e. May chemistry sila kaya sabi namin, i-try natin na gawing daily."

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal