Paolo Bediones misses hosting Survivor and BB. Pilipinas

WHAT CAN PAOLO Bediones say now that Richard Gutierrez is replacing him as host of "Survivor Philippines"? "I wish him the best," he says. "It's a show that I really loved doing. Sana, the standards we've been able to establish on its first and second season, ma-maintain nila or malampasan pa as it's really one show that is tough to do. I really miss it, just like hosting Bb. Pilipinas. But we have to move on. In my new job as programming executive of TV 5, I don't just appear on cam but also help in the creative aspect of programming and in recruiting and developing our own talents."

What's the meaning of his show's title, "USI"? "Under Special Investigation, pero puede ring Usisero. This is more hardhitting than any shows I've done before. In our pilot show, we'll show the different sides of the personalities of our presidentiables. Marami ng shows featuring the candidates but this one is out of the box but lighter naman. My first guest is Sen. Dick Gordon and I asked him pointblank: Pikon ka raw? Since he's with the Red Cross, I also asked him to take my blood pressure and do CPR on me. For Councilor JC de los Reyes who's Gordon's nephew, I took him to a nightclub in the red light district and it's his first time to get into one. Nangampanya siya sa mga tao roon. Then there's my interview with Sen. Jamby Madrigal where she says Sen. Loren Legarda's tree planting campaign is hypocrisy."

Why are their new shows scheduled at such an early Sunday afternoon slot as 5:30 PM when most people watch showbiz talk shows? "We want to break habits and re-educate viewers for them to get a chance to have alternative shows. Both networks offer showbiz na, sasabay pa ba kami roon? We want them to know there's more out there to watch than what's already being offered to them. We really want to be the third force," says Luchi Cruz Valdez, proud mom of gifted young violinist Joseph Valdez.

Aside from "USI", Paolo will also be the main anchor of their primetime newcast that will start on March 25. He's also scheduled to do a new entertainment show come April.