“Millionaire” ran for nine seasons and so many folks won hefty cash prizes. How different is “Million Peso Drop” from it? “Very different, as the contestants here come in pairs and we start with me giving them P1 million right away. Tapos I ask them 8 general knowledge questions, 4 easy ones, then medium and hard. They have to answer correctly to retain the money I gave them. The show is already a hit in 40 other countries and no doubt magugustuhan ito ng viewers natin kasi it’s so exciting to watch the contestants as they try to keep as much money as they can while the game progresses.”
How come he doesn’t have a sitcom anymore? “We’re cooking up one here on TV5, for next year. As of now, I’m busy with our filmfest entry nina Bong Revilla and Judy Ann Santos, ‘Enteng, Agimat and Me’. 10 shooting days pa bago matapos.”
Aren’t they scared of the Vice Ganda-Ai Ai de las Alas movie? “Bong and I don’t do movies to compete. Gusto namin, lahat ng entries, kumita, so we don’t consider them as kalaban. Isa pa, Ai Ai is a good friend of mine dahil last year, kami naman ang magkasama.”
Is he more of a Kapuso or a Kapatid? “Friend ko lahat ng networks. I’m working with all of them. ‘Eat Bulaga’ is with GMA so Kapuso ako. ‘Million Peso Drop’ is with TV5 so Kapatid ako. And I make movies with ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema so Kapamilya rin ako. Ayoko ng may kaaway.”
Earlier, it was reported he’d run as QC Mayor. What happened? “It’s not true. I don’t have to explain, basta I never considered running.”
So how long will he be in showbiz? “Hangga’t gusto ko ng tao, I’ll be here. You can’t say what will happen, like ‘Eat Bulaga’, we didn’t plan na abutin yan ng 30 years. Akala ko nga, one year lang. Pero gusto pa rin ng tao, so tuloy tayo.”
