Among the new shows they will introduce is “Ang Panday” starring Richard Gutierrez and Alonzo Muhlach, “Bakit Manipis ang Ulap” with Claudine Barretto and Diether Ocampo, “Tasya Fantasya” with a star from another network to play the title role (they can’t announce yet who she is as her contract from her present station has yet to expire), “Kagat ng Dilim” with horror stories to be directed by Erik Matti, and “Born to be a Star”, a reality show searching for the next top multi-media star with Aiza Seguerra, Mark Bautista and Rico Blanco as the judges. Existing TV5 shows that will still be seen next year include “Wattpad Presents”, “ParangNormalActivity”, “LolaBasyang.com”, “Happy Truck ng Bayan” and “Hi 5”.
Current TV 5 contract stars who are not in the new shows include Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Janno Gibbs and Ogie Alcasid. But Boss Vic says that although they will be using their own Viva stars, resident stars of TV5, including Artista Academy discoveries, will continue to be part of the new shows. The fact that Viva is now very much in the picture is obvious in the teaser trailer, which was narrated by Yassi Pressman, a Viva talent.
Of course, some writers are questioning the roster of shows this early. Someone even quipped they hoped that the TV version of “Tasya Fantasya” will be as successful as the earlier movie version, which is one of Kris Aquino’s biggest blockbusters at the box office. (It was already remade on TV by GMA-7 starring Yasmien Kurdi.) They also pray that the “Panday” will be as big a hit in the ratings as ABS-CBN’s earlier version starring Jericho Rosales shot in the Ilocos sand dunes and where his romance with Heart Evangelista was set on fire.
