How TV5's 'E.A.T' and GMA's 'Eat Bulaga!' marked the noontime show's 44th anniversary
July 29 marks the 44th anniversary of the longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga!.
The celebration on the GMA show started with their EB Happy segment featuring performances from its new hosts, including Winwyn Marquez, Glaiza de Castro, Dasuri Choi, Cassy Legaspi, and Chariz Solomon.
Yasser Marta, Kokoy De Santos, Michael Sager, and Kimpoy Feliciano, collectively known as Chaleco Boys, entertained the audience with a fun opening number. Paolo Contis and former Manila mayor Isko Moreno, meanwhile, sang Ob-la-di Ob-la-da together.
Contis talked about the importance of July 29 for the show.
“July 29, mahalaga po ang araw na ’to sa Eat Bulaga!. Forty-four years ago, sinimulan po ng Eat Bulaga! ang pagbibigay ng saya," he said.
“Lumipas man po ang panahon sa kahit anong pagkakataon, maiba man po ang mga artistang humaharap sa inyo araw-araw, ang hindi po mababago ay ang hangarin ng Eat Bulaga! na magbigay ng saya at magbahagi ng pag-asa," he added.
Moreno, meanwhile, expressed their hope of bringing joy to the audience even on gloomy days.
“In our own little way, ngayong anibersaryo ng Eat Bulaga!, ang selebrasyon na ito ay alay namin sa inyo para mapangiti lang kayo kahit papaano," he said.
“Mga Kapuso, noong nagsisimula kami bilang bagong hosts, ang ipinangako namin sa inyo ay kayo ang laging dahilan kung bakit kami naririto. Sabi nga namin, it’s not always about the hosts, it’s always about the viewers," he continued.
Eat Bulaga! also dropped a new theme song #EB44ALL4U as part of its 44th-anniversary celebration. "Ang gusto namin fresh lang, kaya mas pinakaganda namin ang kantang ito na mas akma sa bagong panahon, at bagong panlasa pero ang puso't hangarin ng Eat Bulaga!, syempre hindi po 'yan mawawala," Contis said.
After releasing the new song, Eat Bulaga! continued the show with its usual segments such as G sa Gedli with Moreno and Buboy Villar as well as Word of the Rings and May Pa-key Sayo. It ended with the hosts giving insights on the show's four decades, with Contis highlighting the "real owner" of the show.
"Kami mismo naging bahagi kami ng Eat Bulaga!, kahit nung bata pa ako naging parte ako ng Eat Bulaga!, nanunuod ako ng Eat Bulaga!, nag-guest tayo sa Eat Bulaga!," the host expressed and then continued by throwing the question "Sino ba ang nagmamay-ari ng Eat Bulaga!?"
"Ang sagot, lahat po tayo. Kasi sa 44 years, lahat po tayo ay naging bahagi nito," he said.
'National Dabarkads Day'
The "Legit Dabarkads," including the comedic trio TVJ—Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon—marked the occasion on TV5's E.A.T. by calling it the "National Dabarkads Day."
Each host wore a red shirt indicating their number of years with the noontime show.
"Kasama po ng mga numerong yan ang kwento ng bawat araw, linggo, buwan at taon na mas nagpatibay ng ating pagkakaibigan," Vic said.
E.A.T. opened with a song number by the "Legit Dabarkads," including Ice Seguerra, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Paolo Ballesteros, Jose Manalo, and Wally Bayola.
“Saan man kami dalhin ng tadhana, ipagdiriwang namin ang araw na naging mag-Dabarkads tayo," Vic said.
"Dahil higit sa programa, selebrasyon ng ating pagkakaibigan na pinatibay ng mga pagsubok, pinasarap ng panahon, at pinalalim ng pagmamahalan,” he added.
TVJ has an ongoing rift with TAPE Inc. They announced they have parted ways with the EB producers last May 31 after rumors about an Eat Bulaga! rebranding—and the trio getting fired—broke out amid financial losses. After the announcement, staff members, including hosts, writers, sales, production, and cameramen, tendered their resignation.
Eat Bulaga! went on with its live airing and introduced a new set of hosts on June 5, while TVJ and other Dabarkads joined TV5 and aired their new show E.A.T. on July 1.