Late last year, Boy Abunda put an end to all the “transfer rumors” when he officially signed a contract with GMA Network. Now, after two decades, he’s back to GMA and ready to utter his famous line, “Kaibigan, tara, usap tayo?” again.
Coined from his copyright-protected term “fast talk,” Tito Boy’s 20-minute live talk show, Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, will have its premiere telecast on January 23 and will be airing daily at 4:05 p.m finishing off the network’s Dramarama sa Hapon block.
Speaking to some members of the press last weekend, Tito Boy, as he is fondly called, shared his feelings towards his much-awaited showbiz news program.
“It’s not going be easy dahil ako ay kakatok, hihiram, hihingi ng 20 minutes ng oras tuwing hapon from Monday to Friday mula sa ating mga kababayan, sa mga nanay, sa mga tatay, sa mga Kapuso na makipagbalitaan at makipagkuwentuhan. Mapangahas masyado sabihin na magagawa ko ‘yun, but I will need your help,” the seasoned host said.
Most especially now that everyone has the access to spread and deliver news on various social media platforms, the King of Talk admitted that it’s going to be a difficult challenge.
“Doon sa pagbabago ng landscape…I am cognizant of where we are today. Hindi lamang reporters, hindi lamang tayo. Ako, nag-You-YouTube. Ika’y merong YouTube, may Facebook. Everybody has become an active participant in the communications ecosystem,” Abunda explained.
“Sa pagbabalita ngayon, halimbawa pag may buntis, it starts with sabi ko nga, cryptic posts. Until, you know, somebody reveals. Or ‘pag nag-away, ina-unfollow. Tinatanggal ang mga litrato sa IG. Lahat ng ito, familiar tayo. Familiar tayo na nabago na,” he continued.
“Hindi katulad noon na inaantay natin ang mga palabas para i-confirm ang mga balita. O ‘di kaya hinahabol natin. We were all going for exclusives hanggang magsasalita halimbawa ang artista. Alam natin ‘yun,” he added.
Tito Boy has been known for his direct-to-the-point and intense questions. He is even considered one of the showbiz news authorities and credible sources of entertainment news. He wouldn’t be called the King of Talk for nothing.
“May konting kredibilidad dahil may fact-checking kami. Kung halimbawa, magbibigay ako ng headline, dadaan ‘yan sa napakaraming tao before I’m able to do you know a commentary for example. Or, an enumeration of headlines for the day,” explained the award-winning host.
Fast Talk with Boy Abunda is more than the ‘sex or chocolates’ and ‘lights on or lights off’ that we know. It will not just revolve around revelations or confirmation of ‘chismis’ that people have been dying to know. But it also aims to go beyond what is obvious.
“I’m going to work with a great team pero hindi ako uupo. Kaya sinasabi ko sa kanila, ‘Pasensya na kayo, sobrang taas ang energy ko at pakialamero ako.’ Oo, dahil hindi ako papayag na hindi mag-deliver dahil sobrang tiwala ang ibinigay sa akin ni Atty. Gozon,” he said.
“So we have to step up, we have to be able to present how we’re gonna do Fast Talk. Ang Fast Talk naman is specific and personal to the guest,” Abunda added.
He also teased the media by revealing his first set of guests during the pilot week. Marian Rivera kicks off the premiere episode and will be followed by a soon-to-be-wed couple, Glaiza de Castro and David Rainey on Tuesday.
Alden Richards will be gracing the Wednesday episode and his StartUp-PH leading lady, Bea Alonzo is set to be the Thursday guest. Capping off the week will be Paolo Contis whom he personally called to ask to be in the show.
“I spoke to Paolo Contis straight… Hindi naman ako papayag, sabi ko, ‘hindi ako papayag na hindi ka um-oo,’” shared Tito Boy.
The seasoned talk show host also shared that he is looking forward to the day that he would get to have a fast talk with veteran journalists Mike Enriquez and Jessica Soho.
Apart from airing on free TV, Fast Talk with Boy Abunda will also stream on GMA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
