The Hype That Was Gone
May 26th, 2008 | By Jeric Peña | Category: Entertainment, Pinoy Idol, TelevisionLooking Back
Few years ago, I was surprised to see the advertisement being shown on ABC 5 with the tagline, “Hindi lang Star… Hindi lang Superstar,” “Hinahanap na ang bagong Idol ng Bayan” and many others. The advertisement was about Philippine Idol, the local version of American Idol. I was really excited that finally we got our own version of the Idol series. I could still remember creating a website dedicated to Philippine Idol. There were also times that I provided a live stream of Philippine Idol since people who are outside the country can’t see the show or to those in places where ABC 5’s signal is low or non-existent. I must admit that I bought our TV Tuner mainly for Philippine Idol. I saved up for me to have a TV Tuner and record the said show. I would literally watch ABC 5 the whole day just to catch the Philippine Idol advertisements and record them. The Philippine Idol section on the Idol Forums is very active then. My Philippine Idol days ended when Reymond Sajor, my bet, got eliminated. I was so sad that I shut down the fan site I created for Philippine Idol and stopped doing live streams. After Mau Marcelo was announced as the First Philippine Idol, I was eagerly waiting for the second season of Philippine Idol. I even thought of auditioning for the show just for the experience. We thought there would be a second season but we were wrong.
Then Came GMA 7
Almost a year later, new reports came out stating that GMA 7 has acquired the Idol franchise. Philippine Idol fans were happy that finally, a “better” network got the deal. I was quite excited for the show. But a lot were shocked to know that GMA 7’s Idol would a new franchise and therefore would not recognized Mau Marcelo as the first Philippine Idol. I really felt sorry for Mau. Upon Philippine Idol’s transfer to the Kapuso network, the name was changed into Pinoy Idol. A lot of people, including me, disliked the title. I still believe that Philippine Idol is the perfect title for this franchise. RP Idol is okay for me just like NZ Idol, New Zealand’s version of the Idol series. Before the year 2007 ended, GMA 7 announced Pinoy Idol, the FIRST Idol search in the country. Raymond Gutierrez hosts the show while Jolina Magdangal, Ogie Alcasid and Wyngard Tracy sat as the judges.
Series of Unfortunate Episodes
Roll the famous Idol Opening theme, and here’s Pinoy Idol! Even before the show has started, Pinoy Idol has been receiving tons of negative feedback. A lot were against Raymond Gutierrez on being the show’s host while some are questioning the credibility of the judges. On the other hand, a lot of petitions were initiated asking to replace Louie Ignacio as the Pinoy Idol director even prior to the show. The fans were right; GMA 7 could have replaced Raymond, Jolina, Ogie, Wyngard and Louie because most of them, if not all, faltered during the show.
On Raymond Guiterrez, his hosting skills are undeniable. He is a good host and has hosted a couple of shows already. He just failed to connect with the audience and the contestants. The host should be the one to uplift the contestant’s morale during eliminations. But he just stands there and looks how the eliminated contestants break into tears. He should make his spiels even livelier but he usually ends up sounding like a robot. And he rely on the idiot board or cue card very much that you would see him not looking at the camera. He should also learn how to rephrase the lines and do adlibs to make the spiels more natural.
On the Judges, Ogie Alcasid and Jolina Magdangal are fine with me. Wyngard on the hand is full of brutal comments and should shut up. He gives criticism just for the sake of criticizing the contestants and makes the contestants cry. His comments are obnoxious. He is not like Simon because Simon’s comments are tolerable. During the past two performance nights of the Top 24, all we hear from the judges are good comments. It seems like everybody performed well, which isn’t true. If you would watch the episode again, almost all of then are okay and some are even bad. No one stood out. Some messed up with the lyrics while some messed up with the notes but ends up being great in the eyes of the judges.
On Louie Ignacio as the show’s director, a lot are against him including me. Under his direction, the show looked like an extension of SOP and or Pinoy Pop Superstar. I don’t know if this is his fault but the Idol show became very amateurish. The video of Pinoy Idol is usually overexposed because of the blinding spotlights on the set. The trailers are just bad and not strategically shown. The camera angles are bad and changing the camera every 2 seconds or less is really an eye sore.
The Pinoy Idol stage is similar to American Idol but only smaller. Funny how the 24 semifinalists struggled just to fit themselves in the stage just to perform together.
The audio is actually bad! They could have invested on an audio system that would give justice to the voices of the contestants. This is a reality based singing contest and audio quality should be of high standard. The audio spinner should be alert also! Dead air is a big NO! Your sound effects should be played on time.
The graphics and sound effects used on the show are not of Idol standards in my opinion. The title cards for the Idol text lines are not similar to other Idol shows. They are using a different set of sound effects too.
The Pinoy Idol website is actually good but it isn’t updated.
If not for the Pinoy Idol logo, I would think that this is not a franchise of the Idol series. It is in these incidents that I missed Philippine Idol so much. Philippine Idol has a big share of technical booboos too but those are forgivable because ABC 5 handles the show. GMA is self-proclaiming themselves as the biggest network in the Philippines but why are they producing shows like Pinoy Idol, which are of low quality. They could have reformatted Pinoy Pop Superstar and leave the Idol franchise to ABC 5. Looking at different online forums discussing Pinoy Idol, you’ll be amazed on the number negative posts by the fans of the Idol franchise.
I did a podcast for Pinoy Idol, but I don’t know if I would be releasing more episodes, as I get too tired waiting for them to improve the show. GMA 7 should act immediately and don’t wait for them to lose its viewers. Or better yet, cancel the show before you lose your credibility and dignity as a station. Just follow the footsteps of “The One” and you’ll be fine.
GMA 7, you bought the show format and not just the title. So please, live up to the Idol standards. I’m not expecting this to be similar to American Idol but make us feel that we are watching an Idol show not just a crappy barangay singing contest.
Jeric Pena is a 18-year-old blogger from Manila, Philippines. A high school graduate of Notre Dame of Greater Manila and currently studying at the University of the Philippines, Open University.
Wala talagang appeal ang Pinoy Idol sa akin. Ni wala ngang nagmamarka eh.
PDA for the win LOL
Sana si Drew Arellano na lang ang ginawang host
And yes, the director grrr
I really am not excited about Pinoy Idol.
I agree with most of what has been said except for one. Kapuso’s Pinoy Idol just seem so boring… good thing, Wyngard is there! Look, the other 2 judges were just too superficial. Does Jolina even know what she is talking about? Granted, she has albums, she graced the TV screens singing… hey! a lot others can sing better. It just looked like she was given the seat because the network has nothing else to give Jolina whose career is at falter. Ogie’s is a very good singer and composer.. what he has failed to do is to tell the contestant what the truth is.They have to know if their voices just aint good enough to qualify. Wyngard, on the other hand, did his job. Of course, people will not like him. Who likes bad guys? (yeah me!) But he has given everybody a clear and crisp opinion. BLACK IS BLACK.. WHITE IS WHITE. What is so wrong with that? Wyngard knows exactly what he is talking about because he has managed singers of high caliber. This is PINOY IDOL. We are trying to produce GOOD and INTERNATIONAL CLASS of TALENTS… not a bunch of trying hard wannabes because Ogie and Jolina wants to protect their sweet image. The Philippine audience is just not so stupid. The first Philippine Idol was a huge success regardless what network had them because they were able to come up with REAL singers.
me too.nawalan na akong manood nong nawala na si reymond sajor.kaya hanggang ngyon hindi na ako watch.
hay, frustrating… wawa naman si mau… m wondering bat nawawala si pow chavez? yah, reymond is also one of my favorites
I was such a big Philippine Idol fan. Their set was fantastic even if it is just inside the SM megamall cinema. I was in every show yata. Live pa. GMA 7 needs to read viewers’ feedback and learn from it. The judges can’t be replaced but they can improve the format and audio.
Oh my gosh, how frustrating. I will wait till the top 12 before I call it quits. To think I have a blog devoted soley to Pinoy Idol. That’s how much faith I had in it.
Guys, please settle down. Look at the positive sides of “Pinoy Idol.” I want to think that the show is just starting that is why it may be somewhat not an “Idol” standard.
BUT, a bigger part of me is actually deciding on turning off the television when that program is being shown. You know what, I am a big fan of American Idol. I have seen how that show has matured to an “Idol” standard.
On Philippine Idol, it was actually better than Pinoy Idol – the band, the audio, the camera angles, the judges, and everything. Well, not to be sarcastic, I really do not like Pinoy Idol. The judges are citing comments that they, I think, do not know of. Overall, the show is very bland! But one thing that I like is that the contestants are talented, just as much as the Philippine Idol contenders are.
Anyways, let us just hope and pray that something will happen to have the show improved. Let’s close the doors for them for now, but leave the windows open and our fingers crossed.
Please check on my blogsite, http://mamaorong.blogspot.com , which I am still improving on. Kindly leave some comments as well so I will know on what areas to work on.
BTW, I want to say ‘you did a great job for this blog’ to Jeric. A message sent by Reymond Sajor on Friendster is the reason why I reached this blogsite. Please visit mine too. hehe.
Keep safe to all!
http://mamaorong.blogspot.com
I was really disappointed too. ABC 5 did a splendid job on Philippine Idol. It has some difficulties but it improved as time goes. Mas naexcite pa ako sa teasers nila kesa sa 7.
Ang checheap at wlang levelling ang mga nasa Top 24 ng Channel 7. Unlike sa PI, may Mau, may Gian, may Jan, mat Arms, may Apple, may Reymond at may Drae. All are magagaling!
Ngayon, may Penelope. Yun lang. Haha.
THE DIRECTOR-LOUIE IGNACIO MURDERED THE SHOW!!!
DREW SHOULD BE THE HOST!
WHAT A BIG DISSAPOINTMENT!
Ibalik si RYAN AGONCILIO hehehe… comment lang
If they can do this to the Idol franchise, think what they could do to Survivor!! I’m a long time fan of both shows and was at first excited to hear that Pinoy networks were bringing them to our own turfs. But, man, major production values SUCKerage!
Pinoy Idol was a trainwreck right out of the gate. From the time they falsely advertised it to be the first Idol search in the country. So insecure and unprofessional of GMA to do that. So reckless of the fans. Then.. host Raymond? Eats his words. Ogie, Jolina, Wyngard? Lack authority, simply unbelievable as judges.
What they can do? It’s just too late in the show now.
Now, Survivor is about to air in like several months. I am already dreading it’s going to be like watching a series of trying-hard, wannabe episodes of Xtra Challenge.
I caught the show last night.
My take:
Judges, lame.
Total look, lame.
Sound, lame
Contestants, what do you expect if you have lame judges?
Jolina, please stop saying “OKHEY.”
Ibalik niyo nalang sa ABC 5, they did a much better job. That was the real Philippine Idol.
kaawa-awa ang gma dahil nabubuhay sila sa kasinungalingan. kailan kaya nila tatanggapin ang katotohanan na hindi nila mababago ang kasaysayan ng pagkakaroon ng philippine idol at ang pagkapanalo ni mau? balang araw, babalik din sa kanila ang karma. naniniwala ako na sa mga darating na araw ay sasapitin ng pinoy idol ang nangyari sa “one” ng amerika.
sa mga loyalista ng una at original na idol show sa pilipinas na philippine idol, huwag po tayo bumoto sa pinoy idol.
tama. boycott tayo
I agree on almost everything that’s been said. me too, i never imagine idol to be this kind considering that a major network took charge of it. how can a reality tv show intended to be viewed as live be pre-recorded? the audio sounds horrible and monotonous. it fails to bring excitement to people. and as i view it, it seems like their IDOL version is “just one” of the many shows that’s why it has no definite schedule and that the editing seems fast moving and unreal. it’s so sad that for a very talented country like us who loves singing (and an idol fanatic too) would fail to entertain us. Dont want to make an end statement but as of the moment, they havent even met ABC’s Philippine Idol version.
just my 2 cents.
watch pda instead.. okey ang production =)
as if madali gumawa ng ganitong klase ng production. ang galing niyo magsalita kasi di kayo part ng produksyon.
sobra ang expectations niyo at icocompare niyo pa sa AI. yung stage maliit dahil yan ang requirements ang big stage pag dating ng top 12 kung AI fan kayo dapat alam niyo yan. masyado kayong magagaling parang alam niyo lahat.
Yes, we know everything (okay, maybe almost everything) about AI.
We know that AI is a very good show, and that GMA 7’s version sucks hard.
By the way, if you’re really reading the previous comments the you’d know that we’re comparing Pinoy Idol to ABC 5’s Philippine Idol, which was very good.
And yeah, some of us here (like me) have worked in productions, and have taken film/production classes, so we know the aspects of it, like lighting, cinematography, sound, and camera work. And we know what looks good and what does not. Pinoy Idol misses these elements.
jerlyn,
It is okay to be defensive. tahan na! ganyan talaga kapag hindi naapreciate ang effort mo lalo na kung nde maganda ang result ng effort. o sya . tahan na… next time galingan nyo na lang ha.
sincerely,
someone who knows a good show when i see one
http://cynthia1224.multiply.com/video/item/59/Reymond_Sajor_Coming_Home
Nakakataba ng puso. grabe. It was my first job to work as a promo producer in Philippine Idol. Kami ang gumawa ng mga on-air promotions since the very beginning ng Philippine idol (2 kaming writers, isang editor). Mantakin mo, lahat ng on-air, posters, at flyers kami ang gumagawa. Jeryln, mahirap sa mahirap pero kinaya namin. may direksyon ang ginawa namin kahit na marred by technical difficulties. i am proud of our top 12 (even top24), and the winner.
Kaya super sad ako nung sinabi ng GMA-7 na di nila iaacknowledge si Mau bilang 1st Idol winner. I secretly wish makarma kayo, at nagkatotoo naman. hello. Alam niyo ba guys, yang si Gretchen hindi man lang nakapasa ng TOP 50 yan nung sumali sa Philippine Idol. ganun kagagaling ang napili nina Mr. C at ng production ng Philippine Idol.
Hindi ako makapaniwala. Nashock ako sa ginawang kabababuyan ng GMA-7. From the singers, the hosts, the judges, and the marketing prowess that they boast, wala akong nakitang natuwa ako.
HIndi ako bayas, pero may taste ako. and shockingly, i think talaga, kahit panget at di kasingganda ng AI ang Philippine idol, mas grabe naman sa kapangitan yung Pinoy Idol….haay..
kaya salamat sa lahat ng pumuri sa philippine idol.Hindi niyo lang alam yung blood sweat at tears na ibinuhos namin doon. Isipin niyong mamatayan kayo ng makina habang ineedit ang mga plugs at commercials na giangawa namin para sa show dahil ang luluma ng technology, but , as the people attest to it, we made a good show despite everything….