This article is about the variety show broadcast on TV5 and RPTV. For its temporary predecessor show that aired on TV5 from 2023 to 2024, see
E.A.T. (TV program).
"EB!" and "EB (variety show)" redirect here. For other uses, see
EB (disambiguation).Not to be confused with
EV or
Eevee.
Eat Bulaga! premiered on July 30, 1979, with its pilot episode filmed at the RPN Live Studio 1 in Broadcast City,
Quezon City.[15][16] Chiqui Hollmann[12] and
Richie D'Horsie also served as the original hosts.[15] The theme song was composed by Vic Sotto with Vincent Dy Buncio and Pancho Oppus and musically arranged by Homer Flores.[17] During the show's first few months, it was in the brink of cancellation due to stiff competition and lack of advertisers, despite having their advertising rates reduced to
₱750[12] (equivalent to
₱25,497 in 2021) and the hosts' lack of salary for over a year.[18]
De Leon said that he and the Sotto brothers did not sign a contract with the show, when they were offered to become hosts. Vic Sotto said that he accepted the offer and would stop, once he had money to buy a personal vehicle. De Leon also said that the show was supposed to be a short-term employment. After two years, the trio decided to stay with the show.[19][20] The show gained top-rating status in 1980 with the segment "Mr. Macho".[12][16] Production Specialists Inc. went bankrupt and dissolved sometime in July 1980 and the production of the show were handed over to
TAPE, Inc. on July 7, 1981.[18] In 1982,
Coney Reyes joined the show as the newest host.[21]
In the immediate aftermath of the
People Power Revolution, the show went off the air from February 27 to March 1, 1986, due to the transmitter of RPN being disabled by reformist soldiers. In 1987,
Aiza Seguerra joined the show after Little Miss Philippines.[12][22]Eat Bulaga! left the Broadcast City complex on December 2, 1987, and transferred to Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City the next day owing to RPN being beset by periodical change of management. The compounded situation led to Tony Tuviera's decision to start negotiations with then-fledgling
ABS-CBN to eventually transfer the show.
ABS-CBN (1989–95)
Eat... Bulaga! moved to
ABS-CBN[21] under a co-production agreement due to problems brought about by the
sequestration of RPN.[15] On February 18, 1989, the show premiered on its new home with a TV special titled Eat... Bulaga!: Moving On, staged at the
Araneta Coliseum.[23] Upon its transfer to ABS-CBN, the show utilized
Studio 1 at the
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center as its main venue while Studio 2 served as an additional facility during special occasions.
The show's tenth anniversary was held on September 23, 1989, at the Araneta Coliseum.[24] In 1991,
Ruby Rodriguez and
Rio Diaz became regular co-hosts.
In 1994, ABS-CBN attempted to purchase the broadcast rights to the show from TAPE Inc., but Antonio Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar rejected the offer, leading the network to give Eat... Bulaga! an ultimatum to leave by January 1995.[citation needed] ABS-CBN retook the timeslot with their own program 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila on February 4, 1995.
GMA Network (1995–2024)
In late 1994, the show moved out of ABS-CBN Studio 1 and relocated to Celebrity Sports Plaza in preparation for its transfer. The move became official through a contract signing between TAPE Inc. and GMA officials that was held at the
Makati Shangri-La, Manila on January 19, 1995.[15] The show premiered on GMA Network on January 28, 1995, with a TV special titled Eat... Bulaga!: The Moving!.[23][15][25]
Toni Rose Gayda,
Allan K., Samantha Lopez, and
Francis Magalona became hosts in 1995, and
Anjo Yllana followed suit in 1998. By 2000, Eat Bulaga! was the first noontime variety program to award millions of prizes through its Laban o Bawi segment, gaining instant popularity among viewers. On the other hand,
Wally Bayola joined the show but was initially cast as an off-screen jester host who entertained the studio audience during commercial breaks and announced introductions for the show's segments.[26] In May 2001, Magalona was removed from the show following his arrest for drug possession, with
Janno Gibbs serving as his replacement while
Paolo Ballesteros joined the show as co-host for the U-Bet segment, a university student pageant hosted in remote locations with
Derek Ramsay and
Phoemela Baranda visiting campuses nationwide. In 2002, Magalona returned to the show after his acquittal and rehabilitation, and ratings increased due to the popularity of the
SexBomb Dancers and Sige!!! Ano...Kaya Mo?!? Sakmo! segment. In 2003,
Jose Manalo became a regular co-host on the show after serving as production assistant and floor director in 1994 and 1999, respectively. The 25th year celebration of the show was aired on November 19, 2004, from
Expo Pilipino.[27] It won the Best Entertainment (One-Off/Annual) Special at the
Asian Television Award in
Singapore on December 1, 2005.[28][29] The presentation, titled Eat Bulaga! Silver Special, was broadcast on November 27 and 29, 2004.[27]
In 2006, the
SexBomb Girls left the show due to a dispute with the producers and they were replaced by the EB Babes.[30] In March 2007, the SexBomb Girls returned until their second departure in 2011, while the EB Babes remained regular performers on the show until 2019.[31][32][33] In September 2007, de Leon started an on-screen feud with
Willie Revillame, which led to the
Hello Pappy scandal.[34][35]
On March 6, 2009,
Vic Sotto announced the death of
Francis Magalona, who succumbed to
leukemia, during the program. A tribute episode for Magalona was held the following day.[36]Ryan Agoncillo joined the show later in 2009 and the show's 30th anniversary special Tatlong Dekads ng Dabarkads aired.[37][38] In 2012,
Ryzza Mae Dizon joined the show after winning the talent search Little Miss Philippines.[39]
In 2014, Lenten drama specials returned after a seven year hiatus[40] and an annual awards ceremony, the Dabarkads Awards, was first held.
In July 2015, the
love teamAlDub, consisting of
Alden Richards and
Maine Mendoza, started along with the segment Kalyeserye. The show tripled its Mega Manila and nationwide television ratings and became a daily trending topic on the social media network
Twitter worldwide.[41][42] The show held 10 out of 10 highest-rated episodes in 2015.[43] The show held a
benefit concert at the
Philippine Arena on October 24, 2015. Dubbed as Tamang Panahon, its hashtag #ALDubEBTamangPanahon reached 41 million tweets,[44] becoming the most used hashtag within 24 hours on Twitter.[45] The segment Kalyeserye concluded on December 17, 2016, with a total of 400 episodes.[46][47]
On December 8, 2018, the show moved its live studio location to
APT Studios in
Cainta,
Rizal.[48][49] In March 2020, the admission of a live audience in the studio and production were suspended due to the
enhanced community quarantine in Luzon caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic.[50][51] The show resumed its programming on June 8, 2020.[52] In August 2020,
Anjo Yllana was permanently laid off from the show, followed by
Ruby Rodriguez in May 2021.[53][54]Maja Salvador joined the show in October 2021 with her own segment, DC 2021: Maja on Stage, followed by
Miles Ocampo who joined the show in March 2022, they both starred in the musical-comedy segment, Ang Alamat ng Batang Hamog, with Maine and Ryzza Mae.[55][56] In February 2023,
Carren Eistrup joined the show after winning the reality competition segment Bida Next.[57]
TAPE Inc.'s new management suspended Eat Bulaga's production from May 31 to June 3, 2023, following the announcement of original hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon that they were severing ties with the production company.[58][59] Fellow hosts of the show — Paolo Ballesteros, Jose Manalo, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo and Allan K. — and production members also filed their resignation on the same day.[60] Another host Carren Eistrup also confirmed her resignation on June 8.[61]
The conflict arose over several matters, including the forced retirement of
Antonio Tuviera as TAPE Inc.'s top executive, the rebranding plan of Eat Bulaga! that amounted to the replacement of longtime mainstay hosts and top-rated segments, and salary reduction of the entire production team.[62][63]Romeo Jalosjos Jr., former representative of
1st district of Zamboanga del Norte, took over as TAPE's CEO and President following Tuviera's retirement, while his sister Soraya Jalosjos serves as Vice President of Administration, and their half-brother, incumbent
Dapitan City Mayor
Seth Frederick Jalosjos, became the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO).[64][65]
In a decision dated December 22, 2023 and issued on January 5, 2024, the
Marikina CityRegional Trial Court Branch 273 “permanently enjoined” TAPE Inc. and GMA Network from using the "Eat Bulaga" and "EB" trademarks, including logos, on its shows, programs, projects, and promotions for its current programming, as the petition of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon regarding its copyright case for the trademark was granted.[70][71][72]
TV5 & RPTV (since 2024)
Following the court's decision, TAPE Inc. immediately withdrew the use of Eat Bulaga!, and rebranded its show to Tahanang Pinakamasaya on January 6, 2024.[73] Concurrently, E.A.T. was rebranded as Eat Bulaga!,[4][74][75][76] and also began to simulcast its Saturday episodes on
CNN Philippines as part of an agreement with
Nine Media Corporation, marking a partial return of the program to its original home, RPN.[77] Following the shutdown of CNN Philippines on January 31, 2024,[78] the broadcast of the show was carried over to the replacement channel
RPTV and was extended to weekdays starting on February 1, 2024.[79]
Due to poor viewership and increasing debt, Tahanang Pinakamasaya was cancelled on March 2, 2024, ending TAPE's 29-year run of noontime programs on GMA Network.[80][81]
Sugod Bahay, Mga Kapatid! is a public service segment primarily hosted by Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros collectively known as "JoWaPao", while Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Maine Mendoza and Miles Ocampo served as substitute hosts. The segment's concept is derived from the show's popular segment "Juan for All, All for Juan: Sugod-Bahay sa Barangay," where hosts provide assistance and prizes to locals.[101]
Gimme 5: Laro ng mga Henyo
Gimme 5: Laro ng mga Henyo is a game segment that challenges the knowledge and logical thinking of each pair of contestants, who are tested under time pressure. The segment has a combined concept from the American game show Family Feud and the show's popular segment, Pinoy Henyo. The segment has introduced characters made using artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, and text-to-speech software who serve as hosts and remind the contestants about each round's mechanics.[102]
Peraphy
Peraphy (stylized as PERAPhY) is a game portion that challenges the studio player's thinking strategy. It involves oversized playing cards faced with fruits that consists of 13 cards per fruit (banana, mango, pineapple, and watermelon) numbered 1–13. The goal is to complete a row of cards by correctly guessing whether the next one is Higher (Pataas) or Lower (Pababa) in value, with the initial prize potentially being doubled or cut in half in the final round. It also features the TVJ Singing Queens (Eunice Janine, Anne Ferrer, Jean Drillon, Sammy Rascal, and Khayzy Bueno), who handles the playing cards. The segment shares similarities with the show's original segment, Hi-Lo Todo Panalo, and is based on the American television game show, Card Sharks.[103]
Barangay Bulagaan
Barangay Bulagaan (also referred to as simply Bulagaan and previously Bulagaan University) is a Saturday edition of the show's long-running and iconic segment, which features the hosts delivering knock-knock jokes and pick-up lines paired with their song of choice. It was originally held in a classroom setting, but now it takes place in an eatery owned by Ryzza Mae Dizon's character, Miss Tapsi.[citation needed]
Dear Eat Bulaga
Dear Eat Bulaga is a public service segment based on the show's original segment, Send in Your Dreams and draws inspiration from the British television series This is Your Life that aims to help individuals in achieving their aspirations by addressing their wishes.[citation needed]
EB Centerstage
EB Centerstage, a 1980's original segment allowing local singers to showcase their musical talents, was revived in 2024 for solo, duo, bands, or groups to showcase their song covers or compositions.[citation needed]
That's My Boyfriend
That's My Boyfriend is a reality dating segment based on the show's original segment, Heart to Get.
Concluded segments
Mr. Cutie: Boys Got Talent
A talent search for handsome, confident, and talented young men based on the show's original segment Mr. Pogi, premiered on October 4, 2023 which aims to discover the next heartthrob sensation. On January 20, 2024, Lance Aceron was declared the grand winner.[104]
Babala! 'Wag Kayong Ganuuun...
Babala! 'Wag Kayong Ganuuun... was a segment in which a pair of contestants would carefully evaluate and determine their correct choice among a group of people with unique characteristics, past experiences and extraordinary achievements. The segment raised awareness and fostered empathy, drawing inspiration from the EB segment Bawal Judgmental. The segment, which began on July 3, 2023, and ended on October 18, 2023. It was brought back by TVJ on March 25 to 27, 2024 during the EB Lenten Special.[citation needed]
Special episodes
Eat Bulaga! airs special episodes of Lenten Drama during
Holy Week, replacing live broadcasts, which are regularly suspended during the week. The drama specials began airing since 1981 and, like the noontime show itself, it is produced by TAPE, Inc. until 2020, and by TVJ Productions since 2024.
1990
Ang Angkan ni David (April 10–13, 1990)
1991
Nang si Hudas ay Nadulas (March 25–27, 1991)
Numero Uno Part 1
Numero Uno Part 2
1993
Tatlong Makasalanan (April 5–7, 1993)
1994
Nauntog si Hestas, Nagising si Dimas (March 29–31, 1994)
1995
Bakit Naman Ako Pa? (April 10, 1995)
1997
Mga Ginoong Marya (March 24–26, 1997)
2001
Sino Ang Bestfriend Ko?(April 11, 2001; re-aired April 14, 2003)
2003
The Manager(April 15, 2003; re-aired April 8, 2009)
May Isang Bata(April 16, 2003)
2004
Ama't Anak(April 5, 2004)
Alalay(April 6, 2004)
Angel(April 7, 2004)
2005
Perfect(March 21, 2005)
True Love(March 22, 2005)
Tahanan(March 23, 2005)
2006
Mama(April 10, 2006)
Waiting Room(April 11, 2006)
Ganyan Kita Kamahal(April 12, 2006; re-aired April 5, 2023)
2007
Sa Iyong Paglaya(April 2, 2007)
Binhi Sa Matabang Lupa(April 3, 2007; re-aired April 12, 2022)
Star(April 4, 2007; re-aired April 11, 2022)
2008
Ang Mga Anak Ng Maestro(March 19, 2008)
2014
Karugtong ng Puso(April 14, 2014)
Ilaw ng Kahapon(April 14, 2014)
Hakbang sa Pangarap(April 15, 2014)
Kulungan Kanlungan(April 15, 2014)
Anyo ng Pag-Ibig(April 16, 2014; re-aired April 3, 2020)
Pangalawang Bukas(April 16, 2014; re-aired April 13, 2022)
2015
Biro ng Kapalaran(March 30, 2015)
Lukso ng Dugo(March 30, 2015)
Pangako ng Pag-Ibig(March 31, 2015)
Pinagpalang Ama(March 31, 2015; re-aired April 4, 2020)
Aruga ng Puso(April 1, 2015)
Sukli ng Pagmamahal(April 1, 2015)
2016
Dalangin ng Ama(March 21, 2016)
Kaputol ng Buhay(March 21, 2016)
Walang Kapalit(March 22, 2016)
Panata(March 22, 2016)
God Gave Me You(March 23, 2016)
2017
Inay(April 10, 2017)
Kapatid(April 10, 2017)
Pagpapatawad(April 11, 2017)
Prinsesa(April 11, 2017; re-aired April 3, 2023)
Mansyon(April 12, 2017; re-aired April 4, 2023)
Kaibigan(April 12, 2017; re-aired April 5, 2023)
2018
My Carinderia Girl(March 26, 2018)
Haligi ng Pangarap(March 26, 2018)
Pamilya(March 27, 2018)
A Daughter's Love(March 27, 2018)
Hating Kapatid(March 28, 2018)
Taray ni Tatay(March 28, 2018)
2019
Bulawan(April 15, 2019; re-aired April 6, 2020)
Biyaheng Broken Hearted(April 16, 2019; re-aired April 7, 2020)
Ikigai: Ang Buhay Ng Buhay Ko(April 17, 2019; re-aired April 8, 2020)
2024
Selda ng Kahapon(March 25, 2024)
Love Thy Neighbor(March 26, 2024)
Para 'di Makalimot(March 27, 2024)
Ratings
According to
AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the show had its highest rating on October 24, 2015, with a 50.8% rating during the Tamang Panahon special.[105]
Controversies
On September 2, 2013, a video of host, Wally Bayola, was posted online where he appeared to be having an affair with an EB Babe dancer. It led to Bayola's immediate suspension from the show for five months. He returned to the show on February 8, 2014.[106]
On September 5, 2013, the
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) called the show's producers for a mandatory conference over "insensitive and unfriendly" scenes involving hosts Vic Sotto and Ryzza Mae Dizon.[107]
On July 9, 2016, MTRCB summoned the show's personnel after the remarks of host Tito Sotto's during the Juan for All, All for Juan segment, where a contestant shared her past sexual abuse, leading to accusations of Sotto promoting rape culture and victim shaming.[108]
In October 2017, host Joey De Leon apologized after his statement in the show, about depression as a "made-up illness". He said his family explained the seriousness of his statements on the mental illness that has claimed thousands of lives.[109]
On May 31, 2023, the show's original hosts – Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon – announced their resignation from TAPE Inc. after they were barred from airing the show live. It was followed by the resignation of the show's other hosts and production members.[110] In August 2023, it led to an investigation by the MTRCB to ensure compliance on broadcasting regulations.[111]
On June 2, 2023, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon filed a petition for the cancellation of TAPE Inc.'s trademark renewal for the title "Eat Bulaga!". On December 5, 2023, the
Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines' Bureau of Legal Affairs cancelled the trademark renewal and credited Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and de Leon as the owner of the title "Eat Bulaga!".[112]
On June 30, 2023, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon filed a copyright infringement and unfair competition case against TAPE Inc. and
GMA Network for "unauthorized airing" of the show and "misuse" of the title Eat Bulaga!.[3] On January 6, 2024, the
Regional Trial Court branch 273 of
Marikina ordered TAPE Inc. and GMA Network to cease the usage of the trademarks such as EB, Eat Bulaga and the Eat Bulaga theme song, in its programming, as the petition of De Leon, Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto on its copyright case was granted.[70]
On September 9, 2023, TAPE Inc. gained access to the
YouTube account of the show, while Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon planned to file legal action against TAPE Inc. for its "forced" acquisition of the YouTube account, an action deemed to constitute as cybercrime.[113]
Eat Na Ta! is a half-hour variety show broadcast by
GMA Cebu, served as a pre-programming to Eat Bulaga!. The show was hosted by local personalities, among them was a broadcast journalist,
Bobby Nalzaro.
The show was originally aired on
Super Radyo DYSS 999 kHz as a daily game show before it evolved into a TV variety show.
^E.A.T. served as a temporary show launched by TVJ while they took legal action to reclaim the trademark from TAPE Inc., following a dispute that destroyed their long-term partnership.[4]
^Eat Bulaga! Indonesia, the first international franchise retaining much of the original Philippine TV show segments and games, premiered on
SCTV on July 16, 2012.[5]
^Eat Bulaga!'s second international franchise is called "Eat Bulaga! Myanmar". On July 30, 2019, Eat Bulaga! announced the news of its second franchise in
Myanmar amid the celebration of its 40th anniversary. Prior to the supposed production of the show, subtitled episodes aired as early as January 2021. Due to the
internal armed conflict in Myanmar, including the 2021 military coup, as well as the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the production of the show was delayed until two years later. The show debuted on May 31, 2021, on
Mizzima TV.[6]
^Joey de Leon (June 7, 2009).
"'An Oscar award for Tito, Vic & Joey'". The Philippine Star.
Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023. But don't blame us, especially this writer who is very proud to be called "The Man Who Gave Eat, Bulaga! Its Name." I used Student Canteen as my model when I was thinking of a title for our new noontime show running against them in 1979. Obviously, I did not follow the word "Student" — baka sabihin gaya-gaya. Para hindi halata, I concentrated on their second word — "Canteen." And what do you do in a canteen? Of course, EAT! And that became my appetizer to help me through until I came up with a delicious title — Eat, Bulaga!
^
abcFrancisco, Butch (2011). Eat Bulaga: Ang Unang Tatlong Dekada. TAPE, Inc.
ISBN9789719528302.
^Policarpio, Allan; San Diego, Bayani Jr.; Cruz, Marinel (February 2, 2013).
"Noontime TV landscape: The battle heats up". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.
Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
^
abFrancisco, Butch (December 8, 2001).
"Noontime shows through the years". Philstar Entertainment. Philstar.
Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
^Francisco, Butch (December 17, 2005).
"Eat, Bulaga!'s road to victory". Philstar Entertainment. Philstar.
Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
^Francisco, Butch (December 24, 2005).
"More Asian Television Awards". Philstar Entertainment. Philstar.
Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
^Cruz, Marinel R. (June 14, 2011).
"No bad blood between these SexBombs". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
^Salterio, Leah C. (April 21, 2014).
"EB Dabarkads show dramatic chops". Philstar Entertainment. Philstar.
Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
^Clarin, Tess (July 21, 2009).
"NOONTIME TV SHOWS". Film Academy of the Philippines. Archived from
the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2018.