The Real Challenge of TV Masterpieces like Ilustrado

True, the network through GMA News & Public Affairs has indeed proven that primetime viewing can have a high standard and international quality, but they have yet to work hard on one thing-- making the excellent and brilliant work phenomenal.

All these to say that Ilustrado is a masterpiece but only a few of the millions of Filipino televiewers are appreciating this craft.

That's the real challenge of GMA Network now, making brilliant have the mass appeal. Making a great masterpiece be available for everyone to appreciate. That and the fact that they have to address the reality of a great wall that sets the network war.

So while they are working hard on elevating the quality of soap operas they are showing, they should also work on how to get viewers both Kapamilya and Kapuso look beyond network war and start having a lens of excellence. That they will start watching shows not just because of network loyalty but because they know good shows need viewership so that they will last long enough to provoke similar shows to be birthed.

3 Expectations from Bayaniserye Ilustrado

Tonight, expect GMA Network to make history. And expect the fans of other networks to deny that. But expect Ilustrado to impress the viewing public in a way they never have been.

Those are three expectations from GMA Telebabad's bayaniserye Ilustrado.

1. GMA Network will make history.
With its initiative to make it a simultaneous world premiere in nations with GMA cable channel, Ilustrado is sure to make history.

For tackling major parts of our national hero's life, it's sure to make a huge wave internationally.

2. Most fans of rival networks will find loopholes.
Sure they will. What do you expect? Do we need to explain that?

3. Ilustrado will definitely impress the viewing public.
Well at least the thinking viewing public.

Expect that. After the success of Katipunan, Bayan Ko and Titser, expect this one to be a masterpiece after GMA News & Public Affairs department of the network has practiced with the first three docuseries.

Just why is The Outsider excited for this show? It's by GMA News & Public Affairs. They have been more consistent in delivering good shows. GMA Drama department should learn from them.

The Dwindling Tale of ABS-CBN's Late Primetime Slot

ABS-CBN's late primetime slot for soap operas has gotten uninteresting to viewers if we base it on both ratings and trending topics. With the demise of The Legal Wife, it seems like a lot of Kapamilya viewers have chosen to either sleep earlier or watch an alternative cable channel.

But like any tale, the death of one thing gives life to another. So then came Sana Bukas Pa Ang Kahapon. It started decent. But not enough to topple  the then phenomenal Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real. But despite the talked about primetime soap of Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, SBPAK was still able to get its own following granted Bea Alonzo's obvious fame. When it reached its middle part, the Primetime Bida soap took its momentum. But just like any tale, an ending always comes.

Just when SBPAK started to rule the trending world, ABS-CBN decides to end it. Yes, to us, it was a premature ending when people started to get hooked, when people found something to love late night, the endless search of who killed Rose and the short yet sweet antagonistic exposure for Maricar Reyes.

So it ended. We wanted more. Bea Alonzo deserved something better than that. The last few weeks of SBPAK seemed rushed that scenes didn't have a gluing effect. The show then banked on revelations one after the other. But scene-wise, nothing was brilliant anymore.

Sana bukas pa ang ending. But it didn't happen. So the Two Wives came along...

And then. Just Two Wives.

Two weeks after, there still isn't any sign of progress. It's not worthy of phenomenon. It actually seems like it's the English translation of the soap that starred the unlikely triangle Lovi Poe, Dingdong Dantes, and Maricel Soriano.

Tonight, Two Wives will be confronted with two big shows-- Ilustrado & Koreanovela Empress Ki. 

Which show will end sooner than the other? This will be interesting. Really interesting.

Docu-Drama Ilustrado airs on GMA Telebabad

As GMA News TV released its lineup of upcoming shows this year, Ilustrado is one of the most promising. 

Following the success of Katipunan and Titser which aired weekly on GMA News TV, the network is again releasing another docu-drama which is not just slated to be a weekly show but daily. Yes, you have read it right! And it's not going to be on GMA Network's news channel. It's going to be on GMA 7 itself. Take note: primetime!

What's in it for the viewers?
For Kapuso viewers, this means that their nightly viewing habit will have some transformation. It's a fact that GMA News & Public Affairs department has proven that they can produce better quality in terms of executing a drama show. And now that GMA Drama has been dwindling in terms of ratings, it may have been an executive decision to provide a rescue team in the guise of GMA News & Public Affairs.

This will also pose a good competition to the Entertainment Department (GMA Drama) of the network which hopefully will up their game. Like it or not, the ratings of GMA Telebabad these days are down and walking (otherwise up and running).

To give you a better idea of what Ilustrado will be about, here's an excerpt of their official update.

Following on the heels of the successful "Katipunan" series, GMA News TV presents another period drama in 2014—"Ilustrado." The series takes viewers through Jose Rizal’s travels in Europe, including Rizal’s many romances, his rivalry with Filipinos abroad, his poverty and homesickness and his passion to write about his homeland.  -GMANetwork.com

There's no update yet as to who's playing Jose Rizal but fans are requesting to give the role to Dennis Trillo.

From PinoyExchange.com, an update was posted as well showing the involved parties brainstorming for the docu-drama soon to hit GMA Telebabad this 2014.

Watch out for updates of this promising historical docu-drama here on The Showbiz Outsider.