Plus Points for today's Sunday All Stars episode

A week before all Sunday variety shows go off air in lieu of PacMan fight, Sunday All Stars gave it a good fight today. So while we maintain our side that GMA Network should make their Sunday variety show a primetime one, we also think that efforts to improve it have been evident. Let's enumerate them.

*Blending opening number featuring the songs of Manny Pacquiao was a good one. It made the 'masa' songs sound classy. Thanks to Asia's Songbird who headed the bandwagon of singers. The people behind SAS have realized that the Glee-ish production numbers (vocal mixing) work for them. Plus their singers have been good in blending and harmony.

*Let the Love Begin launch was surprisingly major. Unlike previous soap opera launches, this one was not too corny and just fit for a launch. We were surprised with Ruru Madrid. He can sing with Gabbi Garcia who obviously has talent in that department.

*Hands down to the LipSync Battle Showdown. Man that was funny, entertaining and (importantly) excellent. GMA Network should invest on a SAS National Tour and feature production numbers such as this one with the same artists from this episode. It's first and unique from SAS so they won't be labeled as copycats of the already institution ASAP.

*Rita Daniela's album launch was also excellent. Make her a BIG star please. Give her movies.

*Regine Velasquez-Alcasid did an awesome job with that back-to-back production number. Happy birthday! We loved the part when Lovi, Regine, & Jaya were joking around each other. Made viewers feel like they're a happy family.

*SAS Prime was a triple treat today unlile other Sundays that it didn't feel like such. Alden Richards should consistently dance like that. Other days he dances like he's in Bubble Gang not in a variety show.

*Julian Trono. This teenage boy has something great to offer to the industry. Push his career further because people deserve to see his sing&dance combo talent.

*Lights were good today. Song choices were fierce today.

So now the question is: are they ready to move to a 12noon slot?

Our take: LET THEM STAY AT THIS (2PM) TIMESLOT FOREVER. That way the ones watching ASAP can tune in to SAS after. Adds up more viewers right?

It's really not about being number two at all. It's now about getting more viewers because as they improve more, more people deserve to watch excellent production numbers.

Sunday All Stars Slowly Recovers

It may be safe to assume that the episode when Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez Alcasid sang Oceans of Hillsong was the start of something new for the dying Sunday noontime show of GMA Network Sunday All Stars. When that episode aired, a lot of Kapuso viewers thought it was about time the people behind the variety show move up a notch and provide a real show. Few weeks after, the viewers finally get one— SuperSASummer episode was a signal that there is still hope for Sunday All Stars.

Thanks to the 65th year anniversary of the network, the bosses have decided to bring back their more of their real stars to the show.

What were obvious improvements last Sunday?

*Dance numbers were well rehearsed and choreographies were more defined and stylized. Take the prod of Lovi Poe. Although it was lipsync which she did quite well also, the prod was not boring because she had good dance choreography.

*That song production which featured most if not all of their singers doing a Pitch Perfect kind of prod was excellent. It raised the bar. Not much noise from unnecessary instruments. Just pure great voices and a little accompaniment. It was great! The combo of young singers and veteran performers was astounding.

*SAS Prime segment should be of prime value. As they have made the stage a prestigious spot to be on, they should keep its value by making sure only the best performances and well-thought prods are featured. The first hoorrah with Mark Herras, Lovi Poe and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid was a real hoorrah!

*Paborito was placed in the latter part which should be the case weekly because it's borderline cute and baduy.

*Hosts said the acronym as S.A.S. and not SAS which was classy. When we heard that we knew the production staff was up  to something good. Repackaging. Branding. Good one!

Just one concern though. Do they really have to have artists strip off clothes in almost all of the production numbers?

To Sunday All Stars, it seems like you have figured out the fault in  your stars and started addressing them since last month. You keep it up and who knows you might as well give a good fight against an institution--ASAP. Still, we stick to out proposal that Sunday All Stars be made into primetime.

Read related article: Why GMA Neteork should forget about Sunday Noontime Show

3 Reasons Why Your Face Sounds Familiar Sounds Good

ABS-CBN has to fill in the weekend timeslot The Voice of the Philippines just vacated. While they're still auditioning for PBB Teens, they figured a comic relief is needed so as to compete with the top-rating weekend combo of GMA Network-- Celebrity Bluff and Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho. As a response, they bring Your Face Sounds Familiar.

So after the weekend competition-spirit they brought through TVOP, Kapamilya network shifts mode and brings a lighter one through this Endemol-franchise reality show. And here's why it sounds good in three ways:

1. It's an international franchise.
Even when soundalike and lookalike concepts are not new on Philippine TV, the fact that it's an international franchise brings a new twist to the already common contest idea. Because it's from Endemol, we're sure that it has exciting mechanics and high standards.

Meaning, it won't be just another comedy-borderline-corny segment. It will be a funny concept done seriously because there will be three American-Idolish judges who will give their comments namely Gary V, Jed Madela and the returning Megastar Sharon Cuneta.

2. ABS-CBN has been improving with handling international franchises.
We like Deal or No Deal lately simply because they have elevated their standards stage-wise and direction-wise. The show has become more exciting to watch. TVOP has also improved in season 2 production-wise except the part that they added Luis Manzano to be one of the hosts. Don't mention PBB please because it's really an absurd show to begin with.

Anyway, ABS-CBN has become good in handling franchises still. So expect that this one will also be good.

3. Celebrities are the contenders.
Not only ordinary celebrities but mostly the ones from GMA Network's Sunday dying Sunday noontime slot. If you actually look at the promos at first you'll think they're promoting the forgettable Sunday All Stars.

This one will be exciting as they're not going to live in a house and expose the life we don't solicit to be exposed. But they're going to use real talent and creativity to win this.

Thank you ABS-CBN for this one. Now the weekend doesn't only have Celebrity Bluff and KMJS to lighten up our late primetime viewing. (Not mentioning the other trending late Sunday night show because we will in no way promote watching that one.)

Regine Velasquez-Alcasid sings Hillsong's Oceans

For the first time on Philippines' Sunday noontime TV history, a mainstream artist, Asia's Songbird at that, sang a song from Hillsong-- a Christian band famous among both Christian and Roman Catholic denominations. Yes, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid sang Hillsong's Oceans (Where Feet May Fail).

Watch it here

It was a good time to have that production number in Sunday All Stars in today's episode knowing that its unbeatable competitor ASAP celebrated its 20th anniversary today at the MOA Arena. We don't know how Ms. Regine got this song approved for their lineup but that segment was a big one-- special stage setup and a musical ensemble that was used only for that particular segment. The production made sure it was excellent. And there you have it, a production number full of passion, of sincerity, of worship.

It's not her first time to sing this song in a huge crowd. She actually sang it in one of the concerts she sang at last December 2014. You may check out that video at Youtube.

Why Oceans
People may have not realized that what she sang was a Christian song. Although Oceans is a Christian song, it still managed to enter Billboard's Hot 100 last year. It even managed to register at number 83.

http://www.billboard.com/artist/303524/hillsong-united/chart

If you actually check out Twitter, you'd be surprised that GMA Network's Sunday All Stars had more positive tweet feedback than negative ones this week. Thanks to this heartfelt rendition, it actually made a lot of Kapuso viewers appreciate the show for once. So maybe the Asia's Songbird should lobby similar production numbers more and more for the next episodes. And maybe just maybe, the almost dead Sunday noontime show of Kapuso network will have life once again.

If you were to suggest Regine a similar song of the same genre, what would you suggest to her? We have one. Since she attends Victory Christian Fellowship, she should start singing some of their local songs. Yes, her church happens to have a worship album entitled Radical Love. Maybe she can sing the famous single.

To Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, thank you for that wonderful production number this weekend!

Gabbi Garcia can be Kapuso's Next Big Star

When Gabbi Garcia got included in the cast of My Destiny, we were wondering why the network paired up a fresh face and name to very promising Ruru Madrid.

Watch her sing

All the more we wondered when the network gave her a lead role alongside Ruru in a 5-episode romantic comedy. So we began checking out.

Two weeks ago via Sunday All Stars, we stopped wondering. When she sang in her birthday production number, The Outsider thought: "Artist Center seems to know now what they are doing. Betting on the right cards."

So it seems clear. The network wanted to pair up Ruru Madrid with someone who can act, sing, and dance. Good move.

It appears to be a good move because the GabRu tandem is becoming popular in their own rights. In fact, the network is giving them a big break this 2015 via the TV remake of the then blockbuster hit Let the Love Begin which starred Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. Cheers to that!

So if the network plays this well, Gabbi Garcia will turn out to be an asset to the network. In fact, she could be the next big star for GMA Network if it pans out well. Again, it will depend on how Artist Center and the network push her career.

Let It Go Versions: Sarah Geronimo vs. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid

Whose version of Let It Go do you like better? Is it Sarah Geronimo's? Or Regine Velasquez-Alcasid's, Sarah G's mentor?

Will Sunday All Stars be another Failing Star?

A showdown between stars after stars after stars. That's the promise that the new Sunday noontime show of GMA Network gave. Will the network be able to grab a bigger viewership with this new format or will it be another failing star?

The Format
There will be four teams of Kapuso stars who battle it out on the stage every Sunday. Each team is headed by a celebrity captain. Here are the team captains.

All the teams will be judged by the four pillars of GMA Network league of singers, Jaya, Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez Alcasid.

The viewers have the chance to contribute in the decision as every Sunday they have the privilege of voting both online and thru text.

Each team was given their own schedule of rehearsals and even venues.

The goal is obvious, bring out stage excellence among every artist through healthy competition.

But will this formula work this time? Will this launch out the Kapuso stars to better stardom or will it be another show to bid farewell soon?

We will find out in their first episode happening right now.