The main hosts of the longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga have officially bid goodbye to TV production company Television and Production Exponent (TAPE), Inc.
In the Wednesday episode of Eat Bulaga, which aired on YouTube and Facebook but not on GMA ‘s free TV channel, the iconic trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (a.k.a. TVJ) gathered to announce that they were parting ways with the blocktimer-producer.
Joey and Tito expressed gratitude to their avid viewers, Dabarkads, and broadcast networks which aired their program for the last 43 years.
“July 30,1979 po ng simulan namin ang Eat Bulaga… 44 years na po ito ngayong taon. Kaya naman lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa mga naging tahanan namin — ang RPN for 9 years, ABS-CBN for 6 years, at ang GMA for 28 years.”
Vic also aired his thanks and proceeded to announce that they would no longer be working with TAPE, Inc.
“Simula ngayong araw, May 31, 2023, kami po ay magpapaalam na sa TAPE, Inc. Karangalan po namin na kami’y nakapaghatid ng tuwa’t saya mula Batanes hanggang Jolo, at naging bahagi ng buhay ninyo. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat,” said Vic.
“Saan man kami dalhin ng tadhana, tuloy ang ng isang libo’t isang tuwa,” said Vic fighting back his tears and raising his fist before their into a group hug with their Eat Bulaga co-hosts.
“Salamat po,” Joey added.
Minutes before the announcement, the show was airing a replay and not a live telecast for its Wednesday episode.
“Pumasok po kami lahat ngayong araw para makapagtrabaho pero hindi po kami pinayagang umere ng new management,” explained Tito.
The announcement of their departure from TAPE, Inc. came more than a month since Tito spoke up about the controversies surrounding the noontime show.
Showbiz watchers await the next move of Eat Bulaga as questions remain: Will the show air in another network? And if so, will they be allowed to use the program title?
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