Eat Bulaga! Returns With New Hosts and the Internet Has a Lot to Say

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that countless Filipinos grew up watching Eat Bulaga! Hailed as the longest-running noontime variety show on television, many were shocked after the show didn’t go live last May 31. This was shortly followed by the resignation of its hosts from TAPE Inc., the production house behind Eat Bulaga. 

Despite the drama, a new set of Eat Bulaga hosts just made their debut. The new lineup consists of various artists from different walks of life, but who are they?

Buboy Villar

Villar isn’t new to the showbiz limelight. He won two Best Child Performer award trophies at the Metro Manila Film Festival for Shake, Rattle & Roll X, and Ang Panday respectively. Villar was also part of the 2009 TV adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s Darna alongside Marian Rivera as her iconic sidekick, Ding. The actor-comedian is currently part of GMA’s shows such as All Out Sundays and The Boobay and Tekla Show.

Betong Sumaya

Sumaya started as a production assistant in GMA before he dipped his toes in the entertainment scene. He appeared in Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Doubles Showdown, where he emerged as the grand winner. But perhaps people most remember him for his hilarious antics and wit as Antonietta and Mamaw in the sketch comedy show Bubble Gang.

Mavy Legaspi and Cassy Legazpi

Also known as the Legaspi twins, Mavy and Cassy are the children of celebrity couple Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi. The siblings are under Sparkle GMA Artist Center and individually took acting roles in series such as I Left My Heart In Sorsogon and First Yaya.

Alexa Miro

If you still remember the Jollibee Valentine’s Day series commercial titled “Signs” in 2018, then Miro may be familiar to you. Since her viral Jollibee commercial, the actress became part of various acting projects like A Girl + A Guy, directed by Erik Matti. Miro was also one of the hosts of the now-concluded noontime show Tropang LOL with Alex Gonzaga, Billy Crawford, and Bayani Agbayani, among others.

Paolo Contis

Contis has been in the showbiz industry for over a decade, dabbling in various roles and genres. Most people remember him for his roles in Tabing Ilog, Through Night and Day, and A Faraway Land with his current girlfriend, Yen Santos.

Netizens share their reactions to the new hosts

For a show like Eat Bulaga!, with so many iconic moments and led by the trio of Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Vic Sotto (also known as TVJ) for decades — it’s not surprising why most netizens were unimpressed by the lineup change.

“Create a new noontime show na lang TAPE, Inc. and GMA,” one netizen wrote. “It feels weird to be seeing this on TV and not TVJ, JOWAPAO, Ryzza, Maine, and the Dabarkads.”

Others pointed out that the new Eat Bulaga! is “awkward to watch”, and TAPE Inc. should’ve just changed the show’s name and logo.

However, some also feel sorry for the new hosts of Eat Bulaga!, especially now that there’s an ongoing debacle between its former hosts and TAPE, Inc.

What can you say about the new hosts of Eat Bulaga?