The popular ‘Ihaw Na’ skit featuring Jayson Gainza in a parody of Boy Abunda did not air as ‘Banana Nite’ was ‘replaced’ by ‘O Shopping’.
It was around 11:15 p.m., and ABS-CBN was about to wrap up their late night newscast ‘Bandila’. I was expecting to see ‘Banana Nite’ go on-air. But instead something else happened on the Kapamilya network.
Last night the spinoff to the popular gag show ‘Banana Split’ did not air as expected, and was replaced by the ‘O Shopping’ infomercials. ABS-CBN did not specify the reason as to why ‘Banana Nite’ was replaced by ‘O Shopping’ in its timeslot.
The reported absence of ‘Banana Nite’ coincided with rival GMA welcoming the late night talk show ‘The Medyo Late Night Show with Jojo A.’ to its fold. Jojo Alejar’s show runs back-to-back with ‘The Tim Yap Show’ every late night, though because of GMA’s public affairs programs, they were not able to air opposite the timeslot that ‘Banana Nite’ typically occupies. In addition, its absence also came at a not-so opportune time; female cast members Sunshine Garcia, Aiko Climaco and Jef Gaitan were featured in FHM Philippines’ January 2014 issue.
Apparently, despite rave reviews on the skit ‘Ihaw Na’ starring Jayson Gainza in a parody of ‘Bandila’ anchor Boy Abunda, ‘Banana Nite’ has not been faring well in the ratings, although it has nothing to do with its timeslot. Let’s face it, ABS-CBN did a great job moving their current affairs programs (now ‘Pinoy True Stories’) to the late afternoon slot. And while GMA’s public affairs programs have been beating ‘Banana Nite’ in its timeslot, when compared to ‘Pinoy True Stories’, the numbers favor the latter.
‘Banana Nite’ was a wonderful experiment for ABS-CBN with regards to late night entertainment. Unfortunately, its unscheduled absence remains a mystery.
From the Tube 
Actually, mga 2-3 weeks na walang Banana Nite tuwing Monday. 🙂
How come? My first thought was ‘wala na yung Banana Nite’, that’s why I wrote this piece out of curiosity. But I’ll go find that out later tonight if they definitely pulled the plug. We should also consult Mr. James Ty III on why Banana Nite did not air last night.
As of my observations, meron naman Banana Nite pero every Tuesday to Friday.
Yep meron ngang Banana Nite kahapon. Still it is a mystery as to why they no longer air on Mondays.
Even on Sundays, maaga rin ang programming ng ABS-CBN. Home Sweetie Home comes in at 7 pm, Rated K at 8, Gandang Gabi Vice at 9, Sunday’s Best at 10 and O Shopping at 11:45.
If you still remember, Banana Nite was from Mondays to Thursdays then Martin Nievera’s defunct show Martin Late @ Nite was aired on Fridays.
And then after Martin’s show was cancelled, Monday-Friday na yung Banana Nite, until the past few weeks where O Shopping was aired at an earlier time.
O Shopping is aired at an earlier time because at this time of the year when it is just starting, there are few commercials on primetime owing to the stations just starting to come up with their advertising budgets for the new year.
Ok.
BREAKING NEWS: Ken Ti of ABS-CBN Sports has announced that starting this Sunday, Ch 2 will air NBA games versus the Tagalized movies of GMA on Kapuso Movie Festival. Not sure on what will happen to the FPJ movies
A welcome development.
Banana Nite has already back into a 30-minute program; tinanggal lang nila ang mga “throwback” segments nito. 🙂
Napansin ko na rin na hindi na gumagawa ng new episodes ang Banana Nite mula noong tinangkang magpakamatay noon ang isa sa mga cast members. Puro reruns na lang.
Sayang naman. Aside from mid-mornings and mid-afternoons, late nights rin ang mahina sa ABS tuwing weekdays. Yung revival ng Martin Late @ Night nga, cancelled kaagad last year.
GMA would have taken advantage of this situation. Kaso, ang Medyo Late Night hindi naman all-year round, kundi on a four or five month run per season lang, unlike kila Colbert, Fallon at Kimmel sa U.S. na halos walang seasonal break.
Walang ads on TV at this time when the year ends kaya ABS is airing reruns of Banana Nite. Those reruns are aired only from Tuesdays to Fridays because Mondays is reserved for Mukha, which is produced by ABS-CBN News.
They can proceed to O Shopping anytime they want.
Speaking of Banana Split, more changes in store for the 6-year old gag show, according to Pep:
Simula November 15, Banana Sundae na ang title ng Banana Split at mapapanood na ito pagkatapos ng ASAP 20. Nagbalik naman si Pokwang sa show at bago namang member ng cast si Jessy Mendiola.
(They will compete now against the last 45 minutes of Wowowin and first minutes of KMB, good luck to them.)
Looks like the newly-revamped Banana Sundae is their answer to Sunday PinaSaya. Very interesting.
Bubble Gang appears to have a new rival in the gag show genre now that Banana Split is moving to Sunday afternoons. Mukhang Goin’ Bulilit na ang kalaban ng Bubble Gang kahit magkaibang araw sila.