The ever-popular tandem of Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda returns via ‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight’ on ABS-CBN.
Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino always seem to be inseparable. Beginning with ‘Startalk’ in the mid-90s, the duo found its way to other programs; namely ‘The Buzz’, ‘Boy & Kris’, and ‘SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon’. And this Monday, Boy and Kris will return to primetime television via ‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight’.
The new program will be similar to ‘SNN’, except that it is condensed into a 15-minute program featuring fast-paced news from the social, political and showbiz perspective. It will also feature a guest interview featuring some of the most controversial personalities today, along with a social media interaction segment.
In essence, ‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight’ will be the replacement to Boy’s previous segment on ‘Bandila’ called ‘Ikaw Na’. While the segment itself was popular (resulting to a parody on ‘Banana Nite’ starring Jayson Gainza), the viewers’ requests for an earlier timeslot became a huge factor in moving Boy out of ‘Bandila’ and into his own show with Kris. It is also said that the renewal of Kris’ contract with ABS-CBN also played a huge role in reuniting the showbiz duo.
ABS-CBN also decided to avoid placing the program before ‘Bandila’ in order to avoid the same fate that befell ‘SNN’. During ‘SNN”s two-year run, its ratings suffered due to competition with other entertainment programs, as well as the eventual departure of Kris Aquino during her brother Noynoy’s presidential campaign. The harsh lesson of ‘SNN’ led to the new program’s assignment within Primetime Bida in an effort to maintain a sizable audience from its preceding teleseryes. As a result, ‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight’ will be seen after ‘The Legal Wife’ and before ‘The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Doubles’.
‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight’ is expected to be another coup created by the ABS-CBN management. But with the demise of ‘SNN’ still fresh in viewers’ minds, it remains to be seen whether or not the reunited duo will erase the stigma that doomed ‘SNN’. Anything less than high ratings will be a failure for the program and the Kapamilya network.
From the Tube 