Little Big Shots: A Kids’ Version of Pilipinas Got Talent

How about giving the kids a shot?

That is exactly what ABS-CBN will do starting this weekend when they premiere its newest franchise program. Enter ‘Little Big Shots’, the Kapamilya network’s up-and-coming reality talent show.

The ‘Little Big Shots’ franchise was created by Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Harvey and has since been adapted in 20 countries. The program is essentially a kid’s version of the ‘Got Talent’ franchise in which kids of various talents converge to show their abilities in front of a national audience.

The Philippine version will be hosted by Billy Crawford, with comedian Eric Nicolas hosting the online show. For Billy, ‘Little Big Shots’ is a relatively new experience for him. According to him,

“It’s my first time to host a talent show where I am the only person from showbiz, because I usually work with people who are already big shots. But here, you’d be surprised by how the kids carry the show, and I’m here to let their personalities shine. All I can say is the kids featured on the show are very exceptional and they really deserve to be called little big shots”.

“I grew up performing, and I know how rewarding it is to entertain people. But in ‘Little Big Shots, you wouldn’t expect what the kids can do, their wit, and they are all very charming”.

Kids aged two to twelve will be front and center on ‘Little Big Shots’. Each of these kids has some innate skill and ability waiting to be unleashed, not to mention their big personalities that will endear with the national audience.

Fresh off a successful season of ‘The Voice Teens’, the big question surrounding ‘Little Big Shots’ is whether or not they can follow up its predecessor’s popularity. Then again, considering ABS-CBN’s rich history of adapting successful franchised programs, putting ‘Little Big Shots’ on the map should not be a problem.

Expect plenty of thrills from these kids as they put their talents to the test on ‘Little Big Shots’. After all, viewers of all ages can’t help but be excited with the kids’ hidden abilities and personalities.

‘Little Big Shots’ airs every Saturday after ‘Home Sweetie Home’ and Sunday after ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ on ABS-CBN.

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Academy Awards Now Delayed Broadcast on Free TV

Unlike in previous years, the Oscars were not shown live on free Philippine TV. Instead it will be aired on a six-day delayed broadcast over ABS-CBN Channel 2 this Sunday.

When Studio 23 reformatted into ABS-CBN Sports + Action last January, it sacrificed a huge part of its programming. Among those purged by the new network were its broadcasts of the Academy Awards, which took place earlier today.

This year’s Academy Awards were shown live via the Lifestyle Network, which is not available on the popular P490 plan, and can only be accessed in other SkyCable subscriptions. Consequently, due to the reformat of Channel 23, it also forced ABS-CBN Channel 2 to air the Oscars, as it is commonly known, on a six-day delayed basis as part of ‘Sunday’s Best’.

Airing the Oscars live on free TV Channel 2 has had some serious consequences. First, it sacrifices its broadcast of highly-rated programs such as ‘The Singing Bee’ and ‘Be Careful with My Heart’. Second, the three-hour event would cause it to overlap with ‘It’s Showtime’. And finally, the Oscars were not as well known to lower-class Filipinos as ABS-CBN’s other weekday live events such as the Miss Universe pageant and the NBA Finals.

Having said that, it was unfortunate that this year’s Oscars never aired live on free TV, unlike before when it was possible for Studio 23 to air it. But thanks to the internet and cable TV, movie addicts were able to witness the antics of Ellen DeGeneres and the announcement of the winners. Still, it didn’t help that some movie fanatics without any access to these new technologies were unable to witness the Academy Awards earlier today.

 

Of Gays, Lesbians, and Homosexuality in Society

In an exclusive interview on ‘The Buzz’, Charice revealed that she was a lesbian. (Screenshot courtesy of ABS-CBN)

One of the most pressing issues in society today is homosexuality. Over the last few years strict regulations against gays and lesbians were being loosened, the most important aspect of which is to allow homosexual couples to marry. And recently lesbianism made headlines not only in the United States, but also in the Philippines.

In late April, NBA player Jason Collins announced via a Sports Illustrated article that he is gay, becoming the first active professional athlete to come out. But he was not the first athlete to come out. The likes of John Amaechi have also come out, albeit after retirement. Weeks after Collins’ statement, soccer player Robbie Rogers, who had come out several months earlier, joined Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, after which he became the first openly gay player to play in the professional level.

In entertainment, the most notable lesbian personality today is Ellen DeGeneres, who came out on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997. Other notable gay entertainers were Elton John, Ricky Martin, Drew Barrymore and Anderson Cooper. More recently Tammy Baldwin won a seat in the Senate, becoming the first openly gay elected senator, while erstwhile congressman Barry Frank married boyfriend Jim Ready, becoming the first sitting politician to marry a person of the same gender.

Yesterday Filipino viewers were treated to a long-awaited revelation by Charice. The one-time Ellen guest made her feelings known through this phrase: ‘Tomboy po ako!!’ (I’m a lesbian). In the months leading up to the announcement Charice showed up with a shorter hairstyle, tattoos and a manly appearance. She was even reported to have an affair with a female contestant on the X-Factor Philippines. Charice’s coming out statement was supported by many netizens through various social accounts.

Now that more and more people, celebrities included, are coming out at a high rate, is it now time to loosen the barrier between heterosexuality and homosexuality? I believe the time is now. There is nothing to fear about a person’s feelings or thoughts with regards to their sexuality. If their decision to come out is the safest and the best thing to do, so be it. No longer will the gay person be tolerated, he must enjoy equal rights that heterosexuals enjoy. Social acceptance of gays and lesbian need to be expanded.

In short, because of overwhelming support and sympathy received by these celebrities who come out, the best thing that people do is to welcome homosexuals as ‘one of them’. Their rights and habits need to be respected and admired, and they should feel safe with the rest.