THE ratings game in prime-time TV has always been colored with too much mudslinging and not so long ago, with GMA’s No. 1 fantasy soap opera Dyesebel battling ABS-CBN’s Lobo, the battle was taken to the sea.

It was earlier reported that with regard to audience share, Lobo could only muster 18 percent to 20 percent, while Dyesebel consistently stayed on top with 40 percent. The recent move of the Kapamilya Network to counter the Kapuso Network’s ratings steamroller is the rerun of a Claudine Barretto-starrer telefantasya titled Marina, which, like Dyesebel, is about a mermaid’s love affair with a human being.

It will be recalled that when Marina had its initial run many years ago, GMA’s creative team did a more creative counterpart, Marinara. It was a comedy, obviously a spoof, about a sexy mermaid with an IQ of a fish, with busty Ruffa Mae Quinto in the title role.

Now with Dyesebel facing Marina, the stinking off-camera battle gathering fury like a supertyphoon from the Pacific has gone, well, more fishy. Allegedly, Marian Rivera, the star of Dyesebel, casually remarked that Marina is already “bilasa [rotten fish].”

The Kapamilya Network reportedly felt bad about it and that they were nabastos. In an interview for the Philippine Entertainment Portal, Rivera clarified that she didn’t say anything of the sort.

“Ang sinabi ko, sariwang-sariwa si Dyesebel. Kung mayroong mga taong minasama ang comment ko na ’yun, problema na nila ’yun [What I said was Dyesebel is very fresh. If some people thought otherwise about my comment, that’s their problem],” Rivera said.

She added that it’s not her nature to be bastos to other people, underscoring that she didn’t mention any show or network. “What I am concerned about is my own show,” she maintained.

Then again, if we think about it, a fish that has been preserved for a long time can never be bilasa, having already been dried, smoked or canned. For emphasis, Rivera could have said, “At least Dyesebel is not yet sardines can-material.”

Anyhow, the beautiful mermaid also explained that despite her current massive fame, her head hasn’t ballooned to the point that she’d be up to do a Pinoy version of Coneheads next. “I haven’t changed. I’m easily misinterpreted because I’m always outspoken about the issues that involve me. I’m just defending myself. I’m not mayabang,” declared the sultry womanfish.

The stones being thrown at her—or better yet, in line with modern-day fishing methods—the dynamites being thrown to the sea where she swims, are just normal. The celebrity site also reported that this coming July, Rivera will be featured in not only one but three new trimedia endorsements. Millions of pesos keep pouring into the Rivera household.

She added that she’s happy now with regard to the tapings for Dyesebel. She now doesn’t have to wear any heavy rubber—the fake fish tail, that is, not what you guys with fertile minds think—and she doesn’t need to swim and be underwater most of the time.

Dyesebel, her character, is now given two human feet. The glitch is that she’s got an ugly face.

Another good news regarding Rivera is her pairing with Dingdong Dantes (who plays Dyesebel’s lover) in a yet-to-be-titled movie for GMA Films. There was also an earlier report about her future pairing with Piolo Pascual, to be produced by Regal Films. She also mentioned a rumored pairing with controversial comebacking actor Gabby Concepcion.

But on Sunday, she told reporters in an interview on national TV that she has always dreamed of being paired with Aga Muhlach. We all know that all this is very much possible, given the millions in profit that any producer stands to amass.  Mother Lily? Star Cinema? GMA Films? FLT Films? 

When it rains…well, the fishes, and our favorite mermaid, will rejoice. 

Meanwhile, from fish to peace

LAST week has been very peaceful for most showbiz top players. The allegedly gay heartthrobs Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby dropped the lawsuit they filed against TV host-columnist-talent manager Lolit Solis.

In return, Lolit retracted what she wrote in her column that she saw the allegedly gay showbiz couple sharing a romantic moment at the poolside restaurant of a seaside hotel in Manila. Or was it Pasay?

Piolo said something like, “She is the same age as my mother. I don’t want to see any woman her age in jail.” Now, isn’t that very Christian? No wonder, he remains one of the most sought-after leading actors and product endorsers today.

Meanwhile, there is Lolit’s former alaga, Gabby Concepcion. As of this writing, the former matinee idol still faces a string of legal cases that date back to the decade when he was still a heartthrob, from alleged bigamy to falsification of public documents to the recent one filed by columnist-TV host Jobert Sucaldito.

Even his estranged wife, Sharon Cuneta, doesn’t want to do a movie with him. She also has the last say if their daughter, KC, will have one with him.

At least not for now.

Strange how it may sound, all that Gabby could have done to remedy these headaches or at least minimize the negative things coming his way is personally say sorry to the people he may have hurt in the past. Not in the studio of a nationally televised show but in a fashion that is far more sincere. 

So, Gabby, do a Piolo Pascual.

Be man enough to seek forgiveness—which, of course, is no guarantee that anybody will forget.

The Sun shines on Aga

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The View: Beat goes on

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Show &Tell: Fish tales

THE ratings game in prime-time TV has always been colored with too much mudslinging and not so long ago, with GMA’s No. 1 fantasy soap opera Dyesebel battling ABS-CBN’s Lobo, the battle was taken to the sea.

Opening Spaces: Tony Twigg’s ‘Standing Sticks’

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Reaching out through the lens

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Fil-Am actress Liza Lapira in U.S. no. 1 hit

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