Not just one, but three Kapamilya primetime shows are set to end in a few weeks’ time.
Within the next four weeks, all but Darna will leave the primetime block of ABS-CBN. These are Netflix consistent chart topper ‘2 Good 2 Be True‘ starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, ‘A Family Affair‘ which stars Ivana Alawi in her first role as a leading lady, and Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte’s supernatural romance drama ‘Love in 40 Days‘.
2G2BT is expected to end on November 11 with its 130th episode. Meanwhile, A Family Affair will have its ‘The End is Red‘ finale on November 4. Love in 40 Days’ last episode will go out on October 28.
Despite this development, there have been no announcements yet as to what shows will replace the abovementioned programs — quite alarming, considering that we are talking about three slots on the primetime block.
Before everything else, let’s take a look first at the 10:00pm slot. Right before Love in 40 Days premiered, ABS-CBN aired plugs of the series for at least three weeks. That is, despite the fully-loaded schedule of the block prior to the ‘last 2 weeks’ announcement of the previous occupant, the dubbed version of ‘Meow: The Secret Boy’.
As for A Family Affair, its full trailer came out more than a month before it launched on June 27 and more than a week before ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’, which then had already been slotted at 9:20pm, announced its finale last June 24.
Finally, the second slot’s 2 Good 2 Be True had already begun airing plugs as early as February. It premiered three months later — on Netflix last May 13 and on linear TV three days later.
Now, what do all of those stuff even mean or relate to? Considering the track record of ABS-CBN in promoting their upcoming shows this year, the current climate where there is virtually nothing to expect (yet) is rather appalling. So, where will and can Primetime Bida actually go from here?
Are there any upcoming shows in the horizon?
A straightforward answer: for the forseeable future… nada.
Currently, there are only 2 dramas greenlit — Iron Heart with Richard Gutierrez, Maja Salvador, and Sue Ramirez, and Dirty Linen with Zanjoe Marudo and Janine Gutierrez, among others. But the twist is, neither of them will see the light of day until 2023. A JRB Production program with JC De Vera, Jane Oineza, Ria Atayde, and Tony Labrusca is also in the works, with no confirmed title and premiere date set yet.
Meanwhile, in the non-narrative side, there are also no updates yet as for their upcoming program offerings.
Now, what?
Dunno. (Just kidding.)
Jokes aside, if there is anything else ABS-CBN can do at the moment is to surpise viewers (should they have begun production of a program that will actually replace any one of those.)
But with the rate things are going, it seems to be that ABS is more focused on preparing for the next year, and will be placing less importance on slotting fresh originals on primetime, at least only through the end of 2022.
If that is indeed going to be the way forward, then Primetime Bida could serve as a vehicle for quality shows that have been aired in the past, but were hindered by limited reach, may it be as a result of its placement elsewhere in the schedule (especially those that did not receive a TV5 simulcast treatment) or other factors.
Some of these shows include the international co-production Almost Paradise, the TV adaptation of He’s Into Her, the 2021 Thai Remake of Boys Over Flowers, and even the recently-concluded Philippine adaptation of Flower of Evil. iWantTFC originals can also be put to at least one of those slots to expose those to a much wider audience.
Should that be the case, here’s how Primetime Bida could look like until the end of the year to still keep its programming decent at best.
- 8:00pm – Mars Ravelo’s Darna
- 8:40pm – Flower of Evil (Philippine adaptation) or HIH S1 to 2
- 9:20pm – Almost Paradise or He’s Into Her (Season 1 to 2) or Flower of Evil (Philippine adaptation)
- 10:00pm – F4 Thailand or Almost Paradise
Is that enough?
As a stopgap measure, yes. After all, a movie block smacked in the middle of primetime will be the next option to a block filled with replays.
But mind you, despite the suggested shows being ‘mere repeats’, exposing these shows to a wider (or even new) audience will do them justice. It could also be called a redemption of sorts, especially with how most of these are well-crafted, but just didn’t receive high viewership on the mainstream scene due to already said factors.
So, what’s really next for Primetime Bida? One could only hope for good news to come (a.k.a. fresh originals) in the next few weeks.
Trendrod Box 