Willie Revillame will be back on ABS CBN?

It seems Willie Revillame hasn’t closed the door on returning to ABS-CBN.

“Alam mo, sa totoo lang, kung babalik ako sa ABS-CBN, gusto ko pa rin ang ‘Wowowee’… ‘Wowowee’ pa rin,” Willie replied to ABS-CBN reporter Mario Dumaual when asked on the possibility of coming back to his home network for 12 years, as quoted by PEP at a recent album launch.

He said that his defunct noontime variety TV show “ang nagbigay sa akin ng lahat ng ito,” referring to his Wil Tower Mall, located right across ABS-CBN.

“During the time na nasa ABS-CBN ang ‘Wowowee,’ dun ko nabili ’tong tatlong lupa na ’to, sabay-sabay. For a span of one month, binili ko ’to, sabay-sabay. Binayaran ko ng cash…” Willie narrated.
The 52-year-old comedian-TV host was enjoying “Wowowee’s” steady five-year run, when on May 2010, he was involved in a controversy with then “The Buzz” segment host and showbiz writer Jobert Sucaldito, which led to Willie’s eventual resignation. He then transferred to TV5 on which he spawned variety shows “Willing Willie,” “Wil Time Bigtime,” and lastly “Wowowillie,” which aired its final episode Oct. 12 this year.

More important than his return, is that Willie seems to have already buried the hatchet.

“Ako naman, wala naman akong hinanakit eh. Kung nangyari man ‘yon, puwede naman akong magpakumbaba, humingi ng tawad kung sino ang nasaktan, kung sino man ’yan.”

He pointed out, that forgiveness, “lagi (naman ’yang) nasa puso natin eh.”

“Kung nagkamali ako, pasensiya na, ganun talaga. Masyado lang akong nagko-concentrate sa programang ’yan (‘Wowowee’), maliit na bagay, naaapektuhan ka. Eh sa akin, balewala na ’yan.”

Willie added, “Kung tatanggapin ako, okay. Kung hindi, ganun din naman eh.”

He just wants the program to be “parang ‘Wowowee’ pa rin. Opening, sumasayaw, kumakanta. Gusto ko nakikita ’yung mga nanay, lola… At nagbibigay ng papremyo, ng jacket, bigay ng cell phone, bigay ng pera – ’yun ang gusto ko.”

TV5 confirms dropping Willie Revillame's show

MANILA -- Executives of TV5 have confirmed an earlier announcement of TV host Willie Revillame that his noontime program will go off-air in October after a six-month run.

 

During a recent press conference announcing the network's line-up of new programs, TV5 President Noel Lorenzana and Chief Entertainment Content Officer Wilma Galvante were asked as to what's ahead for Revillame's "Wowowillie."

 

Lorenzana confirmed that the show is indeed ending next month, as quoted by entertainment news site Yahoo! OMG in a report published Thursday.

 

He added that the TV host's contract will no longer be renewed. "If Willie comes back, it will be under new circumstances, a new format, and that's a big if," Lorenzana said.

Various iterations of Revillame's variety programs, dating back to "Wowowee" as it aired on

 

ABS-CBN from 2005 to 2010, have been fraught with controversies.

The 2010 primetime program "Willing Willie," Revillame's first show on TV5, was accused of child abuse when a 6-year-old contestant was supposedly made to perform as a "macho dancer."

 

 

 

The controversy, which involved advertisers pulling out from the show, prompted Revillame to announce it would go on hiatus. A month later, it resumed as the reformatted "Wiltime Bigtime."

 

Yet another revamp as "Wowowillie" marked the program's transfer to a noontime slot in January this year. The show once again drew controversy, however, when Revillame went on an on-air tirade against co-host Ethel Booba for allegedly disrespecting him.

 

Dared by Revillame to resign from his show, Ethel Booba never returned as a co-host on "Wowowillie."

 

On the same program in May, Revillame announced his plans to retire, saying "Wowowillie" will air its last episode on October 12.

 

"Alam ninyo, may mga personal na rason na hindi ko na sasabihin sa inyo. Ako muna'y magpapahinga ng ilang buwan, ng isang taon o anuman...Tatapusin ko na lang po ang kontrata ko sa TV5," he said.

Willie: I will relax and enjoy life

MANILA, Philippines - After his TV5 noontime show Wowowillie folds up on Oct. 12, host-producer Willie Revillame (photo) said he will relax and simply “enjoy life” and take things easy.

“I’ve been working non-stop for nine years,” added Willie, “so I deserve it.”

But it won’t be all rest.

“I will go around the country and see how I can help my fans and other people who are in need,” said Willie. “It’s payback time.”

But before that, Willie will undergo an executive check-up to make sure that he’s hale and healthy.

“I will relax in my yacht.”

Asked what will happen to the Wowowillie studio (at the former Delta Theater) into which he sank more than P35M of his own money for major renovation, Willie said, “Hindi ko pa alam.”

 

And his co-hosts including Mariel Rodriguez and Grace Lee?

“It’s their call,” said Willie. “If they receive offers from other networks. It’s up to them to decide.”

One thing is sure, “Hindi ko pababayaan ang aking staff, numbering almost one hundred.”

Will he resurface, maybe, uhm, “somewhere else?”

“What did Gen. MacArthur say? ‘I shall return’,” Willie answered cryptically. “Ako naman, ang masasabi ko lang, ‘I will return!’”

Oops, Willie Revillame hints 'I Wil Return!'

While the fans and bashers alike have yet to count the remaining days of Willie Revillame on TV, the multi-millionaire host has just hinted he might just do a Douglas MacArthur when he feels like cutting his indefinite leave short five months from now.

Looks like Revillame will never lose the “Wil” brand he has milked over the years--from real estate properties (Wil Tower Mall and Wil Events Place) to production company (Wil Prod, Inc.) and endorsement (Wil Phone), and down to program titles (Willing Willie, Wil Time Bigtime and Wowowillie). The controversial TV host became playful with his name yet again and said “I Wil return!” when Philippine Star entertainment editor Ricky Lo asked what the host is up to next year.

'The daily grind is taking toll on me'

In a letter addressed to TV5 bigwigs Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and outgoing President Ray C. Espinosa, Revillame has decided not to renew his contract with the network when it expires on October 15—ending eight years of hosting a daily show, three hours a day, six days a week.

“I must express my deepest gratitude to you and Atty. Ray for the kind gesture of opening the door for me during the most trying moments in my career. For this, I shall forever be grateful. Your unwavering trust and support has kept me motivated in giving my best to provide happiness and hope to our people especially the poor, sick and elderly,” he said in the letter.

He also admitted that the daily grind of doing the show had finally taken toll on him—a reality his frequent absences on the show could attest. “I gave every ounce of energy I had every time I stepped on stage to fulfill my bounden duty to the network, the sponsors, and most of all, to our viewers.

“With a heavy heart, I shall take a much-needed break from show business at the end of my contract. This will allow me to think and ponder whether I should continue my showbiz career or devote my time to the business I have set up over the years,” he continued.

Revillame also conceded that he has brought the network through a lot of adversities and successes, and promised to treasure the network's solid support to him.

Willie Revillame to end contract with TV5

Television host Willie Revillame is reportedly not renewing his contract with the No. 3 network TV5 when it expires in October.

According to entertainment website Pep.ph, the TV host made the announcement during his noontime show “Wowowillie” on Tuesday.

“Alam ninyo, may mga personal na rason na hindi ko na sasabihin sa inyo. Ako muna’y magpapahinga ng ilang buwan, ng isang taon o anuman... Tatapusin ko na lang po ang kontrata ko sa TV5,” he said as quoted by the website.

“Ganyan talaga ang buhay. Kasi kailangan ko rin ng time. Malungkot lang ay hindi tayo magkikita araw-araw. Wala nang sigawan, walang umiiyak sa saya, walang nabibigyan ng pamasahe, walang nabibigyan ng ganito," he added.

With his contract set to expire on October 15, Revillame said: “Maybe October 12 will be the last show ng Wowowillie.”

Revillame said he made the declaration to finally put an end to speculations about his future plans. He also added he was the one who personally wrote a letter to TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

“Anyway, tingnan po natin, baka may pagkakataon ay magkita-kita pa rin tayo. Yun lang po para matapos na ang haka-haka. Ako ay sumulat na sa pamunuan ng TV5, ako po ay nagpaalam na—May 17. Actually po, sinagot na nila ako na I think tinatanggap nila 'yung aking pagpapaalam sa TV5.

Para wala nang news, basta po tatapusin ko ang kontrata ko hanggang October," he said.
The controversial host, however, hinted that he will possibly appear on another show in the future.

“Kapag may nagsara na bintana, may magbubukas na pintuan. Basta mag-e-enjoy pa rin tayo,” he said.

Last month, ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Charo Santos-Concio denied rumors that Revillame will return to the Kapamilya network.

"That's not true. We're not in talks with Willie Revillame. We're very happy with the ratings of '[It's] Showtime.' We're very happy with 'Showtime,'" she said in a press conference.

Willie Revillame's camp: P90 million contract is absurd

"P90 million? That's absurd, " Wowowillie business unit head Jay Montelibano said Friday when Yahoo! Philippines OMG! reached him for comment about a gossip blog entry on the alleged botched contract between TV5 and Willie Revillame.

According to local gossip blog Fashion Pulis, TV5 called it quits for Revillame and the network after the Wowowillie host demanded a P90 million contract despite the show's "terrible ratings." The meeting between the network bigwigs and Revillame allegedly happened on May 16.

Montelibano laughed off the scenario and vouched that no meeting took place since he and Revillame were together at Wil's Events Place that time. He added that TV5's incoming president Noel Lorenzana has yet to assume office on June 1 and any negotiations about the renewal shall happen after he comes in.

Relationship with TV5 remains healthy

The business unit head also clarified that Revillame is still in good terms with the management.

"RCE (Ray C. Espinosa) and Kuya (Willie Revillame) met before the announcement of a new president. They seem ok," he said. "RCE even assured us that we'll be in good hands with Noel Lorenzana. Sabi niya, 'Aalagaan kayo nun.'"

Wowowillie is in trouble again

“Wowowillie” is in trouble again.  The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has summoned executives of the TV5 show for a hearing on Monday, April 22 after its deputies and Facebook netizens complained about the skimpy outfits and alleged excessive flesh exposure on the part of the program’s female dancers in its April 16 episode.

MTRCB Chair Atty. Toto Villareal informed Yahoo! Philippines OMG! in a text message that “a dancer  was practically exposing her large breasts for around eight minutes with several others skimpily dressed.”

Villareal added in his text that only the nipples remained unseen.   

The MTRCB posted part of these messages in its Twitter account.

This is not the first time MTRCB has summoned “Wowowillie.”   

A month ago, Villareal  ordered TV5 officials to undergo a  gender sensitivity seminar after Wowowillie host Willie Revillame openly castigated former host Ethel Booba for  reportedly raising her voice after he joked about what she wore in a segment of the show.

Ethel Booba: Willie Revillame Sinungaling!

Ethel Booba finally broke her silence on her feud with Wowowillie host Willie Revillame, who castigated her and fellow host Ate Gay on national TV over the results of a costume contest on the said show.

“Hindi di ko siya (Willie) sinigawan,” she said. Asked who is lying, she or Willie, Ethel answered, “Siya (Willie).  Witness ang mga staff at si Ate Gay. Alam nilang walang sigawan na nangyari,”  Ethel said in an interview after the presscon of her new reality show,  TV5’s “Boracay Bodies.”

Ethel admitted she never expected Willie to scold her publicly. She reported for work, feeling ready to call it quits.  Ethel said she just wanted to just go abroad.

“Feeling ko okay kami,” she recalls.“Sabi pa nga niya, ‘wag kang mag-alala, ipagtatanggol kita.”

Ethel was referring to Willie’s reaction regarding negative Twitter messages the former showed to him the day he scolded her and Ate Gay.

Ethel also recalled that Willie raised his voice after she told him Ate Gay felt hurt over the results of the costume contest, where he chose the show’s choreographer Anna Feliciano as the winner.

“Noong sinabi ko kay Willie na nagtatampo si Ate Gay , sabi niya, ‘Anong problema?’ Tumaas ang boses niya. Nagmura siya at sinabing, ‘Ang liit na bagay. Yan lang. Kung hindi ninyo gusto ang patakaran, lumayas kayo. Get out!”

Ethel was understandably shocked.

She also denied that she confronted Willie in the dressing room over the matter.

“Maling mali ang statement niya na sinugod  namin siya sa dressing room. Teritoryo niya yon. Di totoo yon.”

Success and Willie

Ethel felt success has gotten the better of Willie. Ethel also notes that Willie has been sour since “Wowowillie’s” lost viewers to rival show, “It’s Showtime.”

She added that she was controlling her feelings since Day One, when Willie blamed her for the brown-out that happened at the presscon of “Wowowillie.”

At this point, Ethel still feels hurt and is not ready to patch things up with Willie.

Meanwhile, there is no bad blood between her and  Ate Gay, who has rejoined “Wowowillie.”  Ethel knows  her friend just wants to make a career move and create a niche on TV5.

Willie lashes out at Ethel Booba and Ate Gay

Willie Revillame lashed out at Ethel Booba and Ate Gay, mainstays of his TV5 noontime show “Wowowillie” and even dared them to resign.

“Pinagalitan ko si Ethel at Ate Gay ,” Wilie said in the Feb. 28 edition of his show. “Hindi sila professional. Nagalit sila kasi hindi sila nanalo sa costume.”

Willie  was referring to the show’s talent contest called  “Mini-Concierto,”  where the female co-hosts outdo each other in wearing eye-catching costumes.

Willie jokingly told Ethel, “Style ba ‘yan? Ginagaya mo lang si Anne Curtis eh… Wala, ginagaya lang si Anne Curtis. Kasi ‘yung suot niya sa ‘ASAP,’ may shower pa. Hindi niyo kaya ‘yon. Huwag kayong mag-ilusyon.”

Talent, not ‘singit’

A visibly miffed Ethel replied, “Ano ito? Bakit mo kami ikino-compare doon? We’re talking about talent, not singit. Come on!”

Willie also said that Ethel shouted at him.

“Sa dressing room, sinabi (niya) sa 'kin, ‘Bakit mo ko ginaganon?” Wilie recalled.

The singer-host added that Ethel should not have taken his remark seriously.

“Katuwaan lang. Pinapasaya lang namin kayo. Ang lalaki na ng ulo n’yo! You don’t do that to me!”

Handling success

He reminded Ethel not to let success get into her head and to remember that he’s the producer and host of the show, the one who turned a deaf ear to her detractors and gave her a chance to revive her showbiz career.

“You don’t do that to me kasi ako ang nagbigay sa 'yo ng pagkakataon sa buhay. If  you want to resign, go! Inaangat kita (tapos) ganyan ang gagawin mo sa akin,” he told Ethel.

Addressing Ate Gay, Willie said, “Binigyan kita ng break. Magkaroon ka ng utang na loob!”

Because of the incident, Willie decided to scrap the “Mini-Concierto”  segment.

The incident drew mixed reactions from netizens. Vice Ganda spoofed the incident in his show.

Ate Gay’s manager Freddie Bautista told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! over the phone that his talent got a call from the “Wowowillie” staff to go back to work on March 1, a day after Willie’s emotional outburst. But Bautista said Ate Gay was scheduled to fly to Singapore for a show on that day. Ate Gay just returned from Singapore on Monday, March 4.

Meanwhile, Willie has refused to comment on the issue further.

Willie Revillame Sets ‘Last Day’ On Show

MANILA, Philippines - Where is Willie off to this time?

Leaving many hanging with a promise of a mystery announcement soon, this is one of the many questions in people's minds now with Revillame's puzzling statement Tuesday night on the TV5 program "Wil Time Bigtime" regarding his future plans and the fate of the show.

Come Jan. 5, 2013, Willie said, "Mag-a-announce na ho ako ng desisyon ko sa buhay kung ako'y magtutuloy pa sa programang ito."

"Kung walang ganito, kung walang programa, sa'n kayo pupunta? Pumunta kayo sa mga ibang programa na matutulungan kayo... Abangan n'yo," he noted.

While some thought him to be joking, the veteran entertainer proved that he wasn't when he asked the "Wil Time Bigtime" performers and staff members to begin scouting for another work.

He has already sought blessing from the TV5 management, and according to Willie, they respect his decision.

Curiously, at one point, he referred to Jan. 5 as his "last day."

"Talagang i-a-announce ko na kung ano ang gusto kong gawin," he stressed.

Willie opted to give a teaser of sorts of his grand announcement as early as now because "ayoko ko kayong biglain."

"Basta magmula ngayon, enjoy lang tayo. Kalimutan niyo muna 'yan," he related, adding, "Hindi ko alam kung aabutin pa ako ng January 5."

The entertainment and the prizes will remain a-plenty for the Christmas season, Willie nevertheless assured.

Willie was one of the big shot talents who transferred to TV5 two years ago following his high-profile, legal battle-preceded exit from ABS-CBN network, where he hosted one of its most successful yet controversial variety-game shows, "Wowowee."

His first TV5 show, "Willing Willie," was launched on Oct. 2010, but was eventually reformatted to "Wil Time Bigtime" in May 2011 after it drew criticisms and legal complaints for the alleged maltreatment of a 12-year-old boy who participated in one of its segments.

Willie Revillame visits Joey de Leon on Startalk

It is quite heartening to witness one spectacle no one saw or even thought was coming. Two popular TV personalities almost always on the warpath over several controversies through the years share the same stage and camera shot on one TV show.

While Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon had buried the hatchet after the former left ABS-CBN and changed his timeslot to late afternoon in his subsequent TV5 show "Wiltime Bigtime," it was really a surprising but delightful sight to see them together on nationwide TV—a very first in a long time.

The occasion was Joey's birthday celebration on the longest-running showbiz talk show, GMA-7's "Startalk," on October 13. Willie said he went to "Startalk" on his own initiative because he wanted to surprise Joey on his special day to formally end years of verbal tussles and heated exchanges.

Monumental clashes

Their clashes were monumental. Willie and Joey would make unprecedented, valuable airtime off their noontime shows just to air their attacks against each other—a sort of deviation from the norms in Philippine broadcasting. Who could forget the tiffs over alleged cheating on one's game portion, one co-host's looks, and any other thing they could think of?

Some thought reconciliation was impossible, given the breadth and depth of their conflict.
But with Willie's appearance on Joey's show, it really shows nothing is impossible.

Despite his unannounced visit on the show, Willie had the support of all those involved in the "Startalk" production, from the network guards to the director.

They all had been on the surprise, with crewmembers even hiding Willie backstage before the moment came.

Incredible and touching

And when the moment did come, and Willie joined Joey on cam with the other "Startalk" hosts, the sight was incredible and touching. A beaming Joey welcomed his erstwhile opponent with a handshake on stage.

"Bihira lang mangyari ito at ako'y natutuwa na napadaan ka nga," Joey told Willie.

Joey praised Willie in his unparalleled journey in showbiz. "Sa kasaysayan ng ibang artista yung dinaanan mo ibang klase, hindi naging supot yung paputok mo… Sumabog talaga 'to. Pero dumaan sa kahirapan itong taong ito, pati mga hindi nagkakaintindihan, nagkakaaway, nagkakumpetensiya. Pero bilib ako sa'yo pare," Joey said.

Willie, for his part, thanked Joey for the breaks he had in the business. "Alam niyo kasi nung ako'y medyo nagsisimula sa pelikula with (film director) Tony Reyes, dalawang 'Barbie' movie and 'Sam and Miguel,' kinuha nila ko. Wala pa akong pera noon… hanggang ngayon wala pa rin kaya lumalapit akong muli," Willie said in jest.

He also kidded Joey on their past clashes on TV. "Inaway mo 'ko. Sabi mo nanonood ako eh: 'Dito walang dayaan ha? Eto kamay ko.' Sinabi niya 'yon?" And that, he said was one of the factors that led to his eventual exit from ABS-CBN. "Tingnan mo ang nangyari. Nawala ako doon…away ka kasi ng away sa akin," Willie said.

But Joey said in response, "Little brother ko 'to." They ended their encounter with a shoulder hug.
Despite all the words that had gone between them, there will always be a time when all is forgotten and respect and friendship reign.