Wowowee
Wowowee | |
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Wowowee current logo |
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Format | Variety-game show |
Created by | ABS-CBN |
Developed by | Bobot Mortiz |
Directed by | Mr. Johnny Manahan |
Starring | Willie Revillame Mariel Rodriguez Valerie Concepcion Pokwang |
Country of origin | Philippines |
No. of episodes | As of 17 February 2007, over 600 shows. |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Cynthia Jordan, Harold Nueva |
Running time | 2 hours 30 min. (Weekdays), 3 hours (Saturday) |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | ABS-CBN |
Picture format | 480i SDTV |
Original run | February 5, 2005-February 4, 2006 March 11, 2006-present – |
External links | |
IMDb profile |
Wowowee is a noon-time variety and game show in the Philippines that awards cash and prizes to contestants playing various games. The show is held at the Studio 3 of the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Quezon City, Philippines. It premiered February 5, 2005.
The show airs live Weekdays from 12:30-3 p.m. and every Saturday from 12 noon-3 p.m. on ABS-CBN right after Pilipinas, Game KNB? and worldwide via The Filipino Channel. In the United States, the show is on tape delay where a new episode airs at 15:00 Eastern time (GMT-5) and repeats at 20:55 and 04:00 Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, a new episode also airs at the same time as Weekdays and (GMT-5) is rebroadcast at 22:00 and 04:00.
The show is currently hosted by Willie Revillame, with his co-hosts Mariel Rodriguez, Pokwang and Valerie Concepcion. Other members of the production includes Bentong, Owen Garcia, the floor director, and Anna Santos Feliciano, the show's choreographer who manages the ASF Dancers. The show itself has gone through several hosts that have in one way or another left the show for various reasons.
Contents |
Show format and game descriptions
Currently, the show has seven segments.
- Introduction
- Iyugyog Mo (closest English equivalent is 'Shake It')
- Willie of Fortune
- Questune
- Sinong Kumanta Ng Kantang 'To? (Who Sang This Song?)
- Search for Bigat 10 Contestants
- Bigat 10 (Big 10)
- Pasalog (Pass and Shake)
- Entertainment Acts
- Merry Christmas Merrygalo
Introduction
Wowowee has a tendency to shake up format and changes the songs in the introduction. Currently, the show begins with Mariel and Valerie welcoming the viewers from the backstage and gets the show going with the trademark opening line, "It's party time!". Everybody gathers on stage to sing the theme song. This includes the ASF Dancers, crew members, and co-hosts. Host Willie Revillame gets an extra special entrance with lights and smoke. Lyrics for the song appear on screen for viewers to sing along. The same goes for many of Wowowee's other trademark songs. After singing the theme, Willie takes a minute or two to go around the studio, hyping the crowd up for the show before they go into singing "Iyugyog Mo".
On most Saturdays, they have big production numbers for the opening with celebrity guests.
Iyugyog Mo Jackpot
After singing "Iyugyog Mo". Revillame scans through the crowd to find 5 potential contestants to dance "Iyugyog Mo" to determine if worthy to play the game. Once the 5 are selected, they are brought on stage to dance again. The DJ Coki continue to play the song until Willie cues to stop the music to randomly picks a contestant. On the spot, the contestant is asked a question by Mariel or Valerie. If the contestant answere correctly, he/she gets PHP500. If he/she incorrectly answers the question, the contestant is disqualified from the game.
The game continues until 1 person is left to qualify for the final question to moves to the next stage of the game. If the last remaining contestant wrongly answere the question, he/she picks another contestant from the eliminated pool of 4 to return into the game for another chance. The game continues until one contestant remains to correctly answere the last question.
In the jackpot round, the contestant must roll 2 "Yugyog Cubes" (a pair of giant dice) down the "Yugyog Tube". Each of the cube are marked with words "Yug", "Yog", "Dug", "Dog", "Bug", "Bog" etc... The contestant must roll a "Yug" and "Yog" to wins the jackpot, the only winning combination. Should the contestant fails to roll the combination and ends rolling only one of the two word, he/she wins PHP5,000 and another PHP5,000 is also added to the Jackpot.
Willie of Fortune
Before the game
The co-hosts introduce the 6 contestants, known as the "Tigasen". They are split into two groups of 3. The players were selected from a contestant search conducted the previous day. Before the game begins, 4 of the ASF Dancers (typically, Hope, Mary, Berna, and Precy) perform a brief dance to present the game podium, which emerges from beneath the stage. They usually change up the theme of the dance every week with a different mix provided by DJ Coki as well. Every Saturday, Revillame calls out Mark (a young, talented dancer, who was once a contestant himself in "Willie of Fortune") who brings him a stack of $50 bills.
Players face off one-on-one Before each game, Revillame interviews each contestant, asking them basic questions about where they're from, what they do, their family, etc. Revillame will then ask them to greet their family and friends and give any special messages. This can create very emotional moments on the show at times for the contestants, whose success in the game could be a big help to them and their family. In the past, the emotional segments took up a lot of time, but due to some criticism from journalists claiming Wowowee "milks" emotions for ratings, they try to keep it short. Each contestant is also required to show off a talent. Most contestants either sing or dance, unless the contestants have their own special skills (e.g. magic, gymnastics, skateboard tricks, etc)
For their effort, Revillame rewards each contestant for their effort which ranges from PHP3,000-PHP10,000 and an additional $20-$50. There may be additional prizes too in the form of movie tickets, gift certificates, or a Magic Sing Karaoke microphone (usually given to the most talented one)
Questune
The three face-off winners of "Willie of Fortune":
- win PHP5,000 in cash.
- advance to "Sinong Kumanta Ng Kantang 'To".
Gameplay
- Like the U.S. game show Name That Tune, the show's keyboardist plays a song and the player must buzz-in and correctly identify its title first.
- The player wins one point for each correct answer.
- If a player gives a wrong answer, his or her opponent can answer for that one point, correctly identifying that same song.
- Upon giving the correct answer, for a one point bonus, the contestant must sing the exact lyrics to that song (sometimes without backing music).
- The first contestant in each group who earns two points wins PHP5,000 and advances to "Sinong Kumanta Ng Kantang 'To?"
- The losing contestants receive consolation which include packs of Liveraide, Taheebo, and Fitrum, which are sponsors of the show. Added prizes are the Extreme Magic sing, Belo Beauty materials, and Pau Liniment.
Contestant Searches
After the 3 rounds of "Questune", Revillame will usually announce the requirements for their contestants the next day (themes in the past have included older singles, child rappers, and people who wear red for work. They may also have special face-offs such as MMDA Officers vs. Vendors or Skinny vs. Big contestants). Potential contestants must report to the studio that day. Wowowee contestant coordinators Jesse Gonzalez and Adrien Gret are in charge of reviewing and picking the contestants. Upon successful personal identification verification and selection, they are asked to come in on the day of their scheduled broadcast. Since Saturday, February 17, 2007, they no longer have celebrities play "Willie of Fortune."
Wowowee's previous contestant coordinators were Mon Nazerino, Ace Vidanes, and Bing Ramos.
Sinong Kumanta Ng Kantang 'To?
This is the next round for the 3 contestants who have advanced from "Questune". In this round, instead of identifying the name of a song and singing it, they must only name the artist who sang the song. The contestant is rewarded one point per correct answer and the first to two points advances to the "Bigat 10" round and receives another PHP5,000..
Search For Bigat 10 Contestants
Revillame, his co-hosts, and the ASF Dancers dance along to "Do Do Do, Da Da Da" or "Boom Tarat Tarat" to warm up the crowd (if time allows). Then, Revillame and his co-hosts goes to each section of the studio audience in search of 10 contestants to participate. The audience is divided with special sections for TFC subscribers visiting from overseas. Hosts will usually stop by a few of the TFC subscribers to let them greet their family and friends back in their home country who may be watching. Whichever host is in a section will pull forward a few potential contestants, giving them a chance to sing and dance to "Do Do Do, Da Da Da" or "Boom Tarat Tarat". The best one or ones will be chosen by the host. Typically, if you are a foreigner, of mixed race, unique, outlandish, or a good looking guy or girl, your chances of being a "Bigat 10" contestant are much higher.
The 10 selected will go on to face the "Tigasen" (the remaining "Willie of Fortune" player) in the "Bigat 10" round.
Knorr Wow Paksiw Raffle Time
Before the beginning of the Bigat10 round, a random Bigat10 contestant is picked to participate last. If they win, they get to compete in the "Pasalog" round and a home partner will receive an equivalent prize of the selected contestant's winnings.
Bigat 10
If the "Tigasen" can not only survive, but beat all the "Bigat 10" contestants, he/she will:
- win PHP100,000 in cash.
- advance to the "Pasalog" jackpot round.
Gameplay
- Revillame calls two "Bigat 10" players to come to the podium and introduce themselves before facing the "Tigasen"
- Contestants much place their hands on their chin for an even advantage
- The first person to buzz-in with the correct answer wins.
- If the "Tigasen" buzzes in and gets the question right, he or she doesn't lose any money
- If the "Bigat 10" player wins, he or she gets PHP10,000 from the "Tigasen".
- Whoever gets the final question correct, will go on to the "Pasalog" round.
- Bonus: If the "Willie of Fortune" contestant eliminates all ten "Bigat 10" players, he or she wins an additional PHP25,000.
Before the segment was revamped on the June 26, 2006 episode:
- The pot started at PHP50,000.
- Revillame called a "Bigat 10" contestant one-at-a-time.
- The "Bigat 10" contestant won PHP5,000 for a correct answer (PHP3,000 from the pot, plus PHP2,000 from Willie. Before the week of January 30, 2006, the player received PHP3,000.)
Pasalog
In "Pasalog", the "Tigasen" or Bigat 10 winner has a chance to win:
- cash from a progressive jackpot, starting at PHP20,000.
- a Sinski tricycle, Rich-O multi-cab car, Wow-a-Cart from Zhon Marketing, a supply of Liveraide vitamins plus cash jackpot, supply of Taheebo plus cash jackpot, supply of Pau Liniment plus cash jackpot, Hammerhead clothing, franchise, and cash, or a cash jackpot from Guiding Star properties. The cash jackpots are progressive and build up in cash amount until someone wins.
Gameplay
- Revillame introduces ASF Dancers Mariposa (Rovie Cabigquez) & Luningning (Lea Carla Santos) who have a dance showdown, and proceed to dance around the Pasalog balls. Each dancer is in charge of Pasalog ball.
- There are two Pasalog balls, which resemble beach balls. They two compartments each which a die cube in each compartment. Each dice has three logos on that represent the different potential prize packages.
- Revillame asks the player to position each of the cubes in each Pasalog ball.
- Both compartments are then closed by both Mariposa and Luningning. Revillame tells the ASF Dancers to "Pasalog" which they pass the balls into the crowd and the crowd passes them around. As they get back to the ASF Dancer, both Mariposa and Luningning put the ball in their place. On days where there are time constraints, Mariposa and Luningning will rolls the "Pasalogs" around the stage instead.
- Each compartment is then opened one by one.
- If any of the cubes come out with a sponsor logo or Jackpot face up, the contestant wins the corresponding prize package.
If the Jackpot Prize reaches PHP200,000 above, the Special Prize reveals first at the left-compartment and the Jackpot reveals at the right-compartment.
At the end of segment, the winning contestant keeps all the winnings from all the games.
Entertainment acts
This segment, which is presented after "Pasalog" every Monday through Friday and after "Introduction" every Saturday, presents either a dancing number featuring special appearances by well-known singers and dancers along with the ASF Dancers, live music from a musical group or artist(s).
Wilyonaryo
On August 18, 2007, Wowowee put Pera o Bayong on an indefinite hiatus to make way for a new game called Wilyonaryo. The mechanics were not drastically different from that of Pera o Bayong
Much like Pera o Bayong the prizes up for grabs include:
- PHP1,000,000, PHP2,000,000 or PHP500,000 in cash
- a house and lot package from
The game has two parts:
Multiple Choice Question Round w/ Pindoters
The first part is an elimination round in which 50 contestants (100 contestants on Saturdays), selected from people who applied via text message. The contestants are given multiple-choice poll questions with three options. The options are represented on stage by three special sections divided off by "WIL", "YO", and "NARYO". The catch is, there is no right or wrong answer since the questions are based on a general consensus of 30 Pindoters (button pushers). The Pindoters are 30 people selected earlier in the day randomly from the line of studio audience members before the show. The Pindoters have remote controls and select their choice after each question. The contestants will then pick the best option which the Pindoters agree with.
Contestants who pick the option that agrees with the majority move on to the next question until one contestant remains, who wins PHP20,000 and advances to Pachingball to play for the grand prizes. In the event that no contestant picks the majority choice, the contestants who picked the 2nd highest majority moves on. This is an advantage from the old Pera o Bayong game where there was no guarantee of a grand prize round contestant.
"'Wi na U? Stay U? Lipat U?" ("Will you go home? Will you stay? Will you move?")
During the question portion, Revillame may walk up to contestants asking them "'Wi na you? Stay you? Lipat you?" The questions follow the commonly-used syntax of texted Taglish (Tagalog-English patois). Many Filipinos who send SMS ("text") messages to one another use the Tagalog order of words (e.g., "Lilipat ka?") but replace long Tagalog words with easier-to-text English words or contractions of Tagalog words ("ka" becomes "u" and "lilipat" is contracted to "lipat," thus "Lilipat ka?" becomes "Lipat U?").
- If a contestant says "'Wi na me" (a contraction and bastardization of "Uuwi na ako" which means "I'm going home"), he or she accepts the cash offer and leaves the game immediately.
- If a contestant says "Stay me", either:
- Revillame increases the cash offer and asks the question again.
- or the game continues as he or she stays in their color section.
- If a contestant says "Lipat me", he or she moves to another spot that he or she thinks is the correct answer.
In the past, Revillame has offered contestants between PHP1,000 and PHP50,000 in cash and to leave the game.
Pachingball
The first half of the final round is a special game of pinball played to decide what wheel will be used for the jackpot portion. It begins with the ASF Dancers coming out to present the 12 colored wheels that could potentially contain one of the grand prizes. From the top of the stairs two female models arise to present the ball for the game, a wad of cash, and 2 stickers with PHP20,000 marked on them. The contestant then chooses what order they want the multi-colored wheels to be placed in the slots at the bottom of the machine. The contestant is then given the two stickers to place on two different wheels.
One of the models, RR, then informs Revillame that she is ready, she places the ball in the slot of the machine. The contestant then plays a game of pinball with specific bumpers representing amounts of money. That money is guaranteed to the contestant whether they win the jackpot or not. When they lose, the ball falls out and lands in one of the 12 random slots with the wheels. The slot it lands in will be the wheel used for the jackpot round. If the wheel also has one of the stickers on it placed by the contestant, they win an additional PHP20,000. The wheel is pulled out and placed in its holder by one of the female models.
Jackpot Round
Much like the old Pera o Bayong game, Revillame poses a question with two options, "Wilyonaryo o 'Uwi ka na?" and offers cash in exchange for the selected wheel.
- If the contestant says "Uwi na ako!", he or she receives Willie's cash offer and the game is over.
- If the contestant says "Wilyonaryo", Revillame would either:
- increase the cash offer and or
- or reveal the content of the prize wheel.
After the deal ends, the contents of the wheels that contain a prize are revealed to everyone.
Production notes
Previous Wowowee co-hosts
- Iya Villania (February 5, 2005–June 17, 2006) - Hosting a dancing show called U Can Dance on ABS-CBN, a mainstay in ASAP '07 and is currently a video jockey on Myx.
- Kat Alano (February 5, 2005–June 17, 2006) - Currently appears on the teleserye Ysabella. She recently won the MTV Philippines VJ Hunt 2007
- Janelle Jamer (February 5, 2005–May 31, 2007) - One of the original three co-hosts of Wowowee.
- Roxanne Guinoo (March 17, 2007–July 31, 2007)
- Precious Lara Quigaman
Theme music and show soundtracks
The following background music is currently played and directed by former disc jockey and sound effects director Angelo "DJ M.O.D." Macanaya. The Philippines own Disco Mix Club disc jockey, "DJ Coki", has since replaced DJ M.O.D. as the main disc jockey.
- "Wowowee" (dance remix): This cut is presented as a remixed dance version of the original and is currently played at the start of the show. Performed live by Revillame, Guinoo, and Rodriguez.
- "Boom Tarat Tarat": This cut was used as an opening number and during "Interaction with the Audience Members". The first version of the dance remix premiered August 3, 2006. The second version, featuring a faster tempo and techno, club-style drumming, premiered on November 27, 2006. The third version, featuring a normal tempo and non-Christmas lyrics premiered on January 1, 2007.[1] The full holiday, non-remixed version is featured in Revillame's Christmas CD, Namamasko Po.
- "Puppy Mo Ako": This cut is a remixed version of the original that is used when the ASF Dancers come out to introduce the "Willie of Fortune" portion of the show in instrumental form. Song performed on album by Revillame.
- "46" (New) and "Buksan Mo" (Original): Mariposa and Luningning dance to "46" song during the new "Pasalog" portion and "Buksan Mo" song during the original "Pasalog" portion. These songs performed by Revillame.
- "Beep Beep Beep" and "Bow Wow Wow": These cuts is used during "Pera o Bayong" player eliminations, performed by Revillame.
- "Jok Jok Jok": This cut was used during "What's the Joke? That's the Joke.", performed by Revillame.
- "Tango Boogie Cha-Cha": Presented as a dance remix, this cut is used at the same way as "Beep Beep Beep" and "Bow Wow Wow", which performed by the same people.
- "Wankata": The dance remix version is used during "Pera o Bayong" player eliminations. The regular version is used whenever a host, a cast member or a contestant makes a joke. Performed by the same people as other "Pera o Bayong" songs.
- "Follow the Leader": This cut is used as a winning cue when a contestant wins "Pera o Bayong." Written and performed by a 1980s American hip-hop performing group, The Soca Boys.
- "Played Alive": This is played when Revillame thanks the TFC subscribers for their support, and right before the bayong is revealed. Performed by Safri Duo.
- "Have a Good Time" ("Goodbye, I hate to see you go..."): This cut is used as a losing cue when a contestant loses in "Pera o Bayong". Recorded in the United States and performed by Sue Thompson in 1962. Recently, the newest losing cue is a cut from the 1989 song "Sayang na Sayang" by Manilyn Reynes.
- "Wowowee": This regular version of the theme song is used going into and coming out from commercial breaks and as a closing song. Performed by Revillame and the song's lyricist and composer Lito Camo.
- "Crazy in Love" (by Beyonce): This is normally played for young ladies during the "Bigat 10" segment and a performance for some Willie of Fortune contestants.
- Songs that "Willie of Fortune" contestants dance to include "Pump It" and "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas, "London Bridge" by Fergie, and "Beep", "Buttons", and "Don't Cha" by The Pussycat Dolls.
- During rare moments in Pera O Bayong, sometimes Revillame dances to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".
Also, all live background music, especially accompaniments to songs sung by contestants during the Willie of Fortune's "Questune" segment, is played by musical director and keyboardist Elhmir Saison.
Remote broadcasts and world tours
During its run, the producers were able to take this show on the road and visit places around the Philippines and the world.
Philippine remotes
- East Gate Center in Pampanga, September 30, 2006.
- Lim Ket Kai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City, September 16, 2006.
- CSI, The City Mall in Dagupan City, November 26, 2005.
For these recent editions, the contestants for "Willie of Fortune" were six celebrity models or dancers. With them were their audience partners the women or Revillame hand-selected while in the crowd after the "Interaction with the Audience Members" segment.
Wowowee world tours
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- September 3, 2006 at the Thomas & Mack Center[3]
- September 8, 2007 at the Orleans Arena[4]
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- New York City, New York, United States
- October 22, 2005 at the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York[6]
- Reno, Nevada, United States
- May 27, 2007 at the Lawlor Events Center[7]
- San Francisco, California, United States
- June 30, 2005 at the San Francisco Civic Center during the Fiesta Filipina 2005[8]
- June 11, 2006 at the San Francisco Civic Center during the Fiesta Filipina 2006[9]
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Wowowee's special shows
Alay sa Kapamilya
Alay sa Kapamilya was a program organized by ABS-CBN as observation for the PhilSports Arena stampede victims. It preempted Wowowee for six days until the network decided over the fate of the variety show. Eventually, ABS-CBN decided to temporarily cancel the variety show until its return on March 11, 2006.
Pangarap at Tagumpay, Mga Kwento Sa Likod ng Wowowee
Before the March 11, 2006 relaunch of Wowowee, the show aired Pangarap at Tagumpay, Mga Kwento Sa Likod ng Wowowee (Dreams and Success, The Story Behind Wowowee). The show dramatized the success stories of the variety-game show's winners. The five-episode drama package was broadcast March 6–10 March 2006.
Wowowee honors overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Lebanon
On the August 2, 2006 episode, Wowowee with cooperation with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) produced a special edition saluting and featuring female Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who returned from Lebanon where a war was present in that country. They were all invited to see and participate in the program. The "Willie of Fortune" contestants that day were close friends of the OFWs, while an unspecified number of OFW's participated in "The Ultimate Pera O Bayong". All the winnings won in "Willie of Fortune" and "Pera O Bayong" were combined together and evenly distributed to all of the OFWs in the audience.
At the end of the program, a grand total of PHP1,390,000 in cash was distributed evenly to all of the OFWs in the audience.
On August 5, 2006, instead of the usual celebrities appearing on the Saturday edition in "Willie of Fortune", close friends of OFW's working in Lebanon played. Before "Pasalog", a Chinese businessman donated PHP1,000,000 to all of the players.
Controversies
Wowowee tragedy: Philsports Arena stampede
- Further information: PhilSports Arena stampede
At around 06:30 AM local time on February 4, 2006, at least 73 people were trampled to death and more than 300 were injured when a stampede broke out at the PhilSports Complex (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig City, where the first anniversary celebration of Wowowee would be held at noon. The crush began when the organizers of the show began handing out tickets to people in the crowd, many of whom had been camping outside the stadium for days.
Illegal recruiting
In the January 6, 2007 episode of XXX (an investigative current affairs program of the same network), it was revealed that Ace Vidanes, the program's contestant coordinator, made arrangement with illegal contestant recruiters to recruit contestants for the show's Bigaten in a 60-40 Deal. 60% will go to the contestant while 40% will go to the illegal recruiters. A former Bigaten contestant revealed this setup to Wowowee and XXX. An entrapment operation was arranged. The illegal recruiters were caught. The illegal recruiters pointed Ace Vidanes as their boss. Before correspondent had the chance to get the side of Ace, the show's management decided to terminate Vidanes' employment.
In the January 8, 2007 episode of TV Patrol World, a former contestant showed himself in the news program as someone who was tapped by Ace Vidanes as a contestant for Wowowee. He was asked by Ace to pretend that he is a shoemaker in order for him to join the noontime show since they are looking for shoemakers for a particular episode.
May 12, 2007 Wardrobe Malfunction
Teenage actress Eda Nolan accidentally exposed her breasts when her tube dress went loose and slipped while dancing. Nolan, one of the cast members of the youth-oriented show "", wore a tube dress for the number. Because of this, the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) has given Wowowee a consecutive 3 episode suspension. [11]
Willyonaryo Controversy
On the August 20, 2007 episode of Wowowee, a contestant named Weng participated in the Willyonaryo Winame portion of the show. In the earlier rounds, she won P37,000. For the jackpot portion of the game, she played the white wheel. Weng now had to choose between two big prizes: the P100,000 that Willie was offering her, or whatever was in the window of the white wheel, which, according to the rules, could be a jackpot prize of P2,000,000, a jackpot prize of P1,000,000, a jackpot prize of P500,000, a house and lot, or nothing at all (which would be signified by the numeral zero). [12]
At first, Weng chose the white wheel. However, after being prodded by host Willie Revillame, she changed her mind and said "'Wi na me," signifying her desire to forego the possible jackpot prize revealed in the white wheel and instead take home the P100,000 for this round, plus the P37,000 from the earlier round.
After this, Willie pulled the dark film from the window to reveal what prize Weng had given up by choosing to take the P100,000. Pulling the dark film revealed the numeral zero. This meant that if she had chosen the white wheel instead, she would have gone home with only P37,000.
As was customary for this portion, Willie went on to reveal where the jackpot prizes--the P2,000,000 cash prize, the P1,000,000 cash prize, the P500,000 cash prize, and the house and lot--were hidden. He said that the symbol for the P2,000,000 cash prize--the numeral "2"--was in the window of the violet wheel. He was handed the violet wheel, and he reached behind the wheel, supposedly to pull the dark film in order to reveal the numeral "2." However, when he pulled the film, the numeral "0" appeared instead. He appeared to fiddle with the back of the wheel and then he pulled out two films: one dark film (supposedly the "cover" film) and another film with the numeral "2" printed on it. As he held those two films in his hand, the numeral "0" was still visible in the window of the violet wheel.
Willie went on to reveal which wheels contained the films for the other prizes. However, after the show aired, controversy erupted as many viewers (whether of the original show or of clips uploaded later on to YouTube) asked whether the mistake was a sign that the show--or at least this portion of the show--was rigged.
The controversy grew after Joey de Leon, one of the hosts of Eat Bulaga (a competing show on another network), made remarks daily on the rival gameshow and his own weekend talk show, and ended a tongue-in-cheek newspaper column with the words, "Teasing is not bad. Cheating is ... on television."[13] Many readers interpreted this line to be a reference to Wowowee. On the August 29, 2007 episode of Wowowee, Willy Revillame emotionally addressed Joey de Leon and insisted that he had not been cheating and then went on to say "Hindi po ako nandadaya... 'Wag n'yo paglaruan pagkatao ko. Kayo na bida. Sa'yo na ratings. Sige 'Eat Bulaga' na No. 1 (I do not cheat... Don't insult me. You can have the fame, the ratings. Fine, 'Eat Bulaga' is No. 1!)". Joey retaliated Willie's statement the following day by advising his rival to "Explain before you complain" in a 10-minute speech aired over "Eat Bulaga".
On August 30, 2007, Senator Mar Roxas, chair of the Senate trade and commerce committee, announced that he will propose an inquiry into this alleged game rigging after getting information from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and concerned parties (after Joey de Leon called upon lawmakers to conduct a probe).[14]
See also
References
- ^ Wowowee, abs-cbn.com, n.d. Accessed last January 1, 2007.
- ^ a b Wowowee World Tour 2007
- ^ Wowowee in Las Vegas, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006 at Thomas & Mack Center
- ^ WoWoWillie Meets The Hearthrobs in Las Vegas, September 8, 2007 7:00PM @ The Orleans Arena
- ^ Wowowee in Los Angeles, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
- ^ Wowowee in New York City, Saturday, October 22, 2005 at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
- ^ Wowowee in Reno, Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Lawlor Events Center
- ^ Wowowee in San Francisco, Saturday, June 18, 2005 at San Francisco Civic Center
- ^ Wowowee in San Francisco, Sunday, June 11, 2006 at San Francisco Civic Center
- ^ Willie wins Sydney with Wowowee
- ^ "Wowowee faces 3-day Suspension & Eda Nolan’s Video", Retzwerx, 11 June 2007.
- ^ "ABS-CBN: No cheating in 'Wowowee' game", ABS-CBNNews.com (owned by ABS-CBN, the same TV network which produces and airs Wowowee), 29 August 2007.
- ^ "Joey: Puso mahirap palitan, pamilya pwedeng dagdagan", GMANews.tv (owned by rival TV network GMA), 29 August 2007.
- ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Roxas seeks probe on 'Hello, Pappy' game show 'scam'