Pinoy Drama Anthologies

Hold your horses, I am not trying to add fuel to the fire which is the network war you wish would just finally stop. But just for a respite, I’d like to write something about Pinoy Dream Academy; which is the so-called rival of Pinoy Idol.

I really don’t watch the PDA as much as I really don’t watch Pinoy Idol Extra. As much as possible, I just catch the “gala nights” of both supposed “talent” shows. I’ve only seen the first gala night of PDA and I think that they hit the jackpot with Liezel/Liezl, the soul - girl from Dubai. Van is also an instant  “It” boy, he’s got the looks and a pretty decent voice, with cool song choices. Of course, there are also some misses. I just won’t name one of them, because I already met him a couple of times, and he’s really a good kid, though, not really a kid anymore. (That’s like a “gigantic” hint already!)

I also thought that Ross got a great potential. He’s got that rocker demeanor without trying too hard and he’s got a clear voice. But his PDA journey ended with the dramatics that could outdo “Magdusa Ka” or any afternoon soap, for that matter. And the Uma-lookalike appeared to follow suit, even trying to outcry him over his dilemma. The exit of Ross sorta made viewers confused as to why after making it “inside”, he decided to leave. He kinda got homesick, insisted that he “served his purpose” (which is not really clear-cut), and confessed that he couldn’t handle “backstabbing” or the attitude of some of the scholars.

Even some of the pexers agree that PDA should not focus so much of the drama that it overshadows the talents the “scholars” are supposed to be honed inside the “Big Brother Academy”.

Surprisingly, the very much capable former judge of Philippine Idol and their current headmaster Ryan Cayabyab often gets flak for his unfelt presence over the academy, risking comparison with the charismatic and apparently well-loved season 1 headmaster Jim Paredes.

But of course, that’s how PDA works. Just like Big Brother, or America’s Next Top Model or Survivor,  it’s not enough for viewers to watch them sing or compete with each other; viewers also get to watch how they are doing on a daily basis.

But that doesn’t work for Pinoy Idol, or even American Idol for that matter. After watching PDA on that overly dramatic exit of Ross (not to mention the coincidental death of Miguel’s Lolo, geez, too much crying for a night!); I caught PI Extra as well.

And guess what? They are cooking up their own controversies even to those idol hopefuls that got out already. On that episode, they are raising issues between Gretchen against Bev Ejercito (remember her?); Kid vs. Jayann or whoever; and Robby vs. Toffer. Extra amplifies even the most mundane things, that people really didn’t want or need to know, just to present something interesting on the failed localize franchise.

Why? Is there not enough tears, or drama or backstabbing on Pinoy Idol? Did AI need that to become the number 1 TV show in the US?

Do we really need that on every freaking reality talent show on TV when the fictional shows are already full of it (not to mention our actual - real lives)? I just think that TV just went further down the drain.