PGT judges in search of world-class talent

These days, it seems like the quickest route to a career in show business is by joining a reality show. There are several of them: Pinoy Big Brother (which launched the careers of Sam Milby, Jason Gainza, Melai Cantiveros, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, James Reid and a few others); X Factor Philippines, whose “graduates” include KZ Tandingan; The Voice of the Philippines and The Voice Kids, which produced Mitoy Yonting, Morissette Amon, Darren Espanto, JK Labajo and others; Your Face Sounds Familiar; and Pilipinas Got Talent.

The appeal of such shows is understandable. Aside from the prizes, there’s the thrill of the competition and they are filled with challenges and back stories that can rival the plot twists of the most exciting teleseryes.

Of the talent shows that have aired on local TV, one of the longest-running (aside from PBB) would be Pilipinas Got Talent. The show was launched originally in 2007, has versions in the US and UK where it is known as America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, respectively.

Here in the country, Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) ran for four successful seasons before bowing out for a two-year break in 2013.

This year, they’re bringing it back with several changes. The fifth season brings four (instead of the original three) judges to the table: From the old set, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino are gone, but there are three new judges: Angel Locsin, Robin Padilla (who used to host a talent show on another channel) and Vice Ganda.

During the first leg of the Manila auditions, the PGT judges faced the press and talked about how they intended to present themselves vis-à-vis the contestants and what specific things or qualities they would be looking for this fifth season.

Freddie “FMG” Garcia: Always, (we look for) a performer who could be compared to the top performers in the world. We have a lot of talent in the Philippines, and we hope to discover them this season. We hope to find the best talent we have.

Robin: Ako po ay kakampi ng contestant. Bilang judge, hindi ako magiging masyadong mahigpit, pero hindi rin naman ako magiging maluwag. Hindi ako magmamagaling. Kung si FMG, star builder, siya ang nasa tuktok, ako, kasama ng contestant, hawak ko ang kamay nila.

Vice Ganda: Ang hinahanap ko, ‘yung act na hindi lang bubusugin ang mata ko, pero ‘yung ma-to-touch ang puso ko at ang kaluluwa ko. Malaki ang papremyo dito — P2M — kaya siyempre, ang gusto ko, ‘yung deserving talaga. Ayokong maging Pilipinas Got Awa ito. Playtime ako lagi, pero seryoso din.

Angel: Sabi nila, ako daw ‘yung mabait na istrikta. Siguro ang ibig sabihin n’on, mabait na may topak (ang magiging personality ko as a judge).

Hosts Luis Manzano (left) and Billy Crawford

Way back, nagkaroon din ako ng opportunity magpakita ng talent dahil may nagbigay sa akin ng chance. So ngayon, gusto ko sana, suklian kung ano ‘yung ibinigay sa akin na chance ng tao. Gusto ko mag-‘Yes’ sa lahat pero hindi naman pwede kasi kailangan natin maging fair at honest sa ibang contestants. Ano ang hinahanap ko? Ako siyempre, dapat pang-world-class ‘yung talent. Pero sa akin din kasi, di lang talent ang susi para maging sikat ka, at para mahalin ka ng tao. So gusto ko rin, may good attitude at may magic.

The show’s business unit head Lui Andrada adds that aside from the judges, there will also be changes in the show itself. For the first time this season, they will have what they call the “Golden Buzzer” — literally, a gold button that any of the four judges can press if there is an act that impresses them enough to make them want to ensure they survive the auditions. By pressing the Golden Buzzer (which they can only do once, a judge can send the act or artist straight through to the semi-finals.

These changes, says Andrada, will help give the show a fresher twist.  So local showbiz will have a new batch of talent to look forward to, and for those of us in the business, that’s very good news indeed.