Watch out... You may be the next ‘victim’

Buttercup has faded out. Taking its old timeslot (9 p.m. Saturdays on ABS-CBN) starting tonight is Victim, touted as "ang reality TV show ng mga sikat," with Carlos Agassi as "mastermind" of the tricks pulled on unsuspecting star-victims.

The movie press had a preview of tonight’s premier episode at the presscon several days ago and I assure you that the show is fun and entertaining even if the idea isn’t really that new. It’s a perfect fare for a relaxing weekend viewing, a refreshing departure from all those telenovelas and chinovelas and weepy soaps that televiewers are being bombarded with day in and day out, with the "suds" oozing out of our ears.

Cheap thrills, you say? So what?

The show’s first guest, Angelika dela Cruz, is also its first victim. Sorry to spoil the fun but I have to tell it like it is.

Like all the other "victims," caught in unguarded moments by a hidden camera (so "invisible" that you have to look long and hard before you can spot it), Angelika doesn’t have any inkling that she is being "victimized." While waiting for her call at the Cork’s Grill at the ground floor of the Eugenio Lopez, Sr. Building where the taping is being done, a theater talent posing as an epileptic movie reporter approaches Angelika for an "ambush" interview. Okay, smiles Angelika.

Halfway through the "interview," the reporter pretends to be suffering from an epileptic seizure, sending Angelika into near-panic, watching helplessly at the guy shaking uncontrollably, choking on his iced tea and then tumbling to the floor.

Before Angelika herself collapses in fright, "mastermind" Carlos pops up. Angelika giggles with relief as Carlos points out to her the camera hidden near the next table.

Next victim(izer): Cindy Kurleto. Cindy walks casually into a coffee shop and sits with a young couple and starts sharing their food, later asking money from the amused couple to buy "take out" food. "Hindi ka ba nag-lunch?" the puzzled guy asked Cindy. You guessed it: "Mastermind" Carlos pops up before the couple could call either the police or the mental hospital to haul "crazy" Cindy away.

There are other star-victims and you have to find out for yourself what prank is pulled on them.

The show makes you feel like Big Brother is watching you without your seeing him, just like the character played by Jim Carrey in Truman Show is being watched by unseen monitors every moment of his existence.

The point?

Watch out – especially if you’re a celebrity. You may be the next "victim."

The question is: Will all the star-"victims" be sport enough to take it with a grain of salt, with a shrug?

The show is good for only one season. After that, the novelty shall have worn off.

Meanwhile, enjoy Victim while its "mastermind" is on the prowl.

The ‘Other Guy’ In Judy Ann’s Life?

Even before the issue linking Judy Ann Santos to Robin Padilla broke out, another guy was being whispered about as Judy Ann’s "secret" boyfriend and/or suitor. He’s none other than newcomer TJ Trinidad, Judy Ann and Robin’s co-star on their ABS-CBN show Basta’t Kasama Kita where he plays Judy Ann’s chef-friend who secretly likes her.

Before anybody accuses the hazel-eyed TJ of trying to "use" Judy Ann for publicity purposes, TJ’s manager June Torrejon wants to make it clear that TJ has no romantic relationship with Judy Ann whatsoever. In fact, June doesn’t want TJ’s name to be mentioned in the same breath as that of Judy Ann lest he be accused of riding on Judy Ann’s popularity.

"But I just say that Judy Ann and Robin are very nice to me on the set," says TJ who’s half-Filipino (father’s side) and half-Norwegian (mother’s side). "I’m an acting newcomer and I’m learning a lot from them."

It was June’s other talent, Edu Manzano, who encouraged TJ to try acting when Edu saw him during the birthday party of the child of TJ’s sister who’s Edu’s friend.

"Actually," admits TJ, "acting is what I want to do."

In school (Colegio de San Agustin and La Salle where he tucked up a B.S. Marketing degree), TJ acted in plays. In Alabang where the family lives, he’s a member of a small parish theater youth group which presents plays during the Christmas season to raise funds.

If TJ looks familiar (he does, doesn’t he?), it’s because he has been appearing in dozens of commercials (since he was l0), the most popular of which was the San Miguel Beer commercial (with the beautiful binibinis) and the Swatch commercial.

His real name is Raul Fenstad Trinidad, Jr. His parents are separated and have remarried other partners. TJ has three siblings, with one step-sibling (paternal side) and two others (maternal side). He stands 5’10" and walks without the slightest sign that he has a bad knee operated on nine times for injuries sustained during football matches in San Agustin.

"I limp a bit but it’s not so obvious. I was born with a congenital defect in my cartilage and I have to be operated on every two years or so to clean it out."

Showbiz is not – yet – TJ’s bread and butter. He and some friends have put up a business (Asiatech Solutions) dealing in, among others, security cameras and wireless connectivity.

TJ has done one movie so far, Viva Films’ Keka where he played the killer of one of Katya Santos’ boyfriends.

What’s Up?

• The UERM class of l978 will hold its Silver Jubilee Grand Alumni Homecoming on Dec. 15. Members of the class are encouraged to join the ongoing meetings and have fun with their classmates. Contact the UERM Alumni office at 716-0771 or Dr. Butch Tamesis at Clinica Tamesis at 0917-8106296.

• Reader Joey Angeles of Doha, Qatar e-mailed the following correction: Charlene Gonzalez was not a runner-up but a finalist (one of six; the five others were Misses India, Colombia, Venezuela, Slovak Republic and USA)in the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant held in Manila. India’s Sushmita Sen won as Miss U and she had only two runners-up, Colombia’s Carolina Gomez and Venezuela’s Minorka Mercado.

• To my friends Lydia Miclat Miranda (my classmate back in UE) and Helina Asinas Moscare (my fellow Waray from Catubig, Northern Samar), now both residing in the US: Yes, I got your e-mails. Regards, too, and take care.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])