Susan back on TV

BREAKING NEWS: Funfare’s "Daring Girl" DPA is confirming the "very hush-hush" comeback to television of eternal Movie Queen Susan Roces after an absence of more than a decade (or has it been two decades?).

One of the country’s finest comediennes, Susan will star with Dolphy and Maricel Soriano in the ABS-CBN sitcom John En Shirley which will premiere on July 29, a Saturday, a day after Susan turns 65. Her birthday coincides with The STAR’s founding (marking its 20th anniversary on July 28).

In the sitcom inspired no doubt by the ’70s long-running hit John en Marsha, in which Dolphy as John was topbilled with the late Nida Blanca as Marsha, with Maricel growing up into a young lady on the sitcom playing John and Marsha’s daughter Shirley. The sitcom was made into a movie, retaining the TV cast (including the late heavyweight comedienne Dely Atayatayan as Doña Delilah, John’s snooty mother-in-law who would summon her maid Matutina to simply sweep over-flowing cash from under the bed when the need arose).

Produced by Kitchie Benedicto with Bert de Leon as director, John En Shirley casts Susan in the role of Encarnacion (En for short), the cantankerous mother of Maricel/Shirley’s husband to be played by a newcomer whose identity is being withheld at the moment.

"It’s a nice birthday gift for Susan," said the "DG" DPA.

Susan was last seen in the ABS-CBN sitcom Tipitipitim-Tipitim ("Ages ago," said the "DG" DPA) with perennial movie partner Eddie Gutierrez. After that, Susan gradually slid into semi-retirement, making occasional movies once in a blue moon, and resurfacing in TV dramas (GMA’s Magpakailanman among them) only a few years ago and in one of Regal Films’ Mano Po movies in 2003.

Until Funfare got wind of it, Susan’s comeback was being kept under wraps by ABS-CBN, led by the company’s Entertainment TV head Charo Santos-Concio who negotiated with Susan, and other people concerned. The big announcement would have been made next week yet during a presscon. The whole thing was so "very hush-hush" that even Dolphy and Maricel were, well, "kept in the dark," and it was only when the cast pictorial was set (for tomorrow) that Dolphy and Maricel were convinced that Susan had, indeed, accepted the offer.

It’s a casting coup, isn’t it?

So, let’s welcome back into our living rooms Her Majesty Susan Roces with a round of applause. In uncertain times like, we badly need a Face That Refreshes to brighten up our lives, don’t we?

Dinner with the Muñoz families

Besides April Boy Regino and Nora Aunor (watch for an exclusive Conversation and a special Showbiz Stripped episode with her). I also had a chance to reunite with the Muñoz families courtesy of my friend Patricia Garcia-Muñoz, widow of Louie Muñoz (younger brother of Tita Muñoz) and mother of Leandro and Carlo Muñoz who were nearing the peak of their careers when they decided to start life anew in the US three years ago after their father’s death.

I said Muñoz "families" because Leandro is now married, to Michelle "Chie" Cuyong, and so is Carlo, to actress Meg (Enid) Reyes (also a Star Circle member like the Muñoz brothers, including the youngest, Angelo, also now in the US leading his own separate life with his loved one).

By chance, Patricia texted me to say "Hi!" and when I texted back that I was in L.A. covering the international screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and the round of print/TV interviews with its stars (led by Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, subject of near-future Conversations), Patricia said, "I’ll kill you if you don’t come and have dinner with us."

Not wanting to be "killed" in America, I promptly said yes, of course, so we met at a Filipino restaurant called Pinoy Bistro near Artesia where Leandro and Chie are staying, together with Leandro’s 12-year-old daughter Chesca (from a previous relationship), Chie’s mom Yoly Cuyong who was visiting and Patricia who moved in from Bakersfield three Sundays ago.

Carlo and Meg, and their year-old son Joshua (my inaanak), live somewhere else; while Angelo and his loved one live "farther away," and taking a break at Napa Valley, thus unable to join the impromptu dinner which served as a blowout for Chesca who recently graduated from the Burbank Elementary School in Artesia where she’s an honor student (among her awards was the St. Mary’s Citizenship Award for having no absences, good conduct and academic excellence). A bookworm (wearing thick glasses), Chesca is ready for middle school this September.

Carlo and Meg’s son Joshua is vivong-vivo, very playful and lively, shrieking around the Pinoy Bistro while running from table to table, greeting the mostly Pinoy clients. "He has a good PR," said Carlo who, although a bit heavier, has retained his matinee-idol looks.

For his part, Leandro, who turned 30 last March 25, has grown more mature but still as good-looking as ever, proud of his well-toned physique, thanks to his regular visits to the gym on his way home from work.

Asked if they missed showbiz, Leandro and Carlo said yes, of course, they did, adding, "The acting part but not the tsismis and the intrigues."

Every now and then, they perform in shows/concerts topbilling artists "imported" from dear old Philippines and they said they will accept any offer for a movie shot in the US. (Either of the brothers would have been in the cast of Gil Portes’ Barcelona, until the script was rewritten and junked L.A. as part of the settings.) Carlo happily reported that he’s in the cast of a play called Americana, directed by Fe delos Reyes (who also stars in it) and produced by Jet Montelibano, Fe’s ex-husband.

I knew how much they missed showbiz when I set them up for an exclusive interview for Startalk (airing this Saturday, July 8, 2:30 to 4 p.m. on GMA). Together with their wives and children, plus their moms, Leandro and Carlo were in their element, acting just like in olden times even if it was only for my Panasonic videocam.

Asked when they’re coming home for a visit – and, why not, for a TV guesting or a movie – Leandro and Carlo’s eyes lit up.

"Sooner than expected," they said.

What’s up?

• From reader Cristina Gozon: When you were describing the physical looks of Brandon Routh (in Conversations with Ricky Lo), you made it sound like he’s the Greek mythical character Adonis. It was an exaggeration as you said. But in my opinion, from what I read I would aptly describe Brandon as modest, honest and down-to-earth. He talks a lot but with circumspect. I admire him for talking openly and affably about issues on Superman, his personal life, family and lovelife.

• From readert Kim: I watched Disney Channel Sunday last week, showing the movie High School Musical. One of the lead roles was played by Vanessa Anne Hudgens (as Gabriella). The story is similar to that of Grease but the focus is more on teenagers. Vanessa’s got a good singing voice and, good news, I found out that her mom is Filipino. Wow, talented talaga ang mga Pinoy!

• From reader Ferdie Nantes: How come Cito Beltran is no longer hosting ANC’s Straight Talk? Is it true that he’s transferring to GMA? (Answer: Cito is out of ABS-CBN. He now writes a column C Talk for The STAR. No word that GMA is hiring Cito.)

• From reader "ZzzzzzzzZ": No, Lia Ramos is not the first Bb. Pilipinas from Mindanao to represent the country in the Miss Universe Pageant (slated in L.A. on July 23). There was also Josephine Brown Estrada who’s from Basilan. Charina Zaragoza also comes from Mindanao (Zamboanga) although she grew up in Manila, and so is Margie Moran (from Zamboanga) who now stays most of the time in Davao City.

• Direk Joey Gosiengfiao would like to thank the following for helping him in his hour of need: Tape Inc. and Malou Fagar, German Moreno, Richard Gomez, Dina Bonnevie, Manny Valera, Joel Lamangan, Maryo delos Reyes, Joey Marquez, Douglas Quijano, Dondon Monteverde, Kris Aquino, Lily Monteverde, Sherida Monteverde, Roselle Monteverde, Goldwyn Monteverde, Albert Martinez, Meynard and Erlinda Halili, the Gosiengfiao cousins, Judy Ann Santos and Alfie Lorenzo.

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