Banana Split: Another serving of fun and laughter

To laugh out loud while exchanging banter in front of the grinding cameras, clown around with the guests to their hearts’ content and scream in delight to belly-aching dialogues are among the things they get to do away from the serious, dramatic roles they often play onscreen.

Angelica Panganiban, Cristine Reyes, Dianne Medina and Princess Ryan, four of the seven all-female stars of Banana Split, don’t even feel there is work to be done whenever they are on the set of ABS-CBN’s latest gag show, to air Saturday nights starting Oct. 11. 

“I’ve been doing drama (roles) for more than 15 years and this is a good breaker for me every week. Here, I can loosen up a bit and feel how sweet it is to live without anything to do but laugh,” Angelica says.

Those piercing glances, too, which televiewers hate to see when she plays Scarlett dela Reya on Iisa Pa Lamang, get to soften in amusement while the scheming ways of her bratty character turn out to be naughty every time Angelica and co-stars put their male guest under a compromising yet funny situation.  

“I used to guest in comedy shows, but it is only now that I realized how nice it is to be part of a show like this; nalalaro mo talaga yung buong sitcom,” she adds.

It also brings back the happy memories of Ang TV and Kaybol days during the early part of her career. “I’m so young then and just took it as some kind of play but now I make sure that I do my part well.”

Cristine, on the other hand, has never been so carefree while at work as it is her first time to be in a gag show. Her sexy image has made her play alluring roles on the big and small screen more often than show her comic side.

“I’m enjoying every minute on the set. I don’t know but it seems all the positive vibes are coming in and you tend to forget all your worries,” Cristine says.

Hence, the rumor that she committed suicide due to her break-up with Dennis Trillo proved to be wrong. Cristine was recently hospitalized because of over fatigue and not because of a heartbreak.

“How can I do that? There are still many people who care about me especially here (ABS-CBN). Sobrang welcome ako dito,” she says.

Meanwhile, Dianne and Princess agree they hit it off well the first time they met.

“Our workshops made us more at ease with each other. So when taping comes kulitan na and we really bond usually in the dressing room,” Princess shares.

“I’m alone in the dressing room but I always go to Angelica and Roxanne (Guinoo)’s room and eat their food,” Cristine butts in.

“Yeah, she (Cristine) eats so much rice but look at her she is so slim. How I wish I am like her,” Angelica muses. 

Banana Split is a spin off of Goin’ Bananas, a hit gag show in the ‘80s that starred Christopher de Leon, Jay Ilagan, Johnny Delgado and Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz. This time, televiewers will enjoy another serving of fun and laughter through a series of naughty comedy skits. It will be combined with the girls’ sexiness and beauty. Each week, the comedy sketches will revolve around its male guest.   

But directors Bobot and son Frasco hasten to add that the show is not a sex comedy but dwells more on the naughty side.

“This is a female version of our show then. All seven girls are beautiful and sexy but we make sure televiewers will notice their ability to act hilariously. They are actors doing comedy,” direk Bobot explains.

“It doesn’t mean we have to flaunt our bodies week after week but what is important is to make our audience laugh and show them that we, too, can be funny. Face pa lang namin sexy na,” Angelica quips.  

Do they expect to equal if not surpass the popularity of Goin’ Bananas?

“I remember watching Goin’ Bananas. In fact, my dad used to bring me to tapings also here in ABS,” direk Frasco says. The kind of jokes they had is now impossible to do because that time anything goes on TV. Times have changed and our televiewers are always looking for something new. Hopefully, our show will sustain their interest because it is different from the ones that air on TV these days.”

Banana Split also stars RR Enriquez and Valerie Concepcion.