Nandoon ba si Lolit Solis?
That was Arnold “Igan” Clavio asking on his and Ali Sotto’s DZBB Double A sa Double B program Tuesday morning, the day after the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas where host Steve Harvey committed the big booboo by announcing Miss Colombia as the winner and Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach as first runner-up, only to apologize two minutes later that there was a terrible, terrible mix-up.
Now, if you didn’t get Arnold’s joke, that simply meant that you were not born yet in 1994 when Madame Solis, everybody’s Nanay Lolit, pulled a stunt that predated Harvey’s historic slip (hehehehe!!!).
So far, almost every aspect of Pia’s life and career has been squeezed dry after she bagged the third Miss U crown for the country, breaking a 42-year drought since Margie Moran won in 1973 (four years after Gloria Diaz did in 1969). Said Pia, “After a 42-year drought, it finally reigns!” (read: rains)
Time to hear what local TV hosts have to say about Steve Harvey.
- KRIS AQUINO: Fault nung nag-print ng cue card. Font was so small, and fault ng on-the-floor na head writer for not briefing clearly. Director or floor director or accounting firm should have been very close para immediate correction. I’m a Steve Harvey fan. I’ve read his books. He acts like a lady, thinks like a man and talks straight (no chaser).
- JESSICA SOHO: I didn’t get to watch the live telecast because I was busy preparing macaroni salad for my program staff and news personnel. But that was really unfortunate for Miss Philippines and Miss Colombia. And the host! How could he possibly live that down??? But as a TV producer and host, I can say that these things really happen, especially when it’s LIVE. The important thing is, it was resolved and, hopefully, peacefully.
- KAREN DAVILA: What happened to Steve Harvey will go down in the Miss Universe history and I would not wish it to happen to anyone. We’re all human, we make mistakes. I wonder though what happened in the four minutes, why it took so long for him and the pageant organizers to correct it. But I admire Steve for taking sole responsibility for his mistake on live TV, for apologizing, going on Twitter and even for personally speaking to the contestants right after. Shows good character.
- JOEY DE LEON: Akala ko nga may “Wow Mali!” pa, eh! Well, parang traffic lights ‘yan, red (READ) muna before you GO!
- MIKE ENRIQUEZ: It can happen to anyone anytime. Live hosting requires quick and sharp thinking. And most especially FOCUS from the very first second of the program to the very last. The audience deserves nothing less.
- EDU MANZANO: Being a TV host myself that is always one of the greatest fears. Live hosting is much more difficult than people think. There is no take two. Mispronouncing a name, title or relevant info is a nightmare. It’s an accident waiting to happen.
- JULIUS BABAO: I really find it hard to understand why it happened. The hard copy of the result was in his hand and it was even on the teleprompter. There was even a floor director to assist him with his concerns about the decision. So why announce something that was not even there? Maybe his mind was floating somewhere else or he had a crush on Miss Colombia. It was a major blunder and he would have to deal with the repercussions.
- SUSAN ENRIQUEZ: Actually, what happened to Harvey was something na hindi gugustuhin ng sino mang host na mangyari sa kanyang career. I wonder what he is going through now.
- PIA GUANIO: It’s human. Everyone makes mistakes. What’s important is that he owned up to it.
- PAOLO BEDIONES: What happened to Steve is every pageant host’s nightmare. Announcing the wrong winner is a product of several factors, possibly including insufficient technical and dress rehearsals, inefficient communication between director and stage/floor managers and the host, lack of clarification as to how to go about the announcement and sheer excitement that may have clouded better judgment. To find fault solely with Steve is a rather unfair.
But because he was the face of the pageant as the master of ceremonies, much of the blame fell on him and he did man up and admit to his mistake. It would have been avoided though if he kept asking producers questions and continuously clarified what would take place and how he should go about it. The layout as well of results was pretty confusing. Separate envelopes should have been used per title and runner-up.
What truly saddens me though is how the gaffe seems to have eclipsed what is one of our finest moments in beauty-pageant history. Pia has a wonderful story to tell about resilience and perseverance. When people said it couldn’t be done, she believed in herself enough to make her dream come true. What a person! What a human being! What a woman! Congratulations, Pia. A victory truly well deserved.
= LOLIT SOLIS: Naku, very dramatic, very human, dahil kahit pinaka-mahusay na host nagkakamali. At least unforgettable ang Miss U crown ni Pia. Love it! Taas rating kahit paulit-ulit mo pinapanood, hahaha!!!
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)