‘Hoy! Bibig Mo’: You can’t say that on television

MANILA, Philippines — It’s no secret that comedy on TV is sanitized, policed by agencies and upper management before a punchline makes its way to the screen — which, when you think about it, is pretty unfunny.

When it comes to television, comedians are often on their toes, wary of treading even in the slightest, on the territory of forbidden jokes — no sex, politics, religion, illness, tragedy… and the list goes on. And while this is all in the interest of good old PC family-friendly fun, if we’re being honest, sometimes we like our gags a little raunchy.

Thank God for the Internet, then. The worldwide web has become a venting platform for comedians in all their foul-mouthed glory, and a haven for audiences looking for them. And just in case you were wondering where to get your fix of no-holds-barred, spankin’ hilarious, all-Pinoy comedic talent, iFlix’s Hoy! Bibig Mo promises all that and more.

Hoy! Bibig Mo is iFlix’s first comedy show of its kind, and the streaming service’s first foray into original content, gathering the country’s most talented standup comedians for a series of uncensored and savage fun. While fans of the local standup scene know where to find this brand of comedy around the metro, iFlix delivers the edgy humor to a larger audience, without making you lift so much as a leg from the bed.

The local streaming service gave a sample of the kind of humor viewers can expect from the show at Yes Please, in Bonifacio Global City on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Four of local improv group Comedy Manila’s most talented comedians — James Caraan, GB Labrador, Ryan Rems Sarita, and Alex Calleja — delivered rapid-fire punchlines, sending audiences home with bellyaches and jokes too good and too bad for TV.

Viewers won’t have to wait long to watch these comedians light up their laptop screens, as Hoy! Bibig Mo is coming out with eight episodes on Dec. 1. But remember to keep an open mind and a thick skin — no pearl-clutchers allowed.