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Eat Bulaga!

Eat Bulaga! (transl.  eat surprise!; stylized as Eat... Bulaga!) is a Philippine television noontime variety show currently broadcast on TV5 and simulcast on RPTV. Originally hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, with Chiqui Hollmann and Richie D'Horsie, the show premiered on July 30, 1979, at Radio Philippines Network.

This article is about the variety show broadcast on TV5 and RPTV. For its temporary predecessor show that aired on TV5 from 2023 to 2024, see E.A.T. (TV program).

Eat Bulaga!

  • Eat... Bulaga! (1979–2004; stylized in all caps since 2024)
  • EB (2018–2023)

Variety show

  • Tyrene Delgado
  • Callie Agustin
  • Michelle Camara
  • Jeyna Azugui

  • Poochie Rivera[1] (since 1986)
  • Pat Plaza (since 2002)
  • Bert de Leon (until 2021)[2]
  • Norman Ilacad (until 2023)
  • Moty Apostol (2023–2024)

  • Jeny Ferre[3] (since 1994)
  • Renato Aure Jr. (2023–2024)

  • Peter Musñgi (1989–1995)
  • Tom Alvarez (since 1997)
  • "Long Tall" Howard Medina (1979–1997)
  • Show Suzuki (2023–2024)
  • Mitch "Super Mitch" Amurao (since 2024)

Vic Sotto

  • "Eat Bulaga!" (since 1982; since 2024, revised lyrics)
  • "It Bulaga" (1979–1982)
  • "Tahanang Pinakamasaya, Eat Bulaga!" (2023–2024)

Philippines

Tagalog

  • Liza Marcelo-Lazatin
  • Rod dela Cruz

  • Tito Sotto (since 2024)
  • Vic Sotto (since 2024)
  • Joey de Leon (since 2024)

Multiple-camera setup

150–180 minutes

July 30, 1979 (1979-07-30) –
present

It is the longest-running noontime variety show in the Philippines. Eat Bulaga! is currently produced by TVJ Productions, Inc. and led by the Sotto brothers and De Leon with their co-hosts, Allan K., Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Maine Mendoza, Miles Ocampo, Carren Eistrup, and Atasha Muhlach, collectively known as “Legit Dabarkads".[7][4][8]


On January 5, 2024, the Marikina RTC Branch 273 issued a permanent injunction to prevent TAPE Inc. from using Eat Bulaga! on GMA Network, and prior to the court's decision, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines cancelled TAPE's EB trademark renewal and credited TVJ as the rightful owner of Eat Bulaga! on December 5, 2023.[9][10]

(since 1979)[66]

Tito Sotto

(since 1979)[66]

Vic Sotto

(since 1979)[66]

Joey de Leon

(since 1994)[66]

Jose Manalo

(since 1995)[66]

Allan K.

(since 2000)[66]

Wally Bayola

(since 2001)[66]

Paolo Ballesteros

(since 2009)[66]

Ryan Agoncillo

(since 2012)[66]

Ryzza Mae Dizon

(since 2015)[66]

Maine Mendoza

(since 2022)[56]

Miles Ocampo

(since 2023)[66]

Carren Eistrup

(since 2024)[76]

Atasha Muhlach

Ang Angkan ni David (April 10–13, 1990)

Eat Bulaga! airs special episodes of Lenten Drama during Holy Week, replacing live broadcasts, which are regularly suspended during the week. The drama specials began airing since 1981 and, like the noontime show itself, it is produced by TAPE, Inc. until 2020, and by TVJ Productions since 2024.

Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the show had its highest rating on October 24, 2015, with a 50.8% rating during the Tamang Panahon special.[105]

On September 2, 2013, a video of host, Wally Bayola, was posted online where he appeared to be having an affair with an EB Babe dancer. It led to Bayola's immediate suspension from the show for five months. He returned to the show on February 8, 2014.

[106]

On September 5, 2013, the (MTRCB) called the show's producers for a mandatory conference over "insensitive and unfriendly" scenes involving hosts Vic Sotto and Ryzza Mae Dizon.[107]

Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

On July 9, 2016, MTRCB summoned the show's personnel after the remarks of host Tito Sotto's during the Juan for All, All for Juan segment, where a contestant shared her past sexual abuse, leading to accusations of Sotto promoting rape culture and victim shaming.

[108]

In October 2017, host Joey De Leon apologized after his statement in the show, about depression as a "made-up illness". He said his family explained the seriousness of his statements on the mental illness that has claimed thousands of lives.

[109]

On May 31, 2023, the show's original hosts – Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon – announced their resignation from TAPE Inc. after they were barred from airing the show live. It was followed by the resignation of the show's other hosts and production members. In August 2023, it led to an investigation by the MTRCB to ensure compliance on broadcasting regulations.[111]

[110]

On June 2, 2023, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon filed a petition for the cancellation of TAPE Inc.'s trademark renewal for the title "Eat Bulaga!". On December 5, 2023, the ' Bureau of Legal Affairs cancelled the trademark renewal and credited Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and de Leon as the owner of the title "Eat Bulaga!".[112]

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines

On June 30, 2023, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon filed a copyright infringement and unfair competition case against TAPE Inc. and for "unauthorized airing" of the show and "misuse" of the title Eat Bulaga!.[3] On January 6, 2024, the Regional Trial Court branch 273 of Marikina ordered TAPE Inc. and GMA Network to cease the usage of the trademarks such as EB, Eat Bulaga and the Eat Bulaga theme song, in its programming, as the petition of De Leon, Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto on its copyright case was granted.[70]

GMA Network

On September 9, 2023, TAPE Inc. gained access to the account of the show, while Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon planned to file legal action against TAPE Inc. for its "forced" acquisition of the YouTube account, an action deemed to constitute as cybercrime.[113]

YouTube

List of accolades received by Eat Bulaga!

TVJ Productions

TV5

MediaQuest Holdings

Media related to Eat Bulaga! at Wikimedia Commons

at IMDb

Eat Bulaga!