Jaya spills SOP's internal problems; BandaOke! doing well

What's ailing GMA-7's Sunday musical-variety show SOP Fully Charged?



This question haunts even the show's remaining mainstays, with most of them seriously wondering that perhaps the changes implemented by management late last year caused more harm than good for the 13-year-old noontime show.



"We are going through something. Kaming mga talents, we're as confused as whoever. Kasi binago 'yong format, so hindi talaga namin alam kung anong pakiramdam ng viewers. Let's face it, it's not really rating as well as it used to," singer Jaya admitted in a sit-down interview with some members of the press held yesterday, January 19, at GMA Network Studios in Quezon City.



"Ang masasabi ko lang," she continued, "sana maakit namin ulit ang mga viewers because obviously, the other show [ABS-CBN's ASAP XV] is also very nice. And I also watch that show kasi siyempre gusto ko ring makita kung anong kaibahan sa amin."



Jaya particularly misses the program's trademark concert-like format which was significantly reduced to give way to modern segments tailor made for the young demographics.



"We used to sing well on put-together numbers. We used to have Basil [Valdez] come in, we used to have tiny orchestra. Bigay mo lang kung anong hindi makita ng tao sa Araneta [Coliseum] o ibang concert venues. Hindi ko din alam kung anong mali. Basta kami, we try to do our best na lang," said the singer-TV host.



Jaya—who had a string of OPM classic hits in the past like "Dahil Nga Ba Sa Kanya," "Laging Naro'n Ka," and "Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig," among others—refused to comment on rumors saying that SOP co-host Regine Velasquez is seriously thinking of leaving the show and even the network.



"Honestly, I haven't seen her in three weeks and wala namang nabanggit si Ogie [Alcasid, Regine's boyfriend]. Hindi ko alam, e. Huwag naman sana."



HAPPY WITH BANDAOKE. While Jaya is very vocal in expressing her discontent with SOP, the veteran singer on the flipside is very pleased with the strong showing of BandaOke: Rock n' Roll to Millions.



The said show replaced the long-running sing-along program All Star K! The 1 Million Peso Videoke Challenge, which was also hosted by Jaya and stand-up comedian Allan K. BandaOke is aired every Sunday after Mel & Joey.



Complementing the singing duo are young performers Geoff Taylor, Francheska Farr, Jay Perillo, and the BandOke Band.



"Malakas pa rin naman ang viewership and nag-e-enjoy kami. The band, considering na bata sila, natututo na talaga silang sumabak sa ganitong klaseng show," said Jaya.



She added, "Ang BandaOke is really doing okay... Masaya kami. Walang nabago, it's the same company, same fun, same friendship—mas lumalim pa nga. Feeling namin, talagang blessed kami na magkaroon ng dalawang show kasi maraming struggling. Masaya kami na may pinagkakakitaan kami na marangal and masaya."