Bubble Gang

Bubble Gang is the longest-running Philippine comedy sketch gag show airing on GMA Network since October 20, 1995. It is the longest-running sketch comedy program on Philippine television. The show shot up to popularity for their parodies of television commercials, politicians and current events. The show also airs internationally via GMA Pinoy TV, while re-runs are aired via Fox Filipino.

Development
Bubble Gang first aired on GMA Network on October 20, 1995. It was inspired by the ABC's gag show Tropang Trumpo. Two of its first cast members; Ogie Alcasid and Michael V. came from that show. The show occupied the Friday night timeslot of the now-defunct musical variety show, Vilma!. The cast of the show where: Aiko Melendez, and Eric Fructuoso, and newcomers Susan Lozada, Assunta De Rossi, Jackie De Guzman, Wendell Ramos and Antonio Aquitania (who were hired by the late GMA talent manager, Douglas Quijano) who is one of the first casts of Bubble Gang with Alcasid and Michael V. on their early days. There were two extras in the show, such as Diego Llorico, who was working as a production assistant to the show, currently also a segment producer, & Susan Lozada's personal assistant Marissa "Mykah" Flores, she was eventually one of Wendell Ramos love interest.



Broadcast
During its first year, it was shown around seven in the evening and carried a slogan "Bubble Gang: Just Chew It!" The show gained popularity in 1996. The so-called "Bubble Gang Mania" rapidly caught on when it spoofed the sprouting of Mexican telenovelas in Philippine television which proved to be successful ratings-wise. Instead of riding on with the trend, they goofed around the concept and made their mark as the site of the biggest gathering of soap spoofs, it introduced two segments such as Miyusik Tagalog Bersiyon & Miyusik English Versiyon which Michael V. translates songs to Tagalog/English literally, the latter would later make an album with the same title which was released in 1997. In later months of 1998, Bubble Gang came up with an idea to parody the religious program, Ang Dating Daan into Ang Dating Doon were the latter religious show was popular that time. They originally intended to quote the Bible, but because of religious sensitivities, they just decided to quote English fairy tales and Tagalog nursery rhymes and make fun of it.

In July 20, 2012, the show made a tribute to Dolphy, the King of Philippine Comedy, a week after the actor's death. The tribute was made to honor Dolphy's contribution to Philippine Comedy.

In July 19, 2013, after the months of rumors over Ogie Alcasid's transfer to TV5, he finally left the show, despite his Pick Up Line segment was over, his friend & cast member Michael V. remarks on saying "No one can replace Ogie as Boy Pick-up".

In early 2013, the show launched its talent search called Bagong Gang: The Search for the New Recruits, Joyce Ching (cast member of the now-defunct Bubble Gang Jr.), Jan Manual, RJ Padilla, Juancho Trivino, Arny Ross, and Protege winner Denise Barbacena were among the other contestants.

The show celebrates its 18th anniversary and dubbed the two part special as "Barely Legal", on October 7, 2013, in the Republiq Club in Resorts World Manila. The show introduces new cast such as Chariz Solomon, Carla Abellana, Paolo Contis, Mikael Daez, Andrea Torres, Max Collins, Sef Cadayona, and Betong Sumaya, and new segments such as Ikaw at ang Ina, Lala Ytera, Atlit, Istambay sa Looban, & Antonietta. Bagong Gang contestant Denise Barbacena & Jan Manual won the contest & now part of the show, with Ching, Padilla, Trivino, and Ross also joining the cast, coincidentally, numbers of the cast members are 20+ more. For its 18th year on Philippine Television, the show surpass its other comedy shows such as T.O.D.A.S. of IBC-13 (which ran for 1 decade) and John En Marsha of RPN-9 (which was ran for 17 years).

On October 24, 2014, the show will celebrate its 19th anniversary and dubbed as "19 B.C." with an ancient Sparta theme

Format
The format of the show emphasizes pop culture parody. Skits and sketches are performed in a manner similar to other variety shows. Creative director and mainstay Michael V., according to him, picked up the idea from ordinary Filipinos. It also spoofs other shows and commercials, and it also takes on other celebrities and political figures.

Cast

 * Main cast members


 * Michael V. (1995–present)


 * [[Joe Marasigan (1995–present)


 * Antonio Aquitania (1995–present)


 * Diego Llorico (1996–present)


 * Myka Flores (1997–present)


 * Rufa Mae Quinto (2001–present)


 * Boy 2 Quizon (2003–present)


 * Moymoy Palaboy (2008-present)


 * Sam Pinto (2010–present)


 * Jackie Rice (2010–present)


 * Gwen Zamora (2010–present)


 * Paolo Contis (2012–present)


 * Betong Sumaya (2012–present)


 * Chariz Solomon (2012–present)


 * Andrea Torres (2012–present)


 * Mikael Daez (2012–present)


 * Max Collins (2012–present)


 * Sef Cadayona (2013–present)


 * Joyce Ching (2013–present)


 * Juancho Trivino (2013–present)


 * Jan Manual (2013–present)


 * Denise Barbacena (2013–present)


 * Arny Ross (2013–present)


 * RJ Padilla (2013–present)


 * Extended cast members


 * Isko Salvador (1998–2000, 2005, 2011–present)


 * Cesar Cosme (1998–2000, 2005, 2011–present)


 * Chito Francisco (1998–2000, 2005, 2011–present)


 * Jacky Woo (2007–present)


 * Eri Neeman (2012–present)


 * Former cast members


 * Sunshine Cruz (1995–1996)


 * Aiko Melendez (1995–1998)


 * Susan Lozada (1995–1998)


 * Eric Fructuoso (1995–2000)


 * Wowie De Guzman (1995)


 * Maricar De Mesa (1995–2000)


 * Assunta de Rossi (1995–2002)


 * Jackie de Guzman (1995-1998)


 * Shirley Fuentes (1996–1998)


 * Luis Alandy (1998–1999)


 * Francis Magalona (1998)


 * Amanda Page (1998–2000)


 * Aya Medel (1998–2000)


 * Angelika dela Cruz (2000-2001)


 * Sherilyn Reyes (1998–2002)


 * Toni Gonzaga (1998–2004)


 * Mark Herras (2007-2008)


 * Ara Mina (1998–2008)


 * Diana Zubiri (2003–2009)


 * Daiana Menezes (2009–2010)


 * Francine Prieto (2005–2010)


 * Wendell Ramos (1995–2011)


 * Ogie Alcasid (1995–2013)


 * Maureen Larrazabal (2002–2013)


 * Ellen Adarna (2010-2013)


 * Carla Abellana (2013-2014)

Characters and segments
Some of the current and recurring characters portrayed in the show:


 * Mr. Assimo


 * Brothers Pete, Willie, and Jocel


 * Donya Ina Moran


 * Selphie Moran


 * Antonietta


 * Tata Lino


 * Lalaytera


 * Den, Daffy and Berwin Tolfu

Some of the current and recurring segments of the show:


 * Ang Dating Doon (2 times a month)


 * Commercial Spoofs


 * Iyo Tube


 * Mr. Assimo


 * Ikaw at ang Ina


 * Atlit


 * Istambay sa Looban


 * T3 Niyo

Spin-offs

 * Comedy show


 * Bubble Gang Jr. — Bubble Gang Jr. was short-lived comedy show based on Bubble Gang but featured child actors as comedians. It premiered on July 19, 2005.


 * Television films


 * DoSeNa — A HD television film to celebrate the show's 12th anniversary. DoSeNa literally means 'Dose Na' or 'It's Twelve' in English. Coincidentally, "Dosena" is also a Filipino word for a "dozen".


 * Bungallow - A HD halloween television film to celebrate the show's 15th anniversary.


 * Movies


 * Yaya and Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie — a film based on a Bubble Gang sketch with the same name. It premiered in theaters on September 23, 2009 before the 14th Anniversary.


 * Boy Pick-Up: The Movie - a film based on the 'undefeated' character Boy Pick-Up from the 'Pick-Up Lines' sketch. It premiered on June 6, 2012.


 * Others


 * Hole in the Wall — Hole in the Wall is a Philippine version of the American game show series with the same name that aired in 2009. Though not literally a spin-off, the show is hosted by Yaya and Angelina, portrayed by Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid respectively, two of the famous characters in Bubble Gang.

DVD release
The series was released onto DVD-format by GMA Records. The DVD contained "the best of the best" episodes of Bubble Gang throughout the years. The DVD was released in 2009.

Character spoof
In September 2002, the show was sued by L.A. Lopez after the show made a character spoof, a retarded man known as "El Aye Lopez", of the latter in 2001. The spoof, according to Lopez, caused him to be affected much emotionally. Lopez was also asking 5 million pesos for damages and a public apology from the show. The case was later dismissed.

Rape as a joke
In April 1, 2011 episode, Bubble Gang depicted rape as a funny and amusing experience. The show received negative criticisms about this. One who criticized the show was Norma P. Dolloga of Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan and Kasimbayan Women’s Collective. She said in an open letter sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "'Bubble Gang,' in projecting rape as a funny experience, was not only insensitive to and inconsiderate of the feelings and status of the victims of rape, it further promoted violence against women. It trivialized the suffering and pain of rape victims. Must the producer, director, script writer, and even the actors and actresses, and the whole management of the show be reminded of the agonies that rape victims go through? Did they even consider the feelings of a health worker gang raped in Mindanao? Of Nicole who was dumped like a pig in a dark corner of a pier with her pants down and referred to by a companion of her rapist as a “bitch? Of Sarah Balabagan who had to defend herself from the sexual advances of her employer? Of the comfort women of World War II? Of the women who were imprisoned and raped during the martial law days? Of the Filipino women raped during the Gulf War in 1991? Of OFW women who are being sexually abused by their masters and treated like slaves?" Furthermore she iterated, "Broadcast media are a very influential medium, and they can teach their viewers the value of social responsibility. Television programs should promote and develop critical minds instead of a decadent culture." On a closing statement she said, "The violence of rape is no joke." The issue was again brought up after an ABS-CBN talent, Vice Ganda, made a joke about Jessica Soho being raped.

Sexually sensitive comedy sketch
Michael V. and Rufa Mae Quinto, along with GMA Network's executives, were summoned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman Atty. Eugenio Villareal for a mandatory conference after over a sexually sensitive comedy sketch called "The Adventures of Susie Lualhati" (where Quinto played the role as Susie) aired in the show's November 29, 2013 episode. The chair of MTRCB was alarmed after what he had found of a derogatory and discriminatory portrayal of a woman in the said episode. Michael V., Quinto, and the GMA executives met with MTRCB on December 9, 2013 and was able to discuss the issue. It was agreed in the meeting that Bubble Gang will submit proposed measures that will ensure audiences about gender-sensitivity contents by December 16.