After Hay Bahay, Vic Sotto will soon be back on the sitcom scene via his latest offering titled, Daddy’s Gurl in which Maine Mendoza and Wally Bayola are co-starring.
“I felt I needed to take a break from doing sitcoms. If I were to do a new one, it should be something different. I’m proud to say that Daddy’s Gurl fits the bill, so to speak,” he says.
According to the ace comedian-host, his new program is a step higher than his previous ones.
“In terms of production and technicalities, this is really different. It’s not a studio sitcom like my past shows. We are on location. We have huge Manila scenes. It’s exciting because we’re shooting it like a movie. We have a Photography Director for the show. It’s a big-budget sitcom.”
It took him some time to come up with a new sitcom because he was thinking of a new kind of entertainment that he could offer his audience. He’s also looking for the right people to work with and is glad that Chris Martinez accepted his offer to be the director.
“He handled me in last year’s Meant To ‘Beh and I discovered his great comedic touch. As we brainstormed, we felt that it’s the right time to do another sitcom so we pitched it in with GMA and presto! Here we are.”
How did Maine and Wally enter the scene?
“They were cast after we finalized the concept. In the story, I’m Barak Otogan and Maine plays my daughter Visitacion while Wally is my wife Marikit.”
So, Wally plays a woman character in here. How come?
“When we were at the height of conceptualizing the show, Wally was very hot as Lola Nidora. I told my team that I wanted her to be my wife in the new sitcom. People already accept her in that role and he’s very effective in it.”
It’s a must for Vic to be part of the creative process of his sitcoms.
“That’s why I always co-produce them through my M-Zet Production. This one, I’ve collaborated with GMA and APT Entertainment. I don’t want half-baked output in my programs so I have to be involved with the creative aspect to ensure that everything’s 100 percent. I feel responsible for that.”
Apart from Maine and Wally, his son Oyo Sotto and comedian Benjie Paras are part of the cast.
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Asked about the possibility of doing a reunion project with perennial screen partner Judy Ann Santos, Piolo Pascual is optimistic that it will materialize eventually.
“I already told Juday that I’m available anytime whenever she’s ready. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will push through before we get really old,” he reveals.
According to the actor, there are a few materials for their screen tandem to work on. In fact, Charo Santos is pitching in several materials which have interesting story lines.
“There are really lots of exciting concepts out there. We are just waiting for the right time.”
Meanwhile, it’s noticeable that in their weekly sitcom Home Sweetie Home, there’s a brewing love angle between his and Toni Gonzaga’s characters. It is public knowledge that he came into the scene after John Lloyd Cruz left the show to take an indefinite leave from the ‘biz. In the sitcom, Toni and Lloydie are a married couple.
“This is the reason why we asked people, the viewers and even our friends who watch the show what their thoughts on such development. It can’t be that abrupt. Not because John Lloyd is no longer in the cast means a new love team will be established. We’re still considering the Filipino values we ought to impart to the viewers. At the end of the day, we still want to cater to the Filipino family.