IT WAS a spectacular extravaganza of a show as GMA-7 celebrated its 60th year in the broadcast industry via an anniversary special at the historic Araneta Coliseum on June 18.
Hundreds of the Kapuso Network's brightest stars and homegrown talents and industry pillars gathered to celebrate its milestones in 60 years of its existence, dubbed as "GMA at 60: The Heart of Television."
The result was a mammoth TV spectacular with the stars getting on the stage to perform mixed song and dance, with visual history on the backdrop, to trace GMA-7's colorful and remarkable history -- to the delight of thousands of spectators who filled the coliseum.
Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera have proven once again that they are the network's biggest stars. Their intimate dance number was the most applauded where the couple showed their dancing prowess by interpreting the love ditty "Endless Love," which is also the title of their upcoming primetime series on the Kapuso Network.
A bonus was the special song and dance number by the popular Korean pop group Beast that delighted their Filipino fans. Their song-and-dance number represents the invasion of Koreanovelas on Philippine television.
The upcoming show that is expected to soar in the ratings game -- the third season of Survivor Philippines -- was also applauded. Singers Jaya, Kris Lawrence, Brenan Espartinez, and Radha performed a song number to celebrate the return of the reality show, featuring the castaways of Seasons 1 and 2. Survivor Philippines' third season will be hosted by GMA's primetime king Richard Gutierrez. Dubbed as Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown, the castaways this time will be composed of celebrities.
Asia's songbird Regine Velasquez opened the show with her rendition of "History Repeating", followed by song numbers representing the different eras.
Marvin Agustin, Dennis Trillo, Keempee de Leon, and Paolo Ballesteros did a Beatles medley with the Popgirls to represent the '60s. Jennylyn Mercado and Glaiza de Castro did a disco medley with Gian Magdangal and Rochelle Pangilinan to relive the '70s.
Jolina Magdangal and Lovi performed Madonna's "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl" recalling the '80s; Jay-R and Elmo Magalona performed Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" and Bobby Brown's "Humpin' Around" represented the '90s; Kyla and Rachelle Ann Go belted out Beyonce's "Halo" and "Beautiful Nightmare" for the new millennium.
The KiliTV or comedy group came in next with theatrical showdown showcasing comedic moments and beloved characters from past and present sitcoms and gag shows shown on the network. Imagine top comedians Ogie Alcasid and Michael V (in a female costume) doing an opera-inspired number with their rendition of "O Sole Mio", a Neapolitan song popularized by tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
Ogie and Bitoy were joined by Rufa Mae Quinto, Benjie Paras, Sheena Halili, Moymoy Palaboy, and varsity player Jai Reyes, with video clips from Paolo Contis and Bearwin Meily. This segment, indeed, revived GMA's colorful comedy timeline.
The next segment of the show featured the Kapuso network's homegrown talents -- some of whom are products of the network's prestigious artista seach, Starstruck -- in a dance number, led by StarStruck grads Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, Ryza Cenon, Steven Silva, Sarah Lahbati, Enzo Pineda, Diva Montelaba, and Rocco Nacino; tween stars Joshua Dionisio, Barbie Forteza, Jhake Vargas, and Bea Binene; SexBomb Girls; pop groups SexBomb Girls and XLR8; and Pop Star Kids discoveries.
This segment also featured singers Gerald Santos, Jay Perillo, Lovi Poe, Sarah Lahbati, Joshua Desiderio, and Eva Castillo performed the theme songs of the most memorable Sine Novelas aired on GMA-7.
The next number was a vocal showdown among Frencheska Farr, in her mirrored costume, with her rendition of "Nais Ko", Jude Matthew Servilla ("Magsimula Ka"), Julia Ann San Jose ("Puso"), and La Diva ("Bitiw").
The GMA News and Public Affairs had an intensive video presentation of its achievements through the years, after which Kuh Ledesma and Sugarfree performed the news organization's theme song, "Panata".
A musical number by Gian Magdangal, Roxanne Barcelo, Gretchen Espina, Geoff Taylor, Miguel Escueta, Jay-R, and Regine Velasquez followed, with female lead stars of GMA's telebabad shows coming out in character: Marian Rivera as Darna, Iza Calzado as Amihan in Encantadia, Sunshine Dizon as Bakekang, Rhian Ramos in Lalola, Heart Evangelista as Luna Mystika, Kris Bernal as Lara in The Last Prince, and the love triangle of Mark Anthony Fernandez, TJ Trinidad, and Regine in Diva.
Other highlights of the evening included a presentation about GMA Pinoy TV recognizing its ever-increasing international reach, and the much-awaited announcement of the upcoming Kapuso programs to lord it on the boob tube for the rest of 2010.
New child discovery Jillian Ward had a very entertaining conversation with Dingdong Dantes to promote her afternoon soap Trudis Liit, which started airing on June 21. Reports have it that Jillian is the new darling of television, beating the competition in the ratings.
Catch the television airing of GMA at 60, The Heart of Television on Sunday, June 27 on SNBO after Kap's Amazing Stories.