MANILA, Philippines – Celebrities pitted against each other, although not literally, but in a TV contest, is always a run-down hit. No wonder, Lip Sync Battle Philippines (LSB), the latest musical reality competition that premiered on GMA Network, has undoubtedly been a weekend, primetime winner even after only its pilot episode.
Hosted by Michael V, with Iya Villania as Color Commentator, Lip Sync Battle Philippines pits two celebrities against each other in a lip synching showdown for two rounds, with the audience deciding on who will win at the end.
The show is a spin-off of a segment in The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, which was introduced by actor John Krasinski. John and his actress-wife, Emily Blunt, were contemplating on what to do in the show for his guest appearance and the idea to lip-synch came about.
Jimmy Fallon apparently loved the concept so he made it a recurring segment in his show. Being consistently well-received, the segment eventually evolved into a full-length TV program developed by John and Stephen Merchant. It didn’t take long before the show, hosted by singer-rapper LL Cool J, became a “legitimate hit.”
So far, A-list Hollywood celebrities who have graced the show included Tom Cruise, Channing Tatum, Justin Bieber, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Anne Hathaway and John Legend, among others.
Today, Lip Sync Battle has paved the way for a number of international TV franchises — China, Chile, Canada. Indonesia, United Kingdom, Poland and, most recently, the Philippines.
In the pilot, Michael V gave a sampling of lip-synching by aping celebrities such as Taylor Swift (Shake It Off), Idina Menzel (Let It Go) and Miley Cyrus (Wrecking Ball), complete with costumes. Yes, he donned Elsa’s trademark, powder-blue gown in Frozen. His co-host, Iya, did her share with a few rap numbers.
Michael V can brag that he and Iya are the only hosts who have performed lip-synched numbers in the show. Not even LL Cool J has done a lip-synch number in the original program in Hollywood.
“Kapal ng mukha at todo bigay ang kailangan dito,” Michael V seemingly warned the celebrity contestants. The winner at the end of the show gets the LSB championship belt.
The country’s hottest leading men, Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez, went head-on with the lip-synching battle in the pilot episode. Popularly known as Tom-Den, they were best remembered in the primetime tele-series, My Husband’s Lover, which also starred Carla Abellana.
“Dito kami magkakasubukan,” teased Dennis before his number. “Dati acting, ngayon singing and performance.”
Dennis gamely rapped Andrew E’s Andrew Ford Medina, with Jennylyn making a surprise guest appearance. Dennis was even heard shouting the lyrics of the rap song, proof that he really memorized his piece.
Tom displayed the rocker in him, as he performed Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name and even stage dived towards the end of the number. In the second round, Tom donned a leopard print frock a la Scary Spice Mel B and sang Wanna Be, with Rafael Rosell, Dion Ignacio, Billy James and JC Tiuseco as the other “Spice Girls.”
“Kami lang ho ang Spice Girls na may buhok sa kili-kili,” Tom smilingly said after his number.
Dennis, meanwhile, performed Chandelier, a la Australian singer Sia, highlighted by literally hanging from a huge chandelier while singing. That made Tom, as well as the entire audience, ecstatic. It was the first time for Dennis to display his terpsichorean talent, much to the delight of the adoring crowd. Apparently, that gave Dennis the LSB championship belt at the end of the show.
Michael V assured participants they don’t have to have the best voice, what is important is that they’re “game” to perform.
Lip Sync Battle completes the back-to-back weekend primetime treat with Michael V, starting earlier with his long-running sitcom, Pepito Manaloto, Saturdays on GMA Network. For more showbiz news from TFC Filipino Channel – Please visit this link to subscribe: PINOY ONLINE TV
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