Mel Tiangco (Contributed photo by Carl Valenzona)Mel Tiangco confirmed that her Sunday talk show with Joey de Leon, “Mel and Joey,” has been cancelled.
But the veteran host and news anchor said she prefers to look at the cancellation as a “retirement” for the almost seven-year-old show.
“I would like to say it was retired more than cancelled, because it has been so long. The show has been on for so long,” she said in an interview with members of the press during an event for GMA Kapuso Foundation's online Celebrity Ukay-Ukay.
Mel added, “The network wants to put also a talent show on that timeslot.”
Talent shows have become a weekend staple for both ABS-CBN and TV 5 with “Pilipinas Got Talent” and “Talentadong Pinoy,” respectively.
Understanding network's decision
The “24 Oras” anchor said she understands the network's decision. “Syempre, nag-iiba na yung genre ng mga shows,” she said.
According to a report published in an online entertainment website early this week, the day the show's staff and crew were informed about cancellation was also the show's last taping day. The report also said Mel cried over the news.
However, Mel denied this report, adding that she had known about the eventual “retirement” of “Mel and Joey” months ago.
“I knew months ago. I knew already, I was called by the management... It's not true that I was told only on that day,” she said.
She did, however, admit that she became emotional that day. Mel, after all, has been in that same timeslot for more than two decades.
Before “Mel and Joey” aired in 2004, she co-hosted a Sunday talk show with Jay Sonza titled “Mel and Jay.” The show first aired on 1987 on ABS-CBN and then, after a very brief hiatus, transferred to GMA in 1997 with the title “Partners Mel and Jay.”
In 2004, the show ran without Jay, who ran as a senatorial candidate, as “Partners with Mel Tiangco.” After a few months, Mel was partnered with Joey de Leon. The show became “Mel and Joey.”
24 years in the slot
“I have been on this slot for the past 24 years. 'Mel and Joey' is only six years. I've been in this slot for 24 years, and there have been more than 1000 episodes. So it just occurred to me na, my God, you know, people have been letting me into their homes every Sunday for the past 24 years,” she said.
Mel continued, “Na-ano ba ako, na-senti ako na now I am leaving them. I feel like, di ba when you're in a home, you're a guest and you enjoy the company, you enjoy the home, you enjoy the people there. Tapos aalis ka? So dun ako naiyak. Imagine, 24 years in that timeslot. Literally, tumanda na ako sa timeslot na yun.”
Did the network promise a replacement program for her with the cancellation of “Mel and Joey”? Mel said she felt the replacement came even before the show ended.
“I already have 'Powerhouse' na nga e,” she said.
“Powerhouse” is a weekly lifestyle show on GMA News TV.
She added, “They said they're conceptualizing a show for me. I don't know what that is and I don't where that will come.”
Besides “Powerhouse,” Mel is a co-anchor on GMA's daily primetime newscast “24 Oras.” She is also the Executive Vice President and COO of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.
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