PNS — A year after Ok Fine Whatever went off the air, Aga Muhlach—together with Bayani Agbayani, Roderick Paulate, Nova Villa, and Precious Lara Quigaman—returns to television with a new sitcom, That’s My Doc.
The new Kapamilya show tells the story of a handsome pediatrician, Agaton Abogado, who left the country to become a nurse in the United States. Hounded by homesickness, he decides to return to his homeland, back to his quirky neighborhood.
“It is a sitcom that will not only make viewers laugh, but it will also tackle health-related concerns and issues on the side. Since Aga is playing the role of a pediatrician, viewers will be able to pick up bits of medical tips,” said the show’s executive producer, Alou Almaden.
She also clarified that That’s My Doc is not a sequel to the defunct Okidokidok, which also starred Aga Muhlach.
TV DRAMAS. Aga’s TV hiatus allowed him to spend more time with his family—his wife Charlene Gonzales and kids Atasha and Andres. Won’t he miss spending time with them now that he has a regular show again?
“Kailangan pa rin natin maghanap-buhay, siyempre. It’s been the same schedule I’ve had for the past seven or eight years. Isang pelikula ang ginagawa ko sa isang taon, isa lang naman talaga ang TV show ko parati,” he noted.
Aga admitted that the question of schedule is one of the reasons he has never accepted teleserye work.
“I cannot act sa TV na drama. Hindi ko kaya ‘yong schedule ng shoot ng soaps na naririnig ko. You shoot one sequence after the other, tapos you tape parang halos four-five times a week. Parang you’re working seven in the morning ‘til five or six in the morning the following day. And then the day after, ganoon na naman. Parang hindi ko kaya ‘yon. Tsaka hindi ko kaya ‘yong iyak, tapos tawa, tapos iyak, tapos tawa… Mahirap. Parang hindi ko kayang maging teknikal,” he explained.
NETWORK WARS. That’s My Doc will be aired on Sunday nights, after Sharon, starting July 29. It has the same timeslot with GMA-7’s long-running Daddy Didodu, top billed by Vic Sotto. Daddy Didodu is said to be reformatting in time for its new rival’s premiere.
“Siguro unang-una, we’re not here to compete with him, but basically ganoon na nga ang nangyayari, which is really… Mayroon nga sana akong gustong sabihin tungkol sa Channel 7 and Channel 2 pero ‘tsaka ko na lang sasabihin… ” Aga commented.
The members of the press urged Aga to continue his statement. After much coaxing, he obliged.
Aga continued, “Sinasabi natin, ‘We have a dying industry. Lahat tayo magkakasama. ‘ But I just don’t understand really kung bakit hindi puwedeng magsama ang artista ng Siyete tsaka Dos. Bakit parang nadi-divide? And we in the industry keep on saying that we want to save the industry, but then, how can that happen when it’s really divided? It’s really crazy sometimes.
“Like kung mayroong pelikula, magpro-promote. Hindi puwedeng mag-promote doon. May pelikula doon, hindi puwedeng mag-promote dito. So isipin mo kung ‘yong pelikulang ‘yon na umiikot sa Siyete at sa Dos, lahat manonood noon, e, ‘di ang saya. Hindi ganoon [ang lagay], so hindi ganoon. I just don’t understand, really.”
Aga’s co-star in the sitcom, Roderick “Dick” Paulate, was also asked to comment.
“Ganoon din ang idea ko. Dapat mas mamayani pa, mas manaig pa ang business ng lahat ng tao. Kung baga, lahat magkaroon ng trabaho. Iyon ang mas naiisip ko…” Dick seconded.
He stressed, “Siguro maiintindihan naman ni Vic kung sasabihin kong sana mas mataas kami [sa ratings]. Kaya lang, hindi ko hahangarin mawalan ‘yong show niya kasi may mga tao na gusto rin mabuhay doon at gusto rin na makapagtrabaho. Ayoko ng idea ng patayan.”