PEP: Joey de Leon is proud to be part of another long-running show

Joey de Leon, one of the hosts of the longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga!, is proud to be part of another long-running TV program, Startalk. "Si Lolit [Solis] na lang sa ngayon ang part ng original Startalk. Original hosts niyan yata sila Kris Aquino at Boy Abunda. Tapos, marami na din nag-graduate. "Ako'y natutuwa na lang na parte ako ng... Parang ang pangit sabihin—isang mahabang programang tungkol sa tsismis," Joey joked when he was interviewed by PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last October 16 in Studio 6 of GMA Network Center where Startalk broadcasts every Saturday afternoon. He added, "Lahat naman. Naging bahagi na ng entertainment world ang tsismis. Hindi natin maiiwasan 'yon. Talagang part na 'yon. "Kaya nga hinamon ko noon ang mga artista na huwag lalabas ng bahay ng isang taon. Tahimik lang sila. Trabaho at bahay lang. Mamamatay yung tsismis industry. "Hindi naman nila matiis. Sila din naman ang maingay at malikot. Kasalanan din nila." For Joey, he still gets excited coming to the show every Saturday. "Kung hindi n'yo lang alam, ang mga artista talaga yung number one tsismoso. Kami, ang unang salita namin sa Bulaga, 'Ano bago? Ano latest?' "Kaya nga nauso sa amin yung 'Ganito na nga' or 'Heto na nga.' Yun yung first line namin nila Ruby [Rodriguez]. Yun yung famous line namin na starter namin," Joey said about trivia behind the camera. "Minsan yung tsimis, nasa ilalim ng ilong mo," he continued. "Minsan yung kasama mo na yung natsitsismis. "Siyempre, artista din ang laman ng Eat Bulaga. May singer, actress, actors... Lahat ng entertainers, nagiging guests. "Minsan nakikita mo doon yung mga umiiyak, nalulungkot, may away sa cell phone. E, 'di alam mo na yung nangyayari. Ganun talaga, yung tsismis, nandoon lang." BIRTHDAY BOY GETS STUMPED. Before the short chitchat with the showbiz writers, the veteran TV host was put on the spot when he was interviewed by child wonder Jillian Ward, star of the afternoon television drama Trudis Liit. Jillian shot her first question: "Ilang taon na po kayo?" "Naku... Sa tingin mo, ilang taon na ako?" Joey laughed. Jillian answered: "14?" Joey: "More." "14? 15? 18? 14? 11?" Jillian blurted continuously. "Pagsama-samahin mo na lang yung mga 'yon. Mga 50," Joey replied. Jillian then asked again: "Love n'yo po ba si Nanay Lolit?" "Mahal ko?" Joey laughed. "Si Lolit... Nasa ano kami, yung stage na getting-to-know stage. Dyusko, getting to know! Nagkikilala pa lang." "E, bakit po?" Jillian asked. "Kailangan kilalanin mo ang tao. Baka mamaya kriminal, hindi mo alam. So, kailangan basta huwag ka maniniwala sa tao. Kikilalanin mo muna. Paglaki mo, ganoon ka." Joey then encouraged the little wonder kid, "Sige at magtanong ka pa. Tapos ako naman ang mag-i-interview sa iyo." "Kamusta na po kayo?" Jillian asked. "Mabuti naman," Joey said. "Ano po ang birthday gift na gusto n'yo?" "Wala. Maging mahaba pa ang buhay para mahaba pa yung panonood ko ng Trudis Liit." Jillian followed: "Tito Joey, tsismoso po ba kayo?" "Kung tsismoso ako? Oo. Bakit, ikaw, hindi?" Jillian cut him off with a question: "Sino po ang crush n'yo?" "Wala. Wala na akong crush. Lahat ng mga crush ko dati, may mga krus na. Hindi mo naiintindihan. Mga namayapa na... Ikaw, sigurado paglaki mo maganda ka." Jillian again cut him off: "Puwede po ba ako bumati" "Anak ka ba ni Lolit? O sige, sino babatiin mo?" Jillian then blurted out her list of people to thank. SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SHOW. Startalk TX will celebrate its 15th year with a special episode titled "Startalk VX3" on Saturday, October 23. The special episode is expected to deliver exclusive reports, more exciting segments, and more in-depth showbiz reports presented in informative but entertaining ways. For Saturday's episode, "Startalk VX3" will unveil five questions. These questions will be answered thru different exposés—all involving various celebrities and the issues that are linked to them. Each story will answer a question in a manner that only Startalk TX can deliver. Startalk TX is hosted by Joey, Ricky Lo, Butch Francisco, and Lolit Solis, who is the remaining original host since the show started back in October 1995. The four are joined by sexy comedienne Alyssa Alano and segment hosts Chariz Solomon, Princess Snell, Jan Manual, Nina Kodaka, Enzo Pineda, and Sef Cadayona. - Paul Mata, PEP