Comedy, Freshly Brewed

We’ve all gotten used to watching slapstick comedy as kids. But with today's generation of viewers, it looks like slapstick has lost its hold and a different kind of comedy is emerging. Text by Alula Love M. Dela Cruz. Photos by Jason Lim. In a stress-filled world with shifting roles, multi-tasking jobs, and instant everything, laughter has become an essential key to survival. This is where Camera Café comes in—a five-minute show guaranteed to brighten up your day. Camera Café traces its origins in Europe, with the concept of short comedy having been inspired by the decline in people's attention span. This experiment grew to become a continental cult phenomenon, especially in Paris. CALT International, the French production house that produces Camera Café, exported the concept to over 30 countries worldwide, with sketches running from three to seven minutes, and some even up to 45 minutes. In Asia, the Philippines was chosen to be its pilot country, while negotiations are already being made in Indonesia. Rumor has it that Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are soon to follow. The first two seasons of Camera Café were aired on QTV-11 and the show was able to build a strong following. Now, GMA-7 is giving the rest of the country a taste of a new era in comedy. The premise of this groundbreaking show is all about the normal Pinoy office worker, whose only time to chat is through a five-minute coffee break. And as you may have guessed, each hilarious episode happens in front of a coffee vending machine. In this small pantry, officemates talk about the latest gossip, newly hired employees, rude bosses, and office romance. The ensemble cast of this highly anticipated show is made up of the best theater and TV actors in the country, including Bearwin Meily, Epi Quizon, Christian Vasquez, Assunta De Rossi, Jaime Fabregas, Kalila Aguilas, Noel Colet, Monica Llamas, Patricia Ysmael, and Candy Pangilinan, to name a few. With intriguing yet simple plot lines, each episode is guaranteed to make anyone laugh their hearts out. Hopefully, Camera Café will open doors for a new breed of comedy and comedians alike. Be sure to watch Camera Café weekdays after Unang Hirit.