Expect a bolder and better 'Startalk' on its new Sunday time slot

Your Sundays will never be the same again as the country’s top showbiz authority joins the Sunday block. Startalk will now be airing every Sunday at 4:00 pm beginning January 26.

For more than a decade now, Startalk has been viewers’ go-to for the hottest, freshest and latest showbiz news. GMANetwork.com caught up with Startalk hosts Manay Lolit Solis, Joey de Leon, Ricky Lo Butch Francisco and Heart Evangelista, who shared their insights on the talk show’s new time slot.

Butch Francisco recalled, “Kasama ako doon sa team na nagbukas ng Sunday afternoons para sa mga talk show noong araw.”

He continued, “Parang déjà vu na wala akong weekends, but I don’t mind as long as makakapagshare kami ng latest news sa showbiz sa ating mga Kapuso. Okay lang. I will sacrifice my Sundays anytime for our Kapuso.”

As for Ricky Lo, “’Yung mga loyal sa Startalk, palagay ko susunod kung nasaan ang Startalk. Ganun naman tayo, ‘di ba? Kung saan na ‘yung nakaugalian na natin, sinusundan natin. “

Heart Evangelista stated, “I’m happy that it’s on a Sunday kasi mas madaming makakapanood kasi usually Saturday is for gimmicks and ‘pag Sunday, everyone is at home. I’m really excited that I could spend my Sundays with them.”

Joey de Leon quipped, “Mukhang the whole week na akong magtra-trabaho. Akala ko pahinga na day ko iyon, pero okay lang. Ang Sunday naman talaga ay pangkuwentuhan kaya huwag po kayong mawawala."

Manay Lolit Solis added, “Nagstart naman ang Startalk ng Sunday for three years. May melancholia na for so long, Saturday kami pero alam mo naman, 18 years na kami so it’s about time na magkaroon na rin ng changes.”

Now that Startalk has a new time slot, what should viewers expect from it?

“Mas maganda ‘yung ganun na tapatan dahil mas maganda ‘yung healthy ang competition at pagandahan ng balita. Expect a more explosive and more earth-shaking Startalk,” stated Tito Ricky.

 For Heart, “Siyempre, kailangang mas bongga ang mga balita. We have to really work hard to get the best scoop in showbiz.”

“We’ll try to be more matapang. Kung talagang may issue, ihe-head on naming at wala na kaming iiwasan na issue bilang showbiz authority,” said Manay Lolit.

Will it be more challenging for the hosts to pull of the show now that they are pitted against shows of the same nature?

Tito Joey replied, “From my side, wala na sa akin ‘yan eh. More than 60 na ang naging TV shows ko, so lahat nakakatapat ko na kahit ‘yung mga kakampi kong tao. Kami-kaming magkakabarkada ang nagtatapatan. Trabaho lang lahat iyan.”

Manay Lolit said, “Yes, pero actually I believe na ang nakakaapekto talaga sa mga talk show ay social media kasi you see updates there right from the stars themselves. We’re gonna try to bring something different and explore."

For the longest time, Startalk has been the most trusted showbiz authority in the country. What is Startalk’s secret?

Joey quickly answered, “Ang magic ng Startalk ay si Lolit Solis. Kumbaga, siya na ang logo ng lahat ng tsismis shows sa Pilipinas. Kahit anong gawin niya, nakakatuwa kaya nag-iisa lang iyan. Siya na ang Queen of All Chika.”

“We’re just like Eat Bulaga. Ang treatment nila sa isa’t isa, family talaga. They’re like a growing family na ang poste ay sina Tito, Vic and Joey. Ganun din ang gusto kong feeling sa Startalk. Talagang happy kami diyan. Minsan may mga issues kami na pinag-aawayan and yet, we look forward every week na makita ang isa’t isa,” replied Manay Lolit.

Be in the know when it comes to anything and everything showbiz. Tune in to Startalk every Sunday at 4:00 pm beginning January 26, only on GMA! -- Samantha Portillo,GMANetwork.com