ASAP (TV series)

ASAP
Logo, 2015–present
Genre	Musical, Variety Show
Created by	ABS-CBN Entertainment Group
Directed by	Johnny Manahan
Starring	Martin Nievera Gary Valenciano Zsa Zsa Padilla Sarah Geronimo Luis Manzano Toni Gonzaga Ogie Alcasid Robi Domingo Alex Gonzaga and the rest of ASAP Kapamilya
Opening theme	"ASAP Let's Celebrate" by ASAP artists (2015)
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Filipino, English
No. of episodes	1,224 (as of July 29, 2018)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Marvi Gelito Apple Salas
Production location(s)	Studio 10, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Diliman, Quezon City
Camera setup	Multi-camera setup
Running time	165 minutes (including commercials) (Sunday at 11:45 – 14:30 PST)
Release
Original network	ABS-CBN
Picture format	480i (SDTV) (1995-2015) 1080i (HDTV) (2015–present)
Audio format	Mono (1995–2002) Dolby Digital (2002–present)
Original release	February 5, 1995 – present
Chronology
Preceded by	Sa Linggo nAPO Sila (January 28, 1990 - January 29, 1995)

ASAP (All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party) is the longest-running musical variety show in the Philippines shown on ABS-CBN. It is mainly presented by Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sarah Geronimo, Luis Manzano, Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga, Robi Domingo, Enzo Pineda and Ogie Alcasid. The show is also seen worldwide through the subscription-based global TV channel The Filipino Channel. The show has been shown every Sunday since its pilot episode on February 5, 1995, surpassing GMA Supershow's record of nearly two decades. In October 2015, ASAP became the first live entertainment program in the Philippines to be broadcast in true high-definition picture, the other being a sports program.

History

The set of ASAP Incorporating multiple LED displays.

When Sa Linggo nAPO Sila became 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila to replace Eat Bulaga (which left ABS-CBN to transfer to GMA Network after TAPE Inc. denied ABS-CBN's offer to buy the airing rights of the show), a TV show was conceptualized by a group of production people from the displaced APO show in January 1995 as a "concert party" on Sundays. Martin Nievera accidentally joined the group while on break from taping his self-titled talk show. He gave the show the title acronym ASAP which stood for All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party. The production group decided to bring him and Pops Fernandez, along with Ariel Rivera and Dayanara Torres as main hosts for the show. The cast of Pare Ko (Claudine Barretto, Victor Neri, Roselle Nava, Gio Alvarez, Jao Mapa, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Nikka Valencia) became co-hosts for the show to attract the younger viewers. In 1996, the show's co-hosting line up evolved as it included different young stars from ABS-CBN's Talent Center (Ang TV, Gimik and Star Circle). The show also celebrated its first anniversary as it finally wrested the top spot away from its closest rival GMA Supershow. The show became victorious in 1997 as they celebrated their 2nd anniversary from the Araneta Coliseum, as their erstwhile institutional rival show GMA Supershow folded up.

The show originally had their own theme song, Hot na Hot sa ASAP in 1995. In the show's 2nd anniversary, another theme song was released, Better Than Ever. Initial broadcast commenced on February 5, 1995 at the Delta Theatre in Quezon Avenue. In March 1998, they transferred to their own studio at the Studio 3 of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, sharing space with 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. However, the show hit a snag when main host Martin Nievera resigned on air because of marital issues with co-host (and now ex-wife) Pops Fernandez. Richard Gomez and Zsa Zsa Padilla joined in to replace Nievera and Torres.

In 1999, the show was broadcast simultaneously from the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City and the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City to usher the second season of the MBA. Magandang Tanghali Bayan main hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada and Willie Revillame helped out in hosting "ASAP" from Bacolod while the main hosts were in Cuneta Astrodome.

In 2000, they finally transferred again to their own studio at the Studio 10 of the said address. In 2002, the show lost former co-host and occasional guest Rico Yan died due to pancreatitis, while Jolina Magdangal left ASAP and she transferred to GMA Network to join SOP, along with Marvin Agustin which he later be at the network in 2006.

In 2003, the show was reformatted as ASAP Mania, after it lost its top-rating status to SOP Rules. Some original main hosts like Ariel Rivera, Pops Fernandez and Richard Gomez left while Martin Nievera returned on a semi-regular basis. The biggest talent acquisition of the show however were Gary Valenciano and Kuh Ledesma who decided to sign an exclusive contract with the Kapamilya Network and also shared his creative inputs to make the show more interesting. Some ASAP segments like Star in a Million and Victim became a hit with the viewers that ABS-CBN management decided to turn both segments into full-length shows. The move resulted into the network regaining lost audiences on weekends as both shows rated high against their respective counterparts.

In 2004, ASAP celebrated its year-long 10th anniversary and regained leadership with the addition of singing champions from Viva-produced singing contests Star for a Night and Search for a Star (Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go) and ABS-CBN's Star in a Million (Sheryn Regis, Christian Bautista and Erik Santos) along with their runners-up. It also introduced a spin-off show ASAP Fanatic to serve as a venue for its new young stars (which came from Star Circle Quest) to perform and interact with fans.

In 2005 the format changed to ASAP '05 and added rising TV host Toni Gonzaga and commercial model-turned singer Nikki Gil. In 2006, the show absorbed talents from the displaced spin-off show ASAP Fanatic and became a three-hour show. It also launched a somewhat complicated logo resembling LED lights where the words ASAP were made out of dots connected which had been in use until 2014.

In February 2007, Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha joined the show on a temporary basis while ex-SOP performers Karylle (daughter of Zsa Zsa Padilla) and Billy Crawford followed suit in 2008.^[1] The show also rolled out a grand welcome fit for royalty when it introduced then-Kapuso Primetime Queen Angel Locsin as the newest Kapamilya star in August 2007.

In 2009, the ratings were in favor of ASAP once again as the show regained the credibility, prestige and acclaim it once lost to its rival show. As a result, its rival show reformatted before the end of the year but no longer worked with the viewers.

On January 3, 2010, the show was relaunched as ASAP XV to mark its fifteenth anniversary. In the show's special anniversary on February 7, 2010, a new set was introduced. Competition became a three-way battle when TV5 (P.O.5) and GMA Network (Party Pilipinas) produced their own "concert party" shows, where some of their talents and staff were ASAP alumni.

After the year numbers in the show title wasn't adapted in 2010, a new show named ASAP Rocks was launched January 2, 2011. On April 3, 2011, a new set was introduced. For the first time in show's history, the show welcomed Eat Bulaga main host Vic Sotto as a special guest, performing in the show twice (April and December 2011) to promote separately the two movies that he did for ABS-CBN's film arm Star Cinema. In his December 2011 guesting, Vic was joined by some of his Eat Bulaga co-hosts on stage to promote the MMFF entry Enteng ng Ina Mo.

The show also lost its two former co-hosts and performers AJ Perez and RJ Rosales that same year due to their respective deaths.

On January 1, 2012, the show was launched as ASAP 2012. The show also showed its support to main host Zsa Zsa Padilla following the death of her partner, Comedy King Dolphy by giving him a royal tribute.

On January 6, 2013, the show was renamed ASAP 18 to commemorate the show's 18th anniversary. On January 5, 2014, the show was renamed ASAP 19 to commemorate the show's 19th anniversary.

On January 4, 2015, the show was renamed ASAP 20 to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary. It launched a new, simple logo that replaced the one being used in 2006. Thereafter, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual, & Bamboo were promoted to be main hosts of the show as seen in their OBB.

The show was also known for being the venue show for the premiere of ABS-CBN summer station IDs until 2015, when TV Patrol and It's Showtime changed venue. Between 2012 and 2015, the tide tilted in favor of ASAP once again when some cast members from their rival shows Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars transferred networks and started to appear in the show. Among the notable transfers were actress Iza Calzado, R&B Royalties Jay-R and Kyla, and Starstruck V Grand Winner-turned-ASAP Dance Goddess Sarah Lahbati, who also performed regularly while showing her remarkable fierce and sizzling sexy dance moves after a bitter falling out with her former network.^[2]

In 2015, the show faced another challenge when they got into a tough ratings battle with GMA's new Sunday variety show Sunday PinaSaya that showcased more comedy skits than musical numbers. The show had to make adjustments by making some additional segments on their show like a short skit and games with Kapamilya stars. ASAP original host Martin Nievera courted controversy when he vented his ire on the show's changes via Twitter, but later clarified his reaction saying he believes these changes in the format of the show are a way to “satisfy many markets with dignity and class". When the comedy gag show Banana Split Extra Scoop was transferred to Sunday as Banana Sundae in early November 2015, management cut its running time to 2 hours. In early December 2015, Elmo Magalona, son of Philippine King of Rap Francis Magalona, switched networks and became part of the show.

On January 3, 2016, for the first time in 13 years, the show retained the title ASAP alone. Thereafter, Jolina Magdangal and Luis Manzano became main hosts of the show along with Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual and Sarah Geronimo.

On February 2016, another Kapuso singing contest grand winner Jonalyn Viray transferred to ABS-CBN under the screen name Jona and officially joined the show.

On May 2016, ASAP extended its runtime to 2 hours and 45 minutes when its comedy gag show Banana Sundae transferred its timeslot again at 11:45am to 2:30pm.

On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched two singing groups, the ASAP Birit Queens, composed of Jona Viray, Morissette Amon, Klarisse de Guzman and Angeline Quinto and the ASAP Soul Sessions, composed of Jason Dy, Daryl Ong, Jay R, KZ Tandingan and Kyla.^[3] However both groups disbanded in late 2017. Later, on July 3 of that year, the show instituted a new segment ASAPinoy, paying tribute to Filipino composers and singers which contributed to the success of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and welcomed Ogie Alcasid and Ariel Rivera as a regular performer by October, after a few years of guest appearances.

As of 2017, Martin Nievera and Jolina Magdangal are the only original remaining artists since the show's airing in 1995.

Hosts

Segments

Licensing and branded merchandise

Studios used by ASAP

• Delta Theatre (February 5, 1995 – March 1998)
• ABS-CBN Studio 3 (March 1998 – 2000)
• ABS-CBN Studio 10 (2000–present)

Awards

See also

• List of programs broadcast by ABS-CBN
• ABS-CBN
• Jeepney TV
• Star Magic
• Cathedral of Praise

References

External links

• Official Website
• ASAP XV on IMDb