Ispup | ABC-5 90s Philippine Television Comedy (Gag) Show

Ispup (translates to "Spoof") was a Filipino television comedy show that aired in Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC-5, now known as TV5) during the late 90s up to the early 2000's. From the title itself, Ispup spoofs and make parodies of several Philippine television shows, political figures, celebrities, and advertisements. Ispup originally aired on Saturdays later moved to Fridays. The ABC-5 gag sow ran from March 20, 1999 to March 27, 2004 replacing Tropang Trumpo.

Ispup - The Show
About Ispup

Ispup featured two of Philippine's well-known parodist and impersonators, Willie Nepomuceno and Jon Santos; adding to the cast are Leo Martinez, Mystica, Candy Pangilinan, Marissa Sanchez, Joy Viado, Selena Sanchez, Ruffa Mae Quinto, and the Ispupniks: Mike "Pekto" Nacua, Ate Guy, Ate Shawie, Hyubz Azarcon and Cynthia Marquez.

Although not being the pioneer when it comes to doing parodies in the Philippines, Ispup managed to pull some pretty interesting concepts providing some great laughs with its fresh approach to delivering humor, mainly through parodies. Ispup introduced a new breed of smart humor by solely focusing on the popularity and sometimes notoriety of celebrities, television shows, and political figures - spoofing and satirizing their already public lives.

Some of its more popular parodies included the following:

• Balitang Ka! - a parody of ABS-CBN's "Balitang K"
• The Cheapest Link - a parody of the Philippine version of the UK game show "The Weakest Link" (IBC-13), having Caloy Alde as Edu Mansanas and actors playing political figures as contestants.
• Di Bati Sina Mards At Pards - a parody of GMA's debate show "Debate with Mare at Pare"
• Gay KNB? - a parody of ABS-CBN game show "Game KNB?" hosted by Ms. Kris Pepino (played by Candy Pangilinan)
• Intrigador - a parody of GMA's "Imbestigador"
• Knowless Power - a parody of the ABS-CBN's "Knowledge Power"
• Malala Na Kaya- a spoof of ABS-CBN's drama anthology "Maalaala Mo Kaya" hosted by Charing Todos Los Santos Conscious na Conscious (played by Jon Santos)
• No One Can Be A Millionaire? - a parody of the Philippine version of the UK game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" (IBC-13), having Leo Martinez as Royet de Leon and actors playing political figures as contestants.
• Oka-Toka-Doc - a cross-over parody of ABS-CBN's "Oka Tokat" and "Oki Doki Doc"
• The Priest is Right - a parody of the Philippine version of the US game show "The Price is Right", having Willie Nepomuceno as His Eminems Jaime Cardinal Sins and actors playing political figures as contestants.
• Taksil - a parody of GMA's "Saksi"
• Usapang Monkey Business - a parody of ABS-CBN's "Usapang Business"
• Wrong Page: Ulat ni Mel Tiongke - a parody of the GMA's "Frontpage: Ulat ni Mel Tiangco"

Ispup featured characters like Sherap Entrada, Eminems Jaime Cardinal Sins, Royet de Leon, Charing Todos Los Santos Conscious na Conscious, Kurita Chances, Meriam Defensive-Santiago, Ramon Revillame, Mel Tiongke, Mayor Vi, Kris Pepino, Tita Cory Pepino, Cong. Manhik-Manaog, and Cong. Manhik-Manaog.

Before and after each episode, a "disclaimer" was presented ala "Star Wars" opening credits stating that the spoofs were taken from television shows, commercials, and movies with permission, ending with the show's tagline "Walang pikunan, ispup onli." ("Don't get offended. It's only a spoof.").

Ispup Opening Theme
Ispup Show Intro

"Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincey Jones



Mystica as Rosebud in "No One Can Be a Millionnaire"

All great things must eventually come to an end. It was quite disheartening to see Tropang Trumpo end, but Ispup filled up that gap with a new brand of humor. This was the gag show that introduced me to the master impersonators and stand up comedians Willie Nepomuceno and Jon Santos. I grew eventually fund of Ispup's unique brand of humor although being as a child back then really didn't get some of their jokes, it was still fun to see comedians impersonate local pop culture and political icons that time. If there is one thing that Ispup has successfully accomplished is the effective use of parody and spoof as its medium of humor which is now seen in today's Philippine gag shows.



It is quite fascinating actually that after Ispup, the impersonations lives on. Up to this day (as I made this post) I still see most impersonations by Jon Santos and Willie Nep cracking people up in various television appearance and stand up performance.

Jon Santos as Senator Miriam Defensive-Santiago at the MYX Music Awards 2012



Willie Nepumoceno as "Sherap" - Wowowee's Funniest Episode



How about you guys? What is your most memorable and funniest impersonation in Ispup? Share your thoughts about ABC-5's Ispup on the comments section below:

Ober Da Bakod | A GMA 90s Sitcom Retrospective

Ober Da Bakod was a popular GMA Network sitcom produced by Viva Television and co-produced and broadcast by GMA Network from 1992–1997. The weekly situational comedy features the misadventures of two brothers Mokong and Bubuli as they successfully overcome every devious plans created by the sinister and filthy rich father of the two girls that they are courting. Let's go down memory lane and reminisce this hilarious Philippine retro sitcom.

Ober Da Bakod - The Story
Ober Da Bakod Synopsis

The brothers Mokong (Janno Gibbs) and Bubuli (Anjo Yllana), sons of Lucring Dayukdok (Malou de Guzman) have feelings for the rich sisters Honey Grace (Gelli de Belen) and Barbie Doll (Donita Rose), daughters of the infamous Don Robert Dinero (Leo Martinez); Mokong for Honey Grace and Bubuli for Barbie Doll. Don Robert doesn’t like the brothers because they are poor. In order to freely court Honey Grace and Barbie Doll, Mokong and Bubuli climbs over the fence and thus the title Ober Da Bakod (Over the Fence).

Don Robert, usually with the aid of his blundering fool of a right hand man, Brownie (Danny Pansalin) always makes plans to prevent Mokong and Bubuli to get close to his daughters. Nonetheless, he fails due to the intervention of his mortal enemy and former girlfriend, Aling Lucring who happens to be Mokong and Bubuli's overprotective mother. As a result, total mayhem ensues between the two families. A running gag of the series is that in the end of every episode, two policemen, Officers Tedera and Officer Ginto, arrest Don Robert fbased on whatever schemes he had concocted. As Don Robert tries to explain his way out of this arrest, the police officers always tell him, "Sa presinto ka na lang magpaliwanag." ("Explain everything at the precinct.") Those words have now become a semi-common Filipino catchphrase.

Ober Da Bakod has a hip and catchy opening theme also entitled "Ober Da Bakod" was written and performed by 90s popular comedic actor and Filipino rapper Andrew E. I can not find the exact opening theme for the popular Philippine sitcom, only this movie theme song of Ober Da Bakod:

Ober Da Bakod 90s Sitcom Television Theme
Ober Da Bakod written and performed by Andrew E

The sitcom spun two movies under its 90s run mainly Ober Da Bakod: The Movie (1994) and Ober Da Bakod 2 (1996). I personally consider this as one of the most hilarious 90s sitcom. The chemistry amongst the comedy show's cast flowed naturally which made the humor much more natural, if not effortless. Aling Lucring was the perfect representation of a probinsyana Filipino tiger mom usually to her elder son Mokong whom she usually smacks her mischievious son at the back of his head (accompanied by a hitting a frying pan sound effects) everytime Mokong commits a mistake, teasing his younger brother Bubuli, or just to complete her day. I can somehow relate to Mokong although my mom didn't hit me in the head to discipline me back then, she sure is a probinsyana tiger mom. Just like Aling Lucring's signature frying pan hit, every episode would not be complete without Don Robert getting arrested. If there was something that the show thought us (children in the 90s) it was that crime or doing harm against people will always get you in trouble with the law, specifically the police. Even in the two Ober Da Bakod movies, Don Robert was still man-handled by the two arresting police officers before the film cut to its ending credits.

Here is an idea of what Ober Da Bakod was like back in the days, a Youtube clip of best of Ober Da Bakod the Movie. Although the TV sitcom was way much better than its movie counterparts.

What about you guys? What are your fondest and most memorable momments of the GMA Network sitcom Ober Da Bakod? share your thoughts in the comments section below: