If
Darna’s grand success celebrated the sacred
feminine, Mars Ravelo’s iconic Captain Barbell,
with its very impressive 40plus-percent ratings, places
the powerful masculine at the forefront. Some of the
hottest local and international male celebrities and
the most sought-after artistic and production staff
infuse the series with its overflowing supply of adrenaline
and testosterone.
Leading
the pack of men responsible for the series prime time
TV victory are directors Dominic Zapata and Mike Tuviera,
together with head writer Don Michael Perez. The trio
updates the storyline of the super hero of Mars Ravelo
by making it fast-paced replete with futuristic themes,
melodramatic domestic struggles, and comely leading
women and bizarre love angles.
If
you de-stress by ogling at stud muffins, the latest
GMA 7 TV wonder offers fine hunky samples. If the
legendary Marlon Brando was Jor-el, father to Kal-el,
who eventually turns into Clark Kent/Superman, Paolo
Bediones plays the most potent personification of
the powerful masculine as Captain B, the father of
Arell (who grows up as Teng/Captain Barbell) during
the show’s pilot.
Richard
Gomez, who plays Viel/the General, the man responsible
for the death of Teng’s grandfather played by
the legendary character actor Dante Rivero, is another
delicious hunk. As Viel, he is a ruthless business,
an uncaring father to Levi (Patrick Garcia) and the
would be dictator of the Philippines in 2016 who heads
Live Corporation, the company that pioneered and mastered
human cloning, mutation and cyborg engineering.
THE
ALPHA MALE
Of
course, topping the alpha male list is Richard Gutierrez,
who is considered one of GMA 7’s most bankable
male stars. He finds the dual roles “emotionally
exhausting.” He adds, “I have to work
doubly hard for the characters are extremes. One is
very weak while the other is all-powerful. It poses
a lot of challenge as an actor and for me that is
very good. I cannot deny the fact that I feel very
privileged to carry the title role. I am doing and
giving it my best and I am glad that the televiewers
continue to support. Every time I learn about the
ratings, tanggal lahat ang pagod. Mas nakaka-inspire
to do even better.”
Despite
the comfortable lead it enjoys, Gutierrez’s
network makes sure that it maintains its primacy by
constantly surprising its audiences with the appearance
of Captain Barbell villains whose stature in the industry
are stellar. True to the telefantasya’s dedication
and promotion of the powerful masculine, the latest
antagonist is from 5566.
NOT
A BRAND OF SARDINES
If
you read 5566 as anything but double digits of two
numbers in succession, or a local brand of sardines,
well, you’re probably clueless as far as Taiwan’s
hot new boy band. They join the elite roster of all
male groups such as F4, B.A.D., Tension, Energy, and
Comic Boyz in raising screams from girls, pre-pubescent
or otherwise.
Xu
Meng Zhe or Jason Hsu is the youngest and yummiest
member of 5566. This singer, actor and model was born
July 27. Bedimpled, doe-eyed, and quite studly at
1180cm and packing a lean 75kgs, this natural charmer
born under the star sign of Leo has been thrilling
his fans with his appearances in popular Taiwanese
soaps such as In Love With Rich Girl (2004), Westside
Story and 100% Senorita (2003); and My MVP Valentine
(2002). In Taiwan, he is part of an extremely popular
entertainment, musical variety cum comedy show were
he gets to display his funny side.
Clad
in an oversized basketball jersey, which showed off
his muscular arms and sinewy physique, there is a
certain freshness about Jason although he had just
arrived from an early morning flight from Taiwan to
meet the press. Each time he flashed his smile, his
dimples appear.
In
Captain Barbell, the Taiwanese heartthrob thrills
his fans this side of the planet as Cyborg 5566, a
monstrous creation by Viel Villian (Richard Gomez)
who is tasked to obliterate the super hero of the
masses. |
