Who would ever forget That’s Entertainment? For the 80s & 90s babies, they grew up with the show so to speak. The show ran for ten years at the Kapuso network and it catapulted so many showbiz wannabes at that time to where they are now. Afternoons weren’t complete without watching the variety show. It was conceptualized by no other than the master showman himself, German Moreno or better known in the movie and TV industry as Kuya Germs. The show’s first episode was on January 6, 1986, and after ten years; it went off the air on May 3, 1996.
To those who are wondering where are the stars of That’s Entertainment now, here they are;
Lea Salonga
Lea may have been known as the lead role in Miss Saigon but she was also one of the stars that became a part of That’s Entertainment. She was part of the Thursday group.
Lea was the first Asian celebrity to star in the Broadway version of Les Miserables as Eponine and Fantine. She was the voice behind Princess Jasmine in the Disney film, Aladdin and Fa Mulan in the films, Mulan and Mulan 2. She was also the first Asian woman to win a Tony Awad for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon.
Her career revolved around musical theatre but she had also done a few movies in the Philippines and one of the coaches in The Voice. To date, she plays Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd” The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a musical play.
Judy Ann Santos
The Queen of Soap Operas was once a part of the Tuesday group of the variety show. At present, she is busy with her online cooking show and the ABS-CBN teleserye, Starla. She also stars as the mother of a kid with cancer in the movie Mindanao by Brillante Mendoza.
It was shown in South Korea at the 24th Busan International Film Festival. When asked during an interview about the dances scenes in the film, Juday said that she got a bit nervous because her last dance was during her That’s Entertainment days.
Piolo Pascual
Piolo Pascual was part of the Wednesday group. He became a part of the show in 1993 and had been active in the industry since then. Nowadays, the actor is busy producing films for Spring Films which he co-owns. The film outfit will mark its 10th anniversary this year.
Piolo disclosed on March 2019 that he doesn’t want to do teleseryes anymore because he wants to broaden his horizons. He is keener now in acting in films and producing. He is set to do a reunion movie with his leading lady in Milan, Claudine Barretto.
Isko Moreno
The new mayor of Manila was a part of the show’s Monday group. He was discovered in 1993 by talent manager Wowie Roxas. He starred in the teen drama anthology of RPN-9, Young Love, Sweet Love which was hosted by Kuya Germs. He was able to audition for the 7th batch of That’s Entertainment hosts and the rest is history.
After doing a few movies, he decided to enter politics in the City of Manila. He became a councilor and Vice-Mayor. He is now the Mayor after toppling down Joseph Estrada in the May 2019 elections. Isko is known now in Manila as a man of drastic change after heading the clearing operations and closing down establishments. Isetan was one of the establishments that had been ordered closed for not paying the necessary business permit.
Ian Veneracion
Ian belonged to the Monday group and is known for his boyish and good looks. He got a second chance in his acting career when he got one of the major roles in the remake of Pangako Sa Iyo starring Daniel Padilla & Kathryn Bernardo.
He also starred as Bea Alonzo’s leading man in A Love to Last. His past leading man roles proved that he had graduated from being just a pretty boy. He is now into doing live shows and had a 2-day concert series at the Music Museum last July 11-12, 2019 entitled IAN: In Color.
Apart from his showbiz career, he is also a skydiver, scuba diver, paragliding pilot, and a licensed private pilot. He is also good in the kitchen.
Gladys Reyes
Gladys was one of the members of the Tuesday group. She got her biggest break via her Clara role in Mara Clara with Judy Ann Santos. The TV series paved way for her to be known as one of the most effective villainesses in Philippine TV.
During an interview in 2016, Gladys revealed that playing contravida roles have its benefits. For the 1996 movie, Sana Naman with Judy Ann Santos, Wowie de Guzman, Tirso Cruz III, Jean Garcia, and Joel Torre, the film’s producer, Mother Lily of Regal Films rewarded her and Juday a vehicle. She said that the movie was a big hit so they were given a reward. At present, Gladys plays the role of Elizabeth in the Madrasta TV series of GMA-7.
Billy Crawford
Billy was just a child star when he became a part of the Tuesday group. His stage name back then was Billy Joe. He went to the U.S. when he turned 12 and started recording songs for international release. His 2001 single “Trackin” hit the platinum mark in France. His Ride album hit the gold mark in Switzerland and France. As of to date, Billy is known as a versatile host and performer. He released an album entitled, Work in Progress in March 2019.
Sunshine Cruz
Sunshine was a part of the Wednesday group. She started as a teenage Regal Baby via the film First Time in 1992. In 1999, she joined the bold wagon with her film, Ekis: Walang Tatakas. She has since then starred in sexy movies. She stopped doing sexy roles when she got married to Cesar Montano with whom she eventually got separated.
She made a movie comeback in Malamaya this year. It was an entry at the Cinemalaya 2019 where she played the role of a visual artist who had a sexual relationship with a young photographer. She has been busy doing teleseryes for the past years. She had played the role of Maja Salvador’s mother in the hit teleserye, Wildflower.
Sheryl Cruz
She was with the Wednesday group and was known back then as the Princess of Philippine Cinema. Her love team with Romnik Sarmenta was a big hit and their movies were a big hit. Sheryl was also a part of Triplets with Tina Paner and Manilyn Reynes. Triplets was a popular singing group of the 80s. She surprised her followers when she posed for a men’s online lifestyle portal.
Kempee de Leon
He was part of the Thursday group. He is Joey de Leon’s son with actress, Daria Ramirez. He starred as Matet’s husband in the recently-ended Nang Ngumit ang Langit in ABS-CBN.
Vina Morales
Vina was with the Thursday group. She was discovered by composer Fr. Fritz Malinao and bagged the 1st prize at the 6th Cebu Pop Music Festival in 1986 at a very young age of 11 years old.
She had starred in several movies and is now a part of the ABS-CBN teleserye, Sandugo. She also stars in the musical, Damaso playing the role of a grief-stricken mother which is based on a character in Noli Me Tangere.
Harlene Bautista
She was part of the Thursday group. Harlene got married to Romnick Sarmenta but recently got separated after nineteen years. She is now busy with the film production, Heaven’s Best Entertainments wherein she’s currently working on the movie, In the Name of the Mother.
Chuckie Dreyfus
He started as a child star and a part of the Wednesday group. He won the Best Child Performer and Best Child Actor awards from 1984-1988. He’s a member of FILSCAP which is a non-profit organization protecting the rights of the Philippine artists.
Some of the That’s Entertainment Cast are not mentioned here but let us know who’s the other cast of That’s you think that was part of the show.
