1DOL or Idol (whichever doesn’t get Freemantle Media on their ass) is the network’s newest teleserye starring the loveable pop star Sarah Geronimo as Billie, an overnight pop star who rises to fame thanks to a reality singing competition (called Singing Idol). Part of that popularity is thanks to her “loveteam” partner Vince (hunk and reality show alum himself, Sam Milby), with whom she of course develops romantic feelings for.
But it isn’t all happy times for the rising star. Her parents (played by Agot Isidro and Neil Ryan Sese) get caught up in a shady money-making scheme while working abroad and are now on the run. By a convenient turn of events, Billie and her parents are now believed to be dead, which allows them to go into hiding using fake names. Billie is now Jean and going to school in a small provincial town.
Okay. Sounds like a decent enough premise. But where do we go from here? And how does the show mess up?
Enter clichés left and right. From the poorly acted mean girls at the school to the standard procedure love triangle, 1DOL exposes its thin story and the fact that its premise may not be all that sustainable for months after all.
The already thin story takes a backseat to musical numbers. The show seems more concerned with choosing more songs to sing on the show than on actually writing a full, coherent story.
Musical numbers hinder the show more than help. Most of the time, the numbers are egregiously out of place; shoehorned into the show to fill its unreasonably self-imposed three-song-an-episode quota.
It doesn’t help that the show looks like it was filmed and edited with an iPhone.
The show is largely carried by Sarah Geronimo’s undeniable charm. Seeing her beautiful smile and hearing her infectiously cute giggle, you almost want to forgive the show’s shortcomings. Her vocal abilities are also undeniable, but it is almost like the series’ sole purpose is to showcase those abilities with no concern for any other aspect of the production.
But the material forces the actors to overact with over exaggerated expressions and movements that would even seem overkill on a theatre stage.
There is no question the show is pure fluff, but it doesn’t seem to think of itself as such. The show appears to be overambitious and fails miserably, like it is too serious for its own good. The show isn’t having fun when clearly the show should be all about fun.
There’s nothing wrong with being gooey and fluffy. If they can own up to what they really are, they would be a great contrast to the typical and tired heavy dramas of the past year.
Their disadvantage though is that Philippine primetime this time of year is uncharacteristically filled with Survivor, fairy-tales, and fantasies, as well as well written straight dramas in ABS-CBN’s Magkaribal and GMA’s Endless Love. A unique combination of shows that actually lessens Idol’s counter-programming-ness.
Though not as pointless as its lead-in series Noah and not as deep in trash as Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo and Habang May Buhay from earlier this year, Idol needs to refocus itself to be anywhere near enjoyable.
Ultimately, my own love for Sarah Geronimo is not enough to overcome the series’ glaring shortcomings. Though if you believe the hype the network is spewing, the series has overtaken the country with fever. Sleep-inducing fever no doubt.
1DOL (stylized as iDOL) was a Filipino musical comedy-drama TV series that aired on ABS-CBN's primetime block. It featured one of the biggest and brightest stars in Philippine showbiz: Sarah Geronimo, Sam Milby and Coco Martin as the lead characters. The show ended on October 22, 2010, garnering 35 episodes in total.
On August 21, 2010 to September 4, 2010, ABS-CBN aired in its Saturday primetime block "The Making of 1DOL", a 30 minute special on how the series was conceptualized.
The series premiered on September 6, 2010, simulcasted its pilot episode on three different television channels, on Studio 23, Cinema One, and ABS-CBN.
1DOL revolves not only in the main characters but a core group of supporters, led by Belinda "Billie/Jean" Suarez (Sarah Geronimo), Fernando "Lando" Lagdameo (Coco Martin) and Vincent "Vince" Serrano (Sam Milby). Lando and Vince have been secretly crushing on the same girl who has two different identities.
But it isn’t all happy times for the rising star. Her parents (played by Agot Isidro and Neil Ryan Sese) get caught up in a shady money-making scheme while working abroad and are now on the run. By a convenient turn of events, Billie and her parents are now believed to be dead, which allows them to go into hiding using fake names. Billie is now Jean and going to school in a small provincial town.
Okay. Sounds like a decent enough premise. But where do we go from here? And how does the show mess up?
Enter clichés left and right. From the poorly acted mean girls at the school to the standard procedure love triangle, 1DOL exposes its thin story and the fact that its premise may not be all that sustainable for months after all.
The already thin story takes a backseat to musical numbers. The show seems more concerned with choosing more songs to sing on the show than on actually writing a full, coherent story.
Musical numbers hinder the show more than help. Most of the time, the numbers are egregiously out of place; shoehorned into the show to fill its unreasonably self-imposed three-song-an-episode quota.
It doesn’t help that the show looks like it was filmed and edited with an iPhone.
The show is largely carried by Sarah Geronimo’s undeniable charm. Seeing her beautiful smile and hearing her infectiously cute giggle, you almost want to forgive the show’s shortcomings. Her vocal abilities are also undeniable, but it is almost like the series’ sole purpose is to showcase those abilities with no concern for any other aspect of the production.
But the material forces the actors to overact with over exaggerated expressions and movements that would even seem overkill on a theatre stage.
There is no question the show is pure fluff, but it doesn’t seem to think of itself as such. The show appears to be overambitious and fails miserably, like it is too serious for its own good. The show isn’t having fun when clearly the show should be all about fun.
There’s nothing wrong with being gooey and fluffy. If they can own up to what they really are, they would be a great contrast to the typical and tired heavy dramas of the past year.
Their disadvantage though is that Philippine primetime this time of year is uncharacteristically filled with Survivor, fairy-tales, and fantasies, as well as well written straight dramas in ABS-CBN’s Magkaribal and GMA’s Endless Love. A unique combination of shows that actually lessens Idol’s counter-programming-ness.
Though not as pointless as its lead-in series Noah and not as deep in trash as Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo and Habang May Buhay from earlier this year, Idol needs to refocus itself to be anywhere near enjoyable.
Ultimately, my own love for Sarah Geronimo is not enough to overcome the series’ glaring shortcomings. Though if you believe the hype the network is spewing, the series has overtaken the country with fever. Sleep-inducing fever no doubt.
1DOL (stylized as iDOL) was a Filipino musical comedy-drama TV series that aired on ABS-CBN's primetime block. It featured one of the biggest and brightest stars in Philippine showbiz: Sarah Geronimo, Sam Milby and Coco Martin as the lead characters. The show ended on October 22, 2010, garnering 35 episodes in total.
Conception
1DOL was launched during the ABS-CBN Trade Event held August 24, 2010 at the World Trade Center Manila. It is also part of ABS-CBN's celebration for the 60th Year of Philippine Soap Operas.On August 21, 2010 to September 4, 2010, ABS-CBN aired in its Saturday primetime block "The Making of 1DOL", a 30 minute special on how the series was conceptualized.
The series premiered on September 6, 2010, simulcasted its pilot episode on three different television channels, on Studio 23, Cinema One, and ABS-CBN.
Cast and characters
Synopsis
Belinda’s on her way to becoming the next singing idol when an unexpected turn of events suddenly force her to leave her showbiz life behind. Her parents Samson and Laura have incurred twenty million pesos worth of debt to a family friend. The two have no choice but to run for their lives or else they would land in jail with no one to help them out. But in the process, Belinda not only loses her chance to make it big but she also walks away from Vince, her childhood friend whom she secretly loves. When her family moves to a remote province did Belinda meet Lando who instantly falls in love with her.Music
In every episode of the show, musical numbers are performed by the cast.Songs
| Title | Version covered | Performed by | Episode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I Need You Back" | Lea Salonga | Billie Suarez and Vince Serrano | 2. "Sumabog na Pangarap" | |
| "Doon Lang" | Nonoy Zuniga | Lando Lagdameo and Lagdameo Kids | 3. "Kaibigan" | |
| "Nosi Balasi" / "Bad Romance" | Sampaguita / Lady Gaga | Eleanor Serrano and Sharona Silangan | 3. "Kaibigan" | |
| "Ayt" | Sponge Cola feat. Gary Valenciano | Billie Suarez and One Harmony | 3. "Kaibigan" | |
| "Maniwala Ka Sana" | Parokya ni Edgar | Vince Serrano and Da Vince Code Band | 4. "Walang Iwanan" | |
| "Time In" | Yeng Constantino | Diana Rosales and One Harmony | 4. "Walang Iwanan" | |
| "Nakapagtataka" | Rachel Alejandro | Billie Suarez | 4. "Walang Iwanan" | |
| "Kumusta Ka" | Rey Valera | Lagdameo Kids | 5. "Maliit ang Mundo" | |
| "Ikaw" | Sarah Geronimo | Lagdameo Kids | 5. "Maliit ang Mundo" | |
| "Paano Kung Wala Ka Na" | Eva Eugenio | Laura Suarez | 5. "Maliit ang Mundo" | |
| "Heto Na" | Apo Hiking Society | Da Vince Code Band | 6. "Magkababata... Magkikita?" | |
| "Alipin" | Parokya ni Edgar | Da Vince Code Band | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" | |
| "Maniwala Ka Sana" | Da Vince Code Band | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" | ||
| "Doobidoo" | Apo Hiking Society | Da Vince Code Band | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" | |
| "Iingatan Ka" | Carol Banawa | Billie Suarez, Vince Serrano, Laura Suarez, Samson Suarez and Diana Rosales | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" | |
| "Kiliti" | D' Bodies | Lagdameo Kids | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" | |
| "Tulog Na" | Sugarfree | Billie Suarez | 7. "Pangakong Pagsisisihan?" |
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