LUNCH DATE

'''Lunch Date''' was a Philippine noontime variety show that aired on GMA Network from March 1986 to March 1993.
Its original hosts were Orly Mercado, Rico J. Puno, Toni Rose Gayda and Chiqui Hollmann.
When the show was reformatted after a year, it only retained Gayda and brought in a mix of old and new faces to host the show, including Randy Santiago, Lito Pimentel, Pilita Corrales, Tina Revilla, Louie Heredia, Sheryl Cruz, Jon Santos and Dennis Padilla.
On ''Lunch Date's last year of airing in 1993, some showbiz personalities guest-hosted, such as Manilyn Reynes, Rustom Padilla, Isabel Granada, Samantha Chavez and Ai-ai delas Alas.

Contents

Segments

Ratings and Awards

Cancellation

See also

Segments

''Modus Operandi'' - a daily comedy sketch segment, performed by the hosts and featuring a storyline that runs all week. The storylines provided were mostly spoofs on Pinoy pop culture and everyday life. This was the show's answer to ''Bulagaan'', the segment of its rival show ''Eat Bulaga'' (which aired on ABS-CBN at that time).
''Ulat Panggulat'' - a twice-a-week news segment where an obnoxious reporter, Jon Baluga (a character developed by Jon Santos), goes anywhere in Metro Manila just to report about anything that is remotely newsworthy. It established Santos' popularity that he later co-starred with Joey de Leon (also of ''Eat Bulaga'') in the movie ''Tangga en Chos''.
''Bonggang Beautician'' - a comedy spoof of a beauty pageant, solely dedicated to gay beauticians.
''Mr. Dreamboy'' - inspired from Sheryl Cruz's hit single of the same title, handsome men battled it out for a chance to become a member of GMA's teen variety show ''That's Entertainment''.
''Munting Mutya Philippines'' - a nationwide child-star talent search, where little girls showcase their wit and talent.

Ratings and Awards

''Lunch Date'' was involved in a fierce ratings battle with ''Eat Bulaga'' when the said show was on ABS-CBN, at a time when one of its hosts, Randy Santiago, became very popular, because of his trademark shades. However, after Randy-mania died down, ''Lunch Date'' lost its momentum and moved to a distant second behind ''Bulaga''.
Despite this, however, the hosts of ''Lunch Date'' had displayed great camaraderie and friendship. The show had also won three PMPC Star Awards: two for Tina Revilla ("Best Female TV Host", 1989 and 1991) and one for Rustom Padilla ("Best New Male TV Personality", 1992).

Cancellation

''Lunch Date'' was cancelled in 1993 after GMA executives decided to reformat the whole show. Only Santiago and Padilla were left to headline GMA's new noontime show, "Salo-Salo Together (SST)".

See also

★ List of shows previously aired by GMA Network