GMA-7 Is On A Roll With Coffee Prince, Haram, Mariposa, Magdalena, Temptation Of Wife, And Extra Challenge

GMA-7 is on a roll with their latest line-up of shows. The AlKris (Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal) Love team returns to primetime through the remake of the Korean Drama "Coffee Prince". Dingdong Dantes will be pairing up with Kylie Padilla for the first time in "Haram". Tween Queen Barbie Forteza and Derrick Monasteryo top-bills a new Fantaserye "Mariposa". Bella Padilla gets her first starring role in GMA-7's upcoming afternoon drama "Magdalena".  Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera returns to Primetime in another Korean Drama remake "Temptation Of Wife". And finally, the legendary "Extra Challenge" makes it return with it's brand new hosts Richard Gutierrez, Marian Rivera and stand-up comedian "Boobay". Here are my thoughts about them:

AlKris (Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal) love team returns via "Coffee Prince" - Three years ago, I've been hearing rumors that GMA-7 was going to make their own version of the Korean Drama "Coffee Prince" and Jennica Garcia was rumored to portray the starring role. But for some reasons it was shelved. Now the Kapuso Network have decided to pursue with the project and Aljur and Kris are just the right pair for the job. Of course, Kris Bernal will have to portray the dual role of a guy and a girl, but I wander whether she will also cut her hair shorter, it would be more challenging if she does that. And as for the AlKris love team, I think this pair is on again and off again. They've done several projects before but the Kapuso Network decided to split them but came back together in "Machete" and were split once again. Now their back together again, the GMA-7 producers have to make up their mind about AlKris' future as a love team and stick to their decision.

Dingdong Dantes and Kylie Padilla pair up for the first time with "Haram" - This project is actually a dream come true for Kylie, she mentioned before that Dingdong was her dream leading man, now she ends up pairing with Dingdong. As for Dingdong, I doubt whether he could carry this new love team, as far as I remember, he is only at his best when he is with Marian. And finally, the age gap between Dingdong and Kylie is so obvious. Kylie looks like Dingdong's little sister. And just one final thought, "Haram" will tackle a religious insight particularly a forbidden love between a Christian man and a Muslim woman, they should make sure that they are not gonna cause issues of discrimination between the two religions.

Barbie Forteza and Derrick Monastaryo top-bills "Mariposa" - It's nice that Barbie is back after "Luna Blanca" but with the looks of the situation, it seems impossible for Barbie to reunite with her original love team Joshua Dionisio which is highly demanded by the fans of the Tween Queen. I wander what the Kapuso Network sees with Derrick that they are giving him all the push. His acting is bad, he sings so awful and he looks like stump (tuod) when he dances and he is totally awkward. Is it enough that he is a son of a former actress to be receiving to much push?

Bella Padilla in her first starring role in "Magdalena" - Bella Padilla goes daring with her first starring role in "Magdalena". But she better make sure that the viewers are gonna remember her name because of her acting   more than her skin just like all the other sexy actress that came before her. All of them made noise but eventually disappeared because they cannot reinvent themselves. But I think Bella is so hot don't you?

Marian Rivera returns to Primetime with "Temptation Of Wife" - I have wrote about this in the past (see it here) but in the teaser which is shown on GMA-7, it was Glaiza De Castro who portrays as the antagonist, it was supposed to be Alessandra De Rossi who was chosen for the role.

"Extra Challenge returns on Philippine TV- "Extra Challenge" was originally known as "Extra Extra" which is a magazine show hosted by Paolo Bediones and Mirriam Quiambao, but if felt victim to ABS-CBN's phenomenal Taiwanese Drama Series "Meteor Garden". "Extra Extra" was buried deep into the ground but luckily, GMA-7  was able to dug it from the grave and reinvented it as reality show and had the name "Extra Challenge". It was inspired by hit U.S. reality shows "Fear Factor", "Amazing Race", and "Survivor". And with it's new concept, it was patronized by the televiewers and became Kapuso Network's trademark show. But because of some bad decisions made by former Ms. "G", it was axed. But with Ms. "G" no longer around, "Extra Challenge" is back, and this time Kapuso Primetime Royalty Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera are in-charge. But what I find interesting is the addition of comedian "Boobay", he is the impersonator of Ethel Booba who was a former co-host of "Extra challenge". GMA-7 couldn't hire back the original so they have decided to get and impersonator instead. You gotta be thinking about what's coming to the mind of Ethel Booba.

So, there you go. The Kapuso Network is putting extra efforts to come back on top. It seems interesting despite of some doubts but I hope it's not just on first impression, it should continue till these new show starts airing and it should last until the end.