“Never short-change anyone, and do your best in everything. Always remember where you came from and never forget the people who helped you along the way. Genuinely love your fans and realize their true value.”
Those are the most valuable lessons that actor Chuckie Dreyfuss, a former cast of the variety show That’s Entertainment, learned from industry veteran German Moreno, who passed away on Jan 8.
Kuya Germs, as he was fondly called, worked as a janitor at Clover Theater in Sta Cruz, then rose to fame as a stage actor and a contract star of Sampaguita Pictures, before becoming the host of long-running variety TV shows like That’s Entertainment, GMA Supershow and Master Showman: Walang Tulugan.
But he is best known as a star maker. On That’s Entertainment, he honed youngsters and gave them an outlet for their talents. The show soon became a take-off ground for many of its mainstays who soon became stars, some of them abroad, like Billy Joe Crawford, Donita Rose and, of course, Lea Salonga.
“Kuya Germs was my father in showbiz,” singer-actor Janno Gibbs tells Coconuts Manila via text message. “I was discovered and mentored by him. That’s Entertainment was my training ground for singing, acting and hosting.” They recently talked about reviving the youth-oriented show, he added.
Kuya Germs was more than just That’s Entertainment, though. Here’s a list of things we’d like to thank The Master Showman for.
1. He brought Bodabil (vaudeville) to the new era
He started at the Clover Theater in the 1950s, where he served as a janitor, telonero, and later, an actor with such luminaries as Katy dela Cruz. Through the variety shows that he hosted, he kept the legacy of bodabil (vaudeville) — with its song, dance, and comedy routines — alive long after its heyday had come to pass
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2. ‘GMA Supershow’ made Sunday lunches spectacular
Call it kitschy, call it baduy, call it dated. But admit it: during the pre-cable TV era, we all spent our Sunday lunches watching GMA Supershow. He had the most beautiful co-hosts in the likes of Dawn Zulueta and Gretchen Barretto. And Kuya Germs’ signature technicolor suits (from D Sharp, we are told)? Those added a sprinkle of spectacular!
3. He introduced the Vegas-style dance numbers with the Bellestar Dancers
We pity the millennials who do not know the guilty pleasure of knowing the Bellestar Dancers. Who can forget them? Known for their Las Vegas style review — complete with glittering costumes and feathered headpieces — Bella Dimayuga’s Bellestars were also GMA Supershow regulars, staging elaborate dance numbers in the bodabil tradition.
4. He gave us Manilyn Reynes, Carmina Villaroel, Donita Rose, Sheryl Cruz, Harlene Bautista — the list could go on
There was one show that prestaged all these reality search shows and that’s That’s Entertainment. It launched the careers of the likes of Sheryl Cruz, Donita Rose, Ramon Christopher, Carmine Villaroel, Billy Joe Crawford, Marilyn Reynes, Keempee de Leon and yes, even Piolo Pascual.
“Kulang ang buhay-teenager sa Pinas noong ‘80s hanggang ‘90s kung walang That’s Entertainment,” relates Manuel Pangaruy, an avid fan. “’Yong timeslot n’ya eh saktong uwian talaga mula sa school. At school din naman ang konsepto ni Kuga Germs sa That’s.”
The most awaited part of That’s, no doubt, were the culminating group presentations staged every Saturday, wherein the different day groups that the show’s young stars belonged to were pitted against each other as they performed spectacular numbers. “Personal favorite ko ‘yong post-apocalyptic na “I got the power” ng Wednesday Group at ang folk dance medley Ng Thursday Group”, Manuel recalls with a smile. Indeed, That’s Entertainment!
5. The catch-phrase that is Walang Tulugan!
When GMA Supershow bowed out of the airwaves in the late ‘90s, Kuya Germs was offered a show by his mother network that would air on late Saturday evenings. It was originally called Master Showman, but it evolved into Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman. How? Because when the show would run past midnight, Kuya Germs would yell to the audience “Walang Tulugan!” This catchphrase became an instant buzzword that easily caught on — no small thanks to the OFW communities, particularly in the States, with whom the show is said to be extremely popular.
6. The values of dedication and generosity
Janno Gibbs would attest to it: During the That’s era, Kuya Germs paid his talents with his own money, sometimes comings straight from the talent fee he’d receive as host. It’s a practice that he carried all the way to Walang Tulugan. But Kuya Germs took this generosity a step further: He’d personally go to Divisoria to buy fabrics for the show’s set!
7. For all the livelihood possibilities he showed us
While he’s best known to mentor young artistas, once upon a time, Kuya Germs mentored young entrepreneurs. Remember when he hosted the livelihood training educational program Negosyete? How many of us learned how to make bread or process meats from there?
8. For his super panalo dance moves
Not very many know that Kuya Germs was a mean dancer. On the 1963-Sampaguita Pictures movie Dance-O-Rama, Kuya Germs demonstrated he could hold his own on the dancefloor.
9. For the two Guy and Pip movies he gave us
Kuya Germs also worked behind the camera, Tirso Cruz III and Nora Aunor in two films: Guy and Pip and My Blue Hawaii. Both of which were huge box-office successes.
With Metropolitan Theater restoration project lead Arch Gerard Lico
10. He taught us and fought for the value of heritage
One of Kuya Germs last public appearances was in December, during the clean-up drive for the Metropolitan Theater. He gave his full support to the restoration of the landmark structure, saying “Maraming artista ang tumungtong sa entabladong ito, kaya hindi natin maaaring hindi buhayin muli ang lugar na ito,” he said then.
With Special Thanks to Manuel Pangaruy, Chuckle Dreyfus, Arch. Gerard Lico, Janno Gibbs, Maria Fe Gibbs, and Baby K. Jiménez for their valuable assistance.
