ASAP (TV program)


All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party, rebranded as ASAP Natin 'To, is a Philippine television variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN. Currently hosted by Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano, Luis Manzano, Sarah Geronimo, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. it premiered on February 5, 1995 replacing Sa Linggo nAPO Sila. It surpassing rival network GMA's GMA Supershow’s record of nearly two decades. In October 2015, ASAP became the first live entertainment program in the Philippines to be broadcast in true high-definition picture, the other being a sports program.

Broadcast

The show is normally aired on Sundays from 11:45 am to 2:30 pm, normally
aired live, some episodes are occasionally taped, usually on the week before
the international concert the day after the ABS-CBN/Ball.

History

''ASAP'' first decade (1995–2003)

When Sa Linggo nAPO Sila became Sang Linggo nAPO Sila to replace Eat Bulaga!, a TV show was conceptualized by a group of production people from the displaced APO show in January 1995 as a "concert party" on Sundays. Martin Nievera accidentally joined the group while on break from taping his eponymous talk show. He gave the show the title acronym ASAP which stood for All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party. The production group decided to bring him and Pops Fernandez, along with Ariel Rivera and Dayanara Torres as main hosts for the show. The cast of Pare Ko became co-hosts for the show to attract the younger viewers. In 1996, the show's co-hosting line up evolved as it included different young stars from ABS-CBN's Talent Center. The show also celebrated its first anniversary as it finally wrested the top spot away from its closest rival GMA Supershow. The show became victorious in 1997 as they celebrated their 2nd anniversary from the Araneta Coliseum, as their erstwhile institutional rival show GMA Supershow folded up.
The show originally had its own theme song, Hot na Hot sa ASAP in 1995. In the show's 2nd anniversary, another theme song was released, Better Than Ever. Initial broadcast commenced on February 5, 1995, at the Delta Theatre in Quezon Avenue. In 1997, they transferred to their own studio at the Studio 10 of the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, sharing space with Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. However, the show hit a snag when the main host Martin Nievera resigned on air because of marital issues with co-host Pops Fernandez. Richard Gomez and Zsa Zsa Padilla joined in to replace Nievera and Torres.
In 1999, the show was broadcast simultaneously from the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City and the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City to usher the second season of the MBA. Magandang Tanghali Bayan main hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada and Willie Revillame helped out in hosting ASAP from Bacolod while the main hosts were in Cuneta Astrodome.
In 2001, the show created new sensations out of "The Hunks", a new group composed of long-time Kapamilya heartthrobs Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales, Carlos Agassi and Bernard Palanca. Their phenomenal success as a group made noise around Philippine entertainment circles as they stormed their way through various appearances within ABS-CBN shows and concerts abroad. Even ASAP rival show SOP got wind of the group's popularity by creating a spoof group, "Da HungHunks".
In 2002, the show lost former co-host and occasional guest Rico Yan died due to pancreatitis, while Jolina Magdangal left ASAP and she transferred to GMA Network to join SOP, along with Marvin Agustin which he later be at the network in 2006. Richard Gomez also left the show in 2002 after signing an exclusive contract with GMA Network.

''ASAP Mania'' (2003–2005)

In 2003, the show was reformatted as ASAP Mania, after it lost its top-rating status to SOP Rules. Some original main hosts like Ariel Rivera and Pops Fernandez left while Martin Nievera returned on a semi-regular basis. The biggest talent acquisition of the show, however, were Gary Valenciano and Kuh Ledesma who decided to sign an exclusive contract with the Kapamilya Network and also shared the former's creative inputs to make the show more interesting. Some ASAP segments like Star in a Million and Victim became a hit with the viewers that ABS-CBN management decided to turn both segments into full-length shows. The move resulted in the network regaining lost audiences on weekends as both shows rated high against their respective counterparts. In the same year also, the show simulcasted on ABS-CBN's sister station Studio 23, though it lasted for a few months.
In 2004, ASAP celebrated its year-long 10th anniversary and regained leadership with the addition of singing champions from Viva-produced singing contests Star for a Night and Search for a Star and ABS-CBN's Star in a Million along with their runners-up. It also introduced a spin-off show ASAP Fanatic to serve as a venue for its new young stars to perform and interact with fans.

2005–2009

In 2005 the format changed to ASAP '05 and added rising TV host Toni Gonzaga and commercial model-turned singer Nikki Gil. In 2006, the show absorbed talents from the displaced spin-off show ASAP Fanatic and became a three-hour show. It also launched a somewhat complicated logo resembling LED lights where the words ASAP were made out of dots connected which had been in use until 2014.
In February 2007, Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha joined the show on a temporary basis while ex-SOP performers Karylle and Billy Crawford followed suit in 2008. The show also rolled out a grand welcome fit for royalty when it introduced then-Kapuso Primetime Queen Angel Locsin as the newest Kapamilya star in August 2007.
In 2009, the ratings of its rival show SOP were decreased in favor of ASAP once again as the show regained the credibility, prestige, and acclaim it once lost to its rival show. As a result, its rival show reformatted before the end of the year but no longer worked with the viewers.

2010–2013

On January 3, 2010, the show was relaunched as ASAP XV to mark its fifteenth anniversary. In the show's special anniversary on February 7, 2010, a new set was introduced. Competition became a three-way battle when GMA Network and TV5 produced their own "concert party" shows, where some of their talents and staff were ASAP alumni.
After the year, numbers in the show title wasn't adapted in 2010, a new title named ASAP Rocks was launched on January 2, 2011. On April 3, 2011, a new set was introduced. For the first time in show's history, the show welcomed Eat Bulaga main host Vic Sotto as a special guest, performing in the show twice to promote separately the two movies that he did for ABS-CBN's film arm Star Cinema. In his December 2011 guesting, Vic was joined by some of his Eat Bulaga co-hosts on stage to promote the MMFF entry Enteng ng Ina Mo. The show also lost its two former co-hosts and performers AJ Perez and RJ Rosales that same year due to their respective deaths.
On January 1, 2012, the show was launched as ASAP 2012. The show also showed its support to main host Zsa Zsa Padilla following the death of her partner, Comedy King Dolphy by giving him a royal tribute. Also, Sarah Geronimo temporarily left the show for her own primetime show, Sarah G. Live.

2013–2016

On January 6, 2013, the show was renamed ASAP 18 to commemorate the show's 18th anniversary. On January 5, 2014, the show was renamed ASAP 19 to commemorate the show's 19th anniversary. The show also reached its 1,000th episode in April 2014.
On January 4, 2015, the show was renamed ASAP 20 to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary. It launched a new, simple logo that replaced the one being used from 2006, and from that point, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual, & Bamboo became main hosts of the show as seen in their entire logo animation.
The show was also known for being the venue show for the premiere of ABS-CBN summer station IDs until 2015, when TV Patrol and It's Showtime changed venue. Between 2012 and 2015, the tide tilted in favor of ASAP once again when some cast members from their rival shows Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars transferred networks and started to appear in the show. Among the notable transfers were actress Iza Calzado, R&B Royalties Jay-R and Kyla, and Starstruck V Grand Winner-turned-ASAP Dance Goddess Sarah Lahbati, who also performed regularly while showing her remarkable fierce and sizzling sexy dance moves after a bitter falling out with her former network.
In 2015, the show faced another challenge when they got into a tough rating battle with GMA's new Sunday variety show Sunday PinaSaya that showcased more comedy skits than musical numbers. The show had to make adjustments by making some additional segments on their show, like a short skit and games with Kapamilya stars. ASAP original host Martin Nievera courted controversy when he vented his ire on the show's changes via Twitter, but later clarified his reaction saying he believes these changes in the format of the show are a way to “satisfy many markets with dignity and class". A few weeks before the comedy gag show Banana Split Extra Scoop was transferred to Sunday as Banana Sundae in early November 2015, ASAP reverted to its vaunted musical-variety format while management cut its running time to 2 hours, the first time to broadcast in such running time since the program's early years. In early December 2015, Elmo Magalona, son of Philippine King of Rap Francis Magalona, switched networks and became part of the show.

2016–2018

On January 3, 2016, for the first time in 13 years, the show retained the title ASAP alone. Thereafter, Jolina Magdangal and Luis Manzano became main hosts of the show along with Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual and Sarah Geronimo.
In February 2016, another singing contest grand winner from GMA Network, Jonalyn Viray transferred to ABS-CBN under the screen name Jona and officially joined the show. A few weeks later, ASAP extended its runtime to 2 hours and 45 minutes when its comedy gag show Banana Sundae transferred its timeslot again, airing a bit earlier from 11:45 am to 2:30 pm.
On May 15, 2016, ASAP launched two singing groups, the ASAP Birit Queens, composed of Jona Viray, Morissette Amon, Klarisse de Guzman and Angeline Quinto and the ASAP Soul Sessions, composed of Jason Dy, Daryl Ong, Jay R, KZ Tandingan and Kyla. However both groups disbanded in late 2017. Later, on July 3 of that year, the show instituted a new segment ASAPinoy, paying tribute to Filipino composers and singers which contributed to the success of Original Pilipino Music and welcomed Ogie Alcasid as a regular performer by October, after a few years of guest appearances.
In January 2018, ASAP replaced their existing segments with new segments including ASAP TLC: The Love Connection replacing ASAP LSS: Love Songs and Stories and adding ASAP RePlay Retro Playlist, honoring legendary international acts. Later in 2018, ASAP launched a teen singing group called ASAP G! and a dance segment titled ASAP MYX: The Maja-Yassi Xperience.
On October 17, 2018, Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez signed a network contract with ABS-CBN, officially making her a Kapamilya after 20 years of being with GMA Network. She became a mainstay of ASAP effective October 21, 2018, when she appeared during the show's out-of-town concert in Sydney, Australia. Velasquez had previously headlined three Sunday musical variety shows SOP, Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars that competed against ASAP for the past 18 years from 1997–2015. Prior to her transfer, she was hosting the musical talk show Sarap Diva and had recurring stints in Sunday PinaSaya as an occasional guest star.

''ASAP Natin 'To'' (2018–present)

After ASAP Live in Sydney and the Himig Handog 2018 Grand Finals, it was confirmed through different showbiz websites that the show underwent a reformat as ASAP Natin 'To which coincided with the entry of Regine Velasquez as one of the show's main hosts. Lui Andrada was named as the new business unit head of the show, replacing long-time business unit head Joyce Liquicia. Some of the show's cast were retained contrary to reports that some of them won't be seen on the show. On November 15, 2018, all social media accounts of ASAP unveiled the teaser and the new logo of the now revitalized show to be renamed ASAP Natin 'To. Only the typeface from continues its usage, and no segments from the previous era were carried over.
The reformatted show premiered on November 18, 2018. On December 2, 2018, a new online show "I Want ASAP" was launched hosted by Robi Domingo, Donny Pangilinan, Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber. The online show will air at 11:30 am PHT, 15 minutes before the airing of ASAP Natin 'To, replacing ASAP Chillout.
In December 2018, ASAP Natin 'To launched their first segment titled The Greatest Showdown, featuring various singers. As of now, Martin Nievera and Jolina Magdangal are the only original remaining artists since the show's airing in 1995.

25th anniversary, COVID-19 lockdowns and ABS-CBN 2's indefinite shutdown

On January 5, 2020, ASAP Natin' To celebrated its 25th anniversary. In addition, it reverted to its old format and revived some segments that were discontinued after the late 2018 reformat.
In 2020, ASAP Natin' To launched a new segment titled ASAP Concert Presents, with the Pair of Aces performing on the first prod of the segment.
In March 2020, ASAP Natin 'To temporarily stopped the admission of the live studio audience as part of the country's fight against the coronavirus. On March 15, 2020, as Metro Manila entered a lockdown, the show stopped live episodes and aired replays for the first 2 weeks, then taped new episodes via work from home arrangements, for the next few weeks.
In April 2020, as part of ABS-CBN's temporary programming schedule due to the Luzon Lockdown done to stop the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, in response to rival network GMA extending Kapuso Movie Festival to a two-movie block, which made the network extend the Sunday edition of Kapamilya Blockbusters Family Weekend to two movies, ASAP Natin 'To's airtime was shortened to one hour and moved to Banana Sundae's timeslot of 2:30 PM until May 3, 2020, which was it's last airing before indefinite the shutdown of ABS-CBN.
On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN Corporation, forcing all of its free-to-air television and radio stations to temporarily suspend their operations due to the expiration of its legislative franchise, causing ASAP, as well as the rest of ABS-CBN shows to temporarily suspend their airings.
On June 14, 2020, the show resumed its taping/live staging of new episodes for broadcast on cable-and-satellite channel Kapamilya Channel. However, there will be no studio audience as part of the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

Cast and Artists

Main hosts

Since 1990s

Current segments

ASAP Music

ASAP Music is the record label of ASAP, distributed by Star Records. The label has released a tribute compilation album to OPM classic pop-rock band, Hotdog. It has also released soundtracks of ABS-CBN TV series Sana Maulit Muli, My Girl and Your Song presents: My Only Hope—all of which starred Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. It has also released dance compilations for the defunct segment "Ultimate Dance 4" and the current segment "Supah Dance Plus". All of which contain original remixes and dance songs. Here is a list of albums released by the label:

ASAP Pop Viewers' Choice Awards

ASAP Pop Viewers' Choice Awards is an annual award show which is held on a Sunday afternoon during ASAP variety show every end of the year, usually November or December. It honors the year's biggest television, movie, and music acts, as voted by Kapamilya fans. In November 2015, the ASAP Pop Viewers' Choice Awards is changed to ASAP Pop Teen Choice Awards.

ASAP Fanatic

ASAP Fanatic is the first variety show for teens aired every Sunday afternoon after ASAP Mania on ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It showcases the hottest teen stars of the network, which features production numbers like Full Circle including the winners of Star Circle Quest, TV Idol, Qpids, Pinoy Big Brother evicted Housemates and ABS-CBN Star Magic talents as well. It ran from May 2004 to July 2006 and was replaced by Love Spell on its timeslot.

Others

YearAward-Giving BodyCategoryRecipientResult
2010GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsDance Group of the YearASAP Supahdance
2012GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Promising Recording/Performing GroupASAP Boys R Boys
2015PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Musical Variety Show2016 PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Musical Variety Show
2018PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Musical Variety Show Hall Of Fame2018 PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Musical Variety Show Hall Of Fame