TV, the show hasn’t lost a bit of its drawing power, what with its most exciting segments and programming that caters to all generation of Filipinos. Eat Bulaga premiered on July 30, 1979 on RPN at Broadcast City, Diliman, Quezon City. Because the show was to occur during noontime, Eat was used to represent lunchtime. Bulaga (which means “surprise” in English) was to represent their plan to fill the show with lots of big surprises.

This is how the title “Eat Bulaga” came into existence. Plus, the title Bulaga could also refer to its another meaning Peek-a-boo!, a game played to surprise children. Eat is the transliteration of It!, the Tagalog game-slang for “lost (in the game).” Because both titles represents such activities of children, the slogan “Hangga’t May Bata, May Eat Bulaga!” (“While There Are Still Children, There will be Eat Bulaga!”) was born.[1] RPN outsourced the idea to TAPE. At that time, comic troika Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon were the most popular movie comedians. They were hired together with Chiqui Hollman and Richie Reyes (a.k.a. Richie d’ Horsie) as co-hosts. It was Joey who coined the title of the show, “Eat... Bulaga!” to attract all socioeconomic classes.

In 1989 due to the sequestration of RPN, the show moved to ABS-CBN (under a co-production agreement) along with other TAPE-produced shows Agila, Coney Reyes on Camera and Okey Ka Fairy Ko! (from IBC). To drum up promotions for Eat Bulaga’s move to ABSCBN, the then- Star Network came up with a creative promotion of “...” (three dots) which stood for three top-rating daytime shows (Eat Bulaga, Agila and Coney Reyes on Camera) that will finally air on Channel 2. The “three dots” also figured prominently in the early logos of “Eat... Bulaga!”. The show’s move helped strengthen the network’s programming. The premiere telecast of Eat Bulaga at their new home was on February 18, 1989 and for this momentous event, the show was staged at the Araneta Coliseum.

In 1992, Tito Sotto left the show after he ran successfully for a Senate seat. He became a senator during the May elections, which saw Fidel V. Ramos winning the presidency. However, despite leaving the show, he still managed to appear on special occasions, mostly Christmas and New Year. Sotto was able to serve 2 terms in the Senate, from 1992 until 2004.

In his last year at the Senate, he went back to Bulaga on a weekly basis (usually on Saturdays). The show once again moved to another network, this time on GMA Network because ABS-CBN wanted to buy the airing rights of Eat Bulaga from TAPE, Inc. When the group led by Tony Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar reneged on the proposed deal, ABS-CBN removed Bulaga and its sister shows Valiente and Okay Ka, Fairy Ko from its roster of shows and decided to reformat its Sunday-only show Sa Linggo nAPO Sila into a week-long show, ‘Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. Eat Bulaga premiered on GMA on January 28, 1995, again at the Araneta Coliseum.[2][3] Prior to Eat Bulaga’s premiere on its new home, month-long promotions were made by GMA Network by coming up with the famous catchy TV ad, “9-2=7” (nine minus two equals seven), which was a pun on Eat Bulaga’s move from Channel 9 (RPN) to Channel 2 (ABS-CBN) to Channel 7 (GMA).

Its move to is also the comeback of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon on GMA after they left Student Canteen for Eat Bulaga in 1979. First time in Vancouver…and Canada! Eat Bulaga! Invades Vancouver is the title of their very first Canadian show to be held at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 6:00PM. The cast includes the legends: Tito, Vic & Joey, plus the “Dabarkad” composed of Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, Allan K, Jose Manalo, Anjo
Yllana, Wally Bayola, Pia Guanio, Pauleen Luna, Julia Clarete, Paolo Ballesteros & Michael V. and the EB BABES: Maricon, Margene, Steph, Saida, Ann, Molly & Ria. Don’t miss this “biggest Surprise of the Year!” Tickets are @ $35, $55, $75 and VIP $95. For more information,
Call 604-812-2728.

Source: Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia