Today September 4, 2023, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) made a shocking announcement. They suspended the long-standing ABS-CBN noontime program “It’s Showtime” for 12 consecutive days of airing. This decision came in response to numerous complaints about a specific episode in which the program’s hosts were accused of behaving indecently during their segment called “Isip Bata.” The controversy centered around a viral cake-eating scene involving the real-life couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
If you recall, the incident became controversial after Rendon Labador called for action from the MTRCB, and many joined the issue.
In a recent development that has had a significant impact on Philippine television, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has enforced a preventive suspension order on the popular noontime show, “It’s Showtime.” This decision was made due to a series of content violations that raised concerns about the program’s compliance with broadcasting standards and ethical guidelines. The MTRCB’s decision serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible content creation in the media industry.
This is not the first time that “It’s Showtime” has faced a preventive suspension order. In 2010, when the show was still known as “Showtime,” the MTRCB imposed a 20-day suspension due to content-related concerns. The recurrence of such issues over the years highlights the need to address these matters comprehensively and in line with regulations.
Moreover, the show had previously received warnings for using the term “Pek Pek Shorts” in an episode on January 9 and for the indecent attire and performance of Kim Duenas in the “Girl on Fire” segment aired on February 14, 2023. These repeated warnings indicate a pattern of content violations that the MTRCB considers unacceptable.
As of now, ABS-CBN and the producers of “It’s Showtime” have not issued a statement in response to the MTRCB’s decision. It remains to be seen how they will handle the suspension and whether they will take steps to address the content issues that led to this outcome.