Joey de Leon enjoys sitcom return with ‘One of the Boys’

Joey de Leon talks to media during the 'One of the Boys' press launch. (Photo by Connie Tungul/InterAksyon)

It had been quite a long time since Joey de Leon starred on a sitcom that it took a while for the iconic comedian and TV host to recall the last time he did one.

“I think it was ‘Kiss Muna’ for GMA. More than 10 years ago pa yun,” he told the entertainment media during the press launch of “One of the Boys” last Tuesday.

On TV5’s newest weekend primetime sitcom, Joey plays Daddy Jerry or simply DJ, a former London-based OFW who has decided to return home and run an automotive shop. A single dad to three children, including only daughter Gabriella or “Gabi” (Eula Caballero), he is also regarded as a father figure by his small group of workers (Juan Direction, Benjo Leoncio, Empoy Marquez) dubbed as the “talyer boys”.

Asked why it took him this long to do a sitcom, Joey replied: “Honestly, ayoko na sanang gumawa ng sitcom dahil mahabang oras ang kinakain. Kung napansin nyo, puro mga gag shows na lang ang ginagawa ko.”

However, he admitted that he did miss doing sitcoms and the camaraderie that goes with the family atmosphere of cast and crew during tapings. Joey was convinced to accept “One of the Boys” and the veteran funnyman confessed that he was having a blast.

“Medyo nanganay nung simula pero nung tumagal na, bumibilis na ang pacing namin. Enjoy ako dito. May outlet ako,” he said.

TV5 production unit head JoAnn Bañaga attributed to Joey the undeniable chemistry between the mixed cast of veterans and newcomers on the show.

“You will see that the whole cast really clicks, and this is mainly because of Joey de Leon. For these younger actors, every taping is like a priceless crash course to acting and comedy with Joey, and they really do enjoy and cherish it. Ultimately, Joey is the anchor of ‘One of the Boys’, and you can really tell that in more ways than one, he is the father of this whole cast,” Bañaga pointed out.

Joey de Leon (fourth from right) with the other cast members of the new TV5 sitcom 'One of the Boys'.

Eula Caballero recalled that everyone in the cast was nervous on their first day of taping.

“We were reading the script and trying to memorize our lines and internalize our characters. Pero nung dumating si Tito Joey, ang sabi niya sa amin, ‘Ibaba nyo yang script niyo. Laruin lang natin ito. Let’s just enjoy doing this’,” she shared.

Joey also noted that “One of the Boys” is only the third time that he’s playing a father in a sitcom. Back in the ’80s, he played dad to a very young Ian Veneracion in “Joey and Son” then in “Kiss Muna”, he had another TV son in Rayver Cruz.

“First time kong magkaanak ng babae dito sa ‘One of the Boys’. Wala nga lang balbas si Eula gaya ni Ian at abs na gaya ni Rayver,” Joey cracked.

Asked how he would rank Eula as a comedienne on a scale of 1 to 10. Joey was quick to say that the TV Princess would merit an 8 in his book as far as making people laugh is concerned.

“Puwede na sa 8. Magaling, magaling talagang magpatawa ang batang yan,” he declared.

Aside from the father and daughter relationship between Joey and Eula, another highlight of the show is the chemistry between Joey and Empoy which some members of the press have already compared to Joey’s winning tandem with the late Rene Requiestas.

“Magkaiba naman sina Empoy at Rene. Si Rene kasi, hindi naman talaga komedyante, nagsimula sa pagiging stage actor kaya napakagaling mag-deliver ng linya. Pero after the shooting, seryosong tao na yan. Hindi nagbibiro at tahimik lang sa isang tabi. Si Empoy naman, mas natural na komedyante. Yan kahit off the set, nagpapatawa at palabiro pa rin,” he stressed.

Asked about the secret of his own longevity in the business, Joey sums it up in four letters T-I-T-E. “Ibig sabihin po niyan, trabaho, ipon, travel, enjoy, TITE,” Joey cracked while referring to his inclination to travel around the world whenever his schedule permits it.

Directed by Robert Quebral and also starring Nadine Samonte, BJ Forbes and Jayson, “One of the Boys” premieres this Saturday, May 3 at 9PM on TV5.

Joey de Leon enjoys sitcom return with ‘One of the Boys’

Source: InterAksyon.com (May 01, 2014 at 10:56AM)

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