Banana Sundae (formerly Banana Split) is a Philippine comedygag show broadcast by ABS-CBN. The show aired from October 11, 2008, to April 5, 2020, replacing That's My Doc. The program aired every Sunday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, on the network's Yes Weekend! block. It also airs worldwide via TFC.
This series is currently streaming on Kapamilya Online Live Global every Friday, 3:00 am–5:00 am.
Banana Split debuted on October 11, 2008, with an all-girl cast led by Angelica Panganiban and Cristine Reyes, with different male celebrity guests each week. The second season premiered on February 28, 2009, and the third season on April 18, 2009, with a new cast, including John Prats, Zanjoe Marudo, Jayson Gainza, Pooh, and Pokwang.[1][2][3][4][5] The fourth season premiered on July 18, 2009.[6] On September 30, 2009, a 30-minute weekday afternoon edition called Banana Split: Daily Servings originally aired every Mondays to Fridays on the network's Hapontastic afternoon block.[7] The timeslot later moved to Umaganda weekday morning block from 10:00AM to 10:30AM starting August 2010, but was moved again twice as early from 9:00AM to 9:30AM on June 27, 2011. On July 9, 2011, the original Saturday edition was reformatted as Banana Split: Extra Scoop, featuring live comedy performances and also includes the second season of Clown in a Million, a reality comedy search. On September 12, 2011, Banana Split: Daily Servings was renamed to Banana Split: Lafternoon Delight (after the 1987 noontime variety show "Afternoon Delight" which aired before being replaced by Eat Bulaga! in 1989.) as the timeslot moved to 2:45PM as part of Kapamilya Gold afternoon block. However, it was later cancelled on October 7, 2011.
Banana Split: Extra Scoop garnered high ratings on its Saturday late-night timeslot compare to the counterpart programs. Due to the success, ABS-CBN launched a late-weeknight edition called Banana Nite which premiered on February 25, 2013, every Mondays to Fridays right after Bandila, replacing certain Current Affairs shows. Banana Nite extended its airtime to 45 minutes on August 5, 2013, but was later reverted to 30 minutes on February 10, 2014, onwards. Banana Nite ended on October 30, 2015, after a two-year run. Meanwhile, Banana Split: Extra Scoop ended on November 7, 2015, after its four-year run. The show reformatted on November 15, 2015, as Banana Sundae which now airs every Sunday afternoons at 2:30PM right after ASAP Natin 'To.
Banana Split original logo (2008–2015)
[8]
In April 2020, Banana Sundae was temporarily put off the air, in response to rival network GMA extending Kapuso Movie Festival to a two-movie block. This switch forced the network to extend the Sunday edition of KB Family Weekend to two movies, causing ASAP Natin 'To shorten to a 1-hour airtime in Banana Sundae's timeslot, as part of ABS-CBN's temporary programming changes due to the 2020 Luzon lockdown (which is part of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country). However, the program was cancelled when ABS-CBN Channel 2 was forced to shut down indefinitely. Repeat episodes of the program later aired via ABS-CBN's interim replacement, Kapamilya Channel every weeknight at 11:45PM between June and July 2020.
Through an article from Philippine Entertainment Portal, a gag show similar to Banana Sundae (considered its "successor") started airing on October 18, 2020, on TV5 produced by Brightlight Productions. However, the program was retitled as Sunday 'Kada with only a few of its cast and director, Mortiz, of Banana Sundae on board.[9]
Clown in a Million - The talent search for comedians, where funny people with no or little television experience battle it out to be proclaimed as the latest comedic talent discovery.
Banana Classics - A sketch or comic skit where two or more actors portray roles to convey a simple story that culminates in a punchline, just to make people laugh. It is done before a live audience without cuts, thus requiring the material to be visual rather than verbal.
Extra Spoof - A segment where the cast impersonates famous icons, idols, and celebrities of past and present times, living or deceased. It is cohesively presented with a common theme like novelty icons, the icons from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, or internationally known Pinoy singers.
Make Me Rap -
Oh My Shopping! - A parody of O Shopping where the cast is asked to pick a certain item from a chosen box which they need to sell like an infomercial show.
Former segments (from Banana Nite and Banana Sundae)
The Amazing Microwave Pandesal Rangers (a parody of Power Rangers)
Dyaskeng Bieber
Iba-Iba Gamit, na Walang Gamit, na Isang Gamit!
Andy The Handyman
Many Pacquiao
Uban Zone (parody of Urban Zone hosted by Daphne Oseña-Paez)
AlphaBeth
Rizza Masahista
Show It! (parody of Showtime hosted by Pooh; Pokwang takes his place when absent.)
Tongue Tarang Tongue
Krissy For You
Huwag Kang Lilingon
Tekki Muna
Ask Jobert
Yes Maam!
Dear Ethang
Magic Singh (although a parody of an Indian magician with the same name, the portion's title is a corruption of the microphone brand Magic Sing, only that the word 'sing' is added with letter H)
Just Draw It (parody from the U.S. TV series Win, Lose or Draw hosted by Pooh)
Damoobs ni Kuya Jobert
Swertang Malas
Bokya
Hula-Hulaan!
Ryan's English 101.1 (the portion's title is a corruption from radio station 101.1 Yes! FM, now 101.1 Yes! The Best)
Samurai Halo-Halo
New Problema
Ikaw Ang Bruha/Puga/Lola/Siba/Gluta/Siga/Duda (& etc.) (parody of Ikaw Ang Bida, a segment from the defunct noontime show Happy Yipee Yehey!)
The contestant won immunity from the next elimination
The contestant was deemed the worst but was immune from elimination
Controversies
Theme song
Lito Camo composed the theme song Banana Split performed by Kool Chix, and is available as a bonus track in Willie Revillame's album Giling Giling from Star Records. However, the theme song was changed during the third season, which is a re-composition of The Champs' Tequila.[10]
Gay kiss issue
During the December 6, 2008 episode, Rafael Rosell (as a guest), Jon Avila, and Will Devaughn were involved in a joke segment following a dating game, where Rosell was kissed by the gay actors instead of the usual Banana Split girls. Rosell consented to the practical joke and to being blindfolded and kissed on the cheek, but they instead kissed him on the lips. This event caused a short rift between Rosell and a Banana Split executive producer, as Rosell thought he was being taken advantage of. As a result, few clips were aired instead of the whole segment. A public apology was also delivered after the end of the show.[11][12][13][14]
Valerie Concepcion, Roxanne Guinoo and Dianne Medina left Banana Split to focus on Precious Hearts Romances series where they will act in different episodes. It was reported that Guinoo was removed from the show because of her weight problems,[15] while Concepcion left the show due to a talent fee dispute.[16] The rift between Angelica Panganiban and Cristine Reyes arose as another issue, resulting in Reyes' departure.[17]
John Prats and Jason Francisco Altercation
Cast members John Prats and Jason Francisco figured in an altercation during rehearsals for a show in 2013 to be held at the Music Museum.[18] The two parties eventually patched things up a year later.[19]
Binay Blackface skit
Banana Sundae attracted controversy prior to the May 13, 2019, elections when they aired a skit parodying the church argument of Binay siblings Abby Binay and Junjun Binay, who were both Makati mayoral candidates. Pooh and former SexBomb Girls member Sunshine Garcia played as the Binay siblings, putting black makeup on themselves. The skit drew mixed reactions with viewers calling it "racist and insensitive" as well as referencing the history of blackface, while others noted that the show never mocked skin color, but instead, the argument itself and the political history of the Binay family.[20]
