Ikinagulat at ikinalungkot ni Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray nang biglang kanselahin ang kinabibilangang weekly musical-variety show sa TV5, ang Sunday Noontime Live (SNL), noong Enero.
Umere ang huling episode ng SNL noong January 17, 2021. Tumagal lamang ng tatlong buwan ang show.
Kinumpirma ni Catriona ang ulat ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) na nasorpresa ang mga artist at ang buong production team ng SNL na magpapaalam na sa ere ang kanilang programa.
“Well, very surprised. I think a lot of us were taken by surprise, especially all of the staff, ‘cause it came without really any prior notice,” sabi ni Catriona sa virtual interview sa kanya ng TV writer na si G3 San Diego noong February 22.
Inalala pa ni Catriona kung gaano kalaki ang pasasalamat ng mga bumubuo ng show nang magkaroon sila ng virtual meeting dahil nagkatrabaho sila.
Nangyari raw ito makalipas ang isang buwan nang magsimulang mapanood ang SNL.
“We had a thanksgiving dinner, lahat ng mga staff and artists were there over virtual, just to give thanks for the first block tapings we have done for SNL.
“And just to hear the messages of, ‘I didn’t think that we would have work…’ ‘cause a lot of our staff were those retrenched due to the pandemic.”
Ang higit sa 30 production team members na bumuo sa SNL ay dating bahagi ng production team ng ASAP Natin ‘To, na katapat na programa ng SNL.
Ang mga empleyadong ito ay kasama sa mga nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pagsasara ng ABS-CBN matapos pagkaitan ng franchise renewal ng Kongreso ang Kapamilya Network noong July 10, 2020.
Pagpapatuloy ni Catriona, “And so the show gave them a lot of hope and even the artists, they had a feeling of being very embraced and welcomed, and their talent was given spotlight.”
Proud daw ang Filipino-Australian beauty queen na mapabilang sa SNL at maipamalas ang kanyang talento sa musika.
“And I just felt proud to be a part of that and to be given the opportunity to do so.
“And of course, when it was taken away, [it] was definitely a sad thing. It was a sad moment.”
Kasama ni Catriona sa programa ang dating Kapamilya artists na sina Piolo Pascual, Maja Salvador, Jake Ejercito, at Donny Pangilinan.
Ang direktor naman ng SNL ay si Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan.
Nanghinayang daw si Catriona dahil nakabuo na sila ng magandang samahan sa weekend program.
“And I think, yeah, it was just sad, obviously, because we were able to create within three cycles, this sense of family on set.
“Usually, you hear about that when people were working for months on end, like, every day.
"But we only had three blocks of taping and there’s already that feeling [of family].”
Nananalig daw si Catriona na sa kabila ng nangyari, mabibigyan pa rin ng bagong pagkakataon ang kanyang mga kasamahan.
Sabi niya, “But I have faith naman that each of the artist, each of the staff, will hopefully be given the opportunity to have work, to have the opportunity, to have the opportunity to elevate their craft once again.
“Because in a pandemic I wish for people to be able to stand on their feet, more than anything, to be able to support and provide for their family.”
Ang pumalit sa timeslot ng SNL ay ang ASAP Natin 'To, na simultaneous umeere sa A2Z Channel, TV5, at Kapamilya Online Channel.
Nagkataon ding sina Catriona, Piolo, at Maja ay dating bahagi ng ASAP Natin 'To, kung saan naging long-time director si Mr. M.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CATRIONA gray
Bagamat hindi nagtagal ang kanyang kauna-unahang main show, hindi nagtatapos dito ang pagsabak ni Catriona sa showbiz, lalo na sa pagkanta.
“Definitely music is there. ‘Cause I know I’m a talker, so hosting is definitely something I’m interested in pursuing.
“But there is a different calling that I feel with music. And I felt it ever since I was young,” pahayag niya.
Kung napatunayan daw ni Catriona ang sarili nang koronahang ika-apat na Pinay Miss Universe, desidido siyang patunayan ang sarili bilang singer.
“Because I’m so aware that people are gonna say, ‘You will have that opportunity because you’re a beauty queen.’ I feel I put pressure on myself that I need to earn my place.
“I need to be able to give something that’s worth being here, so I hold my music at a very high standard.
“So I’m very excited when I’m finally able to release my original stuff and finally people will love it, 'cause I really put my heart into everything.”