With only six “Artista Academy” scholars comprising its Honors List, the competition in the country’s biggest and most intensive talent search takes a new twist as the show’s 9th live exam last Saturday focused on the importance of love teams.
“The love team is one of the most effective entry points in show business,” declared TV5 Talent Center head Direk Mac Alejandre as he and “AA” Principal Wilma Galvante explained how the grading system works at this stage of the contest.
“It’s all about chemistry. Kailangan pakiligin nyo kami ngayong gabi,” Galvante added. “From now on, it is neither about individual performance nor team effort. Our live exam is about love team effort. The grade of one is the grade of the other.”
With that the three pairs of Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert (a.k.a. Sovin), Akihiro Blanco and Chanel Morales (a.k.a. Akinel) and Shaira Mae and Mark Neumann (a.k.a. Shark) proceeded to impress the critics with their respective showcases of chemistry.
Stumbling out of the gate, Vin and Sophie was chastised by Direk Mac for their shaky choreography and failure to memorize the lyrics of their duet, “I’ve Had The Time of My Life” from the movie “Dirty Dancing.”
“Sayang, you look so good together,” Alejandre lamented. “Ang kilig ay lumalabas lamang kung tama ang dialogue at sumusunod kayo sa blocking. Next time, kung mabibigyan kayo ng pagkakataon, make sure memoryado nyo na ang linya nyo.”
Gelli added that although the pair reminded her of Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, she acknowledged that it was Vin who carried the loveteam even as she, LT and Principal Wilma added that Sophie looked really good in her outfit.
“Bagay kayong dalawa,” LT conceded.
“Hindi naman kayo bumitaw sa concept na kayong dalawa ay nag-iibigan,” Galvante observed.
Next up was Akinel. Inspired by the opening scene of “Grease,” their portion proved tricky because only talked about each other to their friends and would not meet eye to eye until the last part of their duet, “Summer Nights.”
“Kahit sa bandang huli na lang nagtama ang mga mata nyo, the payoff is worth it,” Direk Mac enthused.
“Nagkaroon kayo ng spark nung ending,” added LT.
For her part, Gelli took Akihiro to task for not memorizing the lyrics to their song while Galvante thought it was Chanel who carried the pair. “Chanel can really work up a crowd,” she pointed out.
Finally, it was Shaira and Mark’s turn to wow everyone and notwithstanding being handicapped with an awful medley of “Umbrella” and “Singing In The Rain” that could have been disastrous, their performance delivered kilig factor to the max.
“The music worked against you but you made it work. Nilunod ng kaguwapuhan ni Mark at kagandahan ni Shaira ang kanta nyo,” Direk Mac exclaimed.
Gelli went a little further and compared them to Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson while host Cesar Montano went as far as comparing them to Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III and Lorna Tolentino and the late Rudy Fernandez.
LT reserved her best compliment to her favorite “cutie pie”, Mark. “Pati pagta-Tagalog mo, naiintindihan ko na sinasabi mo. Napalaki ng improvement n’yo at higit sa lahat kumakanta na kayo, ibig sabihin yung ginawa niyo tumalon dito sa amin at naramdamin naming ang kilig.”
And even as Principal Wilma expressed some reservations and told them that they still need to work on their emotional kilig, it was a successful “Shark” attack for Shaira and Mark who went on to win the Most Kilig Couple award of the night.
With their outstanding showing, it looks like Shaira and Mark have elevated their status from dark house contenders to emerging frontrunners as Vin, Sophie, Akihiro and Chanel need to reclaim some of their lost glory.
Will Shaira Mae and Mark continue their winning streak or will the former leaders bounce back and slay the “Shark” as the competition towards the P20 million grand prize for the best actor and best actress winds down to an exciting finale?
The only way to find out is to tune in to “Artista Academy” as it airs on TV5 every Monday to Friday at 9PM and every Saturdays at 9:30PM.
source: interaksyon.com