On May 31, 2023, fans were surprised when a rerun episode of the show was suddenly cut off to make way for the announcement: Longtime Eat Bulaga! hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon would no longer be working with production company TAPE Inc., effective that same day. 

With this news all over social media, it has people asking: is the show relevant to younger generations?

The short answer is no, but a show with this much success and cultural impact deserves more than a short answer. Eat Bulaga! was THE noontime tv show. If it wasn’t the greatest, it was certainly the longest-running, having celebrated their 43rd anniversary in July 2022. In today’s world however, competition is stiff, as short form media platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram are a more prevalent pastime in Philippine households with access to streaming. Even with Eat Bulaga! uploading VODs on these platforms, the amount of content they share space with is unfathomable. Attention spans grow short, audience demand changes—such is the nature of entertainment. 

Still, the show is etched in Philippine culture, and does not have to be relevant to the current generation to preserve that status. Although it won’t be a never-ending money machine, no media is. Every show has its deadline, which might be why the now ex-hosts have not been getting paid; TAPE may have realized this and opted out.  

With new hosts lined up to take to Tito, Vic, and Joey’s places, only time will tell where this show will head to.