Check Out What MTRCB Has Suspended: Don't Miss the Latest on "It's Showtime"

Ion Perez and Vice Ganda in Showtime's segment "Isip Bata" (Photo: Screenshot from YouTube)

In September 2023, the popular noontime variety show "It's Showtime" was suspended by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for a period of 12 airing days. The suspension was announced on September 4th, 2023, following multiple complaints lodged by viewers regarding an episode that aired on July 25th, 2023.

The complaints were centered around alleged indecent acts performed by the show's hosts, Vice Ganda and Ion Perez, during a segment called "Isip Bata". The specific act in question involved Perez smearing cake icing on his finger and licking it off, before sharing it with his partner, renowned comedian Ganda, who scooped some of the icing off Perez’s finger and ate it. This act was deemed to be in violation of Section 3 (c) of Presidential Decree No. 1986 or the MTRCB charter.

Following the suspension, ABS-CBN, the creator of the show, stated that they would file a Motion for Reconsideration (MR), maintaining that there was no violation of pertinent law. They also expressed their commitment to working with the MTRCB to ensure that 'It’s Showtime' can continue to bring joy and entertainment to its noontime viewers.

However, this is not the first time that "It's Showtime" has faced issues with the MTRCB. In 2010, the show was suspended for 20 days due to similar complaints. Furthermore, in 2023, the show received multiple warnings from the MTRCB for inappropriate utterances by the hosts during different episodes.

As of now, the suspension is not yet final and executory, as the MTRCB is still waiting for the case's "finality". The show's producers have submitted their motion for reconsideration, but a verdict remains pending.