an Cai and F4 make a comeback to local TV  today, 11 years since it first aired here. Be ready to sing “Oh baby baby baby myy baby baby baby” (insert next Chinese lyrics here) as we once again revisit the Red Cards, the now outdated hairstyles, and the rich-boy-falls-in-love-with-the-poor-girl-who-is-first-in-love-with-a-violin-wielding-emo-boy storyline that sent everyone into an Asianovela craze.

However popular this TV show may be, there are also a number of now-defunct local shows that deserve to grace our television sets again. Take your remote and switch your mind to Channel Nostalgia as we look back at these shows.

8. ANG TV

A significant percentage of the actors and actresses that are still active up to now came from this youth-oriented variety show of the ’90s. Helmed by Johnny Manahan, or Mr. M as they call him, was responsible for putting together this local counterpart of The Mickey Mouse Club.

If you knew the catchphrases “4:30 na, Ang TV na!,” said “esmyuskee” all the time,  begged your parents to let you buy notebooks with Ang TV cast members on the cover (probably Jolina’s), and the theme song by heart, you were part of the population who were glued to the TV every 4:30 in the afternoon.

 

7. !OKA TOKAT

This TV show made ghost stories  (and reverse spelling) cool again from 1997-2002.

On its first season, it starred Ricky Davao, Carmina Villaroel, Agot Isidro, Rica Peralejo, Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales and Paolo Contis. For the second, it was childstars back then, Shaina Magdayao and Alwyn Uytingco, who were catapulted as the show’s main stars.

Parokya ni Edgar was, on the other hand, responsible for its catchy theme song.

 

6. TROPANG TRUMPO

This show ran from 1995-1999 and was responsible for a lot of things we still find funny up to now: the expression “Chicken!,” Battle of the Brainless and the classic Tropang Trumpo dance.

This gag show’s original cast included Ogie Alcasid, Gelli de Belen, Carmina Villaroel, Michael V. And Earl Ignacio.

The decline of the show can be attributed to changes in the production and cast: Michael V. And Ogie Alcasid left and joined Bubble Gang, the show transferred from ABC5 to ABS-CBN and had a number of director changes as well.

Six years may seem short, but Tropang Trumpo produced a lot of funny moments on television. Remember when they made a spoof of this commercial?

 

5. OKAY KA, FAIRY KO

Setting aside the 8 (and mostly horrible) spin-off movies it produced, this TV show made Enteng Kabisote and Faye the most popular human-and-fairy couple of the late ’80s up to the ’90s. This show revolves around Enteng (the then reed-thin Vic Sotto) as he deals with the challenges of being married to a fairy (first portrayed by Alice Dixson who was replaced two years later by Tweetie de Leon), primarily with his mother-in-law played brilliantly by Charito Solis, who belittles him by calling him ‘Tagalupa’.

They had a memorable supporting cast including Prinsipe K, Bale, Pipoy, Amy and Aiza.

 

4. 5 AND UP

Along with dreaming of becoming a doctor, a scientist or astronaut, kids of the ’90s longed to be a 5 and Up reporter. This Probe Productions brainchild was a unique and engaging show made by kids for kids.

It has produced a long list of impressive alums including Chynna Ortaleza, Maxene Magalona, Enzo Marcos and brothers Rayver and Rodjun Cruz.

Besides, who wouldn’t want to see bb Atom Araullo, braces and all, showcase his reporting talent and intelligence at such a young age?

 

3. ABANGAN ANG SUSUNOD NA KABANATA

Philippine politics is a big joke and this show surely reminded us of it every episode. Though it first aired back in 1991, Filipinos would surely find its characters awfully familiar: The Tengcos (a corrupt Congressman obsessed with becoming the President, his socialite wife struggling with drug problems and their spoiled, mentally unstable child accused of robbery and rape) and the Lagmans (a husband who switches from one job to another as he struggles to provide for his family, his wife who’s only contribution to their family is her nagging skills and their intelligent, hardworking daughter who has the gargantuan task of saving his family from the slums).

Imagine if this show was still around during the GMA presidency up to the current P-Noy administration. Oh, what a laugh it would be!

 

2. HOME ALONG DA RILES

Dolphy pretty much set the bar for great TV dads. Dolphy was best at portraying father roles as he was first popular as John Puruntong in John en Marsha. As Mang Kevin Kosme, he was funny, hardworking, loved his kids dearly and an expert at hitting people on the head with a newspaper.Just as their house shakes every time a train passes by, this show also managed to shake the sitcom landscape.

Another great thing about this TV show was that it showcased other brilliant comedians that weren’t as visible as the Dolphys of our time–Babalu as Richy, Nova Villa as Aling Ason, Carding Castro as Mang Elvis, Cita Astals as Hilary Lagdameo, Bernardo Bernardo as Steve Carpio, Dang Cruz as Roxanne and Kuhol and the rest of the Sunog Baga Boys.

 

1. MAGANDANG GABI BAYAN: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Though technically speaking not a TV show on its own, we wouldn’t mind watching an hour-long episode about flying kabaongs, avid tikbalang suitors and playful (sometimes evil) duwendes. Halloween nights wouldn’t be complete without camping in front of the television set, waiting for Noli de Castro to appear in a veil of smoke to start the show.

Admit it, you were pretty much bummed when he entered and won (a horror story on its own) thus disqualifying him to continue his hosting duties.

 

What other shows do you miss? Post them in Comments Section.