MTRCB to call TV networks' attention over 'comedy bar humor'

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Wednesday said it will call the attention of television networks to what it called the migration of so-called comedy bar humor to television. In a post on its Twitter account Wednesday evening, the MTRCB voiced "concern" over such a development but did not elaborate. "MTRCB expresses concern over the migration of comedy bar humor to TV, to call attention of networks," it said. It also said the MTRCB had said its jurisdiction is "over scenes aired on TV programs & over films," while the discipline of individual artists is with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). The MTRCB's plan to call the attention of TV networks came a day after comedian Vice Ganda (Jose Marie Viceral in real life) was criticized for making a rape joke at the expense of TV news personality Jessica Soho, vice president for news programs of GMA Network, a rival of Vice Ganda's mother network ABS-CBN. Vice Ganda made the joke during his concert last May 17. On Wednesday, Vice Ganda apologized to Soho on his noontime program. Soho acknowledged the apology and said she "sincerely hope(s) and pray(s) that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us." — OMG/KBK, GMA News