ASAP (variety show)

ASAP (All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party) is the longest-running musical variety show in the Philippines shown on ABS-CBN. It is mainly presented by some of the country's top performers namely Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vina Morales, Gary Valenciano, Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo. The show is also seen worldwide through the subscription-based global TV channel The Filipino Channel. The show has been shown every Sunday since its pilot episode on February 5, 1995 surpassing GMA Supershow's record of nearly two decades. ASAP is the first live entertainment program in the Philippines to be broadcast in true high-definition picture, the other being a sports program.

History

When "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila" became "'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila" to replace Eat Bulaga which left ABS-CBN to transfer to GMA Network, ASAP was conceptualized and launched in 1995 as a "concert party" on Sundays. Then, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, along with Ariel Rivera and Dayanara Torres were tapped as main hosts for the show. The cast of "Pare Ko" (Claudine Barretto, Victor Neri, Jolina Magdangal, Roselle Nava, Gio Alvarez, Jao Mapa, Nikka Valencia) became co-hosts for the show to attract the younger viewers. In 1996, the show celebrated its first anniversary and later top-caliber leading man Piolo Pascual joined the show. When Dayanarra Torres left the country, Charlene Gonzales took her place. Channel V’s Joey Mead also joined the show for a while. By 1998, regular guest Zsa Zsa Padilla became a regular host the following year. After Martin Nievera left, Richard Gomez took his place. In March 1999, Onemig Bondoc joined the group. The SOP hosts Vina Morales & Mo Twister also joined the show.