Joey de Leon

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Joey de León
birthdate = birth date|1946|10|14|mf=y
location = Manila, Philippines
height = 5' 9"
years_active = 1969-present
deathdate =
birthname = José María Ramos de León
othername =
homepage =
notable role = Joey Escalera in Iskul Bukol, Starzan in Starzan

José María Ramos de León, better known as Joey de Leon (born October 14, 1946) is a Filipino comedian/TV host. Famous for his wit, green jokes, and sarcasm, he is one of the popular hosts of the long-running noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga!". He is a member of the famous comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several hit comedy movies and TV shows. As a songwriter, Joey has penned a number of Filipino hit songs that many in the Philippines now consider as classics, notably "Ipagpatawad Mo" (Forgive Me), "Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko" (Sing and I Will Dance), "Boyfriend kong Baduy" (My Geeky Boyfriend), "Iskul Bukol" (School is Tough).

Personal life

Joey is married to Eileen Macapagal, with whom he has three children, Jocas, Jako and Jio. He also has two children from a previous marriage with actress Daria Ramirez: TV host/actor-comedian Keempee de Leon and former teen actress Cheenee de Leon. He has four grandchildren, one from Keempee and three from Cheenee.

Pre-showbiz Life

Joey spent his early childhood in Sampaloc, Manila with his mother. His father, Jose Seoane de Leon (of Spanish descent and birth), never lived with them. Instead, the elder de Leon sent financial support (through his pension as a member of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East that fought alongside the American & Filipino forces on the islands during the Second World War) to Joey's mother so that his son would be able to attend school.

Joey's early childhood experiences ranged from the traumatic to the comical. His most traumatic experience occurred at age four when he almost drowned during a family beach outing. Because of the incident, he developed a phobia for bodies of water. Among his funny childhood experiences were playing pranks on his female classmates when he was in Grade 4.

During his teen years, Joey and his mother lived with his mother's relatives. His aunt and his godmother shouldered his high school expenses. But when he took up architecture at National University, his father's pension completely covered his college fees. After two years, Joey quit and dropped out of college (because he wasn't keen on Math) and took several odd jobs. Upon the prodding of his cousin and best friend, Freddie Villareal, they went to a radio station to see radio personality Karina Afable. But instead of meeting her, they chanced upon an audition for radio announcers. Joey wasn't interested but his friend secretly enlisted for the auditions that he passed and that led to a career in radio broadcasting.

Early Showbiz Exposure

He started out his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio DJ (disc jockey) for some of the top FM stations mostly owned by pre-martial law ABS-CBN. Some of his radio colleagues and contemporaries included Inday Badiday, Ike Lozada, Johnny de Leon (no relation) and Helen Vela. In a span of five years, he worked for 12 different FM stations while doing other jobs as gag writer and songwriter. His first big break on TV was IBC's gag show "OK Lang" which starred him alongside the Sotto brothers (Tito, Vic and Val), Ricky Manalo, Jr. and the APO Hiking Society.

Tito, Vic and Joey

In 1975, Joey became a co-host of GMA Network's early afternoon variety show "Discorama" hosted by Bobby Ledesma (of "Student Canteen" fame). At that time, the show hardly had any viewers and suffered from low ratings. While Bobby was on vacation, he told Joey to take care of the show. Joey invited his former co-stars at "OK Lang", brothers Tito, Vic and Val Sotto, to join him at "Discorama". Only Tito and Vic accepted Joey's invitation. The newly-formed trio started to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies written by Joey. The new comedy trio gave "Discorama" a new lease on life and was saved from the axe of network executives. The trio was soon invited to become part of Bobby's noontime show "Student Canteen" as they released 12 hit albums based on their "Discorama Tough Hits" segment.

Although Tito, Vic and Joey started their trio via "Discorama" and "Student Canteen", it was the sitcom "Iskul Bukol" that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie producers came knocking on the trio's door. In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey started hosting for the noontime show "Eat Bulaga!" which was pitted against the more established "Student Canteen" hosted by their former colleague (and now competitor) Bobby Ledesma. Not long after, "Eat Bulaga!" toppled "Student Canteen" from the ratings.

Joey as solo artist

Although Joey continued to do movies alongside his showbiz team mates Tito and Vic, he started doing solo performances for other TV shows. He topbilled "Joey and Son" in the '80s, a sitcom on RPN where he played father to a very young Ian Veneracion (who later metamorphosed into a teen heartthrob and action star in the '90s). He was also one of the gag performers on TODAS where his co-stars included Jimmy Santos and Val Sotto. Other TV shows that Joey did as a solo host/comedian included Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp., The Sharon Cuneta Show, and Let's Go Crazy. He was launched by Viva Films as a solo comedian in "She-Man: Mistress of the Universe", a parody of the foreign animated series He-Man. The movie was a big hit, and Joey went on to do more solo movies, mostly with his favorite sidekick Rene Requiestas. He also tried his hand at directing movies like "Romeo Loves Juliet" and "Small, Medium, Large".

Joey topbilled movies that are mostly spoofs of foreign movies or takes at American and Filipino pop culture. When "Starzan" became a box-office hit in 1989, he did two more sequels on that same year with tremendous box-office results. Because of the phenomenal box-office standings of the 3 "Starzan" movies that he made, he was named "Box-Office King" for that year. He also earned the title "Sequel King" because most of his movies ("Barbi", "Elvis and James", "Long Ranger en Tonton") each spawned sequels.

When Rene Requiestas went solo with his movie career (and later died in 1993), Joey concentrated on TV. He did several TV shows for major networks, mostly with GMA and ABC. In 1995, Joey made a movie comeback via the comedy "Bangers" for Viva Films, which teamed him up with comic Chiquito and rapper/comedian Andrew E.. This was later followed up by a series of comedy films that had him topbilled alongside other comedians like Leo Martinez ("Pipti-pipti") and Dennis Padilla ("Ang Tipo kong Lalake" and "Takot ako sa Darling Ko"). However, with the Philippine movie industry slowly losing its grip on the audience, Joey decided to concentrate on TV again, although he still appears in movies every now and then. Currently he still hosts "Eat Bulaga" which is now the longest-running TV program in the Philippines, and appears in other shows like "Mel and Joey", "Startalk", "Nuts Entertainment" and just recently started a new show for ABC, "Teka Mona", which replaced "Wow Mali", his long-running TV show on the same network. Another show is in the works for Joey this time on GMA's sister station Q. He started hosting Takeshi's Castle with Ryan Yllana. He is also the resident judge of the annual reality-based star search StarStruck and writes the entertainment column "De Leon's Den" once a week in the Philippine broadsheet Manila Bulletin.

In December 2006, Joey returned to recording with a novelty single he wrote entitled "Itaktak Mo" (Shake it off). Unlike most of his previously recorded songs where the melodies were based on past and contemporary hits, "Itaktak Mo" had a unique melody that can pass off as either a pop dance hit or a ballroom song. Seen by critics as his answer to the other wildly popular hit, "Boom Tarat Tarat" (written by Lito Camo and sung by Joey's rival host Willie Revillame), "Itaktak Mo" was softly launched on Eat Bulaga shortly before the Christmas season. On January 2007, the song was launched in Joey's album, "Joey to the World 2" and gained airplay in most FM stations in a short span of time. "Itaktak Mo" has also become part of Eat Bulaga's segment "Taktak Mo o Tatakbo" that replaced "Laban o Bawi", and is also one of the official dances of the 4th batch of the reality talent search "Starstruck".

After "Itaktak Mo" became one of the most requested dance tunes this year, Joey followed it up with "Kagat Labi Song", which was launched on "Eat Bulaga" on September 22, 2007. The "Kagat Labi" dance craze was already sweeping the whole country by storm before Joey wrote it. On February 24, 2008, Joey released a single entitled "Walang Daya" (No Cheating) with lyrics comparing his love to his rival host Willie Revillame's misfortunes (Wilyonaryo, Ferrari and Ultra stampede). He first sang it at his own program "Mel and Joey". "Walang Daya" will be included in the album version of "Kagat Labi" will be released under EMI Philippines.

Controversies

Pepsi Paloma case

In 1982, Joey De Leon along with Vic Sotto and Richie D'Horsie made headlines when underaged actress Pepsi Paloma accused the trio of gang raping her. The case was settled out of court and the trio made a public apology to Paloma. Paloma later committed suicide by hanging herself in 1985.

When the Wowowee scam erupted in August 2007, Willie Revillame criticized De Leon for his frequent attacks of his show and claimed that even if he was charged with harassment, De Leon was charged with something else that Revillame implied was much worse. Revillame did not say and elaborate what the charge was. Many believed Revillame was alluding to the rape case filed by Pepsi Paloma in 1982. [http://uw.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=91066] . In his Startalk interview, Joey maintained his innocence and challenged Revillame to specify the case that he was alluding to in his show. Revillame subsequently apologized to De Leon for his speech attacking De Leon.

uspension

Joey has been suspended by the MTRCB (the Philippine censorship board) twice from hosting "Eat Bulaga!". His first suspension was in 2003 for one month, after uttering a joke related to birds during the question and answer portion of the kiddie pageant "That's My Boy".

His second suspension was in 2004 after uttering a Filipino slang word for fellatio during the "TKO" portion. The second suspension was supposedly for two months but after reportedly suffering from emotional and health problems brought about by the suspension, he was allowed by MTRCB to go back on the air after a month.

Since then, Joey has cleaned up his act although he still retains his 'pilyo' (naughty) ways when he makes people laugh with his jokes.

Word War with Willie Revillame

On August 29, 2007, Joey was the subject of Willie Revillame's ire after the latter aired his so called - sentiments in the ABS-CBN noontime show, "Wowowee". At that time Joey was still on vacation in Hong Kong with the cast and staff of "Eat Bulaga!". On August 30, 2007, Joey answered Willie's tirades against him by advising his erstwhile colleague in a 10-minute speech, "Explain before you complain". On that day, Senator Manuel Roxas II, chairman of the Philippine Senate trade and commerce committee, announced that he will propose an inquiry into the alleged game rigging on ABS-CBN Network's "Wowowee" after getting information from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and concerned parties (after Joey de Leon, host of rival show "Eat Bulaga" of GMA TV jokingly called upon lawmakers to conduct a probe). [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/58395/Roxas-seeks-probe-on-Hello-Pappy-game-show-scam GMA NEWS.TV, Roxas seeks probe on 'Hello, Pappy' game show 'scam'] ]

Gag order allegations and self-regulation

On September 15, 2007 Joey took a leave of absence from GMA's Saturday talk show "Startalk" after MTRCB allegedly issued a directive to GMA Network to prevent him from further commenting on the "Wilyonaryo Scam" of rival noontime show "Wowowee". Some unnamed executives of GMA were also reported to have told Joey to refrain from wearing t-shirts with printed references to "2-0", "Explain before you complain" or "Cheating is..." or making hand gestures in reference to the said scam. On September 19, 2007 in his "De Leon's Den" column in the Manila Bulletin, Joey jokingly wrote that he might go back to radio to continue commenting on the "Wilyonaryo" scam but has vaguely declared a close book on it. Joey returned to Startalk On October 6, 2007.

Resignation from Manila Bulletin

On July 31, 2008, Joey tendered his irrevocable resignation as columnist ("De Leon's Den") for Manila Bulletin. The reason for his resignation was because of a news article written by Dindo Balares for Manila Bulletin's sister tabloid newspaper "Balita" that the "Eat Bulaga" US show last July 19, 2008 was a flop. In the said article the writer questioned the lack of success in "Eat Bulaga"'s show in Los Angeles. What got the ire of De Leon was Balares' claim that a certain GMA-7 executive was the source of the said rumor. In an interview with Butch Francisco and Lolit Solis on "Startalk", Joey openly challenged the writer to name the GMA-7 executive. In exchange he will give business-class tickets to him for a one-week stay in America.

Joey posed another challenge this time on his home network GMA-7. If the GMA executives invite Balares in any of the network's press conferences, he will resign in all of his shows at the Kapuso network. However, a certain person with an alias of "joweedeame" came out in the open thru a published letter from People's Journal. According to the website Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) he claimed he was the source of the said rumor written by Dindo Balares. He has apologized for the mess he has made, particularly to Joey de Leon and GMA Network. During the August 9, 2008 interview on "Startalk", Joey said he has forgiven both joweedeame and Dindo Balares. He also declared that he will resume his column on Philippine Star starting on August 17.

Joke on journalists' killings

The National Press Club of the Philippines and Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (Afima), in a statement to ABS-CBN, condemned de Leon's joke during the “Ang Joke Mo” segment of "Eat Bulaga" as both insensitive and irresponsible. De Leon joked: "Wala ‘yan sa lola ko. Ang lola ko pumapatay ng press people. (That ain’t nothing compared to my grandmother. My grandmother kills press people.)" [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=127716 abs-cbnnews.com, NPC slams Joey de Leon for joke about killing journalists] ] On August 9, 2008, he apologized to journalists on “Startalk" and explained: “Ang ibig kong sabihin noon ay ‘hoy, Jimmy (Santos), huwag kang presko dahil ang lola ko pumapatay ng presko. OK. Hindi ninyo namang puwedeng sabihin na, ayan na naman si Joey nagpapalusot na naman. Hindi po. Papaano po ninyo malalaman ang iniisip ko. Yung ang ibig kong sabihin. Press people… yung ngang nagpaplansta pwedeng tawaging press people, e." NPC President Benny Antiporda replied in a text message, “It’s sarcastic." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/112624/Joey-apologizes-to-journalists-for-cracking-bad-joke-on-media-killings gmanews.tv/story, Joey apologizes to journalists for cracking bad joke on media killings] ]

Filmography

* Escaleras and Ungasis (20 years After) (upcoming 2008 movie)
* Love is Blind and Deaf (upcoming 2008 movie)
* Enteng Kabisote 4 (2007)- Karimarimar
* Enteng Kabisote 3: The Legend Goes on and on and on (2006)- Shintaro Gokoyami
* Enteng Kabisote 2: The Legend Continues (2005)- Panggay
* Enteng Kabisote: Okay ka fairy ko, the legend (2004)- Mulawit
* Fantastic Man (2003)- Doc
* Pakners (2003)- Pickpocketer
* Lastikman (2002)- Elmer
* Super Idol (2001) .... Pandoy
* Wow! Multo (1997)
* Takot ako sa darling ko (1997)
* Pipti-pipti: One for you, two for me (1997)
* Ang Misis kong hoodlum (1996)
* Ang Tipo kong lalake (Maginoo pero medyo bastos) (1996)
* Run Barbi Run (1995)
* Bangers (1995)
* Pandoy, ang alalay ng panday (1993) .... Pandoy
* Alyas Batman en Robin (1993) .... Batman / Bruce
* Sam And Miguel (1992)
* Goosebuster (1991) .... Patrick Sisi
* Ali in Wonderland (1991) .... Ali
* Tangga and Chos: Beauty Secret Agents (1990) .... Ray Tangga
* I Have 3 Eggs (1990)
* Little & Big Weapon (1990)
* Kabayo kids (1990) .... Pando/Yellow Banana
* Ganda babae, gandang lalake (1990)
* Elvis and James 2 (1990)- Elvis Presto
* My Funny Valentine (1990)- Panday spoof character
* Small, Medium en Large (1990)- credited as Director
* Hotdog (1990)- Pedro
* Romeo Loves Juliet... But Their Families Hate Each Other! (1989* Elvis and James, the Living Legends! (1989) - Elvis Presto
* Starzan 2: The Adventure Continues (1989)- Starzan
* Long Ranger & Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West (1989)- Davie Bowie aka Long Ranger
* Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle (1989)- Starzan
* Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle (1989)- Starzan
* Smith & Wesson (1988)
* Barbi (1988)- Bartolome/Barbi
* Sheman: Mistress of the Universe (1988)- Pandoy
* Shoot That Ball (1987)
* Ready aim Fire (1986)
* Super wan, tu, tri (1986)
* Working Boys (1986)
* Ma'a May We Go Out (1985)
* Mama Said, Papa Said, I Love You (1985)
* Doctor, Doctor We Are Sick (1985)
* Ride on Baby (1985)
* Naku ha! (1984)- Billy Jean
* Give Me Five (1984)
* Magtoning muna tayo (1981)
* Palpak Connections (1981)
* Age Doesn't Matter (1981)

TV Shows

* Jungle TV (2008) GMA Network
* Slingo (2007) ABC
* Just Joking (2007) GMA Network
* Takeshi's Castle Q (2006)/GMA Network (2006-2008, 2008-present)
* Teka Mona (2006-2007) ABC
* Wow Maling Mali (2006) ABC
* Wow Mali!(1995-2006) ABC
* Startalk (2005-Present) GMA Network
* Mel and Joey (2004-present) GMA Network
* "StarStruck" (2003-2006) GMA Network
* Nuts Entertainment (2003-present) GMA Network
* Sana ay Ikaw na Nga (2002-2003) GMA Network
* Kiss Muna (2002) GMA Network
* Korek na korek ka Diyan (2001) GMA Network ("with Pareng Vic")
* Mixed Nuts: Numero Unong Terrific Show (1993-1995) GMA Network
* GMA Telecine Specials (1992) GMA Network
* Rock n' Roll 2000 (1992) ABC
* TVJ on 5 (1992) ABC
* TVJ (* Si Malakas at si Maganda (1990) IBC - Special Participation
* Stay Awake (ABC-5) - with Jimmy Santos
* Let's Go Crazy (1987)- ABS-CBN Gag show ("co-starring Ms. Maricel Soriano")
* Super Suwerte sa Nuwebe (1987) RPN
* The Sharon Cuneta Show (1986) IBC (later transferred to ABS-CBN)
* Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp. (1986) RPN
* Joey and Son (1980) RPN
* Eat Bulaga Holy Week Drama Specials (RPN (1979-1989) /ABS-CBN (1989-1995)/GMA Network (1995-present)
* "Eat Bulaga!" (1979-present) TAPE-produced noontime variety show (RPN (1979-1989) /ABS-CBN (1989-1995)/GMA Network (1995-present)
* TODAS (1978-1988) IBC
* Buhok Pinoy (1977) IBC
* Friends (1977) MBS (now NBN 4)
* Iskul Bukol (1977) IBC- Joey Escalera
* C.U.T.E. (Call Us Two for Entertainment) (1977) IBC
* Student Canteen (1976) GMA Network
* Discorama (1975) GMA Network
* OK Lang (1975) IBC
* Vilma In Person

Commercial endorsements

* Pride Detergent
* PLDT Budget Card
* Dunkin' Donuts
* Liveraide
* Ginebra San Miguel
* Molecules
* Superwheel
* Coca Cola (a promo with TVJ)
* Condura

Albums/Singles

*Kagat Labi (2008)- EMI Philippines
*Joey to the World 2 (2007)- Sony BMG Music (featuring "Itaktak Mo")
*Joey to the World (2004)- Sony BMG Music
*"Halukay Ube" (2004)- Duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album: Bomb Thr3at (Sony BMG)
*"Ispageti" (2003)- Duet with Sexbomb Girls from the album: Round 2 (Sony BMG)
*Mga Pakyuuuut ni Joey de Leon (1999)- EMI Music Philippines/PolyEast Records
*JoeyRassic (1993)- MCA Music, Inc.
*TVJ Tough Hits series (12 albums) 1976-1978 Vicor Music Corp.

External links

*imdb name|name=Joey de Leon|id=0209660

References