NEWSFLASH

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DOCTORS OKAY DOLPHY'S U.S. CONCERT

Manila, Oct. 26, 1998 - "The show will go on," a triumphant and overjoyed Zsa Zsa Padilla proudly announced on TV a few days go. "The doctors have just given the go-signal for Dolphy to travel overseas and perform."

This means being able to finally fulfill a commitment to the Filipino community in San Diego, which had earlier scheduled a grand dinner-dance to honor the Philippine Comedy King.

"Our show is set for Nov. 22, so we will probably fly out on November 19, to give Dolphy and everyone else a day's rest and a chance for rehearsals."

Everything's coming up roses for Zsa Zsa. Aside from the good news about Dolphy's health, she has been busy preparing for solo concerts. Her star is also soaring on television, with ratings showing the popularity of her show T ''Hiwalay Kung Hiwalay Daw,'' the primetime GMA 7 sitcom co-starring Christopher deLeon.

The network is even beefing up the show with additional attractions and recently extended it for another half-hour on its new time slot at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Starting tomorrow night, Anjo Yllana will join the cast, with young star Assunta da Rossi. Anjo returns to GMA as Banjo, a bakery owner, boarding-house landlord, fratman, medical school drop-out, Lothario and war freak all rolled into one. Meanwhile, Assunta plays Chelsea, the intelligent but showbiz-obsessed niece of Zsa Zsa.

GMA-7 proved everybody wrong when they invested in the Zsa Zsa-Boyet team-up. Even the two stars had to be convinced that the weekly sitcom will work.

Boyet is no stranger to comedy shows. A veteran of the popular comedy, ''Goin' Bananas,'' Boyet nevertheless hesitated because it had been many years since his last weekly TV sitcom. Reports have it that a hefty weekly talent fee helped him make up his mind.

And Zsa Zsa, whose only comic background is being Dolphy's live-in partner, is showing one and all that she's a real actress. She delivers the punches with perfect timing.

Several advance episodes of the sitcom will be taped in the next few weeks to be aired while Zsa Zsa and Dolphy are in the United States next month.

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