Theater actors Reuben Uy and Giselle Töngi are now part of gag show “Pun Plip Pridays” on a local Los Angeles TV channel.
The show airs on KSCI-TV LA 18, a channel for the Filipino-American community in Southern California, and is syndicated to KIKU station in Hawaii.
The show is touted as the “first-ever televised original sketch comedy show written, produced and performed by an all-Filipino American team.”
Recent credits
Töngi’s recent credits on stage include playing Ulla in Repertory Philippines’ “The Producers,” and as Marlene Dietrich in Atlantis Productions’ “Piaf.”
“I sent in my resume and demo reel from Manila as I heard that LA 18 was looking for a host/producer that spoke Tagalog for its show ‘Kababayan Today,’” she says. “I interviewed over Skype and was offered the job shortly after.”
Reuben Uy was recruited by Töngi to join the program that airs as part of the “Kababayan Today” show every other Friday. “Nobody can say no to Giselle!” says Uy, who worked with Töngi in “Piaf.”
Uy’s other credits in Manila include Tanghalang Pilipino’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Rep’s “Jekyll and Hyde.” Since relocating to Los Angeles, he’s been in Candlelight Pavilion’s “The King and I,” Theatrum Elysium’s “Hamlet” and East West Players’ “Beijing Spring.”
Extra boost
Both acknowledge the extra boost that their theater backgrounds have given to their work for the TV show.
“Theater is something I discovered late in the game when I moved to New York to pursue theater school at Lee Strasberg Theater Institute,” says Töngi.
“With comedy, being reactive and in the moment is key to delivery. Theater has taught me that having a clear objective and a method behind a character is a beautiful and creative process that depends on collaboration and teamwork.”
Uy, on the other hand, has taken improv classes at University of California Berkeley. “Improvisation comedy helps you recognize what is funny in the moment and allows you to seize it,” he says.
Their show is on Youtube (LA18KSCITV). Follow on Facebook (PunPlipPridays) and on Twitter (PunPlipPridays).