Meet the top 200 of MNL48!

[byutoful]

Watch Top 200's performance: http://entertainment.abs-cbn.com/tv/shows/itsshowtime/videos/2018/01/20/08012018-watch-meet-the-top-200-of-mnl48

 

From more than a thousand applicants, "It's Showtime" narrowed down the pool of possible MNL48 members to just 200 girls.

 

The finalists still in the running to become part of the AKB48 sister group were briefly introduced on Saturday.

 

They performed some of the Japanese group's biggest hits, including "Heavy Rotation," "Aitakatta," and "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie."

 

It officially kickstarts the noontime show's segment dedicated to finding the first-generation members of MNL48.

 

According to the hosts, the 200 girls will face a panel composed of executives from ABS-CBN and Japanese-owned firm Hallo Hallo Entertainment Inc. in the coming week.

 

You may want to check their profiles: https://mnl48.hallohallo.com

 

Credits: http://news.abs-cbn.com and http://entertainment.abs-cbn.com

 

Should we have a thread dedicated to MNL48? I don't want to create a poll because I'm not even sure

[blank_stare]

Wait until they are in the top 100 to even start with poll. It looks like there will be more to be screened out. 

[bzz]

It looked like online voting was pretty much a sham. Who will want to vote again.

[00_]

Many Pinoy otakus are annoyingly elitist, as if their money and support alone can fund the success of MNL48.

 

 

- 48 groups are successful because they are supported by the general public, not just the few thousand die-hard fans. If otakus want the group all to themseves, then the exclusivist community should fund all of MNL48's expenses, from the girls' food, board and lodging, publicity, recording, makeup and costume, production staff and crew, assistants, choreographers... the list goes on. The key point of 48 groups is that their appeal covers the whole spectrum, not just a few fans, because a very large pop group needs a very large fanbase to sustain their expenses.

 

- The auditionees do not have to be otakus, speak Japanese, or dance AKB48 songs perfectly. AKB48 was a mess when they were starting, as were many idol and pop groups. If we force MNL48 to sing exclusively Japanese songs, what's the point of having our very own 48 group in the first place? While Japan and the Philippines share many pop-culture similarities, there are also major differences, and it seems like Pinoy otakus are forgetting that reality.

 

- While it's understandable that some entities will force their chosen auditionees in, assuming that a great portion of them will come from the ABS-CBN talent pool is too cynical. Why deny an aspirant a chance to achieve her dreams just because she is managed by a media giant? What if an ABS-CBN talent turns out to be a better performer and crowd-drawer than a 48 fan who knows all the songs but cannot carry a tune? There are many factors to consider, and an aspirant's origin should be the least of these worries.

 

- I could go on and on, but I just hope that Pinoy otakus start becoming more inclusive, understanding of situations, and open to possibilities.

[nxxna]

Many Pinoy otakus are annoyingly elitist, as if their money and support alone can fund the success of MNL48.

 

All the AKB48 fans in PH don't even give a shit about MNL48. As in.

 

There's no problem with involving the public with MNL48, honestly. The problem people have with it is how rigged the whole thing is that making a vote doesn't even do anything.

 

I've also never seen anyone complain about not singing in AKB48/Japanese songs, so I don't know where you got that, the only complaints I saw about it was the fixed list of very few songs that left the applicants little to no options. Whether or not the applicants  are fans of Japanese culture, they should at least do some research about what AKB48 and being an idol is about because MNL48 is supposed to be their sister group - it's not just about the name. You'd think those K-pop fans who joined would have an idea of what being an 'idol' means, and while you're right about MNL48 supposed to be catering to the public's interest, shifting the whole thing completely just for that will make MNL48 completely useless. If they won't incorporate any AKB48 elements at all, then MNL48 shouldn't have bothered becoming MNL48 and just stuck with being another 'starstruck' or something.

 

I don't think any of the auditionees were from the network talent pool, but whoever's still in the game was handpicked by the show directors themselves. The dirty behind the scenes have already been spilled behind most of the girls (way to break their contracts so early lol) and it's just horrible. It's not even about the public anymore - it's just about the management's favoritism. The least they could have done was pick the actual talented girls in the bunch, but so far none of the girls remaining seem actually able to dance and/or sing at all. If the final 48 end up a mess, it would be embarassing to call them AKB48's sister group, considering AKB48 girls have gone through hell and back just to be/remain in the group.

 

I supported MNL48 at the beginning, and it just pains me to see how it's slowly turning out. They could have at least made a seperate show for MNL48 instead of inserting them in Showtime - it's not enough to showcase their possible talents.