ABS-CBN has finally put all speculations to rest after confirming that Angel Locsin will no longer do Kokey At Ako. Angel was pulled out from the project as she will be doing another teleserye, which will pair her up with John Lloyd Cruz. In an interview during the pictorial for Kokey at Ako, Vhong Navarro told ABS-CBN.com that he completely understands the decision of the management to pull out Angel from the fantaserye. “Naintindihan ko naman kasi may gagawing ibang project si Angel, ‘yung teleserye with John Lloyd. Happy naman ako na magagawa na niya ‘yun kasi ang pagkakaalam ko dati pa siyang excited nang gawin ‘yun.”

Vhong further said that he has yet to talk to Angel about this major casting change in Kokey at Ako. But for him there is no issue to settle as he is happy for whatever is happening in Angel’s career. “Nagkakausap kami noong medyo pahaging na malabong magawa niya itong Kokey at Ako. Pero ngayong na-confirm na eh hindi pa kami nagkakausap. Okay lang naman sa akin. Ang iniisip ko talaga e siya kasi medyo natatagalan nga itong Kokey pero kailangan na niya kasing mag-work. Mabuti naman sisimulan na ‘yung teleserye niya with John Lloyd, isang good friend ko rin.”

With Angel gone, Toni Gonzaga has stepped in to take over the role. Vhong told ABS-CBN.com that what happened seemed to be a blessing in disguise because has long been looking forward into working with Toni in a teleserye. “Kahit na nawala si Angel, naging happy naman ako kasi si Toni ‘yung pumalit. Best friend ko ‘yan si Toni, ang dami naming pinagsamahan na project, gamay na namin ang isa’t isa. First time nga lang na magte-teleserye kami.”

Vhong will start taping for Kokey at Ako very soon in between his busy time as host of the daily morning variety program It’s Showtime. The comedian is taking it as a challenge that the two shows allow him to become a versatile. “At least iba naman ‘yung makikita sa akin sa umaga at sa gabi. Dito sa Kokey at Ako gagawin ko talaga ‘yung nakasanayan ko, ‘yung comedy acting. Dati ang kinatatakutan ko talaga e hosting, tapos biglang dumating ‘yung Showtime. Pero tinanggap ko para matuto ako. Mabuti na iba iba ‘yung nakikita sa akin para hindi naman magsawa ‘yung mga tao.”

He also shared that he will try his best to divide his time to Kokey at Ako and It’s Showtime and will make sure that neither show will suffer. “Inaayos naman ang schedule ko. Hangga’t maaari ayaw naming maiwan ko ‘yung Showtime. Ang plano ngayon e ang schedule ko sa Kokey eh after Showtime, tapos bibigyan din ako ng cut off sa gabi para hindi naman ako pagod kinabukasan para sa Showtime.”

His co-host in It’s Showtime, pretty actress Anne Curtis, has taken a leave from the program to finish the upcoming movie Babe, I Love You with Sam Milby. Vhong confessed that he’s missing Anne’s presence in the show. “Gaya nga ng lagi kong sinasabi, sa Showtime ang ‘madlang people’ ang aking energy, pero si Anne ang aking vitamins. Naks! Siyempre hindi naman natin maiaalis na kami sa Showtime nasanay na kaming magkakasama. Kapag may wala mararamdaman mo talaga na may kulang. Sa amin walang bida, we are a team.”