The Amazing Race International Versions > TAR Asia
TARA2: Marc & Rovilson (Philippines)
puddin:
The Duke website
The dukedom of Marc and Rovilson
By Ed Biado
What do you get when you put two wacky, athletic and insanely attractive guys on a non-sporty and not-so-wacky cable TV show that will be seen by people throughout the continent? Is it a recipe for disaster or a match made in heaven? Let’s find out!
Just a little over a year since their Asian television debut as a tandem, best buddies Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez (or Rovilson Fernandez and Marc Nelson, depending on who you think should get top billing) are back on AXN, doing one of the many things they’re good at, hosting. Ladies and gents, hail to The Duke!
“The Duke is a show about successful men—what they like, what they do and how they got to where they are. A Duke is the envy of every guy and the desire of every woman. We are here to inform, educate and entertain you on all topics concerning the modern-day Duke,” Marc states.
A magazine talk show that will focus on the lifestyles of rich and powerful men in the region, The Duke is conceived to cater to the young adult male, a demographic that is greatly deprived of relevant small screen viewing in preference to his female counterpart.
Marc explains, “There is certainly a lack of men’s lifestyle shows out there. There’s plenty of sports-related shows, but none that inform a guy about the lifestyle issues that concern him.” The Duke does exactly that. It covers topics that young men who are aspiring to be a Duke would be interested in—politics, finance, sex, wellness and even style.
Duke-hood
But what is a Duke, anyway? Why would we want to watch a show about him? The show’s definition is a man who is in control of his life. Age and wealth don’t determine his success. Rather, it’s his drive, desire and dream that matter.
Both Rovilson and Marc opine that being a Duke is aspirational and modestly declare that they are nowhere near that stature. Rovilson further insists that it’s not a self-proclaimed title and that “it’s [going to be] others who will give you that label.”
He also shares how he plans to be that man, “The commonality amongst most of the Dukes we’ve interviewed is that they’re gazillionaires. I’m not interested in that aspect. But I do want the other things they’ve achieved: respect, [the difference they made] in their community, immortality, humility. I’d start by changing within. Embrace the ‘Duke’ mentality.” And he quotes, “Your attitude determines your latitude.”
Marc adds, “I think men all over the world can appreciate the finer things in life. Even as a struggling student or backpacker, I loved looking at nice cars, imagining beautiful resorts or [wanting] to jet off in a private plane. Appreciating [those things] motivates you to work towards them and the Dukes we feature are examples of how to get there.”
On the show
The Duke is definitely different, both in context and format, from what the duo is used to. As we’ve witnessed on The Amazing Race Asia, they’re not the exactly the most serious men around. Why them? How are they going to play the part of hard-hitting interviewers?
AXN executives have long been contemplating on a show for men and right after The Amazing Race, they also wanted to have a show with the boys. Rovilson describes it as two parallel ideas that, somehow, met at some point.
Marc says, “[The network] asked us to be part of the show. So, we can only assume it was because they liked what they saw of us during [the race].” He says the different format is a welcome and challenging change.
He jokes, “On Sports Unlimited, I’m always without my shirt on. It’s just, ‘Which board shorts will I be wearing today?’” He also mentions how new it is to him, having someone pick out his suits and tie his shoelaces just so it would be perfect; just so it would be “Duke”-worthy.
“Although the format is completely different from what Asia is expecting us to be in, I think that’s [also] the appeal. We are simply going to be ourselves and let the chips fall where they may. But most important, we’ll try not to embarrass the Philippines or our families,” Rovilson suffixes and then, exclaims, “You’ll get the exact same guys you’ve loved and/or hated on TV, but with a better wardrobe!”
Boys, interrupted
Perhaps to make sure that the guys are in check, AXN added a female co-host. Eunice Olsen, a former Miss Singapore Universe and the youngest Nominated Member of Parliament, is a recognizable face in Singaporean show-business.
Marc and Rovilson say she’s the serious one, the one who makes sense and “is certainly holding her own,” even though everyone was thinking she’d have a hard time adjusting to the two.
“We’re starting to break her down,” Marc kiddingly reveals their goal of easing her into becoming one of the boys. “She may get fired from Parliament towards the end of the season!”
The bro-mance
The boys are unquestionably excited about the show and about working with each other. They say that they are equally supportive of one another and no battle of the wits will ever take place, except when it’s friendly.
They get to travel the world, try new things and talk to successful men worth looking up to—and all those things they get to do with their closest ally. “It doesn’t get any better than that,” Rovilson expresses.
The show promises inspiring stories, studio discussions on male issues and personality profiling like no other, topped off with Marc and Rovilson’s witty repartee. Marc says, “Everyone from a tricycle driver to a CEO can appreciate what we have to show them.”
Therefore, as much as The Duke hangs on many threads, it all boils down to their “unpredictably explosive chemistry,” as they put it. They finish each other’s sentence, have parallel thoughts and say the same jokes. That’s probably the reason why they were chosen to host the show in the first place. And just so the public wouldn’t be disappointed, here’s their only disclaimer: “Don’t expect too many love scenes!”
The Duke premieres Monday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. on AXN.
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_feb7_2009
Jobby:
--- Quote from: apskip on February 15, 2008, 10:26:37 PM ---
--- Quote from: TARAsia Fan on February 15, 2008, 09:53:32 PM ---They actually were real and that's why people liked them.
--- End quote ---
Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I disliked them precisely because they were seldom real and always mugging for the cameras.
--- End quote ---
Exactly.. :jam:
Dånooky:
--- Quote from: Joab on February 16, 2009, 11:15:47 PM ---
--- Quote from: apskip on February 15, 2008, 10:26:37 PM ---
--- Quote from: TARAsia Fan on February 15, 2008, 09:53:32 PM ---They actually were real and that's why people liked them.
--- End quote ---
Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I disliked them precisely because they were seldom real and always mugging for the cameras.
--- End quote ---
Exactly.. :jam:
--- End quote ---
At least no other racer will ever be as decadent as Rovilson in Germany...
puddin:
haha cdfe :lol:
And I wanted them to win!
Jobby:
Team Singapore won and beat these two out! :hearts:
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